Stage Fright

Cassandra James in Cambridge #2

by Christine Poulson

During her maternity leave, Cambridge academic Cassandra James gets involved in a production of EAST LYNNE. There is as much drama behind the scenes as there is on stage. The director is desperate to revive his flagging career. The maker of a fly-on-the-wall documentary is equally desperate to launch his. The crisis is reached when the leading lady disappears before the first night. Cassandra thinks it is more than stage fright, for Melissa has left six-month-old Agnes behind. Cassandra’s struggles to uncover the truth lead her deeper and deeper in a maze of illusion and deceit. Someone close at hand is not what they seem. Cassandra and her baby are in grave danger . . .

Genres: Mystery, British Literature

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Christine Poulson was born and brought up in North Yorkshire, England. She is now a research fellow at the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies at Sheffield University and chair of the William Morris Society. She has written widely on 19th-century art and literature, and her most recent work of non-fiction was a book on Arthurian legend in British art from 1840 to 1920. She lives with her family in a water mill in Derbyshire, England.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the story takes in Cambridge the author makes little use of the setting. For the most part I found the book quite irritating, especially the constantly screaming babies. The author creates suspense by putting children and young mothers at risk instead of developing an intelligent plot line.

[Debbie Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is based in in England, the main character is a 19th century lit professor, and the characters are brought together by a poduction of a victorian melodrama that ends up mirroring real life. It is a very unusual mystery!

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the descriptions of Cambridge and the Fens and the main character is interesting. The mystery was not as strong as the background but pretty good.