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Kate Shackleton #9
Death in the Stars
Yorkshire, 1927. Eclipse fever grips the nation, and when beloved theatre star Selina Fellini approaches trusted sleuth Kate Shackleton to accompany her to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel, Kate suspects an ulterior motive.
During the eclipse, Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt disappears and is later found dead in the chapel grounds. Kate can't help but dig deeper and soon learns that two other members of the theatre troupe died in similarly mysterious circumstances in the past year. With the help of Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden, Kate sets about investigating the deaths - and whether there is a murderer in the company.
When Selina's elusive husband Jarrod, injured in the war and subject to violent mood swings, comes back on the scene, Kate begins to imagine something far deadlier at play, and wonders just who will be next to pay the ultimate price for fame . . .
During the eclipse, Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt disappears and is later found dead in the chapel grounds. Kate can't help but dig deeper and soon learns that two other members of the theatre troupe died in similarly mysterious circumstances in the past year. With the help of Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden, Kate sets about investigating the deaths - and whether there is a murderer in the company.
When Selina's elusive husband Jarrod, injured in the war and subject to violent mood swings, comes back on the scene, Kate begins to imagine something far deadlier at play, and wonders just who will be next to pay the ultimate price for fame . . .
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 5, 2017
133 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Frances Brody
45 books668 followersFrances Brody's highly-praised 1920s mysteries feature clever and elegant Kate Shackleton, First World War widow turned sleuth. Missing person? Foul play suspected? Kate's your woman. For good measure, she may bring along ex-policeman, Jim Sykes.
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
April 29, 2018
This one was slow. S.L.O.W. From the first chapter I felt like I had been dropped in mid-context with no back story to go on. And again, it almost seems as if Kate is a cardboard cut-out... or a Manny Piccolo as in the story... without a life spark of her own. I really wish Brody would relax her grip on Kate and let us see her emote a little bit. She is extremely starched, especially as compared to Sykes and Sugden. The story is predictable in the extreme and just plodded along, but I'm a fan, so what can I say. I finished. But I wasn't thrilled.
October 7, 2017
Death in the Stars is the third book I have read in the series and now I feel that I've gotten to know the main characters pretty well. I find this series to be an excellent cozy mystery series to read. For me who usually read crime and thrillers is a cozy mystery book now and then the perfect kind of book to read when I feel that I want a genre change. And, on the plus side are the books in this series stand-alone so it's piece a cake reading a book without having read any of the previous ones.
This book starts off with Kate being contacted by theatre star Selina Fellini who wants Kate's company to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel to see the eclipse. However, Kate suspects that Selina has another reason for contacting her. Kate later learners that Selina is worried about some deaths around her that have occurred during the year and when Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt is found dead does it seem that Selina may be right...
For much of the book does it seem that there is no connection between the deaths. That there is no foul play at all. I mean there seems to be no motive, and the two death's in the past have been ruled accidental. However, Kate is not one to give up, she will dig until she finds out the truth.
Death in the Stars is the kind of book that doesn't rush the story, there are a lot of characters, but not at all hard to keep apart and personally I love the ending, made me think of how in the end Poirot (the tv-series since I haven't read the books) would gather all the suspects to deliver the verdict. Death in the Stars is a good book and I quite enjoyed reading it!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book for an honest review!
This book starts off with Kate being contacted by theatre star Selina Fellini who wants Kate's company to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel to see the eclipse. However, Kate suspects that Selina has another reason for contacting her. Kate later learners that Selina is worried about some deaths around her that have occurred during the year and when Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt is found dead does it seem that Selina may be right...
For much of the book does it seem that there is no connection between the deaths. That there is no foul play at all. I mean there seems to be no motive, and the two death's in the past have been ruled accidental. However, Kate is not one to give up, she will dig until she finds out the truth.
Death in the Stars is the kind of book that doesn't rush the story, there are a lot of characters, but not at all hard to keep apart and personally I love the ending, made me think of how in the end Poirot (the tv-series since I haven't read the books) would gather all the suspects to deliver the verdict. Death in the Stars is a good book and I quite enjoyed reading it!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy of the book for an honest review!
August 13, 2018
3 stars for mystery
5 stars for historical detail
It's autumn 1927 and Kate Shackleton is surprised to be invited to an eclipse viewing party with the famous variety show singer Selina Fellini. Selina asks Kate to make travel arrangements but feels uneasy about the day. Kate can't quite figure out what Selina wants from her exactly but agrees to go along to a party with Selina's artiste friends and to Giggleswick School for support. As the nation gears up for the total eclipse of the sun, Selina's co-star Billy Moffatt is hoping the sky will be cloudy to feed his maudlin jokes. During the eclipse viewing Billy disappears and is later found collapsed, near death on the school grounds. Selina is distraught and overwhelmed by events but the show must go on. Kate agrees to stay with Billy and watches him pass away. The doctor is prepared to write off the death as a heart attack but Kate isn't so sure, especially since Selina had mentioned two earlier suspicious deaths within the company. Then Selina's veteran husband Jarrod disappears and some fear his violent mood swings may have led him to kill anyone whom he perceived as a rival. With a new junior temporary assistant and Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes at home sleuthing for Kate, she's determined to figure out exactly who wanted the curtain closed on Billy.
The who was pretty obvious to me. I had two chief suspects and when one was eliminated I knew it was the other. I wasn't 100% positive but Kate should have been thinking along the same lines. A major clue was dropped at the end that led her to realize WHY Billy died. That came as a surprise. I had also come up with some alternate theories that didn't seem to cross Kate's mind. I was a bit disappointed in her. This book also features minimal action and a lot of dialogue. This is really the first book in the series I didn't have to skip to the end to figure out what happened.
Where this book shines is the historical detail. For the first time we have a definite time/place setting that can't be anywhere else. The roaring 20s are not really my thing but through Kate's interactions with the artistes and their circle, I realize that the roaring 20s were roaring to forget the horrors of war. The details about the eclipse, the eclipse viewing party, variety shows and moving pictures are all incredible. There is some dialogue about moving pictures with sound never catching on and apparently a movie is in the works with someone Al... something where he sings in the picture is a bit too wink wink for me. It was enough to say Rodney says motion pictures are soon to include sound. I know my history thanks. The author did a better job with the finer details of setting her story in northern England in 1927. I really liked all the facts woven into the story. The only other thing, besides the weak mystery, I didn't like at all was the shades of Phantom of the Opera plot: disfigured man who doesn't like to wear his half mask hides out in the underground tunnels underneath a theater where he write songs and sneaks in to see woman he loves.
Kate is still rather unemotional. There's not much in the way of a personal subplot here. I would have liked some reflection on what if her husband had come home. Would he be like Jerrod or Billy or Marco? Would he turn to cocaine to forget? Kate does seem to have come to terms with her adoption. She has two families: her parents who raised her and Mary Jane, Harriet, Austin and the baby. She doesn't seem to have a relationship with her birth mother. Harriet is as irrepressible as ever. I don't blame her for being mad at her mom but knowing her mom's history, I don't want her going to work at 15 either. I think she's just being a teenager. Mrs. Sugden and Mr. Sykes don't provide any humor but they do take an active role in the investigation. Mrs. Sugden even gets in some research. I liked having her more involved and also having Sykes soften up a bit.
There are tons of new characters here. Selina Fellini is a superstar yet she's lovely. She has never forgotten her humble beginnings as the daughter of an Italian immigrant ice cream maker. Naturally I liked her story very much. I'm not sure how sincere she is or if she's really as naive as she seems or if she just sticks with the familiar and comfortable. She refuses to acknowledge the gossip that Billy is her lover. Kate suspects he is but I don't think so. I think Selina just needs a man in her orbit and Billy happens to be the man of the moment. I didn't much care for his sarcastic, maudlin sense of humor. I didn't really understand it. He seems to have been bipolar as well. His death is tragic and he didn't deserve to die even though I disliked him.
I also really disliked Beryl, Selina's dresser and surrogate mother. Though they are apparently the same age, Beryl acts like a little old lady and works hard to keep the star in superstar condition. That sometimes may mean doing things against Selina's wishes or possibly even evil like murder hangers-on. Maybe. Trotter Brockett, the manager of the theater troupe, is another character I disliked. He is too into self-promotion and reminded me of a used car salesman. The final suspects include Selina's own family. Her husband Jerrod is suffering with PTSD and pain from his war wounds. There's indication that something else is going on but I'm not sure what. He's also a tortured musical genius-again shades of Phantom of the Opera. Jerrod suffers from Mommy issues as well. His mother is a bit of a nightmare. She hates Selina and I suspect she fills her son's ears with poisonous words about Selina. I possibly suspect her of murder.
The rest of the company is made up of variety acts past and present. In the past there was Dougie Dog who died tragically when a tram hit him and Floyd Lloyd, a ventriloquist. Here we have an audition show for Britain's Got Talent! Neither man deserved to die. Floyd left a wife and granddaughter to fend for themselves doing sweatshop piecework and Douglas Dougan left behind his beloved dogs. Did they commit suicide or was it murder? In the present company there is a musician Maurice Montague who seems like a bit of a drama queen. I'm not sure I liked him. There are some cocaine taking dancers, a strongman, acrobats and circus type acts. They are all struggling with the changing taste in talent coming with the advent of the radio and movies. I feel very sorry for them that their way of life is changing yet none of them were all that likable. The one act I did like was Sandy Sechrest, the memory lady. My memory isn't quite that good but I know what I'd be doing if I lived back then! I wanted to like her even though she is aloof and sees through Jim's attempts to trick her into revealing information. Too bad she may be a murderer!
If you liked the previous book set in the theater world, you'll enjoy this one more. The descriptions are richer, fuller and you feel like you're there in the 1920s vaudeville theater world. If you're looking for a tight mystery that is tough to guess, look somewhere else.
5 stars for historical detail
It's autumn 1927 and Kate Shackleton is surprised to be invited to an eclipse viewing party with the famous variety show singer Selina Fellini. Selina asks Kate to make travel arrangements but feels uneasy about the day. Kate can't quite figure out what Selina wants from her exactly but agrees to go along to a party with Selina's artiste friends and to Giggleswick School for support. As the nation gears up for the total eclipse of the sun, Selina's co-star Billy Moffatt is hoping the sky will be cloudy to feed his maudlin jokes. During the eclipse viewing Billy disappears and is later found collapsed, near death on the school grounds. Selina is distraught and overwhelmed by events but the show must go on. Kate agrees to stay with Billy and watches him pass away. The doctor is prepared to write off the death as a heart attack but Kate isn't so sure, especially since Selina had mentioned two earlier suspicious deaths within the company. Then Selina's veteran husband Jarrod disappears and some fear his violent mood swings may have led him to kill anyone whom he perceived as a rival. With a new junior temporary assistant and Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes at home sleuthing for Kate, she's determined to figure out exactly who wanted the curtain closed on Billy.
The who was pretty obvious to me. I had two chief suspects and when one was eliminated I knew it was the other. I wasn't 100% positive but Kate should have been thinking along the same lines. A major clue was dropped at the end that led her to realize WHY Billy died. That came as a surprise. I had also come up with some alternate theories that didn't seem to cross Kate's mind. I was a bit disappointed in her. This book also features minimal action and a lot of dialogue. This is really the first book in the series I didn't have to skip to the end to figure out what happened.
Where this book shines is the historical detail. For the first time we have a definite time/place setting that can't be anywhere else. The roaring 20s are not really my thing but through Kate's interactions with the artistes and their circle, I realize that the roaring 20s were roaring to forget the horrors of war. The details about the eclipse, the eclipse viewing party, variety shows and moving pictures are all incredible. There is some dialogue about moving pictures with sound never catching on and apparently a movie is in the works with someone Al... something where he sings in the picture is a bit too wink wink for me. It was enough to say Rodney says motion pictures are soon to include sound. I know my history thanks. The author did a better job with the finer details of setting her story in northern England in 1927. I really liked all the facts woven into the story. The only other thing, besides the weak mystery, I didn't like at all was the shades of Phantom of the Opera plot: disfigured man who doesn't like to wear his half mask hides out in the underground tunnels underneath a theater where he write songs and sneaks in to see woman he loves.
Kate is still rather unemotional. There's not much in the way of a personal subplot here. I would have liked some reflection on what if her husband had come home. Would he be like Jerrod or Billy or Marco? Would he turn to cocaine to forget? Kate does seem to have come to terms with her adoption. She has two families: her parents who raised her and Mary Jane, Harriet, Austin and the baby. She doesn't seem to have a relationship with her birth mother. Harriet is as irrepressible as ever. I don't blame her for being mad at her mom but knowing her mom's history, I don't want her going to work at 15 either. I think she's just being a teenager. Mrs. Sugden and Mr. Sykes don't provide any humor but they do take an active role in the investigation. Mrs. Sugden even gets in some research. I liked having her more involved and also having Sykes soften up a bit.
There are tons of new characters here. Selina Fellini is a superstar yet she's lovely. She has never forgotten her humble beginnings as the daughter of an Italian immigrant ice cream maker. Naturally I liked her story very much. I'm not sure how sincere she is or if she's really as naive as she seems or if she just sticks with the familiar and comfortable. She refuses to acknowledge the gossip that Billy is her lover. Kate suspects he is but I don't think so. I think Selina just needs a man in her orbit and Billy happens to be the man of the moment. I didn't much care for his sarcastic, maudlin sense of humor. I didn't really understand it. He seems to have been bipolar as well. His death is tragic and he didn't deserve to die even though I disliked him.
I also really disliked Beryl, Selina's dresser and surrogate mother. Though they are apparently the same age, Beryl acts like a little old lady and works hard to keep the star in superstar condition. That sometimes may mean doing things against Selina's wishes or possibly even evil like murder hangers-on. Maybe. Trotter Brockett, the manager of the theater troupe, is another character I disliked. He is too into self-promotion and reminded me of a used car salesman. The final suspects include Selina's own family. Her husband Jerrod is suffering with PTSD and pain from his war wounds. There's indication that something else is going on but I'm not sure what. He's also a tortured musical genius-again shades of Phantom of the Opera. Jerrod suffers from Mommy issues as well. His mother is a bit of a nightmare. She hates Selina and I suspect she fills her son's ears with poisonous words about Selina. I possibly suspect her of murder.
The rest of the company is made up of variety acts past and present. In the past there was Dougie Dog who died tragically when a tram hit him and Floyd Lloyd, a ventriloquist. Here we have an audition show for Britain's Got Talent! Neither man deserved to die. Floyd left a wife and granddaughter to fend for themselves doing sweatshop piecework and Douglas Dougan left behind his beloved dogs. Did they commit suicide or was it murder? In the present company there is a musician Maurice Montague who seems like a bit of a drama queen. I'm not sure I liked him. There are some cocaine taking dancers, a strongman, acrobats and circus type acts. They are all struggling with the changing taste in talent coming with the advent of the radio and movies. I feel very sorry for them that their way of life is changing yet none of them were all that likable. The one act I did like was Sandy Sechrest, the memory lady. My memory isn't quite that good but I know what I'd be doing if I lived back then! I wanted to like her even though she is aloof and sees through Jim's attempts to trick her into revealing information. Too bad she may be a murderer!
If you liked the previous book set in the theater world, you'll enjoy this one more. The descriptions are richer, fuller and you feel like you're there in the 1920s vaudeville theater world. If you're looking for a tight mystery that is tough to guess, look somewhere else.
September 14, 2025
It pains me to give this book a lower rating than previous instalments but it is not up to scratch. Here is my unabridged review which you can read at your leisure: "The idea for this story sounded good, with its theme of a once-in-a-lifetime look at a solar eclipse (there are different types of eclipse, total, partial, annular) and I went along with the elaborate preparations for safe viewing, hopefully no clouds, just thousands of people with eclipse fever seeking the best nighttime vantage points etc, etc, but it was all mundane window-dressing for a rather mundane mystery. Kate flies into Giggleswick School which I thought was a bit flash but she knows the pilot and is accompanied by a beautiful theatre star Selina Fellini and her entourage minus her erratic husband and prickly mother-in-law. During the solar eclipse viewing one of the visitors is found dead. A very convoluted search for the killer ensures over the entire book, from live theatre to cosy pubs, police to drug analysis (which Kate hinders) and input from Sykes that was rather unhelpful in the long run. Classic Mrs Sugden is usually making tea and buttering bread when the phone rings. Briefly Harriet gets a mention and Sookie the cat has more kittens on the way."
"The deterioration of the traditional work of British theatre performers is shown; think Memory Woman, songstress, ventriloquist dummy, dogs and ponies on stage. Then, of course, the looming shadow of the Talkies, movies in colour and the ultimate in-house convenience of television. With more ups and downs than a rollercoaster to the point of ridiculous behaviour by almost everyone involved in this story, Kate Shackleton allows herself to be lead into a particularly weird situation and one not suitable for claustrophobics. Favourite quote “The foolscap sheet on which Mr Duffield’s assistant had manually typed the articles regarding the deaths of Douglas Dougan and Floyd Lloyd lay on the table by the sugar basin.” The second half of the book is mostly dialogue and Kate is starchy. I really needed emotions showing on faces, body language, personal gestures to get fully involved. All in all I found this tale touched on some important health issues but ended up making them shallow."
Read for Twelve Crime Novels, one a month with Goodreads Aussie Lovers of Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Annual Series Challenge 2025. Three books to go!
"The deterioration of the traditional work of British theatre performers is shown; think Memory Woman, songstress, ventriloquist dummy, dogs and ponies on stage. Then, of course, the looming shadow of the Talkies, movies in colour and the ultimate in-house convenience of television. With more ups and downs than a rollercoaster to the point of ridiculous behaviour by almost everyone involved in this story, Kate Shackleton allows herself to be lead into a particularly weird situation and one not suitable for claustrophobics. Favourite quote “The foolscap sheet on which Mr Duffield’s assistant had manually typed the articles regarding the deaths of Douglas Dougan and Floyd Lloyd lay on the table by the sugar basin.” The second half of the book is mostly dialogue and Kate is starchy. I really needed emotions showing on faces, body language, personal gestures to get fully involved. All in all I found this tale touched on some important health issues but ended up making them shallow."
Read for Twelve Crime Novels, one a month with Goodreads Aussie Lovers of Crime/Mystery/Thriller/Suspense Annual Series Challenge 2025. Three books to go!
October 3, 2017
I adore Frances Brody's Kate Shackleton series and am always looking toward the new release. "Death at the Stars" is already the 9th book in the series, however it can easily be read as a stand - alone, and it is also the perfect book to start the series if you haven't read the previous books yet.
This book is written in the same, gentle way that Frances Brody has got me used to. The narration is engaging and rich, and the author tangled and muddled the facts in such a clever way, adding tips but also complicating things, and I found myself suspecting every single character in the book - and I think it is a sign of a great author to be able to complicate the things but not overdo them, to throw red herrings at the right space and in the right moments, and as a result we got a very decent cosy murder mystery.
This time the fate takes Kate Shackleton to dressing rooms and theatre performances, and guys, I loved the descriptions of all of this. The author has again brought the 1920's London and Yorkshire to life and brilliantly captured the atmosphere of those times. Those glimpses into the theatre life, the different acts and performances, into the lives of the artists in the roaring 1920's were brilliant.
Kate Shackleton is, as always, ahead of her times. She's clever, intelligent and she knows what questions to ask and where to look. Of course we couldn't have missed her helping hands Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes, and it was such a great, comfortable feeling to be in their company again. The way Kate investigates is adorable. She's thorough, she is able to see all the necessary details that can help her and it really wasn't just until the very end that I realised who the villain is - the author has really well played with my mind.
Even though this time this novel has missed on this Frances Brody's hallmark sparkle, this lovely and hooking Kate Shackleton's feeling (yup. In my opinion it was a little on the flat side this time, please don't get me wrong, basically everything was fair enough with this story, all the right questions were asked, the investigation was interesting and full of surprises but there was something that just didn't sit with me so much), I still enjoyed it. What bothered me a little was the great number of characters - I was never sure if they're going to be significant, very significant or not significant at all.
Altogether, "Death in the Stars" was a charming story, just as all the others in the series that I had pleasure to read. It is glamorous, it is cosy and it is clever and gentle. The mystery is masterfully written and the story itself is full of surprises and turns and this is this kind of book that you can read anytime, no matter what mood you're in or what's the weather - I am already looking forward Kate's new adventures.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
September 17, 2017
Mystery set during the solar eclipse of the 1920s when it was even more on an event and a magical situation when people thought it was something to do with witchery and illusion. Added into that a murder within a theatre company, visits to old fashioned Variety shows and some super sleuthing from Kate Shackleton and it's a winner and a half this book! Full review to come, but pop this on your to be read pile and put your glad rags on to read it.
November 3, 2020
Not too bad of a story, but somehow it just didn't appeal as much as I had hoped. A story in First Person really needs a stronger plot to make up for its limitations.
June 30, 2018
After waiting so long and so impatiently for the newest Kate Shackleton mystery, I was a bit disappointed. There was no build up to the story, so I never felt fully invested nor did I really care about any of the characters in the theater company and those connected to them. There were a few references to characters from past books whom I don't remember at all, one being the man that recommended Kate to Selina Fellini. The other character is Inspector Wallis. Marcus Charles, I remember. But Wallis? No. Where did he come from? I'm actually considering rereading the series in order to refresh my memory. Because his character is certainly unmemorable. Which is a shame since Ms. Brody seems to be hinting at a possible romantic relationship between him and Kate. Of course, the same is true of Marcus Charles, yet not a peep about him this time around. Maybe next time will be a different name I can't remember. Who knows? Also, to me, Kate seemed to just be going through the motions for large chunks of the book. Maybe because Ms. Brody was more determined to write a book about the 1927 eclipse and a Kate Shackleton mystery was merely an afterthought or, if you will, just frill to decorate the historic event.
Good points about the book. Kate still retains her wit which is honed with a sarcastic edge. I laughed out loud a couple of times at her thoughts. And always enjoy the banter between she, Sykes and Mrs. Sugden. I was also glad Harriet made an appearance, albeit too briefly. I also enjoyed the scene where Kate and Mrs. Compton searched the underground tunnels. I wish more of the book conveyed the same sense of urgency and suspense.
I'm hoping the next entry in the series hits the right notes because "Death in the Stars" fell flat for me.
Good points about the book. Kate still retains her wit which is honed with a sarcastic edge. I laughed out loud a couple of times at her thoughts. And always enjoy the banter between she, Sykes and Mrs. Sugden. I was also glad Harriet made an appearance, albeit too briefly. I also enjoyed the scene where Kate and Mrs. Compton searched the underground tunnels. I wish more of the book conveyed the same sense of urgency and suspense.
I'm hoping the next entry in the series hits the right notes because "Death in the Stars" fell flat for me.
November 10, 2017
I don't know why, but I didn't like this installment in one series that is usually one of my favorite. Slow, boring and even the culprit in the end was not sooo believable. I'm disappointed but ok, maybe it's my fault.
Non so perché, ma questo volume di quella che é solitamente una delle mie serie preferite mi ha proprio deluso. Farraginoso, lento, e anche il colpevole non é che poi fosse cosí credibile alla fine....mah...magari é solo colpa mia....
THANKS TO PIATKUS FOR THE ARC!
Non so perché, ma questo volume di quella che é solitamente una delle mie serie preferite mi ha proprio deluso. Farraginoso, lento, e anche il colpevole non é che poi fosse cosí credibile alla fine....mah...magari é solo colpa mia....
THANKS TO PIATKUS FOR THE ARC!
January 6, 2021
Frances Brody is a new to me author. She is obviously very talented.
I am a fan of British cozy mysteries and this one is a good entry in that genre. Although it is part of a series I do not know, it was easy for me to follow the action and understand relationships.
Kate is a private investigator in Britain shortly after World War I. Although that is unusual for a woman, she generally has little to no trouble gathering information and investigating. That seemed surprising to me.
Kate is asked to accompany two entertainers to the event of the year. There will be an eclipse and a superstar singer, Selena, as well as a very well known comedian, Billy, are to be accompanied to the event by Kate. Kate never gets any really good answers for the reason she is needed. There are just general comments about imminent danger.
It turns out there is a death and Kate’s skills are called into play. She finds help from a school boy. He was one of my favorite characters in the book.
Ms Brody creates characters who draw the reader into the story. Kate is an intelligent woman and her assistants are also very skilled additions to her firm. There is Jim, a former policeman and Mrs.Sugden, who is so much more than a housekeeper. Each of these people have their specialties. Most of all, each of these people provide perspectives which point to solutions.
The secondary characters are all very well drawn. As the reader meets the entertainers, it is easy to see that just an in most areas of life, there are issues. There is a caste system. There are political infighting. And there are private lives which have secrets.
The plot is intriguing and interesting. At times, I felt I got bogged down with a lot of wordiness. But, this is a well done story.
Kate and her staff put together the facts and there is an ultimate scene where the villain is brought to justice. That is the way things are supposed to come to a conclusion.
I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more of Ms Brody’s books.
I am a fan of British cozy mysteries and this one is a good entry in that genre. Although it is part of a series I do not know, it was easy for me to follow the action and understand relationships.
Kate is a private investigator in Britain shortly after World War I. Although that is unusual for a woman, she generally has little to no trouble gathering information and investigating. That seemed surprising to me.
Kate is asked to accompany two entertainers to the event of the year. There will be an eclipse and a superstar singer, Selena, as well as a very well known comedian, Billy, are to be accompanied to the event by Kate. Kate never gets any really good answers for the reason she is needed. There are just general comments about imminent danger.
It turns out there is a death and Kate’s skills are called into play. She finds help from a school boy. He was one of my favorite characters in the book.
Ms Brody creates characters who draw the reader into the story. Kate is an intelligent woman and her assistants are also very skilled additions to her firm. There is Jim, a former policeman and Mrs.Sugden, who is so much more than a housekeeper. Each of these people have their specialties. Most of all, each of these people provide perspectives which point to solutions.
The secondary characters are all very well drawn. As the reader meets the entertainers, it is easy to see that just an in most areas of life, there are issues. There is a caste system. There are political infighting. And there are private lives which have secrets.
The plot is intriguing and interesting. At times, I felt I got bogged down with a lot of wordiness. But, this is a well done story.
Kate and her staff put together the facts and there is an ultimate scene where the villain is brought to justice. That is the way things are supposed to come to a conclusion.
I enjoyed the book. I look forward to reading more of Ms Brody’s books.
January 30, 2024
I enjoyed the setting and the theme and it was so descriptive you wouldn’t have a problem imagining anything. There was a lot going on but also nothing going on. I feel there were a lot of missed opportunities for twists and turns, it wasn’t obvious who the suspect was until the end reveal but that was down to more unnecessary descriptions and happenings rather than important information for the story. The end reveal felt very rushed fitting into two pages. There were some really good moments that could have lead to something but were never touched on again.
I enjoyed it is a cosy casual read, something that you can take your time with.
I enjoyed it is a cosy casual read, something that you can take your time with.
April 13, 2018
This is the last of this series that I'll be reading...
Kate Shackleton receives a letter from someone she once helped alluding to a reference he gave a famous personage. When the diva contacts Kate and asks for Kate's help at an eclipse viewing party, she tells Kate she has a foreboding of something bad to take place.
When during the event the company's comedian disappears & is then found dead it is up to Kate to solve who-done-it.
As it turns out many of the male co-stars of the Diva have also died of mysterious circumstances.
There was too much supposition for me & internal chatter. Kate's usual helpers were not really in the book that much and the other characters left me bored & uninterested....
Kate Shackleton receives a letter from someone she once helped alluding to a reference he gave a famous personage. When the diva contacts Kate and asks for Kate's help at an eclipse viewing party, she tells Kate she has a foreboding of something bad to take place.
When during the event the company's comedian disappears & is then found dead it is up to Kate to solve who-done-it.
As it turns out many of the male co-stars of the Diva have also died of mysterious circumstances.
There was too much supposition for me & internal chatter. Kate's usual helpers were not really in the book that much and the other characters left me bored & uninterested....
April 22, 2018
This was a nice cozy mystery, I enjoyed the story, although it never really ‘grabbed’ me. I think my problem with the book is that Kate is becoming too passive. Kate has never been the ‘in your face’ type of heroine, but she doesn’t seem to stand out from the crowd anymore.
At one point I thought there may be some added interest when her niece, Harriet turned up, as I enjoyed her interaction with Kate in A Death in the Dales book. However, the author soon removed her from the story.
I worry that the author is making Kate just too ordinary, in which case there isn’t anything to make these stories different from the numerous other cozy mysteries.
At one point I thought there may be some added interest when her niece, Harriet turned up, as I enjoyed her interaction with Kate in A Death in the Dales book. However, the author soon removed her from the story.
I worry that the author is making Kate just too ordinary, in which case there isn’t anything to make these stories different from the numerous other cozy mysteries.
April 24, 2018
I have enjoyed the previous books by this author, but this one felt... rushed. And the part that seemed rushed was the editing. Scenes seemed jumpy and the character seemed unlike she was in earlier books. She seemed less thoughtful and intelligent. The whole scene in the cellars was just plain odd and ended abruptly. And I don't know exactly how to describe this part, but I'll try. The red herring character seemed like a push/pull situation. Is this character guilty? Or not? Or yes. But no.
My main thought was this book wasn't nearly as smooth as the others in the series.
My main thought was this book wasn't nearly as smooth as the others in the series.
September 5, 2023
Selina Fellini, star of the music halls, asks Kate to help her, although at first she pretends that she just needs someone to arrange her passage to see the solar eclipse. Actually, Selina is spooked because men close to her are being killed, and she's afraid her shell-shocked husband is responsible. Soon Kate is deeply embroiled in Selina's affairs, though she wonders what else the charming singer is hiding from her. There's less mystery about the mystery than some might like, but Brody does a good job with the northern English background.
October 15, 2017
Set at the time of the solar eclipse in 1927 with a cast of variety hall entertainers we are treated to a splendid mystery of the death of one of their number. Coming close on the tails of two other accidents Kate Shackleton has the job of unravelling the truth.
This is only the second of the Kate Shackleton series I’ve read, this episode being number nine in the series, but so well-drawn are the key characters that I feel I already ‘know’ them well. Kate is a business-like as usual ably supported by former policeman Jim Sykes and her housekeeper cum investigator, Mrs Sugden. Kate is ahead of her times in running her own PI business but not so far out of it that she comes across as unrealistic, there is no doubting that we are in the 1920s.
With show business being the backdrop to this novel we are treated to fabulous singers, ventriloquists, dancers, comics and acrobats all performing under the watchful eye of Trotter Brockett the man in charge of the whole shebang. Being of a cautious nature when Selina the star of the show is invited to watch the eclipse at Giggleswick School in Yorkshire he gives his permission on the proviso that she is back in time for a rest before the evening show. Selina invites her co-entertainer Billy Moffatt to accompany her and asks Kate to arrange transport, by helicopter no less. Selina is from an Italian family who are big in the ice-cream business and is a fantastic singer drawing crowds to the kind of show that is beginning to feel the threat of the moving picture especially as rumours about that soon the pictures will be accompanied by sound. Anyway the helicopter ride to Giggleswick is to follow a party at Selina’s house which is full of showbiz glamour and the trio joined by journalist who are attending to write a piece and to take pictures of the momentous occasion set off. Sadly tragedy strikes and Kate is employed to find out what happened, and of course why.
Although this is definitely at the cosy end of the crime fiction genre, it isn’t all lightness, jokes and fluff. The historical details set this apart with an appearance in this book of soldiers who fought in WWI and the injuries physical and mental that they returned with.
Fear not, there is a solid mystery, complete with the obligatory red-herrings to keep the reader entertained as Kate turns down blind-alleys in a bid to find out if the suspicious death that occurred on her watch was murder or not.
With more than a nod to the Golden Age writers the ending is spot-on in its execution with all the panache you’d expect from a showbiz tale which gave this reader no end of satisfaction even though, for once, I’d worked out (or luckily guessed) which of the many colourful characters should be in the hot seat for thorough questioning.
This is only the second of the Kate Shackleton series I’ve read, this episode being number nine in the series, but so well-drawn are the key characters that I feel I already ‘know’ them well. Kate is a business-like as usual ably supported by former policeman Jim Sykes and her housekeeper cum investigator, Mrs Sugden. Kate is ahead of her times in running her own PI business but not so far out of it that she comes across as unrealistic, there is no doubting that we are in the 1920s.
With show business being the backdrop to this novel we are treated to fabulous singers, ventriloquists, dancers, comics and acrobats all performing under the watchful eye of Trotter Brockett the man in charge of the whole shebang. Being of a cautious nature when Selina the star of the show is invited to watch the eclipse at Giggleswick School in Yorkshire he gives his permission on the proviso that she is back in time for a rest before the evening show. Selina invites her co-entertainer Billy Moffatt to accompany her and asks Kate to arrange transport, by helicopter no less. Selina is from an Italian family who are big in the ice-cream business and is a fantastic singer drawing crowds to the kind of show that is beginning to feel the threat of the moving picture especially as rumours about that soon the pictures will be accompanied by sound. Anyway the helicopter ride to Giggleswick is to follow a party at Selina’s house which is full of showbiz glamour and the trio joined by journalist who are attending to write a piece and to take pictures of the momentous occasion set off. Sadly tragedy strikes and Kate is employed to find out what happened, and of course why.
Although this is definitely at the cosy end of the crime fiction genre, it isn’t all lightness, jokes and fluff. The historical details set this apart with an appearance in this book of soldiers who fought in WWI and the injuries physical and mental that they returned with.
Fear not, there is a solid mystery, complete with the obligatory red-herrings to keep the reader entertained as Kate turns down blind-alleys in a bid to find out if the suspicious death that occurred on her watch was murder or not.
With more than a nod to the Golden Age writers the ending is spot-on in its execution with all the panache you’d expect from a showbiz tale which gave this reader no end of satisfaction even though, for once, I’d worked out (or luckily guessed) which of the many colourful characters should be in the hot seat for thorough questioning.
October 3, 2017
Kate Shackelton has a new mystery to solve, this time in the theatre world. As you may know there's always a lot of competitiveness in all the jobs, but is it worth a killing? Let Kate seduce you in this mystery...
This is a delightful read, full of suspense and lovely characters that will keep you intrigued till the last page. Kate Shackelton is one of those characters that you fall in love since the first page, tenacious and brave whom could not resist to investigate a good case.
Kate will be contracted by a famous actress that suspects that someone is killing her friends in the theatre world, but doesn't know how to confront it... but who could have any reason to kill her loved ones? And when the mysterious Selina's husband appears even the reader could feel a dark presence ready to kill the next prey.
Let me say something, I know actors have a high pride of themselves, but this killer doesn't cease to anything to murder the victims. And we have so many suspects that you start making your own conclusions to discover the killer and the motives. Will Kate solve this mystery before it's too late?
This is the ninth book to the series "A Kate Shackleton Mystery" but you can read it as standalone.
Do you believe that the fate is in the stars?
This is a delightful read, full of suspense and lovely characters that will keep you intrigued till the last page. Kate Shackelton is one of those characters that you fall in love since the first page, tenacious and brave whom could not resist to investigate a good case.
Kate will be contracted by a famous actress that suspects that someone is killing her friends in the theatre world, but doesn't know how to confront it... but who could have any reason to kill her loved ones? And when the mysterious Selina's husband appears even the reader could feel a dark presence ready to kill the next prey.
Let me say something, I know actors have a high pride of themselves, but this killer doesn't cease to anything to murder the victims. And we have so many suspects that you start making your own conclusions to discover the killer and the motives. Will Kate solve this mystery before it's too late?
This is the ninth book to the series "A Kate Shackleton Mystery" but you can read it as standalone.
Do you believe that the fate is in the stars?
December 18, 2019
I'm conscious that when I rate a book and review it the author may stumble accross it, and I am sometimes tempted to temper my rating, as I have no intention to cause offence. This is a case in point. I love the intention of the book; however, it really does not deliver.
Death in the stars passed the time, and I was keen to find out whodunit, but it was very much 'tell not show' , spelling out the plot and investigators' thought process most specifically. It was, honestly, a bit painful in places.
But on the plus side, I loved that it was set in Leeds in the 20s and have found myself researching some of the places mentioned. I was also delighted to find a credit to a friend at the back!
So if you love a good detective story, I'd pass this one by. But if you love to read about historical Leeds and maybe music hall and theatre in a light, whimsical, slightly patronising way, then go ahead and pick it up. I do wonder if some of Brody's earlier books are more carefully crafted than this. I would be willing to give them a go.
Death in the stars passed the time, and I was keen to find out whodunit, but it was very much 'tell not show' , spelling out the plot and investigators' thought process most specifically. It was, honestly, a bit painful in places.
But on the plus side, I loved that it was set in Leeds in the 20s and have found myself researching some of the places mentioned. I was also delighted to find a credit to a friend at the back!
So if you love a good detective story, I'd pass this one by. But if you love to read about historical Leeds and maybe music hall and theatre in a light, whimsical, slightly patronising way, then go ahead and pick it up. I do wonder if some of Brody's earlier books are more carefully crafted than this. I would be willing to give them a go.
September 4, 2024
2.5 stars. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this much at all. This was my first Kate Shackleton story I picked it up because it reminded me of Phryne Fisher. While it may not be fair to compare it to another piece of media that I love, I think that even if I wasn't comparing it, it still failed as a mystery. It was so slow the whole time. I pushed through the extremely slow start because I thought the investigation would eventually pick up, but the method of murder was exactly what it was thought to be first and the murderer was honestly not surprising at all. There were no twists or misdirections, and the murderer was just simply revealed to us because someone had been withholding information that would've pointed the culprit out pretty quickly. It wasn't fun to try to follow along to solve it, and the the personalities of the people in the story weren't enough to make up for it.
September 26, 2020
Another excellent story in the Kate Shackleton mystery series, this book sees Kate investigating some very suspicious deaths in the theater. When Selina Fellini, a famous actress, asks Kate to accompany her to an outing where people are viewing a solar eclipse, Kate agrees, never expecting that Selina's companion will be murdered while they are there. Despite rulings of accidental deaths, the other deaths of Selina's co-stars in the show turn out to have been murder. Kate and her trusty sidekicks Jim Sykes and Mrs. Sugden follow the leads and discover the murderer. This is definitely a good read and another good book in this series.
March 7, 2018
This book is set in 1927 in Yorkshire and begins with eclipse plans by Selina Fellini. She asks Kate Shackleton for help getting to the grounds of Giggleswick School. However she is also asking Kate to watch and observe the people around her because she is afraid. Kate is not sure what Selina really wants but after the murder of a man who went with them Kate starts to feel that something is amiss. There are clues but facts seem to be hard to come by. The book was a quick easy read.
November 28, 2017
Another strong entry in the series. Full review at classicmystery.wordpress.com
June 1, 2019
Just fab!
June 15, 2018
Crime with local interest to where I live. Cosy crime set at end of 1920s. Enjoyable series.
January 18, 2019
This is #9 in the series and it gets an extra star because I did read the majority of it in one sitting. The story seemed to be all over the place with characters dropping in for no apparent reason (Kate's niece Harriet for one). Might be time to wrap up this series. The storyline had such potential and just ended up being blah...
"Yorkshire, 1927. Eclipse fever grips the nation, and when beloved theatre star Selina Fellini approaches trusted sleuth Kate Shackleton to accompany her to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel, Kate suspects an ulterior motive. During the eclipse, Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt disappears and is later found dead in the chapel grounds. Kate can't help but dig deeper and soon learns that two other members of the theatre troupe died in similarly mysterious circumstances in the past year. With the help of Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden, Kate sets about investigating the deaths - and whether there is a murderer in the company. When Selina's elusive husband Jarrod, injured in the war and subject to violent mood swings, comes back on the scene, Kate begins to imagine something far deadlier at play, and wonders just who will be next to pay the ultimate price for fame."
"Yorkshire, 1927. Eclipse fever grips the nation, and when beloved theatre star Selina Fellini approaches trusted sleuth Kate Shackleton to accompany her to a viewing party at Giggleswick School Chapel, Kate suspects an ulterior motive. During the eclipse, Selina's friend and co-star Billy Moffatt disappears and is later found dead in the chapel grounds. Kate can't help but dig deeper and soon learns that two other members of the theatre troupe died in similarly mysterious circumstances in the past year. With the help of Jim Sykes and Mrs Sugden, Kate sets about investigating the deaths - and whether there is a murderer in the company. When Selina's elusive husband Jarrod, injured in the war and subject to violent mood swings, comes back on the scene, Kate begins to imagine something far deadlier at play, and wonders just who will be next to pay the ultimate price for fame."
January 2, 2018
Death in the Stars is the 9th novel in the very popular mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Kate Shackleton. I've read most of them and have loved every one!
Set in Yorkshire they evoke a real feel of the 1920's, of a slower pace of life, when ladies were treated as fragile beings. But Kate's no shrinking violet, she's tough and clever, and has a mind of her own, even starting up her own detective agency with an ex-policeman to assist her, as well as her housekeeper Mrs. Sugden.
This time, she's in the company of theatre folk, in particular 'The Silver Songbird' Selena Fellini who enlists Kate's help when she's invited to a private gathering to watch the eclipse.
After the death of fellow performer Billy in suspicious circumstances during the eclipse, Kate's naturally curious nature doesn't believe it was an accident.
Frances Brody's attention to detail really make her stories stand out - who knew that there were traffic jams in 1927 as people were anxious to get a good view of the eclipse! Her characters are so believable and real and the plots are so unique and carefully thought out. I loved following Kate's thought processes as she tried to discover not only who murdered Billy but if there is a serial killer in the theatre's midst.
This was a time when some of the old performers days were numbered, as talking pictures and gramophone records were gaining in popularity.
Brilliant storytelling, gripping from the first page to the last, I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Kate and her assistants Mr. Sykes and Mrs. Sugden who all work so well together.
If you haven't yet caught up with this series I urge you to check them out. I can't wait for the next Kate Shackleton adventure!
Set in Yorkshire they evoke a real feel of the 1920's, of a slower pace of life, when ladies were treated as fragile beings. But Kate's no shrinking violet, she's tough and clever, and has a mind of her own, even starting up her own detective agency with an ex-policeman to assist her, as well as her housekeeper Mrs. Sugden.
This time, she's in the company of theatre folk, in particular 'The Silver Songbird' Selena Fellini who enlists Kate's help when she's invited to a private gathering to watch the eclipse.
After the death of fellow performer Billy in suspicious circumstances during the eclipse, Kate's naturally curious nature doesn't believe it was an accident.
Frances Brody's attention to detail really make her stories stand out - who knew that there were traffic jams in 1927 as people were anxious to get a good view of the eclipse! Her characters are so believable and real and the plots are so unique and carefully thought out. I loved following Kate's thought processes as she tried to discover not only who murdered Billy but if there is a serial killer in the theatre's midst.
This was a time when some of the old performers days were numbered, as talking pictures and gramophone records were gaining in popularity.
Brilliant storytelling, gripping from the first page to the last, I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Kate and her assistants Mr. Sykes and Mrs. Sugden who all work so well together.
If you haven't yet caught up with this series I urge you to check them out. I can't wait for the next Kate Shackleton adventure!
October 6, 2017
Death in the Stars is set in 1927 and starts during the total eclipse. The enigmatic Italian singer Selina wants to view the eclipse from the Giggleswick School. During this visit Billy is found dead, which increases Selina’s fears that people close to her are dying in suspicious circumstance. Kate Shackleton runs an investigation agency so is clearly intrigued and starts to look into what is happening.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and especially all the background in the stories. The descriptions of places ranging from windswept Yorkshire Dales, to inner city Leeds variety houses really bring the stories to life.
Death in the Stars is an absolutely charming book, and its setting in the 1920’s is the perfect backdrop to this cast of characters and I was lucky enough to be sent a copy from the publisher. I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of glamour and gentleness with their murders.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and especially all the background in the stories. The descriptions of places ranging from windswept Yorkshire Dales, to inner city Leeds variety houses really bring the stories to life.
Death in the Stars is an absolutely charming book, and its setting in the 1920’s is the perfect backdrop to this cast of characters and I was lucky enough to be sent a copy from the publisher. I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of glamour and gentleness with their murders.
April 19, 2018
Kate is at it again this time fully in the theater. We see some old acquaintances who have recommended her services to a famous Variety Hall singer. The woman arrives and is very reserved in details and asks Kate to arrange a flight and then accompany her to the eclipse viewing station at a boys school in the path of totality. A comedian friend is along as well and he drops dead at the event. It is then that Kate forces the issue of what is really bothering her client. Two previous 'accidents' make her suspicious and worried because her husband is not quite right after the war and prone to fits of anger. Kate and her team uncover many buried secrets. Enjoyed Mrs Sudgens as a more involved assistant and the interesting characters.
December 12, 2018
As much as I appreciate the slow pace of the books in this series, I was bored to tears trying to finish the first half of the book since nothing happens all that time other than finding the murder victim. However after the first couple of hundred pages, the book has so much twists and turns, revealing the psyches of each character, the complex relationships, and ambivalent feelings among them. The book, being a historical murder mystery, takes place in England in 1927 and gives delightful details about that specific period. The writing style, the content, and colorful characters, not to mention a well-written murder mystery make this book so original and entertaining.
May 13, 2018
I found this book very slow going and struggled to sustain my interest enough to continue reading it to the end. I had high hopes because of its Yorkshire location and 1920s music hall setting, but , both of great interest to me, but the plot plodded along and was a disappointment. This is the 9th in a series, so I was looking forward to going back and reading the earlier books, but now I don't think I'll bother.
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