Stagestruck

By Peter Lovesey

"Lovesey is a wizard at mixing character-driven comedy with realistic-to-grim suspense. And in a writing career spanning four decades, he has created a stylish and varied body of work." —The Wall Street Journal

Pop diva, Clarion Calhoun, has packed the house with a celebrity appearance in Bath's Theatre Royal production of I Am a Camera.  But within moments of her much-anticipated onstage appearance, she's pulled out of character as she screams and claws at her face. 

When tainted stage makeup is found to have caused the disfiguring burn, fingers point to her makeup artist.  Detective Peter Diamond investigates when the makeup artist is found dead, pushed from a catwalk far above the stage.  As Diamond digs deeper, he uncovers rivalries among the cast and crew and is forced to confront his own mysterious and deep-seated theatre phobia to find the killer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jun 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781569479483

Peter Lovesey

Peter Lovesey is a British writer of detective fiction. His work has won many awards, most notably the CWA Gold and Silver Daggers, the Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement, as well as the Macavity, Barry and Anthony Awards.

Reviews for Stagestruck

[deaconbernie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was unique in my experience. It was a murder mystery but with no murder until the last fifth of the book. Indeed, the mystery was is there a mystery? As usual, Lovesey has several side stories which take up space and attention but which don't advance the real story. Even so, even the side stories are done in typical Lovesey fashion. Back to the library for more volumes.

[fhudnell-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this book, a fading pop star is taking her first stab at acting when she is assaulted at the theater. The ensuing case involves murder, suicide, a stage ghost and backstage intrigue. There are multiple suspects and I couldn't guess the ending. The detective put in charge of the case also has to contend with tracking down the source of his own theater phobia.I've always liked books in which the plot incorporates a theater setting and I needed to take a break from grittier books. Lovesey's police procedurals lean towards the cozier side of mysteries. I find them reliably entertaining, if somewhat formulaic.

[macabr_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Clarion Calhoun is a rock star whose concerts filled stadiums. She has performed live and loved every minute of it. But...rock stars age and fans can be fickle, so it is sometimes necessary to get a name back in lights in an unexpected way. Clarion Calhoun is a rock star whose curriculum vitae includes "stage training", although the where and the when of this training is lost in the fog of selected publicity.The vehicle Clarion chooses as a showcase for her talent is I Am A Camera, the play upon which Caberet is based. There isn't any singing in the play but Clarion is convinced that she has the acting ability to produce a better than good Sally Bowles. The venue she chooses is the venerable and well thought of Bath Theatre Royal, a stage that has seen actors the calibre of Ralph Richardson, Joan Plowright, and Alec Guinness. Clarion believes absolutely that she is their equal. That the run of the play is sold out convinces the actress, the director, and the trustees of the theatre of Clarion's popularity and ability to generate money.Everything is pointing to the great success of the run, financially and theatrically, until dress rehearsal when a significant problem appears. People had taken Clarion's word and that of her manager, Tilda Box, that Clarion is a natural to play Sally Bowles. She has the poise, the charisma, the stage presence to pull off the character. And, yet, the minute she says her first line it is immediately obvious that what she doesn't have is acting ability. Clarion couldn't make it in an elementary school play. The reputations of the theatre people who have been selling her to the public are going to suffer considerably.There is nothing that can be done to keep Clarion from being center stage opening night and those who know the disaster that is Clarion the actress have to hope that not everyone walks out. The play has barely started when, instead of reciting her first line, the star of the show begins screaming and tearing at her face. Somehow, in some way, a caustic substance has been applied to Clarion's face and deep burns show immediately.The case doesn't, at first, appear to be something the police need to be involved with but CID Superintendent Peter Diamond is called to the office of the Assistant Chief Constable, Georgina Dallymorek and told he needs to clear things up at the Bath Theatre Royal. Dallymore is a member of BLOG, the Bath Light Opera Group, and she has just won a part, albeit in the chorus, in Sweeney Todd. The Theatre Royal is their venue and problems need to be resolved quickly so rehearsals can begin when I Am A Camera ends its run. And, as a sort of "by the way", Georgina tells Diamond that Horatio Dawkins, the newly promoted sergeant who has been foisted on Diamond and his team, is the "movement" director of the play. In other words, Georgina will not listen to any complaints about Dawkins. Diamond immediately responds by naming the new member of the team Fred, a name Dawkins knows he better learn to answer to.Diamond gets a lesson in all things Bath Royal Theatre from Titus O'Driscoll, the dramaturge (the person responsible for the research and development of plays [ I had not come across that word before]). Titus is a wealth of information about the physical layout of the theatre including the location of the dressing rooms and the way in which that impacts on the movements of the actors. He knows every person involved in the production of I Am A Camera from director to stage hands. It is clear that Clarion's make-up was tampered with and the most likely person to have access to that is Denise Pearsall, the dresser. Most theatre people are proficient in applying their own stage make-up but Clarion is a newcomer and Denise is assigned the job of getting her ready to go under the lights. There is also Gisella Watling, the understudy who is so good in the role that someone from the National Theatre is coming to assess her talent. It doesn't seem that Denise has anything to gain by harming Clarion but Gisella does.Titus also gives Diamond a history of the myths and superstitions of the theatre. Titus has an extreme reaction to the sight of a dead tortoiseshell butterfly. The butterfly is an omen that something terrible is going to happen. Then there is the resident ghost, the gray lady, who is often seen in one of the boxes that overlooks the stage.This is the twelfth book in the Peter Diamond series, everyone solid in details and very enjoyable to read. Diamond isn't as crass as Reginald Hill's Andy Dalziel nor does he have a sidekick like Peter Pascoe. But Diamond's team are good cops and loyal to their boss and Diamond takes care to keep them safe as they work their jobs. The only thing that keeps this from being a five star entry is that it isn't hard to figure out the villain but it is a very good book. Those who haven't met Peter Diamond are in for a treat.

[boppie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

another excellent Peter Diamond mystery, and a little more humanity showing, a little less curmudgeon. And what a surprise ending!

[freecyclor · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is well written and has an ingenious plot, but could not manage to sustain my interest. The kind of tension that has me carrying a book around and sneaking a quick read at odd moments just wasn't there. I kept putting it down and forgetting about it for several days. The minor thread of the detective's phobia provided a novel complication, but his instant recovery after tracking down the cause, while amusing, was very improbable. I don't think it works quite like that. The descriptions of the theater and the customs and superstitions that it had accumulated were vivid enough to make it one of the major characters in the book. The only other interesting characters were Titus O'Driscoll, the dramaturge (I had to look that up!), and possibly the cow. Diehard Lovesey fans will probably enjoy this fair play book as one in the series, but it was not to my taste.*I received a free copy of this book for review.*

[scrabblenut · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do enjoy Peter Lovesey's clear writing and sense of humour. The story gives a behind the scenes look at the running of a theatre when a puzzling incident happens on opening night. The female lead, a pop star in decline, rather than an actor, starts screaming and clawing at her face before she can deliver her first line, and is carted off to the hospital. Peter Diamond has to face his irrational fear of theatres and investigate the incident. The story is full of quirky but authentic characters, and the reader is kept guessing until the very end. At first I felt a bit cheated by the ending, but on reflection the clues were there, and the motivations for the crimes made sense, so I really can't ask for more in a mystery.

[romonko · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Peter Diamond, and it's been awhile since I've had the pleasure of reading him. This latest addition in the series is a good place for a newbie to get acquainted with him. This book will stand alone on its own merits and you don't have to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one. But I will warn you that once you've sampled Diamond you'll be heading straight for the backlist books. Diamond is a copper's copper-a little gruff round the edges, tough as old boots and a curmudgeon. He does have a very appealing lighter side to him that surfaces regularly. In this book we see a side of Diamond that we haven't seen before-a vulnerable side which is brought to light by his many forced trips to the theatre. All the bad stuff happens within the walls of the famed Bath Theatre Royal. And be prepared, there are so many red-herrings about that a careless reader will fall victim and trip over some if not all of them. When the real killer is unmasked, it came as a real surprise to me. I love Mr. Lovesey's writing. His prose is actually quite wonderful and his characterizations are so realistic. I'm so happy to reacquaint with the priceless Peter Diamond.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Peter Lovesey is a much loved author and STAGESTRUCK came up to expectations.As always there's much more seething just under the surface than the initial scenario and STAGESTRUCK is a cautionary tale for artistic impresarios who decide they want to change horses.In #11 in the Peter Diamond series, the head of Bath's CID is still at the mercy of Georgina Dallymore, the assistant chief constable, who has recently joined BLOGS (the Bath Light Operatic Group) and has a personal interest in anything related to the Theatre Royal. She foists Sergeant Horatio Dawkins, dance tutor to BLOGS, on to the CID team much to Diamond's dismay. But Dawkins has hidden talents.STAGESTRUCK will particularly appeal to those who have attended performances in the Theatre Royal, exploring back stage workings, and theatre hoodoos such as the grey ghost and dead butterflies. But wound through it all is a cleverly and tightly written plot, two deaths, and a range of believable characters. And throughout, Peter Diamond is trying to discover what event in his past gave him an aversion to theatres.

[downtownlibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A most satisfactory British mystery.

[devenish_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After reading the less than thrilling 'Skeleton Hill' I was pleased to find in 'Stagestruck' that Peter Lovesey was on top form. Taking place mainly within the Theatre Royal,Bath,this is an atmospheric thriller of the best sort.A faded,female pop star is bough in to play the part of Sally Bowles in the production of 'I Am A Camera' by Christopher Isherwood.She is nervous and unsure of herself as this is her first important acting role. Shortly after appearing onstage on the first night,she screams and rushes off. It transpires that caustic soda has been added to her makeup and has badly burned he face and neck.The police are called in and Peter Diamond arrives to take charge of the investigation. Shortly after the dresser who applied the makeup falls (or jumps)to her death. Does this tie up the case or does it not ? You will have to read the book and find out.

[4hounds · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one for the characters, even though the one character annoyed me almost as much as he did Diamond. The murderer's rationale (and even existence) didn't seem realistic, but I liked it anyway.

[cfk_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More than enough twists and turns plus enough vulnerability in lead character to make this one a winner!

[brianewilliams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A chatty traditional British police procedural crime novel. Good but not spectacular. Despite that this series is one to follow.

[cameling_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amidst the many police procedurals that grace the bookshelves in bookstores the world over, Peter Lovesey, brings into our lives thrilling stories with subtle lessons. In this novel, a fading rock star climbs the boards to make her debut as an actress in a play, but on opening night, before she's even on stage for more than a few minutes, she grimaces, claws at her face and falls to the ground, screaming. It's not part of the act, her face was being eroded by acid in her make up. As evidence continues to point to tainted make up, her make up artist is found dead in an apparent suicide.Inspector Peter Diamond and his team has to try to resolve the mystery with the added challenge of his having had to accept a new team member from beat. But where everyone seems willing to accept the immediate and obvious evidence, Inspector Diamond nurses concerns that it's just too simple. He continues to seek to understand and that's the lesson that's woven through this book, that while it's easier to take the obvious route, it may not be the right route, and that if one were to persevere, you will find yourself on the right route and the right answers.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Very disappointing - I have enjoyed all of Lovesey's previous novels featuring the querulous Peter Diamond, but this one fell lamentably short of the high standard set by its predecessors.