Review by Booklist Review
The fifth in Weaver's Amory Ames series starring a well-off British couple who dabble in crime-solving in the 1930s, has a West End theater as its primary setting. Gerard Holloway, an old married friend of Amory and Milo's, spreads his money and talents around thick. Holloway is producing a play he's written. And he's cast his mistress in the starring role. The playwright invites Amory and Milo to rehearsal and to opening night, hoping they can shed some light on the threatening letters that have been shoved under the mistress' dressing-room door. Amory later discovers the blonde-bombshell star strangled with a gold curtain cord in the same dressing room. Weaver brings in a Nick-and-Nora dynamic with her high-living, slightly flawed detective couple. The combination West End backstage and upper-class drawing room proves equally winning. The first in this series, Murder at the Brightwell (2014), was nominated for an Edgar Award for best first novel by an American author.--Connie Fletcher Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
At the start of Weaver's elegant fifth mystery set in 1930s England (after 2017's The Essence of Malice), London socialite Amory Ames and her husband, Milo, run into their friend Gerard Holloway, who invites them to attend the dress rehearsal of a new play he's producing. Amory admires Gerald and his wife's successful marriage, since she and charming, cavalier Milo have had difficulties in the past. So Amory is shocked to hear that Gerard is having an affair with his beautiful leading lady, Flora Bell. Someone has been leaving threatening letters in Flora's dressing room, though Milo thinks the threats are inconsequential-until Amory finds Flora's body hanging from a curtain rope. Suspects include Flora's dissolute brother, her ex-lover costar, and her jealous understudy. When it comes to theater folk, the best way to uncover a killer is to put on a show, and with the collaboration of Milo and canny Detective Inspector Jones, clever Amory devises a drama to force a confession. Lovers of classic, twisty British mysteries will have jolly good fun. Author tour. Agent: Ann Collette, Rees Literary Agency. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
The fifth entry in the "Amory Ames" historical series (after The Essence of Malice) carries the same charming tone of the first book. Amory and her husband, Milo, are on much better terms than when we originally met them, enjoying the fashionable life in 1930s London. One evening, they run into an old friend of Milo's, wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway, who is producing a play; he invites them to a dress rehearsal. It turns out that the lead actress, Gerard's mistress, is receiving threatening letters. As she has several times in the past, Amory soon stumbles upon a murder. This time the path to finding the killer is particularly circuitous and nearly fatal for the intrepid Amory. An excellent addition to the series, this could also be read independently. The period setting is as always meticulous and the main characters riveting. VERDICT Fans of Carola Dunn's "Daisy Dalrymple" books might appreciate this series, despite the differences in tone and character. Fans of light period mysteries with fashion and flair will be caught up in Amory's latest adventure. [See Prepub Alert, 3/12/18.]--Pamela O'Sullivan, Coll. at Brockport Lib., SUNY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A shocking murder brings back bitter memories for an amateur detective.Socialites Amory and Milo Ames have had their share of marital problems because Milo's carefree manner and stunning good looks draw women like flies to honey. Luckily, their involvement in solving several murders (The Essence of Malice, 2017, etc.) has brought them closer even though Amory's still insecure. A chance meeting with Gerard Holloway, a wealthy friend of Milo's who's written and produced a new play, involves them in more mysteries. The Price of Victory stars beautiful young actress Flora Bell, rising star Christopher Landon, and famous older actor Balthazar Lebeau. The rumor that Flora is Holloway's mistress makes Amory worry about Holloway's wife, Georgina, especially because she thought the Holloways the perfect couple who shared exciting adventures all over the world. Knowing their reputation, Holloway asks the sleuthing duo to investigate the poison-pen letters Flora has received. To Amory's surprise, the dress rehearsal reveals that Flora's not only a beauty, but also a very talented actress. After the premiere and the charity gala, Holloway asks Amory to look for Georgina, who he says has been crying, but Amory instead finds Flora, hanged in the theater. Although DI Jones does not show Amory and Milo all his cards, he's happy to have them do undercover work for him. In addition to the enigmatic Lebeau, the suspects include Landon, who was in love with Flora; Flora's understudy, who's all too eager to take over her role; and Flora's brother, who's deeply in debt. Amory, who's especially keen to solve the case, refuses to be deterred by a little danger.All the usual 1930s charm combined with a mystery whose ending is a stunner. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
