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Murder Takes the Stage

Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
Housekeeper Phyllida Bright is quite in her element at Mallowan Hall, the charming English manor that she keeps in tip-top shape. By contrast, the bustling metropolis of London, where her famed employer Agatha Christie has temporarily relocated, leaves Phyllida a bit out of her depth. Not only must she grapple with a limited staff, but Phyllida also has to rein in a temperamental French cook who has the looks of Hercule Poirot, but none of the charm.
When a man named Archibald Allston is found dead in an armchair onstage at the Adelphi Theater, first impressions are that he died of natural causes. But the very next day, the unlucky actor playing Benvolio at the Belmont Theater is found with his head bashed in. And when a third victim turns up, this time with double-C initials, the fatal pattern is impossible to ignore.
With panic erupting among theater folk—a superstitious bunch at the best of times—Phyllida steps up to help with the investigation. The murderer's MO may be easy to read, but can Phyllida uncover the killer's identity before the final curtain falls on another victim?
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 2, 2024
      Agatha Christie’s housekeeper, Phyllida Bright, gets a taste of the theatrical spotlight in this jaunty historical cozy from Cambridge (the fourth in a series, after Murder by Invitation). With one of Agatha’s plays in the early stages of production on the West End, she and her husband, Max, lease a house in London to facilitate rehearsal visits. The move means Phyllida—whose feelings about London are “exceedingly complicated”—has her hands full organizing the housemaids, dealing with the Christies’ arrogant new French chef (who looks unnervingly like Hercule Poirot), and bickering with their handsome chauffeur. Shortly after the household arrives in London, an actor dies onstage, presumably of natural causes. When two more West End performers turn up dead, Agatha starts to suspect a serial killer. She taps Phyllida to investigate discreetly, plunging the housekeeper into a world of backstabbing thespians. Like its predecessors, this frothy fair-play mystery is a cut above the standard, with just enough wit and well-drawn characters to make an impression. Series fans will be delighted. Agent: Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Assoc.

    • Library Journal

      March 1, 2025

      Phyllida Bright prefers the quiet of the country, but a deluge of deaths in her usually sleepy town has her ready for a respite in London. As housekeeper to Agatha Christie, Phyllida is no stranger to mystery, and now Christie is preparing to bring one of her stories to the stage. The production is threatened, however, when a madman begins murdering thespians in an alliterative alphabetical pattern. Phyllida knows that there must be more to the motive than what meets the eye, but can she uncover the truth before the curtain falls on her boss's theatrical dreams? Cambridge (A Murder Most French) presents her fourth "Phyllida Bright Mystery" (following Murder by Invitation Only). Rich detail and a spectacular denouement give classic Christie vibes to this spirited story of ambition and intrigue. Narrator Jennifer M. Dixon returns to voice the likable leading lady and her sleuthing adventures. Her engaging performance is perfectly matched to the brilliant Phyllida Bright. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a cozy historical mystery with a witty woman amateur detective. Recommended for fans of Rhys Bowen, Tom Mead, and Nicola Upson.--Lauren Hackert

      Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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