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Christmas Mystery #2
Murder at the Theatre Royale
It's Christmas at London's Theatre Royale and journalist Daphne King is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery...
December 1935. Director Chester Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol has had a troubled run on its tour of regional theatres. With tensions amongst the cast running high, the company reach their final stop - London's Theatre Royale - a few days before Christmas.
Catastrophe, however, strikes on opening night: 'Scrooge' dies on stage, seemingly due to a heart attack. But the show must go on. Until, that is, an old rival of Chester's is murdered in a dressing room. Are those associated with the production being picked off one by one? Journalist Daphne King is determined to reveal the truth...
December 1935. Director Chester Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol has had a troubled run on its tour of regional theatres. With tensions amongst the cast running high, the company reach their final stop - London's Theatre Royale - a few days before Christmas.
Catastrophe, however, strikes on opening night: 'Scrooge' dies on stage, seemingly due to a heart attack. But the show must go on. Until, that is, an old rival of Chester's is murdered in a dressing room. Are those associated with the production being picked off one by one? Journalist Daphne King is determined to reveal the truth...
250 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
December 25, 2022
What's better than to read A Christmas Mystery novel on the Christmas Eve and get cozy under the blankets with a cup of hot chocolate, 'Murder At The Theatre Royale' by Ada Moncrieff is the perfect book for that.
In this book, we follow London's most renowned Journalist, Daphne King, who is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery. The book has the perfect set up of London, Christmas, Murder Mystery at the theatre set of A Christmas Carol, etc. Daphne King is all set to prove to her boss Martin Halliday, that she is the best of all.
The book has a slow start, but quite as it picks up pace we also see a bit of stretch in the later end of the book along with some minor twists and turns in the book. Overall, I enjoyed the book to be a one-time cozy read, but the writing style is a bit off for me and would look for better plot arrangement in future books by the author.
In this book, we follow London's most renowned Journalist, Daphne King, who is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery. The book has the perfect set up of London, Christmas, Murder Mystery at the theatre set of A Christmas Carol, etc. Daphne King is all set to prove to her boss Martin Halliday, that she is the best of all.
The book has a slow start, but quite as it picks up pace we also see a bit of stretch in the later end of the book along with some minor twists and turns in the book. Overall, I enjoyed the book to be a one-time cozy read, but the writing style is a bit off for me and would look for better plot arrangement in future books by the author.
September 3, 2022
murder at the theatre royale
I was intrigued by the title and I love a good murder mystery. I have read all Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle and several authors of the ‘Golden Age Detective Fiction’ of 1920s and 1930s in which this novel is set. However, this novel was very disappointing. She uses peculiar vocabulary, which I think sounds researched as ‘of the era’ but adds nothing to the book. A lot seems overwritten and gets boring to decipher. An example:
‘regrettably for its participants, the discussion was bereft of trifles and laden with labour. The combatants sat – one slouching in a posture which conveyed the inconvenience of the protracted dialogue, the other perched uncomfortably in a stance designed to project professionalism and composure – on opposing sides of a great mahogany desk.’
It is not that I don’t understand it but that this sounds false. Also the characters are rather cardboard with only the heroine having any sort of rounding out but even then marred by the ponderous words used:
‘Apparently alone in her perturbation at this interruption’
The descriptions of characters can bring a vision to mind:
‘Short and squat, a man of around sixty stood before them. Glassy eyes a touch too prominent, strands of wispy hair sprouting from his head, he was a striking figure. A grin was plastered on his face, revealing misshapen teeth stained an unbecoming yellow.’
but since almost every character is described in this way : age, height, hair etc it becomes tedious.
I am sorry that, to me, this reads like an over elaborate creative writing exercise. Or maybe an attempt at parody. I do think some readers will enjoy it. But not for me, disappointingly.
I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers, Vintage. Opinions are my own.
I was intrigued by the title and I love a good murder mystery. I have read all Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle and several authors of the ‘Golden Age Detective Fiction’ of 1920s and 1930s in which this novel is set. However, this novel was very disappointing. She uses peculiar vocabulary, which I think sounds researched as ‘of the era’ but adds nothing to the book. A lot seems overwritten and gets boring to decipher. An example:
‘regrettably for its participants, the discussion was bereft of trifles and laden with labour. The combatants sat – one slouching in a posture which conveyed the inconvenience of the protracted dialogue, the other perched uncomfortably in a stance designed to project professionalism and composure – on opposing sides of a great mahogany desk.’
It is not that I don’t understand it but that this sounds false. Also the characters are rather cardboard with only the heroine having any sort of rounding out but even then marred by the ponderous words used:
‘Apparently alone in her perturbation at this interruption’
The descriptions of characters can bring a vision to mind:
‘Short and squat, a man of around sixty stood before them. Glassy eyes a touch too prominent, strands of wispy hair sprouting from his head, he was a striking figure. A grin was plastered on his face, revealing misshapen teeth stained an unbecoming yellow.’
but since almost every character is described in this way : age, height, hair etc it becomes tedious.
I am sorry that, to me, this reads like an over elaborate creative writing exercise. Or maybe an attempt at parody. I do think some readers will enjoy it. But not for me, disappointingly.
I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers, Vintage. Opinions are my own.
November 27, 2022
A very enjoyable romp through London’s 1930s theatre world. Daphne is languishing in her role as a newspaper agony aunt when she is given the opportunity to cover a story in the theatre. A murder occurs almost as soon as she arrives and from there it’s a breathless race against time to identify the murderer. Full of ‘good eggs’ and Lyon’s’ tearooms, incompetent policemen and red herrings, this was an easy, quick read and jolly good fun! 3.5 stars from me.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a review copy.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Vintage for a review copy.
November 17, 2022
Easy to follow, easy to get into. Just fell a little flat to me.
November 17, 2022
Easy enough to read with a fast flow just not my favourite fell a little flat to me.
November 8, 2022
This was quite a short book so I read it in 2 sittings but it was helped by being so good! A real cosy murder mystery with so much gentle humour throughout. The lead journalist, Daphne, was Miss Marple esque (in terms of manner and brains as opposed to age) and I'd love to see another book featuring her as the lead.
January 3, 2023
Utter tosh.
February 4, 2025
Really love this author!! Fun mystery without being too dark or scary, clean, entertaining dialogue. Was so close to 5 stars but the end was a tad underwhelming. Otherwise love it!
October 24, 2022
Murder at the Theatre Royale by Ada Moncrieff is a wonderful, historical murder mystery set in December 1935. Based in snowy London, with a few clues for readers who fancy a bit of armchair sleuthing, it centres around journalist Daphne King who feels the need to prove to her boss at the Evening Chronicle, Martin Halliday that she is worth more than her Dear Susan 'Agony Aunt' role. She is given an opportunity by the editor-in-chief and makes her way to the Theatre Royale on Great Windmill Street on the number 24 bus. When Scrooge, part of the acting team in Director Chester Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol drops dead practically at her feet it looks as though the actor died of a heart attack. With occasional touches of humour, this is a compelling and engaging Christmas historical crime novel that I enjoyed immensely.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House Vintage via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House Vintage via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
December 26, 2022
Another great cosy murder mystery with light hearted humour throughout.
September 5, 2022
murder at the theatre royale
I was intrigued by the title and I love a good murder mystery. I have read all Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle and several authors of the ‘Golden Age Detective Fiction’ of 1920s and 1930s in which this novel is set. However, this novel was very disappointing. She uses peculiar vocabulary, which I think sounds researched as ‘of the era’ but adds nothing to the book. A lot seems overwritten and gets boring to decipher. An example:
‘regrettably for its participants, the discussion was bereft of trifles and laden with labour. The combatants sat – one slouching in a posture which conveyed the inconvenience of the protracted dialogue, the other perched uncomfortably in a stance designed to project professionalism and composure – on opposing sides of a great mahogany desk.’
It is not that I don’t understand it but that this sounds false. Also the characters are rather cardboard with only the heroine having any sort of rounding out but even then marred by the ponderous words used:
‘Apparently alone in her perturbation at this interruption’
The descriptions of characters can bring a vision to mind:
‘Short and squat, a man of around sixty stood before them. Glassy eyes a touch too prominent, strands of wispy hair sprouting from his head, he was a striking figure. A grin was plastered on his face, revealing misshapen teeth stained an unbecoming yellow.’
but since almost every character is described in this way : age, height, hair etc it becomes tedious.
I am sorry that, to me, this reads like an over elaborate creative writing exercise. Or maybe an attempt at parody. I do think some readers will enjoy it. But not for me, disappointingly.
I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers, Vintage. Opinions are my own.
I was intrigued by the title and I love a good murder mystery. I have read all Agatha Christie, Conan Doyle and several authors of the ‘Golden Age Detective Fiction’ of 1920s and 1930s in which this novel is set. However, this novel was very disappointing. She uses peculiar vocabulary, which I think sounds researched as ‘of the era’ but adds nothing to the book. A lot seems overwritten and gets boring to decipher. An example:
‘regrettably for its participants, the discussion was bereft of trifles and laden with labour. The combatants sat – one slouching in a posture which conveyed the inconvenience of the protracted dialogue, the other perched uncomfortably in a stance designed to project professionalism and composure – on opposing sides of a great mahogany desk.’
It is not that I don’t understand it but that this sounds false. Also the characters are rather cardboard with only the heroine having any sort of rounding out but even then marred by the ponderous words used:
‘Apparently alone in her perturbation at this interruption’
The descriptions of characters can bring a vision to mind:
‘Short and squat, a man of around sixty stood before them. Glassy eyes a touch too prominent, strands of wispy hair sprouting from his head, he was a striking figure. A grin was plastered on his face, revealing misshapen teeth stained an unbecoming yellow.’
but since almost every character is described in this way : age, height, hair etc it becomes tedious.
I am sorry that, to me, this reads like an over elaborate creative writing exercise. Or maybe an attempt at parody. I do think some readers will enjoy it. But not for me, disappointingly.
I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers, Vintage. Opinions are my own.
December 11, 2023
although this was short i found it quite slow at some points but i didn’t see the end coming so bravo
October 28, 2022
This was a disappointing read; it felt anachronistic, the characters were poorly drawn, and the main character, a journalist, being determined to solve the mystery-rather than make her career by sending reports back to her paper-was patently ridiculous.
July 27, 2023
So twee, my black heart can’t take it.
I like that it could maybe be read as queer at the end there, so 2 stars for my vintage sapphics 👏🏻
I like that it could maybe be read as queer at the end there, so 2 stars for my vintage sapphics 👏🏻
November 30, 2022
This is a fun, cozy mystery with a likable main character, Daphne, who is sick of being an Agony Aunt for her newspaper job and instead wants to work on the crime side, and what better way to do that than solve the case of the murder at the Theatre Royale? There are lots of suspects in the cast of the production who you have to keep an eye on at all times and as each clue is revealed, Daphne gets one step closer to figuring it out. The ending brings it all together in one brilliant scene of confrontation to create a fast paced story that you won't want to put down! One negative is that the language used was a bit too excessive in parts as if the author was trying too hard to make it sound like the 1930s but overall it is a good murder mystery perfect for cold and dark nights.
* I received a copy from NetGalley and I leave this review voluntarily *
* I received a copy from NetGalley and I leave this review voluntarily *
December 7, 2023
3.25-3.5 ★
December 22, 2025
Couldn't care less.
December 9, 2023
Kept you guessing right to the end. A tiny but slow to start but really enjoyed it and a very interesting plot
December 9, 2024
Mystery murder festivities - what more could I ask for.
November 28, 2023
3.5 rounded down. Nice easy read.
January 2, 2024
Started this just before Christmas but it took me a while to get into. Was an okay whodunit but I didn't find it to be slow up until the last 3rd.
December 27, 2022
My main reason behind picking up this book was that i wanted to read something festive and set during the winters. On this count, the book delivered. Sadly, not so much on others
Murder at the Theatre Royale is a mystery set in the world of theatre, but seemed to lack good drama that could glue me to the book. Everything felt superficial and i couldn't connect either to the writing or the characters. I didn't really care about the mystery either, and felt that there was too much of padding. Towards the second half, i just wanted to finish the book.
If you are in the mood for a very light, festive mystery, perhaps it might do the trick for you.
Murder at the Theatre Royale is a mystery set in the world of theatre, but seemed to lack good drama that could glue me to the book. Everything felt superficial and i couldn't connect either to the writing or the characters. I didn't really care about the mystery either, and felt that there was too much of padding. Towards the second half, i just wanted to finish the book.
If you are in the mood for a very light, festive mystery, perhaps it might do the trick for you.
January 8, 2024
Would be 2.5/5.
This was an easy and enjoyable read that was quick to get through. It was a simple, cosy murder mystery, but the characters lacked detail and while there are twists and turns the plot felt rather predictable.
This was an easy and enjoyable read that was quick to get through. It was a simple, cosy murder mystery, but the characters lacked detail and while there are twists and turns the plot felt rather predictable.
December 29, 2023
Struggled to get into this, very wordy and the language used was a struggle to get through at the start. Stuck with it as wanted to know who dunnit.
December 7, 2023
A disappointing read; the plot is weak and the characters unconvincing. It's supposed to be set in the 1930's but the dialogue is all wrong and there is no 'feel' of the era. I struggled to complete it because I simply didn't care how it ended. I will avoid this author in future.
December 30, 2022
All stuffing, no turkey: cozy Christmas murder by numbers
It's coming up to Christmas day 1935, and Daphne King, spinster and professional newspaper agony aunt, is keen to cast aside the shackles of the problem page and do some proper journalism. Daphne gets the opportunity to interview fading starlets Chester Harrison and his wife Theodora at the Theatre Royale in London, where his production of 'A Christmas Carol' is about to open. During rehearsals, Scrooge drops dead, poisoned, and thus Daphne finds herself in the centre of a real news story, with the chance to investigate which of the motley crew of actors killed the leading man.
I'm starting to think I must give up on buying Christmas-themed books. They seem an excellent idea, and it is nice to hunker down with a bit of murder at this time of year, but enough is enough. This is the second Christmas turkey I have read in as many years. It is my fault. I was taken in by the 1930s Poirot-esque cover and the 'quote' (not attributed, I now realise..) 'A modern rival to Agatha Christie'. Frankly, I'm considering reporting that for a breach of the Trade Descriptions Act. I love the works of Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie, at her very worst, is far better than this.
It is hard to articulate the issue, but this book feels like a murder mystery by numbers. The author has thrown in all the ingredients that make up a murder mystery but hasn't cooked it for long enough.
None of the characters are appealing or memorable. I only finished reading this a couple of days ago, and I can barely remember anything about them. They are all 2D, with no depth to any of them. None likeable, none interesting. Even Daphne is a nonentity. Yes, Poirot and Miss Marple are detectives with no character development during the mysteries they investigate, but they are fully formed people, even if we know very little about them. I understand this is the second book featuring Daphne, and I have not read the first, so perhaps that would help me get a better sense of her.
It's coming up to Christmas day 1935, and Daphne King, spinster and professional newspaper agony aunt, is keen to cast aside the shackles of the problem page and do some proper journalism. Daphne gets the opportunity to interview fading starlets Chester Harrison and his wife Theodora at the Theatre Royale in London, where his production of 'A Christmas Carol' is about to open. During rehearsals, Scrooge drops dead, poisoned, and thus Daphne finds herself in the centre of a real news story, with the chance to investigate which of the motley crew of actors killed the leading man.
I'm starting to think I must give up on buying Christmas-themed books. They seem an excellent idea, and it is nice to hunker down with a bit of murder at this time of year, but enough is enough. This is the second Christmas turkey I have read in as many years. It is my fault. I was taken in by the 1930s Poirot-esque cover and the 'quote' (not attributed, I now realise..) 'A modern rival to Agatha Christie'. Frankly, I'm considering reporting that for a breach of the Trade Descriptions Act. I love the works of Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie, at her very worst, is far better than this.
It is hard to articulate the issue, but this book feels like a murder mystery by numbers. The author has thrown in all the ingredients that make up a murder mystery but hasn't cooked it for long enough.
None of the characters are appealing or memorable. I only finished reading this a couple of days ago, and I can barely remember anything about them. They are all 2D, with no depth to any of them. None likeable, none interesting. Even Daphne is a nonentity. Yes, Poirot and Miss Marple are detectives with no character development during the mysteries they investigate, but they are fully formed people, even if we know very little about them. I understand this is the second book featuring Daphne, and I have not read the first, so perhaps that would help me get a better sense of her.
December 20, 2022
A good premise and easy to read, but sadly disappointing.
The language was overwrought and paragraphs unnecessarily wordy, and the characters' speech was stuffed with so much contemporary language - 'good eggs', 'shilly-shallying' that I felt the author was trying overly hard to cement the period setting in the reader's head. Both became very irritating as the book went on.
Then there was the pacing. At halfway through, not very much had happened and I wasn't at all gripped. Although it did start to pick up pace after that, not enough clues were given to enable the reader to guess the culprit until just before the reveal. For this genre, that was very frustrating. On a positive note, I didn't guess the culprit, but as all the excitement happened right at the end, I didn't spend much time thinking about it either.
The review that described this book as 'a modern rival to Agatha Christie' definitely set too high an expectation in my mind!
The language was overwrought and paragraphs unnecessarily wordy, and the characters' speech was stuffed with so much contemporary language - 'good eggs', 'shilly-shallying' that I felt the author was trying overly hard to cement the period setting in the reader's head. Both became very irritating as the book went on.
Then there was the pacing. At halfway through, not very much had happened and I wasn't at all gripped. Although it did start to pick up pace after that, not enough clues were given to enable the reader to guess the culprit until just before the reveal. For this genre, that was very frustrating. On a positive note, I didn't guess the culprit, but as all the excitement happened right at the end, I didn't spend much time thinking about it either.
The review that described this book as 'a modern rival to Agatha Christie' definitely set too high an expectation in my mind!
August 30, 2022
Set in the 1930's, Murder at the Theatre Royale is great for those crime lovers who like their mysteries light with a touch of humour and set around the 20's/30's. Reporter Daphne King has been sent to do a theatre piece on the staging of A Christmas Carol at the Theatre Royale in London, however whilst she is there she witnesses a death of an actor which sets her senses tingling, our intrepid reporter starts to investigate a possible murder even though the police think otherwise. However when a theatre critic is killed the question on everyone's lips is who could be next.
A great read for the christmas period, light and entertaining.
A great read for the christmas period, light and entertaining.
December 12, 2024
3.25
Very enjoyable cozy christmas murder mystery. I felt like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out. Felt a bit too rushed. But it was an enjoyable read nonetheless perfect to read during a busy month like december when you just want to take your mind off things and wonder through London in the 1930s.
Very enjoyable cozy christmas murder mystery. I felt like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out. Felt a bit too rushed. But it was an enjoyable read nonetheless perfect to read during a busy month like december when you just want to take your mind off things and wonder through London in the 1930s.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews