Book Note: Ngaio Marsh, Night at the Vulcan

This is book 16 of the "Roderick Alleyn" series.

This note contains spoilers for the book.

Another theater one. Another start of a young romance. The second, at least, doesn't work nearly as well in this one as in many. It's too sudden, makes too little sense. The theater, though, is excellent as always.

In this one, a New Zealand girl has come to England, had her money stolen, and is right on the edge of disaster when she lucks into a job as dresser. Not what she originally intended, but by this point wonderful. And soon is advanced to understudy for a small but difficult role. And ends up playing it at opening night. Meanwhile, one of the actors commit suicide or is killed right after the performance and before the curtain call.

It works out to a complex story of plagiarism, blackmail, and actual murder. As well as love, and end of love, and theater. Fun reading.