This was one of the longest short books I have read in a long time [so many words, so little actually said] and I'm sorry to say, I didn't really enjoy it [I did love Hilly the Cat, and that Bruno was from my beloved adopted country of Brazil, AND that the author strove to make sewing/crafting cool - we need more of that. I also loved the narrator of the audiobook, who did her best to try and infuse life into this massive word salad] and by the end [I kept reading in hopes that it would get better for me - *SPOILER ALERT* it did not. ;-) ]I was just bored and glad it was finished [as was my mother who had to listen to me kvetch about this book for a couple of hours].

I knew who the killer was the second they came on the page [AND the why; I kept trying to talk myself out of it, but it really couldn't have been anyone else], the minutiae of theater details were just too much, even for this theater-obsessed person, and the "romance" part bordered on ICK for me [I know I am NOT a romance fan, but I can tolerate some for the sake of the story if it is well-written; this [for me] was not. If I wanted a romance, I'd have just read a romance. Sigh] and it often felt like that was what the book really was genre-wise, rather than a cozy mystery.

Aso, the whole "well you've discovered such amazing clues, so of course you can also be a faux police person and I will share every detail with you, as long as you stay safe" by the police chief just made me roll my eyes [and truly felt so disgenious] EVERY. TIME. IT. WAS. ON. THE. PAGE. [why YES, my eyes are slightly sprained, thanks for asking].

This just didn't [obviously] work for me and I will unfortunately have to skip any future books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, M.S. Greene, and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you are starting a new cosy mystery series - and let's be fair it has to be a series to unleash the correct amount of soapy subplots that fulfills this cosiness - identifying a setting that allows enough murder adjacent change is essential. Obviously having a status quo that you can also pun heavily into your titles also helps, and that's where a local theatre comes in for There's No Murder Like Show Murder (which is a very good title). I have enjoyed Simon Brett's Charles Paris novels, which certainly own this area, but this American small-town theater setting offers a slightly different angle on theatrical folk. Not least as our protagonist turned amateur sleuth is a costume designer rather than an actor herself.

The story itself is very much what you might imagine, a widely disliked and conceited Broadway star gets murdered during rehearsal, and our heroine is the last to see him, and this prime suspect. Motives range far and wide from financial to professional and Greene has a lot of fun exploring the logistics of putting on a show on the circuit and the business pressures that also ensue. The sleuth is also appropriately messy and she only triumphs due to being slightly more observant than the police (and more knowledgeable about clothes too - a nice professional touch). Plenty of subplots are set in motion, I am sure to be followed up, but this is a solid start to a series. And there's a cat too.

This appears to be the author's first novel and it is a good one! He also writes plays and lyrics and more.

The story centres around the Eastbrook Playhouse where the cast are in full swing with rehearsals for a production of Annie Get Your Gun. Our main character, Tasha Weaver, is head of the costume department and also a long-time devotee of the Playhouse which is currently struggling with making a profit. Then the leading man is murdered and it looks as though the play will not go on. Tasha decides to help the police find the murderer.

I enjoyed the book and although Tasha was a little interfering, probably a good characteristic for a sleuth, I liked her too. I guessed the murderer despite the author's red herrings, but that did not spoil the book for me at all. All the activity in the Playhouse really rang true. The author knew his subject really well and it showed.

Recommended for all lovers of cosy mysteries. Four stars.

I was eager to read There’s No Murder Like Show Murder by M.S. Greene. I liked the idea of a cozy mystery centered around a theater. We are introduced to a multitude of characters. It is impossible to keep track of all of them. It did seem that there were too many people in charge at the theater (I am surprised they managed to put on a production). Some of the characters lacked subtlety. Tasha Weaver, seamstress extraordinaire, is a protagonist who does not stand out. She is a mousy individual who fades into the background. I appreciate that the author took the time to develop Tasha’s character, but I wish she had not made her such an unexciting individual. Tasha has a good staff who are loyal to her. I can tell the author knows about the theater based on all the details included in the story. Some of it is interesting, but it does become tedious at times (a little goes a long way). The author tried to make the mystery complex, but I should not be able to identify the guilty party before the crime takes place (again, lack of subtlety). There was a part of the reveal that I thought was clever. I felt that the wrap up was incomplete. In the story, there is a lot of telling rather than showing (I want in on the action—not told about it afterward). I liked Hilly, the feline who hung around the theater. She is a clever cat. There’s No Murder Like Show Murder had me ready to leave when the curtains came down.

Had a lot of fun and will surely read the next novel. A good debut, solid mystery and likeable characters
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

There's No Murder Like Show Murder is book #1 in a new series by M. S. Greene.

When a disliked lead actor is killed, it puts the future of the Eastbrook Playhouse in jeopardy. Tasha Weaver is the costume shop head who steps up to investigate and save the theater. I enjoyed the theater setting, the characters, and Tasha’s cat. The investigation kept me guessing about who the guilty party was. I enjoyed this story.

Thank you to the author, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The author of this book is a playwright so readers of this cozy mystery get an authentic look behind the scenes of the theatre. The main character, Tasha Weaver, runs the costume shop at a Connecticut playhouse and searches for a killer when the suspicious death of their star threatens to permanently shutter the theatre. Tasha has the wrong suspect at first, but her costuming knowledge comes in handy to solve the case. I was also surprised when the killer's identity was revealed.

There are some pacing issues, but overall this is a fun cozy with a likable main character and a unique setting. Tasha is smart and hard-working and loves her job and the Eastbrook Playhouse. The case is resolved in a satisfying way and I like the possibility of romance for Tasha in the future. 3.5 stars

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

DNFd at 26%. I was having to semi-force myself to read, catching myself skimming...I simply wasn't connecting with the story. I couldn't even remember the FMCs name! Giving a generous 4 stars because I feel that it would be liked, just not at this time.

This is a fun cozy mystery that follows Tasha head of the wardrobe department at the Eastbrook Theater. When one of the headlining actors is killed she takes it upon herself to investigate.
I enjoyed Tasha as our main character, how much she loves the theater she works for, and her love for the kitty sidekick. I thought the mystery was well-plotted, with plenty of twists and turns, and I didn't figure out who the killer was until it was revealed.
I think this was a great start to a new series, and I look forward to seeing what going to happen next!

3.5/5 ⭐️
The first in a new cozy series about costume designer Tasha. When a renowned actor dies in her theater, Tasha is scared the theater will be shut down permanently. Desperate to save her job (and just her love of the theater), she sets out to find the culprit.

Overall, I thought this was a decent debut. It took a little for the author to really get the groove of Tasha as a protagonist. For example, Tasha was so eager to tell the police everything she found. I feel like normally the set-up is more independent. I think though this is something the author could mellow out in future books. The whodunit was a little obvious for me toward the end, but not so that it detracted from the overall clues and mystery. I will definitely read a second in this series!

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

Tasha Weaver worked the costume department at Eastbrook Playhouse and when the star of the show - Kurt Mozer - had another tizzy fit over the fit of his current costume, rehearsal was postponed for the time. Tasha found Kurt at the nearby cafe and went in to talk some sense into him, which saw him head back to the theatre and go inside. Within moments, when Tasha was outside with other cast members, shots were heard and Kurt was dead. With the show facing financial ruin, Tasha felt the pressure on herself to find the murderer - much to the chagrin of the local police.

Would Tasha discover who had killer Kurt - and why? She knew she had to do it quickly so momentum didn't fail - but it seemed to be heading that way...

There's No Murder Like Show Murder with its catchy title and eye-catching cover was a little disappointing to me. Too wordy and involved, which let the fun out of the cosy for me. Hilly was the best character by far :) Recommended to fans of cozies.

There's No Murder Like Show Murder is M.S. Greene's debut novel that takes you into her world of the Eastbrook Playhouse for a cozy murder mystery. Tasha Weaver is a head of the costume shop who likes being backstage more than center stage, and she is determined to save the Eastbrook Playhouse and uncover the truth. With the help of her friends, Bruno, her long-time crush, and her feline friend, Hilly, are all willing to help her solve the mystery. This was a fast-moving book that had me wanting to read all day. There is a wonderful balance between suspense and humor that helps deminish the tension of the murder investigation. You will be fully immersed in the world of Eastbrook Playhouse and get to know all the amazing characters. I enjoyed M.S. Greene's debut novel and can't wait to see what she has for us next.

This is a cosy, fun and thrilling book that is quite quick and easy to read. A good start to a new series and one that can only get better. The theatre theme is right up my alley so I liked that.

A good book, a fun read and I look forward ro seeing what comes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was excited to dive into this new cozy mystery series, particularly because of its theatrical setting, which is a favorite of mine. The story starts off strong, with intriguing characters and a promising setup. However, as the narrative progresses, it becomes bogged down by overly lengthy conversations and a plethora of backstory details.

While I appreciate the need to establish the series' setting and characters, the introduction felt a bit heavy-handed. When the murder occurs and Tasha steps into the role of amateur sleuth, the plot starts to feel forced. Tasha's insistence on investigating, despite warnings from the local detective, seemed unnatural and contrived.

The theater's backstage crew provides Tasha with critical insights into the victim and suspects, which is expected in a cozy mystery. Yet, the sheer number of colleagues and the extensive conversations with them made the story hard to follow at times. Midway through, I found myself disengaged from the mystery and indifferent to Tasha's investigative efforts.

There's No Murder Like Show Murder had the potential to be a captivating series debut, but the execution felt overly done, with excessive detail and dialogue. Nonetheless, the unique setting and the main character offer a fresh take on the cozy mystery genre. With some tightening of the plot and character interactions, future installments could prove to be more engaging.

I had high hopes for this theater themed cozy mystery as I am a huge fan of both musicals and plays alike; hardly a month goes by when I am not taking in a show! There's No Murder like Show Murder didn't quite live up to my expectations, however.

MS Greene truly captures the atmosphere of being in the theater itself as well as the devotion the characters had for the Eastbrook Playhouse. I related to Tasha's love of HER theater and her passion for costumes, but she didn't have that amateur sleuth spark that most cozy mystery main character's have. While I didn't guess whodunit, which is usually a great thing in mystery books, it is because I didn't really care? At no point was I emotionally attached to the victim nor was I invested in any of the suspects.

All that said, I honestly think There's No Murder like Show Murder was a good foundation for a new series. The setting and the cast are unique which is key for a new cozy mystery starter, it just needs a little more razzle dazzle and a lot more pizzazz!

The show must go on but how can it with a murderer in the theater having already killed the star. I say star loosely because as one of the costume crew states the victim was a star in his mind. That comment has a deeper meaning as it is just one of the negative opinions or feelings expressed about our victim. Therein lies the problem, with a large cast and crew, we have a host of suspects who disliked Kurt, the victim. I even chuckled early on at the victim when he decided to write his own backstory for Annie Get Your Gun. The author did a nice job of making Kurt so frustrating even the audience could see it.
Someone certainly got a gun in this story and ended Kurt which pulled Tasha in to investigate. A costume shop manager for a theater is not your typical detective. However, worried for the future of the playhouse, investigate she does. She gets a little help alone the way from a special someone because this story needs a romantic lead. Tasha very much loves the playhouse, and it makes me wonder if the author has a similar affinity.
We have plenty of red herrings along the way to a conclusion in this cozy. Aside from being a skosh long with detailed descriptions that got a tad dry at times, this is a good debut book. Some of the production details of the theater did not appeal to me but the characters did. Tasha and her friends seem to have stories left to tell and no cozy would be complete without an animal. In this case the animal is a theater cat named Hilly.
Rating a book is never easy but sometimes a book simply does not lend itself easily to one of the 5 ratings choices instead being somewhere in the middle between 2 ratings. I would put this book at between 3.4 and 3.6 and I will be kind and roll up because I think the potential for more good stories exist.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I liked the fact that the mystery is focused around a local theater group and enjoyed all of the behind the scenes work that goes into putting on a play. However, I found that the story bogged down during the middle of the book.

Fans of community theater based cozies will enjoy this nice start to a new series. Tasha runs the costume shop but she's more involved than just that, especially once the rotten star of the upcoming show is murdered! She investigates with the help of others at the theater as well as Bruno, her romantic interest. You know there are going to be a few red herrings and you might not guess the identity of the villain. Because it's the first, the characters aren't as fleshed out as you might like but that leaves room. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Oh- and there's a cat.

A stage actor gets killed and Tasha can’t resist to investigate this case. It's an entertaining story that keeps you guessing until the end. A good debut novel.
I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I’m leaving a voluntary and honest review.

Tasha Weaver is the Costume Manager for the Eastbrook Playhouse and has made the Playhouse her life since the loss of her mother. The playhouse is barely hanging on and are depending on their upcoming show of Annie Get Your Gun showcasing two well-known actors from New York to save them. Their male lead is murdered, and Tasha will do everything she can to uncover who did it.

This was a good start to a new series. The plot was engaging, and the characters were well developed. I enjoyed the author using the theater as the background for this story. It was so nice to have the back of house staff being the "stars" of the story. My only issue is that there seemed to be a lot of running around accusing everyone, trying to make the facts fit. Tasha seemed blind to accepting alternate possibilities and would get, in my opinion, overly defensive.

I did enjoy seeing the nonperforming members of a theater company. The mystery was good and there were enough red herrings
placed throughout the story to keep you on your toes. An enjoyable read! I am looking forward to the next installment of this series.


Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read this book and give my honest review.