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Murder at the Theatre Royale

The perfect murder mystery

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Murder at the Theatre Royale

By: Ada Moncrieff
Narrated by: Joan Walker
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

It's Christmas at London's Theatre Royale and journalist Daphne King is determined to solve an extraordinary mystery...

December 1935. Director Monty Harrison's production of A Christmas Carol has had a troubled run on its tour of regional theatres. With tensions amongst the cast running high, the company reach their final stop - London's Theatre Royale.

Catastrophe, however, strikes on opening night: Scrooge dies on stage, the result (it is presumed) of a heart attack. But the show must go on. Until, that is, a leading theatre critic - and old rival of Monty's - is killed backstage. Are those associated with the production being picked off one by one? Budding journalist Daphne King takes up the case...

© Ada Moncrieff 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Amateur Sleuths Cosy Detective Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Holidays Mystery Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Theatre Winter Christmas Heartfelt England Suspense

Critic reviews

(Praise for Murder Most Festive) If you're a fan of historical mysteries, then Murder Most Festive should be at the top of your to-read list
A lovely stocking-filler for theatre and murder mystery enthusiasts.
Theatrical festive escapism for fans of the golden age who like their crime set firmly in that time
A slow burner, full of red herrings and characters, and keeps you guessing till the end
All stars
Most relevant
Can’t review the story because I’ve returned it. Difficult to listen to because narrator rushes from one sentence to the next.

Poor narration

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A Christmas murder in a theatre is a well trodden setting for a whodunnit. Unfortunately this one merely goes through the motions. The classic big reveal in the end is anticlimactic given the thinness of the scandals to be revealed. the best whodunnits have several strands carefully interwoven, this really only had one strand a simple red herring that seemed tossed in at the last minute. if the actual murder is going to be thin there better be some good characterisation, but even Daphne the main character was just a mouthpiece for trotting the story along. We don't really get to know her as a person and what personality is revealed is an irritating self regard about how clever she is when the dull and obvious secrets she uncovers require little intellect at all.

I should mention that I have ADHD and at times found Joan Walker's narration too fast. it's a short novel anyway and there was no need to read it at such a clipped pace. I had to slow down the recording, but this brought without the annoyance of a slight slurring.

This is not a terrible audio book. but it's not good either.

Light to the point of not being there

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The narrator was trying too hard to be jaunty and it drove me nuts. I would have preferred it to be read without the annoying intonation.

Irritating voice.

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