Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 1/24/2016 + 1031 more book reviews

The cover of this book says it's "The first Bryant & May mystery". I was slightly taken aback when the story starts off with the death of elderly detective Arthur Bryant in a bomb attack (this is not a spoiler). If there's more books about the two detectives, shouldn't they be both alive? But there are plenty of ways to get around that. The story flashes back to a particular theater in London during the Blitz of WWII. Actors are being killed, the theater seems to be haunted, and the new Peculiar Crimes unit is on the hook to solve it.
The descriptions of wartime London are great. The characters had a lot of promise, I can certainly see how this became a long series. But the mystery in this book didn't hold my attention. I know I am somewhat humor-challenged; the cover blurb implied this is a wacky "madcap" mystery, but if it is, it bypassed me. I did find the scenarios with Detective Biddle mildly amusing. I thought the solution of the theater murders was rather far-fetched, and I wasn't surprised by another twist of the plot. I am not a theater-goer so perhaps there were a lot of references I didn't get.
All in all, it was worth reading if just for the WWII setting. I might pick up the next one to see how I like it.

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