Review: An Act of Villainy (An Amory Ames Mystery #5) by Ashley Weaver

 

Amory and Milo Ames run into an old friend on a night out who invites them to come to the dress rehearsal for a new play he has written and produced called The Price of Victory.

Starring rising talents Christopher Landon and Flora Bell, Gerard Holloway is hoping for a great success.  He asks to see Milo at his club for a drink the next day. There he divulges that his star and mistress Flora Bell has been getting threatening letters.

There are a number of cast members who have some level of jealousy towards Bell, both for her success and for her relationship with Holloway.  Bell agrees to let Milo and Amory, who have solved a number of mysteries in the past, try to discover who wishes her harm. No police, though, she's adamant.

Awkwardly, Amory is friends with Holloway's wife, and has had some experience herself with a wandering husband.  As she and Milo attempt to investigate, old memories come between them, and Amory doesn't share quite as much as she should about her half of the investigation.

Opening night comes, the play is a rousing success, and Amory has to admit Flora has a rare talent. There's a gala afterward for charity, and then Flora is found, in the theater, dead.  

Despite the tensions from past problems in their relationship, I thought Amory and Milo worked well together as a crime solving team. Both are smart and observant, and wise about people and their behavior.

There's a lot of light witty banter among all characters, and the glamour of the stage.

This is our April book group book, or you know I never would have started in the middle of the series.  Definitely likeable characters, and a pleasant step into the lives of the wealthy in 1930s London.

https://www.ashley-weaver.com/

Review: The Appeal by Janice Hallett

 

 

Told in a series of email and text messages between The Fairway Players, The Appeal presents a lively cast, and a show that must go on.

As the cast prepares for a new play: All My Sons by Arthur Miller, casting choices are made, practices are scheduled. 

Then, the scion of the group and the village itself Martin Hayward reveals his family has been stricken with tragedy in the form of a diagnosis of brain cancer in his two year old granddaughter.  He will not be directing this time around, as he will be devoting all of his time to an Appeal for funds to help his granddaughter get a special treatment available only in the US.

As the play practices go on, the cast goes all in trying to help raise funds for the toddler.

So much about each character is revealed as they chat about the play, the Appeal, and about their work life, as some of the cast work together.  

Soon it becomes clear that several characters have completely different motivations than you'd expect.  One character seems quite off balance.  Another seems bent on revenge.  A couple of people have an unusual desire for attention, more than even actors may be known for.  The Appeal itself seems to be drawing in undesirable types who seem to want the money for themselves.

Once all of this does lead to murder, there is another Appeal. This is a legal Appeal to try to clear the name of the person accused of murder.

A most enjoyable debut novel. I have on order the author's second novel, The Twyford Code.