To Catch an Actress: And Other Mystery Stories

By Elizabeth Elwood

Book Overview

SET AN ACTRESS TO CATCH AN ACTRESS Angela Benson inherits a fortune when her Aunt Maud is murdered, but the killer is never found, and suspicion continues to cloud her life. Then as Angela s career begins to take off, new evidence comes to light that throws her back into the center of a murder investigation. As Angela prepares for the role of Amanda in Noel Coward s Private Lives, she finds herself embroiled in a sinister play beyond the footlights. To Catch an Actress and Other Mystery Stories is a new collection of short stories by Elizabeth Elwood, whose murder mystery play, Casting for Murder, produced in the year 2000, was based on the lead story in this anthology. Elizabeth s extensive background in theatre, opera, education, politics, and arts administration has resulted in this light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining series of ten mystery stories which feature Bertram Beary, the feisty city councillor who was introduced in Casting for Murder, his opera-singing daughter, Philippa, and his detective inspector son, Richard. The stories combine the lively Vancouver musical theatre scene with the traditional British cozy. Witty, sophisticated, and cleverly developed, this anthology provides intriguing plots that will appeal to mystery lovers everywhere. Praise for Elizabeth Elwood's Work Of Renovations: A] delightful comedy with a dash of murder mystery thrown in for good measure Surrey Now Of Casting for Murder: G]ood dialogue, snappy one-liners suspense and surprises The Record A lively Vancouver family solves more than its share of murders. These ten lighthearted mystery stories feature Councillor Bertram Beary and his wife, who are reminiscent of Rumpole and his wife Hilda from the popular British television series, Rumpole of the Bailey. The classic murder mystery plots are reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen, and the charming, quirky Beary family make Elwood's stories enjoyable. -Kirkus Discoveries

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595344097
• ISBN13: 9780595344093
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Enjoyable Collection of Cozy Mysteries

There are few things I like more than a good short story, and if it's a mystery, even better. So when I came across Elizabeth Elwood's collection of mysteries, To Catch An Actress, I had to move it to the top of my TBR pile. Elwood sets her stories in Vancouver (my part of the world) and it was a treat to read about places I'd been to. Reminiscent of the cozy Rumpole series, each elegantly written story features opera singer, Philippa Beary and her police detective brother, Richard. A number of the stories also include her endearing and rather colourful parents. Elwood's operatic background provides readers with a detailed description of behind-the-scenes machinations of plays and operas, so opera and theatre buffs will especially enjoy this book. I truly enjoyed the relaxed, fun, atmosphere of this collection. It's a perfect read for these rainy winter nights.