Murder On Stage by FL Everett: 

I have been a big fan of Flic Everett’s journalism for a long time.  She’s honest, sparky and witty.  This book falls into an ever-growing cosy crime drama.  Set in 1940’s Manchester, it is the third in the Edie York series, set in wartime Manchester.  In this adventure, our intrepid Mancunian journalist heroine investigates the murder of an  actor during an ENSA tour at a theatre.  

It’s a well-researched book, which slightly takes it out of what is becoming a slightly cliched genre.  Where it falls down is the clanking gears of the plot, which aren’t really more than peaks of infodumping. Plus, it’s cheeky enough to reference Agatha Christie (there’s even a dog named after one of her characters).  

But the murder itself references a very famous murder from one of the books; plus the over ends on a deus ex machina as the villain is taken in.  Which is a shame, as the characters are well-written, there’s witty dialogue, a touch of romance… but it all seems a little too referential.  It’s published by Bookoutre on 18th June and I thank them for a preview copy.  #murderonstage