All the World's a Stage (Comeback Trail #3)

The entertaining Comeback Trail trilogy by Guy Hale is based on an original and fascinating premise. I was delighted to receive copies of all three novels in return for an honest review. In the first novel, Killing Me Softly, unsuccessful singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne is scratching out a living in a run-down Nevada casino. The only joy in Jimmy’s sordid life comes from his love affair with funny, smart Wendy. One morning he wakes up after a bender to find that he has accidentally killed Wendy and also written his best song ever. Wendy appears to Jimmy as a ghost and convinces him that the act of murder inspires him to create his finest music. He never plans to kill people, they just seem to present themselves for slaughter while his career soars. Fortunately, except for Wendy, Jimmy’s victims are very bad people.

In the second novel of the trilogy, Blood on the Tracks, Jimmy comes to terms with his dual status as inadvertent serial killer and supernatural songwriter. He heads for LA to make an album which he hopes will make him a star. After he gets involved with crime boss Jack Lantern the killing spree continues, and the hits roll in. Hale’s writing style is confident, relaxed and humorous, and the plot is unpredictable. There are many quirky characters, including mystical John, Jimmy’s sidekick Kid, sophisticated David and murderous Ma Lantern.

All the World’s a Stage, the final instalment of The Comeback Trail trilogy, follows Jimmy Wayne on a major tour of Europe. While Jimmy's fame is reaching dizzying heights, Jack Lantern and his associates are busy planning his destruction. Jimmy's adventures in Europe have attracted the attention of crime families in London, Paris, Italy and Spain, and everyone is after his blood. From recovering stolen artwork to Ma Lantern’s romantic escapades, the mayhem of Jimmy’s whirlwind tour threatens him with death or exposure.

I enjoyed the twisty, imaginative plot, the wisecracks and and humour in The Comeback Trail trilogy. Trigger warning - there are some violent episodes in All the World’s a Stage. They are tongue in cheek - with other body parts also ending up in unexpected places. These passages were rather too bloody for my taste, but readers with a dark sense of humour will fall about laughing. I look forward to reading Guy Hale’s next novel. All the World's A Stage