Much Ado About Murder

Charlotte Fairfax is an excellent costume designer and works with the Catskills Shakespeare Theater Company. This year they are performing Much Ado About Nothing a classic. Famous actress Audrey Ashley arrives to play the lead role. The aging actress has the last word on who the director will be; she picks director Edmund Albright. Unfortunately, someone decides Edmund has to go, and Charlotte has another dead body on her hands.

Edmund insists on doing a new version of the play with the bases in the Civil War. Not a popular choice and one the Catskills Shakespeare Theater cannot get out of. Not everyone is happy with his decision, including Audrey and Charlotte. Out of options, the play progresses forward. It looks as though Edmund has gotten his way whether they like it or not. Edmund is discovered dead on his sofa, holding a gun in his hand. His death is ruled a suicide, but Charlotte doesn’t agree. It’s time for her to put her sleuthing cap on and find out what happened.

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Series: A Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery – Book #3
Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Rating:

“Much Ado About Murder” is the third installment in the “A Shakespeare in the Catskills Mystery” series. The story revolves around a British transplant, Charlotte Fairfax, the costume director for a theater company. Charlotte has some issues with the new director, mainly budget and time. Along with everyone else, Charlotte is looking for a way out. She doesn’t want to design costumes for a play she feels is best left alone and performed in the traditional manner. When the new director is killed, everyone becomes a suspect, and Charlotte ends up smack in the middle of the investigation.

Ms. Duncan is a talented writer and knows how to tell a story without sexual content, violence, or inappropriate language. She shows that a book doesn’t have to be over the top to be good. Although “Much Ado About Murder” is not a fast read, the story isn’t ploddingly slow either. The characters are believable if a bit dated at times. Even the love interest is tame compared to many books of the same type. However, the relationship between Charlotte and Ray is comfortable and easy with none of the usual on-again-off-again relationship status that is common in most cozies. There is a momentary concern for the couple when the star of the play seems to take an interest in Ray for more than his police skills. This doesn’t last and is soon put to rest when Audrey realizes that Ray is in a committed relationship with Charlotte. Having an adorable Corgi in a story never hurts, and this one has two.

Paula Van Dusen, the head of the theater board and a wealthy woman, is a wonderful character that would be worth reading more about. She has a lovely old time estate with beautiful flower gardens. Although wealthy, she does not appear to be pretentious or egotistical. Paula is one of several characters that enhance the enjoyment of the story and play an integral part in the unraveling of the motive and means of the murder.

The characters are memorable; the location could be anywhere in small-town USA, which is relatable to anyone who has ever lived in a small area or wants to. The writing is smooth and flows well without losing sight of the main plot. The victim is someone the reader will, by all accounts, dislike. The “why” of the murder leaves room for twists and turns and plenty of red herrings that will keep the reader wondering right up until the very end.

Overall this is a smile-worthy book that doesn’t leave the reader with unanswered questions or a bad taste in their mouth. This book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys theater, corgis, and flowers as they all play a pivotal role in unmasking the killer.