Behind the curtain…

The latest of the British Library’s vintage crime anthologies, Final Acts contains fourteen stories all connected in some way to the theatre. There are on-stage murders, back-stage murders, off-stage murders! Lots of potential for disguises and make-up to fool the onlookers, and lots of dramatic reactions to events. And we all know about the loose morals of these actor types, so plenty of affairs, jealousies and betrayals to drive them all to become murderer or victim! I love the theatre as a setting for mysteries because the setting and characters are especially well suited to concealment and misdirection, and drama! What the audience sees is very different to the reality hidden behind the curtain.

There’s the usual mix of authors, some very well known, Dorothy L Sayers and Ngaio Marsh, some who have become regulars in these anthologies, such as AEW Mason and Julian Symons, and a sprinkling of ones who are new to me. Of the fourteen stories, I rated twelve as good or excellent, and the other two weren’t complete duds either. That makes this one of my mostly highly rated of these anthologies to date. There’s the usual introduction from Martin Edwards, and little bios of the various authors preceding each story (I always read these after I read the story, because very occasionally they can be a bit spoilery).

As usual, here’s a flavour of some of the ones I enjoyed most:

The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel by AEW Mason – A struggling young singer is tempted to steal a string of pearls, but when she sneaks into the hotel room of the lady who owns them, she finds men already there, burgling the room. They are dressed for the masked ball that is taking place in the hotel that night, so she is unable to describe them clearly. Inspector Hanaud of the French police is in London visiting his friend Ricardo, and becomes unofficially involved in the investigation which will take him into the world of opera. This is a fairly substantial story at around 50 pages, and I grow fonder of Hanaud and Ricardo each time I meet them. Neither of them is particularly able – Hanaud is one of these insufferable know-it-alls who is very mean to poor, pompous Ricardo. But there’s usually a lot of humour in the stories, the writing is very good, and this one is particularly well told, I think.

Blood Sacrifice by Dorothy L Sayers – Garrick Drury is an actor-manager, a great romantic lead with his finger on the pulse of what the public wants. John Scales’ first play is a dark and brooding tale of the degrading impact of war on his protagonist’s character. He’s thrilled when Drury contracts to produce and perform in the play, knowing this will bring him instant success. But the contract gives Drury the right to make alterations, and he turns the play into a romantic sob-fest with a happy ending. Scales grows to hate him… I’m not a fan of Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey books, but I must say her short stories are excellent. This one is a great story with strong characterisation and motivation, and her description of Garrick Drury made me laugh – “Mr. Drury (forty-two in the daylight, thirty-five in the lamplight and twenty-five or what you will in a blond wig and the spotlight) was well fitted by nature to acquire girls…”

The Blind Spot by Barry Perowne – Annixter, a playwright, is in a club getting drunk because a woman dumped him. It’s when he’s drunk that his best ideas for plays come to him, and tonight it happens – a wonderful idea for a locked room murder mystery. He tells a man in the club all about it, in the way drunks do, then walks outside and gets hit by a taxi. When he comes to, he remembers everything about his plot except the solution to how the locked room element was done. He begins to hunt for the stranger from the club, but the man seems reluctant to be found… I thought this was a fantastic story, one of the best short mystery stories I’ve ever read. It starts out full of humour, then gradually the tension mounts and the denouement is beautifully paced so that the reader gets there just before Annixter does. I’ve only read two stories by Perowne and loved them both – must seek out more!

The Thirteenth Knife by Bernard J Farmer – Simone is a knife-thrower and each night she performs in a club, throwing her thirteen knives at Jean, the waiter to whom she’s engaged. But she has attracted the unwanted attentions of another man – a rich man, who’s used to getting what he wants. This is a very short story, so that’s as much as I can say without spoilers, but it’s very effective and manages to create real tension in such a short space. And a nice little twist in the tail!

So lots of variety, and loads of enjoyable stories – highly recommended!

NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, the British Library.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com 2022 crime short-stories5 s Lisa Kucharski946

An enjoyable collection of short mysteries relating to the theatrical arts. Found some of these really interesting and some by authors I’ve not read before.

As with many of these collections there are some that I found better than others but overall really fun. Some also took on a macabre note: (In View of the Audience by Maguerite Steen, The Blind Spot by Barry Perowne, The Lady Who Laughed by Roy Vickers.)

The best thing about these British Crime Library Classics is that you can find out about all sorts of authors who really have not had their work re-printed for a long time. And you also can see some stories by authors you do would be practically impossible (from the GAD time period) today.

2 s Ellen997 7

Patchy. Some of these are really good but too many felt fillers.2 s Eric1,416 37

Crime/detective/mystery fiction is essentially theatrical, so it is unsurprising that this latest BLCC anthology, ably compiled by Martin Edwards, works rather well.

For the seasoned GADista, there are a few surprises and rare treats, while for the general reader there is comfort in well-known authors and stories of varied length. A useful new feature is the bold placing of the date of original publication of each item at the head of its individual introduction.

Sandwiched between a 1905 outing for Baroness Orczy's ever-welcome Old Man in the Corner and Christianna Brand's 1958 story with Inspector Cockrill in sardonic mode, are a further twelve tales from AEW Mason, Anthony Wynne, Marguerite Steen, DL Sayers, Brandon Fleming, Ernest Dudley, Barry Perowne, Ngaio Marsh, Roy Vickers, Bernard J Farmer, John Appleby and Julian Symons.

For me, some of the stories are very familiar, and the Mason is so readily-available that its inclusion, given its length, is a bit questionable. However there are starring roles by Barry Perowne, Marguerite Steen, and Roy Vickers which more than compensate for the odd hackneyed and lacklustre performance.

Overall, an enjoyable theatrical experience, recommended to newcomers and old hands a.2 s Phil Butcher543 3

A collection of short stories for the Golden Age of mystery writing all on the theme of theatres and performances. A mixed bag written between 1905 & 1958. The best in this collection come from Ngaio Marsh, Christianna Brand, Baroness Orczy & Roy Vickers.mystery-read1 Beth3,458 15

Renton Library Fiction

I these classic detective stores, mostly set in Britain, with valets and dinner dress and stuff. reading-my-library1 Sarah Black91

Interesting coefttnnmmm








But 1 Christine323 42

One of my personal reading challenges for 2023 is to read all the British Library Crime Classics titles and this is the first I have finished.

I very much enjoy short stories and there are several collections within the BLCC imprint; this particular collection is based around theatrical mysteries and, while quite enjoyable, is not the best of its kind. I very much enjoyed the Roy Vickers story and Christiana Brand finishes the collection off very nicely and one or two of the others are quite enjoyable but a good half seem rather perfunctory and others seem completely pointless.

Still not a bad introduction to the series, thoughgolden-age library-loan rc-20231 Julie761 14

Fourteen stories, fourteen mysteries are selected by Martin Edwards for publication in the British Library Crime Classics series in this excellent volume. other anthologies in the series they share a common theme, this time being theatrical settings. In his fascinating Introduction, Edwards considers why the theatre is such a popular background for tales of murder and mystery, and some of the authors who have seized on the theme for some of their most successful novels. These include Ngaio Marsh whose love of the theatrical world is well known, and Agatha Christie whose work was not only successful on stage but who enjoyed writing about actors in her mysteries, as did other authors who appreciated the skills they used when involved in deceit and trickery. Life backstage provides a rich setting for murder and mystery; Edwards mentions the clever “Measure for Murder” by Clifford Witting which I have reviewed, in which an amateur drama group becomes an enclosed community for mystery. These fourteen stories range from 1905 to 1958, arranged in chronological order, and Edwards writes a short Introduction to each author, giving an outline of their writing career and where the selected story appears in the context of their writing as a whole. Beginning with Baroness Orczy, and working through to the subtlety of Christianna Brand, this is a collection of brilliant tales of actors and actresses, writers and performers, murder and mysteries. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this exciting book.
other stories of theatrical life, there are many possibilities in the stage props, costumes and make up that feature in these stories. Giving the impression of opulence with simple tricks is a standby in several of these stories. Actors and actresses are desperate to make their mark, get the best parts, dominate the stage. Sometimes that prompts them to desperate action, and in the confusion of entrances and exits audiences and others can be fooled. Dorothy L Sayers writes of a former actress who observes carefully the comings and goings of a theatre, but she cannot predict the intricacies of feelings involved in the story “Blood Sacrifice”. Another desperate writer features in the chilling “The Blind Spot” by Barry Perowne from 1945. An ambitious friend gives Roderick Alleyn problems in Ngaio Marsh’s “I Can Find My Way Out”. Ernest Dudley’s “The Case of the Ventriloquist’s Doll” features his ongoing characters Doctor Morelle and Miss Frayle in quite a forensic case with a demanding theatrical client. John Appleby’s 1950 story “Drink for an Actor” is set in one of Shakespeare’s plays being performed and is a subtle question of motives. Christianna Brand’s story is also set in the highly charged world of backstage to a production of Othello, though the recounting of the case is also a fascinating element to cover in a short story length.
the other anthologies in the series, this collection serves as a taster or introduction to some lesser known authors whose books are being reissued. It also includes strong favourites indulging in the rich opportunities presented by the atmosphere of theatrical productions. Tricks and deceptions, impressions and literal acts can deceive both the amateur and professional detective, and all of these authors excel at literary sleight of hand. I found much to enjoy in this book, with all the stories being based on original ideas freely adapted even though the endings were frequently not traditional. This collection will appeal to not only the classic mystery reader, but also those who enjoy the glitter and deliberate deceit of the theatrical world.
Julie1,228

A strong collection of Golden Age crime fiction featuring the theatre and the amateurs and professionals who work there. There isn't a bad short story in this collection, but I felt that they got better and better as they proceeded. Among my favorites: "I Can Find My Way Out" by Ngaio Marsh, the New Zealand author who was also a theatre expert and professional, featuring her long-serving series detective, Inspector Roderick Alleyn; "The Thirteenth Knife" by Bernard J. Farmer, a very short story with a very clever twist in the final paragraph; "Drink for an Actor" by the relatively unknown John Appleby; "Credit to William Shakespeare" by crime fiction historian Julian Symons, in which the staging of Hamlet actually provides a clue to the murderer's identity; and "After the Event" by Christianna Brand, the plot of which is convoluted (in a good way) due to the tricks of costuming and makeup, as well as an excellent "Murder on the Orient Express"-style ensemble cast. I especially d the framing story in this last tale, where Brand's series detective, Inspector Cockrill, is told the story of the crime by "The Great Detective," an elderly, presumably retired inspector who solved the case but never able to come up with the proof.
Another excellent entry in the British Library Crime Classics series.british british-mystery british-police-procedural ...more Tina573

I don't always love mystery anthologies because they often seem to contain a lot of chaff. But Martin Edwards has (as expected!) put together a decent collection of vintage theatrical-themed mysteries. To be honest, what attracted me to the volume, aside from the subject matter, was the gorgeous cover art. BLCC always has wonderful covers, but this is the most stunning one I've seen.

The Dorothy Sayers story is head and shoulders above the rest--a good plot, but mostly she's by far the best writer in this group. The Brandon Fleming and Barry Perowne (both authors previously unknown to me) stories also were quite good. The only one I disd was the Ernest Dudley story, as it was distractingly mannered and overwritten; I'm sure it was done deliberately, to reflect the detective's character, but it irritated me.

This volume provided a decent diversion at a busy time! p.681 53

Perhaps not the most exciting addition to the series as most of the short stories failed to grab me, but I still had fun with it. It is interesting since it was what originally drew me to starting the series - I just could not resist the cover using Karl Friedrich Schinkel's stage design for Mozart's "The Magic Flute" - a personal favourite.

Favourite stories: "The Dancing Girl" by Anthony Wynne, "In View of the Audience" by Marguerite Steen, "Blood Sacrifice" by Dorothy L. Sayers, "The Case of The Ventriloquist's Doll" by Ernest Dudley, "The Blind Spot" by Barry Perowne, "The Lady Who Laughed" by Roy Vickers, "Drink for an Actor" by John Appleby and "After the Event" by Christianna Brand Zoe Radley1,254 19

I found this collection of tales of theatrical murder and mystery a bit hit and miss, sadly some just haven’t aged well and come across with a bit too much of the melodrama and a tad false in how it all gets tied up at the end. Some try to be too clever and some of the detectives are just as awful as the villains… the only really good stories that I thoroughly enjoyed was Dorothy L Sayers short and Nagaio Marsh’s one. The rest just fell a bit flat for me. But if you are into theatre and drama with a dash of murder this collection will be just right. Lynnie319 2

I've been dipping into this collection of theatrical mysteries throughout October. As with most of the British Library Crime anthologies that I've read, I seem to prefer the later stories! I especially d the last one by Christianna Brand which featured Inspector Cockrill. I also enjoyed muchly the ones by Roy Vickers, John Appleby, Bernard J. Farmer and Dorothy L. Sayers.

A couple of duds but overall an entertaining collection. british-library-crime read-in-2022 short-stories Peter43

Apparently it's extraordinarily difficult to write good mystery stories set in theatres - which is the organizing principle of the volume. Of the 14 stories here the ones by Barry Perowne, Dorothy Sayers, and Ngaio Marsh are best. Others are diverting before bed. But in all, I would not recommend reading this cover-to-cover, when there are so many other possibilities to choose from.1 Tuesdayschild819 9

A real collection of hits and misses in this collection, and as I was listening to this on audiobook I wasn't pausing to rate each story individually so decided to round it off at 3 stars overall.
I'm not sure I'll be listening right through this one again, but I was pleased to discovered new, to me, short stories from Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, and, Christiana Brand this listen through.2023-audio 2023-read 2023-selection ...more1 John28

Christiana Brand's story (After The Event), already appears in another collection (The Long Arm Of The Law). Other then that, I felt this to be an ok selection, with the standout in my opinion being: The Case Of The Ventriloquist Doll by Ernest Dudley.british-crime-classic-collections Winry Weiss96 1 follower

A decent anthology of mystery stories spanning from 1905 to 1958, connected (more or less) with the world on the stage. From theft to murder, both attempted and executed successfully in view of the audience, the usual mayhem of mystery stories is present, accentuated by the tantalising possibility of a once-in-a-lifetime performance of a master criminal. Sadly, the crème de la crème not always lives up to the high expectations, yet no story is a complete bore.

Baroness Orczy - The Affair at the Novelty Theatre - 3/5
Now, I could not shake off the feeling that I have read this particular story before. Perhaps it was another of the old man in the corner's armchair solutions I've come across. The solution is rather hypothetical, as it is wont to be, and overall it has a very "Mycroftian" feel.

A. E. W. Mason - The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel - 3/5
This one belongs to Inspector Hanaud series and it shows. It is a stand-alone novella, but it is painfully clear that there is some story preceding this one. Unfortunately, I found neither of the main characters very able. Nevertheless, it's got an interesting promise with several twists. Although the ending was a bit anticlimactic...

Anthony Wynne - The Dancing Girl - 4/5
Intriguing, perhaps a tad sexist, with lovely twists and turns. The deception paid out for me, as I did not expect the events to take such a turn. I also appreciate the intended use of a car - and not in the conventional sense of damaged brakes or running the victim over for the murder plot - a rare occurrence indeed.

Marguerite Steen - In View of the Audience - 4/5
Enjoyable to read, if a bit... more than a bit predictable. The atmosphere is pleasantly unsettling, and the abrupt ending only adds to it.

Dorothy L. Sayers - Blood Sacrifice - 5/5
The superb psychological piece, honestly by now I don't think that Sayers could ever disappoint in terms of detective fiction. Now I am rather interested in the Six Against the Yard anthology in which it was originally published.

Brandon Fleming - The Wrong Make-up - 2/5
The idea is not without intrigue, but... I found the style of the author lacking a certain, hm, ease, or shall I say, joy. It gives a bit of a clunky vibe, mainly because of the dry stylistic. That, I must admit, could be due to the stark contrast to the previous piece (which I personally consider the highlight of this collection).

Ernest Dudley - The Case of the Ventriloquist's Doll - 2/5
This piece belongs to Dr. Morelle Mystery Series, however, I severely did not any of the characters in this story. Adding the fact that the mystery itself was not much of a mystery in the end, I certainly don't feel even a bit tempted to explore this series further.

Barry Perowne - The Blind Spot - 5/5
Perrowne's interpretation of Raffles is on my to-read list for quite a time now, so I was glad to come across a short story of his in this anthology. What a gem. I enjoyed that it went almost exactly as I expected, yet that it still left me questioning the "how". The lack of actual explanation might be considered cheating by some, but I personally found it fitting to the theme and grimly satisfactory.

Ngaio Marsh - I can find my Way out - 4/5
Once again a complimentary piece to a longer series - Inspector Alleyn - and thus perhaps a bit confusing in some aspects. Nevertheless, it is a very solid story.

Roy Vickers - The Lady who Laughed - 5/5
One of the stories from The Department of Dead Ends - a clever, I even daresay inverted crime mystery. I usually do not fancy when I know the perpetrator from the very start but this was intriguing and finely written.

Bernard J. Farmer - The Thirteenth Knife - 5/5
Short but lovely. I especially appreciate the switch of the traditional roles - a female knife thrower and her charming male assistant.

John Appleby - Drink for an Actor - 5/5
I had a blast reading this. Sure, it's short, but it reads well and it had a turn (quite literally) I did not expect.

Julian Symons - Credit to William Shakespeare - 3/5
Similar theme as the previous one, but - in my opinion - not as well executed.

Christianna Brand - After the Event - 3/5
Interesting premise, but the structure of a story within a story did not sit exactly well with me in this particular case.

This collection does a splendid job of introducing readers to mystery authors from the "golden age" and beyond, some of them quite obscure nowadays, and thus to certain very fine and intriguing detective series.1841-1913 1914-1945 1946-1968 ...more Sue Foster407 3

A very good selection of theatre based or connected short stories.
The stories date from 1905 to 1958. Richie Bannister-Lowe 56

Love the stories in this anthology Andréa11.7k 108

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.arc british-isles classics ...more Christopher Law6

I've read most of the British Library Crime Classics but this was the weakest by a long way. Kim Campbell660 4

Enjoyable reading

The stories in this collection of theatrical mysteries make for an entertaining read. Some of are very similar in plot points but very different in outcome. 1930s Verity W3,286 28

This is another collection of classic crime short stories all set in or around theatres. I know I mention the BLCC stuff a lot - but usually in the context of the novels because I find the short story collections can be a bit patchy. But this one is a good one, with some big names you'll recognise including Dorothy L Sayers doing a not Wimsey story and Ngaio Marsh Alleyn short, and some smaller names you may have read full length novels from Christianna Brand.blcc kindle-unlimited Neena Hodigere16 1 follower

Wonderful compilation

I loved this collection of stories. Most of the authors were unknown to me and their stories were a delight to discover! India (IndiaReadsALot)489 25 Shelved as 'dnf'

DNF @ 42%

I'm normally a massive fan of the British Library's short story collections but this was a disappointment.2-star-books classics mystery ...more Jamie970 6

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