Death on the Pier is a delightful theatrical murder mystery by debut author Jamie West. Released 10th Oct 2022 by Brabinger, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
It's abundantly clear that the author has intimate background knowledge of the theatre world and the people who call the milieu home. He writes clearly and engagingly and the characters are three dimensional and the whole is a satisfying read.
I love the subgenre. Golden age is a definite plus for me (this one is set in interwar Brighton, 1933). This book is maybe a little more 'cozy' style than Marsh or Christie, but it was such a lovely read. The settings are well described and the plotting never dragged. I loved that the actual stage itself is the scene-of-the-crime. Although it's not at all derivative, there are such lovely Inspector Alleyn at the theatre vibes; in this case it's playwright Bertie Carroll as sleuth, assisting Hugh, an old school chum, and now serving as an inspector with Scotland Yard.
This is the first in a series, and there are definite foreshadowings of a more romantic relationship between Hugh and Bertie, but nothing explicit or overwrought. The release date for the second book has not been publicly announced at this point, so presumably late 2023 at the earliest.
Four and a half stars. Looking forward to what is in store for this series.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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