REVIEW: Much Ado About Murder

Much Ado About Murder
Author: Elizabeth J. Duncan

Things are a bit up in the air for the Catskills Shakespeare Theater Company when their director quits right before their production of Much Ado About Nothing. Luckily, their featured star, Audrey Ashley, recommends a director she has worked with before, Edmund Albright. Costume designer Charlotte Fairfax is excited to work with the new director and looks forward to the production. But, Albright announces some changes to the play. He wants to modernize it, setting it in Civil War era America. Nearly the entire cast balks at the idea, but there is nothing the theater board can do about it. The contract with Albright gives him complete creative control over the production. There is no way to force him to change his mind, or to fire him. The show must go on....  Just as cast and crew come to terms with the director's ideas, Albright is found dead on his sofa with a gun in his hand. Did Albright commit suicide in such a dramatic fashion? Or was he murdered?

In order to save the production, Charlotte jumps in to help investigate. With all the cast and crew, she has a lot of potential suspects to consider. Who brought the curtain down on the eccentric director with such violence?

Much Ado About Murder is the third book in the Shakespeare in the Catskills mystery series. I enjoyed this book. Charlotte is an interesting and capable main character. The other crew members, actors and the star actress hired for Much Ado all come together to help her investigate. The mystery moves along at the perfect pace with plenty of suspects and twists.  The ending wasn't really a surprise, but it was well done so I didn't mind that I guessed the killer's identity. I will definitely be reading more of this series.

Elizabeth J. Duncan also writes the Penny Brannigan series. For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://elizabethjduncan.com/

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**