Murder at the Piccadilly Playhouse

Cleopatra Fox #2

by C.J. Archer

She was admired by women and desired by men, until jealousy and past secrets took center stage. Help Cleo and her friends solve the murder of one of London’s leading actresses.

When a hotel guest’s mistress is found dead in the stalls of the Piccadilly Playhouse, a verdict of suicide is given. Convinced his lover didn’t kill herself, Lord Rumford wants the truth uncovered. Against his better judgement, he hires Cleo Fox to find the murderer. Cleo needs to solve this case if she wants to make a living from being a private detective.

But she quickly learns that the truth is buried beneath years of secrets; secrets that powerful people want desperately to keep. With the help of her friends from the Mayfair Hotel, Cleo exposes the bitter rivalry and jealousy of London’s West End.

But can she find the killer before the final curtain closes on the Playhouse?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, Historical, Fiction, Historical Mystery

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 31, 2021

About the author

C.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.

She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.

Subscribe to C.J.'s newsletter to be notified when she releases a new book. Join via her website: www.cjarcher.com

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Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another very readable and entertaining book in this series. I enjoy the historical setting especially the Mayfair Hotel. I am not sure just how factual it might be that the owner and his family all resided there but it is quite likely and it is fun anyway.

Cleo Fox cannot help herself but get involved in another mysterious death. This time, although she tries to get Harry Armitage's help, she ends up doing most of the crime solving herself. She does have assistance from several of the hotel staff and they are developing into quite a team. The book does suffer slightly from the lack of Mr Armitage but hopefully he will have a bigger role in the next book.

I enjoyed the mystery which offered several good red herrings and then gave me a surprise ending. I like this in a mystery! I am hoping for a book three.

[Sussan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this, basically in one sitting. I was totally absorbed in the who done it and simply couldn't put it down. I'm positive that if you enjoyed the first book in this series you will enjoy this one too.
I did have a few ideas, even got a few of them right however the culprit came a little left of centre. Great ending though, quite satisfying.
Can't wait for the next instalment.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two was much more enjoyable than the first, but perhaps that’s because we know the characters now. And I love the chemistry between the two detectives - bet Remington Steele. Fun. Lighthearted (as far as murder can be). And will be reading #3 tomorrow over breakfast.

[Julie Guzzetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. It wasn't bad! But I didn't really love it, either. I found Cleo more annoying, and there wasn't enough of Harry Armitage for my taste. Cleo jumps to conclusions a lot - most of which are pretty far-fetched. She butts in or asks irrelevant questions. She's fine, and I know she's a Victorian woman trying to make her way in a man's world. But I don't think this book was enough to convince me to continue the series.

[Lovely Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in the Cleopatra Fox series so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy Murder at the Piccadilly Playhouse quite as much. Cleo is our amateur detective. After successfully helping solve a murder mystery (in the first book), she decides she's good at solving mysteries and she should go into the detective business as a career. The problem is she really isn't very good at it. She stumbles around, randomly accusing people based upon her gut feeling without any evidence to back it up. Honestly, it was getting a little old. She tries to get Harry Armitage, the man she got fired in the previous book, to go into business with her and keeps hounding him even when he claims to have no interest. I missed the spark there was between the two in the first book. I didn't feel it here. He seemed to really not like her and she seemed to really not get that. Overall, it was an okay book, but I was disappointed after loving the first one.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good mystery! Very rarely is a mystery woven in such a Sherlock Holmes manner. So that made it that more fun. Definitely ready for book 3.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one so much! Cleo learned a lot from her first investigation, and I thought she went about this one intelligently and methodically. I loved the continuing character development as well as the humor here too. There are some interesting tensions between Cleo and her family and Cleo and Harry that I am very interested in for future books. I love the storyline about Millie too and the complexity of human nature (e.g. Lord Rumford).

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

These mysteries are light, quick, and fun. Cleopatra Fox is a good main character and very likeable, and although she is portrayed as somewhat naïve, she has no problem following the threads of this mystery to solve it. I like the partnership with Harry and look forward to more scenes between the two of them.

[Blondie the Librarian]

I’m on my BBC type shit.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cleo Fox is enjoying life at the exclusive Mayfair Hotel owned by her uncle but she wants something more. When Cleo learns the leading actress at the Piccadilly Playhouse, Miss Pearl Westwood has died and the police declare the death a suicide, Cleo isn't so sure. Pearl's lover Lord Rumford insists Pearl would never do such a thing and he wants answers. Cleo offers her expertise in investigating the death, hoping Harry Armitage will be her partner. When he rejects offers of a partnership, Cleo goes it alone. There's also the matter of the suspicious supposed guest at the hotel who may not be all he seems. Can Cleo solve both mysteries? Are they connected?

I didn't like this story as much as the first one. Cleo's investigation brings up too many red herrings and she stumbles around making conclusions that don't necessarily fit. While I was thinking along the same lines, it took Cleo forever to get there. Some of the secrets were way too obvious. Of course a gently bred girl like Cleo wouldn't know about such things. I was surprised she even understood Cleo and Lord Rumford's arrangement. I didn't guess whodunit but that person WAS on my radar. Cleo doesn't really guess either, it's a last best guess. I spotted at least one anachronism. Cleo states "Loose lips sink ships," an American idiom dating to World War II!

I didn't like how naïve Cleo acts in this book for someone supposedly so smart. Mr. Armitage brings out the worst in her and she in him. He's very proud and has a major chip on his shoulder. Cleo wants forgiveness but I don't think he's ready yet, nor should he be.

However, I do understand and empathize with Cleo's desire for independence and her outrage at some of the more antiquated notions her elders cling to. She's intelligent and was raised differently from her cousins. I think Flossy has hidden depths. She, too, desires independence. I think she shops all the time because she's bored and has nothing else to do. Floyd is spoiled and selfish. I do sort of feel bad for him because of the pressure his father places on him but Floyd is immature and doesn't speak to his father man to man about his desires. What ARE his desires? Just to be an idle gentleman? I feel bad Aunt Lillian. She has been diagnosed with "melancholy" which is Victorian for depression. Mental health struggles aren't easy today and back in the early 29th-century the medicines available give her high highs but also headaches. It's very sad. Uncle Ronald is tough and unreasonable at times but he's kind enough to Cleo. He just doesn't bother to understand her or anyone else not conforming to his high expectations.

The hotel crew are an interesting bunch. Mr. Hobart, the manager, is kind and efficient. He's also very naïve and trusting. After this book I wonder if he'll get to keep his job for much longer! His new assistant manager, Mr. Hirst, is definitely a shady character. I'm certain he's lying. Why not introduce a hotel guest to the owner and his family? Who is Mr. Clitheroe and why doesn't he seem like he is who Mr. Hirst claims he is? Harmony is lively and fun but sometimes she's a bit too much. She's too forward and pushes Cleo into situations Cleo shouldn't be in. Her relationship with Victor drives me crazy. He's deliberately provoking her to make her mad and I hate that. Sure he's a bit of a bad boy and has a sketchy past, but he seems devoted to the hotel (for now) and always willing to help Cleo. Peter is sweeter and kinder and I liked the introduction of his little brother, a wily street urchin who knows what's what. Goliath isn't the sharpest of the bunch but he's useful and a good person to have around. Frank and Goliath are a funny team. I like their banter. Shy Danny is a sweetheart. I like him best even if he's not a regular part of the sleuthing team. The new housekeeper is awful! She's a bully and she won't get any loyalty from the maids treating them like she does. I hope she gets the sack soon.

Pearl Westwood may have been an amazing actress and a tolerant mistress but she wasn't the greatest human being on the planet. She was very selfish and somewhat egotistical. She denied where she came from and barely ever saw her family. Pearl loved what Lord Rumford could give her and any other man who showered her with attention, money and material goods. On one hand I don't blame her for wanting a better life but on the other, I don't like how she went about it. Using Lord Rumford with his agreement and knowledge is one thing but having other lovers at the same time AND a couple of big secrets makes Pearl rather unappealing. Still, she didn't deserve to be murdered and I feel sad for Lord Rumford and her family. Lord Rumford is a nice man even if he ignores his wife. We don't know what goes on behind their closed doors and what their arrangement is. Most Society marriages aren't based on love and if everyone else knows about Pearl, I have no doubt Lady Rumford knows about Pearl too.

I put Lady Rumford on my suspect list. She's rumored to be in town but is nowhere to be found. How long as she been in town? Could she have murdered her husband's lover out of jealously? Actually I put Lord Rumford on my suspect list too because he loved Pearl so much and she didn't feel the same way. Could he have found out she was seeing other men at the same time and jealously killed Pearl? Pearl's sister, Mrs. Larsen, has had a tough life. While Pearl has risen to fame and fortune, Mrs. Larsen lives a meager existence in a tenement with her husband and child. While she didn't see her sister all the time and they didn't see eye-to-all a lot, I still feel sad for her. Mr. Larsen turned out to be a surprise and little Milly is very sweet. I don't think she's "simple," she just needs an education and a better life.

The theater crew are a suspicious bunch. Mr. Culpepper, the theater manager, knows more than he's telling but I don't think he's kill his star. That's just ridiculous! Miss Dorothea Clare, Pearl's understudy is a very strong candidate for murderer. She's insanely jealous of all Pearl had, jealous of her own understudy enough to belittle the poor woman and wants to be Pearl. Dorothea doesn't have a kind word for anyone and her attitude isn't going to do her any favors. Mr. Perry Alcott is an unlikely murderer but Pearl may have been blackmailing him about something. His personal life is private but I don't think he's hiding anything. He tries to shock Cleo by saying he has expensive taste in lovers and then says Danny is his very good friend. Cleo knows what Danny is but she doesn't seem to make the connection. Mr. Alcott is roguish and fun. He claims to have been Pearl's best friend yet he doesn't know her biggest secrets.

The most likely candidates for murderer, besides Miss Clare, are Lord an Lady Wrexham. It's obvious what's wrong with them. I came to a certain conclusion pretty early on and it takes Cleo a long time to get there. I do believe Lord and Lady Wrexham have a good reason to hate Pearl. Although Lord Wrexham claims he and Pearl broke up a long time ago, she needed money. What if he only offered to give it to her if she did him a "favor" or if they resume their relationship and he'd give it to her later? Lady Wrexham's motive is jealously, of course. She's not a nice person but I feel oh so terribly sorry for her. We don't know if she was always nasty or if she's nasty now because of what her husband did to her.

The next book comes out in December and I will likely read that one if I have time.

[Lioness702 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun easy read. I love that these books have interesting mysteries without over complicating things. Sometimes I do wish there was just a little more to the mysteries, but maybe I just read too many deranged novels 😅 These books would be great for anyone looking for a light mystery.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid installment in the Cleopatra Fox series. The mystery in this one was really fun! I can't wait for the next book to come out!

[Jackie Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cozy light mystery! this is such a cute little series and each book isn’t super long!

[Chris Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little Brit mystery series. Easy to figure out, but great to listen to.

[Amanda Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded to 3

I don't really like the back and forth between the main character and her potential love interest. But, I think I will probably go to book number 3. I like the author's other series so maybe I just need to get into this series deeper.

[Linda "Lilybug's Library" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Rumford’s mistress died at the Picadilly Playhouse. The police say it’s suicide but Lord Rumford is sure it was murder. Cleo agrees to help him find out the truth and with a little help from the staff at the Mayfair Hotel and Mr. Armitage she does just that.
I loved revisiting these characters and it really solidified how much I enjoyed them. Cleo has a lot of spunk and really isn’t going to be put in the box of being Lord Bainbridge’s niece. She wants to make her own way in the world and do things that interest her. She doesn’t want a life or leisure and she definitely doesn’t want to be set up with a husband that she doesn’t love.

I can’t wait to see what happens in her next adventure and there seems to be a slow burn going with her and Mr. Armitage. I would love to see them eventually get together too. Although her uncle would find it scandalous.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I had the same issues with this as the last one. Cleo is written like a teenager instead of 23. She gives up on the investigation AGAIN and then gets praised at the end for her perseverance. And I like Armitage way less in this one. I don't understand why he thinks he can be a private detective?? She brings him a real case and he... does no detecting. We have literally only seen him kind of solve one case in Murder at the Mayfair, but even then it could have only been like 3 people and Cleo gives him the final clue. Sherlock Holmes is not present in either of these victorian detectives.

[yadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

New favorite series, I loved the witty and strong character of Cleo. Can we get a kiss, a hand holding or something now. This is a very very very slow burn.

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bailed after the main character, clearly living in London in the year 1900, said “loose lips sink ships,” an American propaganda slogan from WWII. This distracting anachronism solidified for me the underwhelming writing.

[Johanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

YOU get accused of murder!
And YOU get accused of murder!
Everybody's getting accused of murder!

[Lady Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.7 / 5

Building up on her work of the world of Cleopatra Fox, Archer does a great job of continuing the series! This time, the crime is indeed very far from Cleo, yet she still manages to get involved and dig up a slew of suspects to boot! From start to finish, this cozy mystery keeps you guessing, as secret after secret is uncovered and lie after lie is exposed! Add to that the lovely 1900s atmosphere and the charm of Cleo and her friends themselves, and you've got an excellent sequel to this series!

In terms of how I'd rank it in comparison to Murder at the Mayfair Hotel, I'd have to say that it's everything that I expect in a sequel in terms of continuing the story. It introduces new characters, develops the previous ones (mostly), and also gives us more insight into Cleo's world, the same way a real-life day-in-the-life would go. It also takes place right after the events of Book 1, therefore making for a continuous story.

However, I have decided to rank it slightly lower than its predecessor, specifically because Armitage was not in the story as much as I'd like. Granted, it's only the second book in the series, so readers should not expect much by way of romance between him and Cleo; however, I really did expect that he'd be in the book more than he was. Oh, Cleo did go back to visit him over and over again for advice on the case, but Armitage just refused to get involved in this one because he feels it's Cleo's case, and "his pride" won't allow him to either share the case or take it off her hands because it'd be "charity". Ugh, stubborn male pride was a real impediment to his involvement in this one, and was cause for more than one argument between him and Cleo. Since that seems to be the dynamic of their relationship currently, I don't mind it so much, but I do hope that they'll be able to get past it in the upcoming books because, as is mentioned several times, they do make a good team and both of them definitely want to be friends. I'm sure the author will come up with some smooth transition into making that happen--hopefully in the next book.

Which, fortunately, is coming out in just over a week, so I've made sure to pre-order it on kindle. Can't wait to see what happens next!

[Amy Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

.....📚 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 📚.....

Murder At The Piccadilly Playhouse is the second book in the Cleopatra Fox cosy mystery series by C.J Archer.

It's been only a couple of weeks since Cleopatra Fox helped solve the case of the murder at her uncles famous Mayfair Hotel. Cleo and her new friends at the Mayfair Hotel have just heard about another potential case. When a hotel guest’s mistress is found dead in the stalls of the Piccadilly Playhouse, the police believe it is a suicide. Convinced his lover didn’t kill herself, Lord Rumford wants the truth uncovered. Against his better judgement, he hires Cleo Fox to find the murderer. Cleo needs to solve this case if she wants to make a living from being a private detective, and maybe get back on the good side of Mr Armitage.
Cleo quickly learns that the truth is buried beneath years of secrets; secrets that powerful people want desperately to keep. Can she find the killer before the final curtain closes on the Playhouse?

This was another enjoyable historical mystery read, with all the charm you would expect from this second adventure with the delightful Cleo and her cast of lovable sidekicks. This one had more mystery than the first, but then spent less time with the characters. A good one when you're wanting a lighter engaging read ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌠 (3.5/5).

[Amy HC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just delightful! I think listening to it really adds another level of cosy enjoyment to the entire thing. However, it would still be wonderful as a physical book too.

Cleo evolves her relationships with the entire cast. She keenly sniffs out a mystery worth solving before anyone else, and surprise surprise - there's another murder to solve. I like how this is handled between her, Harry, and the staff. I like the resolution and I enjoyed some of the extra social expectations and issues that were raised in this book. They're not heavily handled, obviously, this is a cosy crime fiction! But it is nice to see them being touched upon.

I also enjoyed the ways in which the staff were able to assist. It ensures that they're not merely play cards for Cleo to bounce ideas from, but are increasingly become assets to her little secretive investigative business.

The only thing I think Cleo really needs to do is be a little kinder to poor Flossy. She adores you! Just spend a day going out with her. Yes, I know there is a murderer, but spending a day with Flossy will really help so many of your issues.

This book follows the classic structure of crime fiction, Cleo hasn't quite worked out not to accuse people without more evidence, the slow burn romance is simmering away, and the story gets resolved in the end. Wonderful! I like it! I jumped immediately to book 3.

[Heather Lokun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tried an audio book for the first time even though I am a visual learner.
At first I had to keep reminding myself to focus but once I got into the story it was easy. I also enjoyed the narration and thought the British accent helped give the story extra authentic flavour.

Cleopatra Fox is a young girl who loves mystery and wants to be a private investigator. She gets the opportunity in this story when an actress turns up dead. An apparent suicide soon becomes a ‘Whodoneit’ and the list of suspects grows throughout the story. Each character had compelling reasons to commit murder.

I enjoyed keeping up with Cleo’s investigation and tried to solve the mystery myself, becoming invested in the cast of friends and family living or working at the same hotel. I thought the way the plot circled back was well written.

Because I find myself wanting to ‘keep in touch’ with Cleo, I have already started the next audiobook in the series. The year is 1900 but the writing style is neither stuffy or boring, but rather interesting and relatable.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. The main characters are likable. But it seems to me there is zero atmosphere. The story could easily be taking place in New York rather than London (despite random Sirs and Lords thrown in), and at any time from, say, 1870 to 1913 (rather than 1900). This gives the book a rather bland feeling.

One other irritant: early in the book, a character uses a well-known American expression that was not in common usage until the early 1940s. This anachronism only furthers the vagueness of the time period and setting.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book of the series is done! I really like how more in-depth and detailed this one is. Probably because we got to know the main characters quite a bit in book 1. CJ Archer is really good at having so many possible leads and going back and forth with the did they/didn’t they with new details and clues being learned constantly. Such a fun summer series!! #bookstagram #bookreview #loveyourlibrary #booknerd #readersgonnaread #pagesandprimrose

[Lindap · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Cleo Fox gets involved in another murder mystery, this time it's an actress at the Piccadilly Playhouse. Cleo gets wrapped up in it because Lord Rumsford was staying at her uncle's hotel and the Lord was the the actresses benefactor. Mr. Armitage has a role in this book; he helps Cleo in a few situations. Cleo is trying really hard to convince Mr. Armtage that she needs to be part of his investigative business. So far he's resisting!

The story was fun. Cleo still jumps to conclusions pretty quickly...but in the end she prevails.

[LaRae☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extremely entertaining installment in the Cleopatra Fox series. The mysteries are clever, the main characters are likable, Miss Fox (although impetuous) is growing on me, and these are great books to listen to while driving or sitting in a waiting room. I’m looking forward to number three.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jealously seems to be the theme running through this book. I enjoy the character of Cleo and I think most modern women will identify with her. This involves the death of an actress that is deemed a suicide, but others feel it was murder. Overall this was an enjoyable murder mystery.

How did this book find me? It is the second in a series.