I really enjoy this cozy series. In this one the senior center is producing a production of Mama Mia. A famous actor, Royce has returned home to star. He is also Aunt Ginny's old high school boyfriend. During rehearsals all sorts of accidents happen. When one turns deadly Poppy sets out to solve the crimes. I really enjoy the characters and the setting. The mystery was good with lots of suspects. The books never fail to make laugh. Enjoy

I can understand the reviewers who gave this lower marks. There are issues in this book and series that would normally annoy me greatly. I even gave at least two of the previous books only an OK rating and cited some of the same reasons. However, I have gotten used to the weight and food issues and can deal with the love triangle (though I think it's obvious to us and Poppy who really cares about her).

The setting of this story is unigue to the previous books and I liked how the author gave a nod to many of the issues seniors have to face, actually, not just seniors. She doesn't devel so deep it taks the fun out of what's happening. The author does skirt a little close to being offensive/patronizing when writing about some of the non-white characters (and LGBTQ characters in another).

<spoiler>

Thumbs up for the Spunks pay off towards the end. Especially given the number of times we had to read the word "spunks" </spoiler>

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am working my way through Libby Klein's Poppy McAllister series and enjoying these cozy mysteries. In this story, the senior's center in Cape May is putting on a production of Mama Mia. Aunt Ibby's high school sweetheart, retired actor Royce Hanson, has returned home to star in the production. Opening night is scheduled for February 13th and many are worried about the superstition of opening on the 13th. It seems the production may be jinxed as props are stolen, sets are sabotaged, and there is even a death threat. The final straw is when a cast member plunges to his death from a catwalk. Instead of shutting down, Poppy, Aunt Ibby and the rest of the cast decide they need to proceed and solve the crimes on their own before someone else if hurt or killed.

I love the characters in this series. Poppy is a forty something widow who moved back to her hometown of Cape May to be near her older Aunt Ginny and has made a living for herself baking gluten-free goodies to sell and running the bed and breakfast they opened after converting Aunt Ginny’s home. Aunt Ibby is a hoot. She and her friends are hilarious and look forward to their antics in each story. Royce Hanson was Aunt Ginny’s high school sweetheart and the one that got away, so his return has raised some eyebrows. The murder mystery kept me guessing and I didn't know who the killer was until the reveal. There were some red herrings and a few suspects as well as a couple of twists. Poppy is always busy, so it was no surprise that there's also a secondary mystery with Poppy trying to figure out who is responsible for leaving fake and negative reviews about the B&B. My one complaint is that Poppy is still involved in a love triangle, which is one thing that really bothers me. I am hoping it ends soon as I am definitely getting tired of it. Overall, Theatre Nights Are Murder is a humorous and entertaining cozy mystery that kept me laughing out loud throughout the book.

Although this wasn't my favorite book in the series, it is an interesting mystery. Although a couple of characters have strong personalities, all are interesting in their interactions.

Nice twists and turns kept me reading this one.

I love this series so much. Poppy and Aunt Ginny are always entertaining. I enjoyed learning a little about Aunt Ginny's past. I enjoyed that the book centered around a theatrical production at the senior center and solving the murder was tricky with so many suspects. The only thing I wish was that Poppy could make a decision with the men in her life. I highly recommend this book and this series

Theater Nights Are Murder

by Libby Klein

Poppy, a plus size single in her forties, and her Aunt Ginny, a red-headed octogenarian with all kinds of spunk, are the main characters in Theater Nights Are Murder. There is a huge cast of supporting characters sporting lots of quirks. Topping the list are Gia, an Italian barista, and Tim, a chef with romantic ties to Poppy’s youth; both men are vying for Poppy’s heart, and six months after her move back to her hometown, she remains indecisive. Also, front and center, are the “biddies,” friends of Aunt Ginny who manage to get into all kinds of trouble. Figaro, her cat, has a mind of his own and has free run of the Victorian house the two ladies are trying to convert into a Bed and Breakfast. Aa a pastry chef, Poppy divides her time between Gia’s coffee shop, Tim’s restaurant, and her own B&B.

As if friends, family, and business are not enough to keep Poppy busy, author Libby Klein immerses her and the biddies in the senior center’s production of Momma Mia, starring Royce, an aging, homegrown, Shakespearean star. The plot of this cozy is complicated by old rivalries, reignited loves, and mysterious men who appear in the audience during practices. All is fun until one of the cast members falls to his death from a catwalk. Is it a suicide, an accident, or murder?

The biddies are so funny as they investigate, bringing in Sponge Bob walkie talkies and applying tips they have picked up from Murder She Wrote and other television shows. Meanwhile, trolls are scattering bad reviews under various names across social media. They focus on criticizing Poppy’s pastries at all three establishments while actual demand for the goodies and praise at the restaurants remain consistently high. A frustrated Poppy has no idea how to stop the false reviews, uncover a murderer, or solve her love dilemma.

Theater Nights Are Murder is packed with fun situations and dialogue. The plot and quirky characters will keep you turning the pages to help out the likable, down to earth, pastry chef who ironically is confined to gluten free treats. Throughout this cozy mystery, Aunt Ginny and her pals prove that octogenarians can enjoy fun, romance, and some senior humor at their own expense.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #4 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery Series, but OK as a standalone as the author fills you in as you read.
2. Recipes are included at the end of the book.

Publication: December 3, 2019—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

I was a little stunned, the way Miss Piggy was a little self-involved.

I can barely control myself, let alone a group of stubborn biddies who have their minds made up. In their heads, those ladies were conducting an FBI sting rivaling that of capturing Osama Bin Laden, and they were going to get their man.

The peachy-pink glow is a bouquet of empty promises of warmth and comfort mocked by the frigid wind blowing off the Atlantic Ocean. Even the seagulls sit with their wings wrapped around themselves, too disgruntled by the cold to dive-bomb passersby for potential smackerals.

Description
The last thing gluten-free baker Poppy McAllister needs in her life is more drama—or more murder . . .

Poppy thought her toughest challenge this winter would be sticking to her Paleo diet and filling all her orders for her gluten-free goodies, but now she has to choose between two suitors. She’s not the only one with boyfriend drama. Aunt Ginny’s long-ago high-school beau, Royce Hanson, a retired Broadway actor, has returned to Cape May, New Jersey, to star in a Senior Center staging of Mamma Mia. Leaving Aunt Ginny to wonder: What's his motivation?

Slated to open February 13th, the problem-plagued production seems to be cursed—with stolen props, sabotage, and even a death threat. But when a cast member plunges to his death from a catwalk, it soon becomes clear a murderer is waiting in the wings. Now Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and a supporting cast must take center stage to catch the killer—before it's curtains for someone else . . .

Includes Seven Recipes from Poppy’s Kitchen!

My Review
Love, Love, Love "Theater Nights are Murder"

The story-line was great, the characters - well-crafted, and the story kept me interested until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend for anyone looking to read a cozy mystery.

Excellent job, quite enjoyable!

Another great addition to the Poppy McAlister series! Lots of twists and turns in this great cozy mystery!

This story is # 4 in the Poppy McAllister Mystery series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but I had no problem picking up this story as a stand-alone. I would be interested in reading previous stories, though, due to the hijinks involved in this one!

The story follows Poppy and her Aunt Ginny. Aunt Ginny's senior center is putting on a play starring a retired Broadway performer and Aunt Ginny's high school sweetheart, Royce Hanson. The play has several injury causing accidents, and one death that police are ruling a homicide. It appears that Royce still has feelings for Ginny and they are rekindling an old flame. Meanwhile, all the accidents occur where Royce would have been or should have been, which makes everyone ill at ease.

I enjoyed reading about Ginny's group of close friends, who Poppy has nicknamed 'the biddies." They are funny and creative and very prone to trouble.

I did not necessarily like the love triangle in this book between Poppy, her high school sweetheart, and a young coffee shop owner. It's one thing to have romantic tension or being torn between two great guys, but this goes a little farther than that, and she's accepting gifts and kissing them both. I wish that was toned down a bit, but maybe that's just me.

I would recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who has older relatives or fits into the "biddie" category, because they are funny and they have some hilarious moments. This was a good cozy mystery with a couple of twists, which is always appreciated.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Poppy has her hands full with juggling two beaus and trying to keep her Aunt Ginny and her senior cohorts, The Biddies, out of trouble. The gang are all involved in a senior’s production of Mamma Mia. Starring in the lead is Broadway star Royce, who just happened to be Ginny’s boyfriend in high school until her ran off to New York with Blanche to become stars. He became a star. Blanche returned home but now wants to rekindle both her relationship with Royce and her aborted career.
There are all sorts of shady characters hanging around so when one of their friends dies in what is initially ruled suicide, the ladies and Poppy are convinced it was murder. A series of near misses confuses the issue but the Biddies are in full on sleuth mode. It is all Poppy can do to keep them from being arrested.
So when a series of vicious reviews about the B & B and everywhere Poppy’s baking is served, she is not only frustrated but angry. She is determined to find the reputation assassin before her businesses are ruined. There are a lot of answers needed to a bunch of questions. But the show must go on.
There were some laugh out loud moments and lots of twists and turns to the story. It entertained throughout. Five purrs and two paws up.

I love love love this series. This was a great addition to it. It’s always nice reading these it feels like I’m visiting old friends. Such a quick, fun read.

This is the fourth book in a series about a widowed forty-something woman, Poppy, who has recently moved back to the town she grew up in to rebuild her confidence and her social life. In this installment, Poppy's Aunt Ginny, a feisty troublemaker, joins the cast of the senior center's production of Mamma Mia. When a member of the cast is killed, Aunt Ginny and her friends "the biddies" launch an investigation which requires Poppy to keep a constant eye on them lest they get themselves into trouble. Poppy also struggles to figure out who is leaving fake negative reviews about her newly opened bed and breakfast, and as she has done throughout the series, continues to have trouble deciding between high school sweetheart Tim and new love interest Gia.

I like this series because it's character-driven, rather than based on one specific hobby or business. Each new mystery involves a new topic, and that keeps things from getting stale. I also really enjoy Poppy's sense of humor (minus the constant jokes about her weight and her gluten-free diet, which are getting old) and though I think it's starting to drag on a bit too long, I am invested enough in the love triangle to want to know who Poppy is eventually going to end up with. (Personally, I'm team Gia.) I think there are stronger books in this series than this specific title, but I do plan to stick with it, provided the next book finally brings that love triangle to a satisfying resolution.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

Though I would classify this book as more of a romance novel , which I don 't usually read, rather than a cozy mystery I did enjoy reading it and recommend it for romance lovers

The Senior Center in Cape May is abuzz with the news that the Valentine production of Mamma Mia will have a real star! Royce Hanson,has retired from Broadway and is returning home to Cape May to star in the Senior Center's show but who will be his leading lady? Aunt Ginny was his girlfriend before he left for Broadway after high school but she is beat out by her former rival and is delegated to the scenery crew. Poppy is drafted for the lighting so she isn't needed at the start of rehearsals. She spends her time trying to decide between the two hunky guys who are vying for her affections. But then trouble starts to hit the stage. When old man falls from the catwalk and is found dead after lunch break, lights fall and iinjury the female lead, and Poppy isn't immune from danger either.

I love Poppy and Aunt Ginny and the ladies from the Senior Center! The characters are so much fun and the recipes that come along with the story sound so yummy!

Great addition to the series!

Another great homerun for this series. The book came along at a time where I felt I needed a "Poppy fix" and it didn't disappoint. I couldn't put the book down and read well into the night. I can't wait rk3 visit with Poppy abd3 the gang again soon.

“Nope. No way. The price is too high. If I get involved in this,
the whole town will label me a death magnet.”
Mother Gibson’s eyes softened and she took my hand. “Oh,
honey. That ship sailed long ago.”
Libby Klein, Theater Nights Are Murder, Kindle Loc. 1500


Poppy thought her toughest challenge this winter would be sticking to her Paleo diet and filling all her orders for her gluten-free goodies, but now she has to choose between two suitors. She’s not the only one with boyfriend drama. Aunt Ginny’s long-ago high-school beau, Royce Hanson, a retired Broadway actor, has returned to Cape May, New Jersey, to star in a Senior Center staging of Mamma Mia. Leaving Aunt Ginny to wonder: What's his motivation?

Slated to open February 13th, the problem-plagued production seems to be cursed—with stolen props, sabotage, and even a death threat. But when a cast member plunges to his death from a catwalk, it soon becomes clear a murderer is waiting in the wings. Now Poppy, Aunt Ginny, and a supporting cast must take center stage to catch the killer—before it's curtains for someone else . . .
Amazon.com


Theater Nights Are Murder is the fourth book in Libby Klein’s Poppy McAllister mystery series. I’m a fan of Libby’s, and I wanted to interview Libby so I could read the book. (I’m bluntly honest—deal with it.) I admire writers who can craft humor. Libby is one of the best, and she combines it well with mystery. I won’t spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that Poppy and her cat, Figaro, are quite the team, along with Aunt Ginny and her crew of old biddies.

Set on the cusp of Valentine’s Day, the book is about love—all types, some of which aren’t as healthy as others. Poppy whips up Valentine’s Day bakery delights, but with murder, thievery, insurance fraud, and geriatric acting, love takes second stage to Poppy and the biddies going under cover to solve whodunit.

Please welcome Libby Klein back to WWK. E. B. Davis

Poppy came back to Cape May, NJ from Virginia to help her eighty-something Aunt Ginny stay out of assisted living. To make Aunt Ginny’s grand Victorian house pay for itself, Poppy opened it as the Butterfly Wings B & B. If Cape May is a cape, how is it an island?
Cape May is a man-made island. It became an island when a canal was created to connect the harbor to the Delaware Bay. It’s a real place with a lot of history for me. I grew up there. I went to high school, fell in love, got married and had my children there. Not in that order. It’s absolutely beautiful with the golden sand and silvery ocean, the stunning Victorian homes, the historic lighthouse. When I go home again, most of the places I frequent are little shacks off the tourist track that sell food from my childhood memories.

Poppy is involved with two men. Tim, her old flame from high school, and Gia, a new café owner with a wicked mother. Tim has a habit of stringing women along with romantic intent, but it could be subterfuge for keeping culinary talent for his restaurant. Is Poppy in denial or is she hoping his interest is more than business?

Poppy has loved Tim for most of her life. It’s hard to let go of that first love. And when they’re together, the memories and feelings come rushing back – for both of them. It doesn’t hurt that Tim is a very sexy chef, and he’s living the dream that he and Poppy once had together. Her decision is a hard one for lots of reasons. This could be her chance to reclaim her lost love and her lost career. Or she could end up breaking the heart of someone she cares very deeply about – for the second time.

Gia seems like the perfect guy, but he comes with family baggage. In a contest, who would win? Georgina, Poppy’s late husband’s problematic mother or Gia’s old Italian mother?

There is no doubt, Momma Larusso would destroy Georgina. Georgina was only able to boss Poppy around because Poppy would lie down and take it. Poppy entered her marriage with Georgina’s son John under a cloud of guilt and shame. It’s only since she’s come home to Cape May and started her life over that she’s learning to stand up for herself. Now if the contest were between Momma and Aunt Ginny… My money’s on Aunt Ginny. Momma is tough and scary, but Aunt Ginny is clever and has a backup posse in the biddies.

How did Sir Figaro Newton get his name? Does he defy gravity or prove Newton’s theories correct?

I think it’s more that he’s sweet and sometimes sticky like a cookie. Sir Figaro Newton is my real black smoke Persian and my son named him. When my kids were little, I took them to see a professional puppet show in the park and they did a version of the Marriage of Figaro with cat and dog puppets and a bakery selling fig rolls. I can’t prove it, but I’m pretty sure that was his inspiration.

Where does Aunt Ginny get her tee-shirts?

On the internet. My guess is passive-aggressiveTs.com You can have anything custom made nowadays. And god knows she’ll bedazzle it when it gets home.

The B & B is getting bad reviews from a troll, who uses different online names so the reviews look like they are coming from multiple people. How do most people deal with trolls?

Some people get into Twitter rants or post vague aggressive messages on Facebook to the trolls. Some people ignore them and know that any reasonable person will see their critical judgment as just one person’s opinion. We can all see that a one-star review that a troll leaves for a book they haven’t read but are angry because the post office delivery was slow is absolute rubbish.

Like many doctors remind patients with Celiac Disease, gluten-free doesn’t mean calorie-free. Is this Poppy’s problem in losing weight or is she seriously plateauing?

Poppy has a lot of health issues that are keeping weight on her. She’s doing everything she can to lose the weight and it just isn’t working. Some people may have a hard time believing this is possible, but even medical science is now acknowledging that there is so much more to weight loss than calories and exercise. You can do everything “right” and still not lose weight because of stress, hormones, genetics, illness, medications, etc. Poppy is going to have to accept that she can’t beat her body into a size five if it refuses to go there.

Aunt Ginny’s high school boyfriend, Royce Hansen, comes back to Cape May after a career in Broadway theater, during which he won four Tonys. He has volunteered to star in a play at the Senior Center as a fundraiser. Ginny’s heart was broken by Royce. Why does she agree to try out for a part in the play, Momma Mia?

A mixture of morbid curiosity and the confidence that he was the one who lost out. Aunt Ginny knows she’s a catch. Let him see what he’s missing.

When one of the seniors is found dead in the theater, only Poppy and the old biddies believe it was murder. I was surprised the local cops didn’t investigate more seriously. Why didn’t they?

The cops didn’t feel there was enough evidence to support a murder investigation.

There’s a wonderful scene you’ve created in which Gia and Poppy discuss Royce and Aunt Ginny, but it isn’t really about them, is it? Or are they discussing Momma Mia?

Hopefully readers will pick up the delicious subtext.

Georgiana drives a Maserati. Aunt Ginny has a Corvette. If they both have the money for those cars, why aren’t they helping Poppy pay the taxes and bills for the house?

Georgina has old money and her former daughter-in-law’s great aunt’s house isn’t her responsibility. Not to mention that Georgina doesn’t do anything unless it’s profitable for Georgina. Aunt Ginny has a gorgeous Corvette, the sale of which would not pay the property taxes for one year. Cape May is a very expensive place to live, and if you have the pleasure of owning one of the beautiful historic Victorians, you’d either have to be very wealthy or like cooking eggs for tourists.

What’s next for Poppy and the old biddies?

Their next adventure is Wine Tastings Are Murder, and it launches December of 2020. Poppy signs up to be an official tour stop and lodging for an organized Wine Tour. A tour guest dies - but no one knows how. Aunt Ginny gets an Alexa, Poppy makes a MAJOR decision, and someone brings a Pomeranian to stay at the “Pet Friendly” B&B.

Your madcap and intricate plots combined with biddie mayhem remind me of Jana DeLeon’s writing. Are you a fan of hers?

I’ve never read Jana DeLeon, but I will definitely check her out! I love hijinks. My favorite stories are full of humor, irony and sarcasm. I grew up on Carol Burnett, I Love Lucy, and Laverne and Shirley. They were a big influence on my writing. You’ll see a lot of their influence in the upcoming Wine Tastings Are Murder.

What is your secretary’s name, and does he resemble Figaro in character or demeanor?

This is my baby, Miles Davis. He crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of years ago and I miss him terribly. Miles is a seal point Himalayan. He looks nothing like Figaro who is a black smoke Persian, but just about everything Figaro has done came from Miles. The infamous flop belongs to this guy.


Libby's Secretary

Libby Klein

This is NOT a mystery! It's a chick-lit/romance with a minor mystery thrown in to market it as a mystery. A good 1/2 of the book focused on the romantic triangle of the main character and her two suiters. Another good portion of the book focused, or at least went through the romantic struggle of two of the other characters.

An over-all romance disguised as a poor excuse for a mystery.
This was my first book by Libby Klein and it will be my last!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

It's always a tough ask, jumping into book 4 in a series that you haven't really read much of. Good cozies will welcome you with open arms, and mostly that's what I found here. I was a little lost between all the male characters and what connections they had to the two main sleuths, especially the older gentlemen. I definitely did NOT see that twist coming, so that was something. Normally I have an inkling, but this one was odd, and I appreciate that.

I'd definitely need to see more about each of poppy's suitors, but at the moment I'm firmly in team Gia. Tim just doesn't seem to appreciate her, and he's too work focused. Hopefully I can see the outcome to that romance situation!

A fun cozy, with some interesting ideas an occurances. Four stars.

I love the characters in this series and Aunt Ginny and "the biddies" had me laughing out loud many times in this book with their antics. The Senior Center is putting on Mama Mia and when things start happening at the theater during rehearsals, including a death, they start investigating. Poppy tries to keep them out of danger, but isn't always successful which is part of the fun. Poppy and Aunt Ginny have a few guests at the Butterfly Wings B&B to take care of so Poppy is spreading herself pretty thin with that and baking for the coffee shop, baking for Maxine's and doing the lighting for the play. Also, Poppy is trying to figure out what she wants in her romantic life and Gia and Tim are not making it easy for her. I can't wait to see what happens next!

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.