Not the most engaged I've been with a mystery - I think it was my fault as I didn't realise it was a sequel until I started it and I just can't handle reading series out of order, even if they don't need to be read in order, so it pulled me out of it a little. I could be convinced to read the first one and give the series as a whole another chance, hence the higher rating.

I really enjoyed this, following on from Death on the Pier, playwright and accidental sleuth Bertie is back at the scene of a murder. Once again the theatre is front and centre to the storyline, I love this, clearly so well researched. Bertie's old pal Inspector Hugh is here to solve the mystery and there is more of an edge to their relationship this time, Hugh is respectful of the rules of the 1930's so will their relationship move on or not? Great plot and the sense of time and place are fabulous. I do hope there will be more.

In this second book of the series, gay playwright detective Bertie Carroll is drawn into a mystery when a rival playwright’s cryptic phone call leads him to investigate a newspaper ad predicting a murder during a play’s third act. When one of the cast turns up dead, Bertie teams up with Inspector Hugh Chapman to uncover the killer behind the puzzling crime.

This was disappointing, honestly for a murder mystery. The premise sounds so good, but honestly, the writing is …. well, it’s not writing I enjoy. The characters don’t seem to have any life to them. And once the mystery gets going (and it takes a while), it quickly becomes drab too. I didn’t finish this, I just skipped to the end and the murderer/whodunit is revealed, it turns out to be pretty predictable. In the end, I’m glad I didn’t spend more time with this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Brabinger Publishing for a copy of this ebook. This review is honest and my own.

This was such an entertaining book! The pre-war London theatre setting set the mood, and the mystery was super engaging. It starts when Alice, a playwright, gets a weird ad warning that someone’s going to die during her play. The cops don’t take it seriously, but of course, someone does end up dead, and Alice’s friend Bertie teams up with detective Hugh to crack the case. I did figure out the killer pretty early on though—West might’ve left the clues a bit too obvious, so it felt more like a "howdoneit" than a "whodunit." Still, I loved the hints about Bertie and Hugh’s relationship and can’t wait to see where that goes! Also, the theatre is the true protagonist, loved this.

"Murder at the Matinee" is the second entry in Jamie West's Bertie Carroll Mysteries, and it's an absolute delight for fans of golden-age whodunnits, theatre lovers, and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted historical mystery. Set in 1930s London, the book transports readers back to the vibrant world of theatreland, with all its glamour, rivalry, and, of course, murder.

The story centers on renowned playwright-turned-sleuth Bertie Carroll, who gets drawn into another thrilling mystery after a cryptic newspaper advert promises a murder during the third act of a play. The only problem? There’s no murder in the third act—or so everyone thinks until a victim turns up. Bertie finds himself entangled once again with his old school friend, Inspector Hugh Chapman, as they work to uncover the killer lurking behind the scenes.

West masterfully balances a clever plot full of red herrings, hidden clues, and a cast of eccentric characters. As each suspect takes their turn in the spotlight, even Bertie’s own motives are questioned, keeping readers on their toes until the final reveal. The chemistry between Bertie and Hugh is a highlight, their complicated relationship adding layers of depth to the narrative. While their relationship is clearly shaped by the prejudices of 1930s England, they remains compelling as they struggle to put their differences aside and solve the case.

West’s deep knowledge of theatre history shines through, and the historical details enrich the story without ever overshadowing the plot. The Gaiety Theatre, where the mystery unfolds, feels like a character in its own right, and fans of both classic mysteries and theatre lore will appreciate the level of care that went into crafting this atmospheric setting.

Though the book can be enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with the first in the series, Death on the Pier, to fully appreciate the development of Bertie and Hugh's relationship, as well as the recurring themes in West’s storytelling.

In short, Murder at the Matinee is a gripping and charming historical mystery with an LGBTQIA+ protagonist at its center. With sharp writing, engaging characters, and plenty of twists and turns, this novel is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brabinger Publishing for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't wait to see what Jamie West writes next!

Bertie is back!

This time he's in London, going to see a play by his friend/arch-nemesis Alice. Alice is worried, because even though her play has had a successful run, there have been threats that a real murder would be committed in the third act of the matinee performance.

The predicted murder happens and there are many potential suspects amongst the cast, crew and theatre staff. Bertie must work together with Alice and his old friend (and romantic interest) Inspector Hugh Chapman to solve the crime.

An enjoyable story and I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing where the romance goes.

Death on the Pier was one of the first books I read on NetGalley and has remained one that I recommend to people. I was so glad it was going to be a series and so thankful that I got the chance to read Murder at the Matinee.

I was not disappointed, reading about Bertie again was like connecting with an old friend, effortless.

What I love about Jamie's books are, that due to his theatre background, every word he writes fully conjures up the scene in my mind, and he writes with such a true love of the environment.

Jamie is definitely one to read if you love Christie novels and I love that they have a historical setting - which normally isn't my thing - but it adds to the whole Agatha vibe.

Thanks to the publisher Brabinger Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest book review.

I did enjoy reading this novel set in the theatrical world of the 1930s and featuring the playwright and amateur detective Bertie Carroll, following his investigation along with Detective Chief Inspector Hugh Chapman and fellow playwright Alice Crawford into a murder at a West End theatre that had been forewarned in the press!

The looks of longing between Bertie and Hugh are subtle but nonetheless heartrending considering that the time where this novel takes place homosexuality was illegal. This is a very ably told Agatha Christieesque murder mystery and it does successfully plunge the reader into the world of the long-gone Gaiety Theatre.

I would recommend this book to lovers of the history of theatre and fans of Agatha Christie and murder mysteries. This is the second book in a series, and it is promised that Bertie and Hugh will return in future novels, and it will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.

This was fun!
An Agatha Christie-esque, cozy mystery with a compelling lead and a hint of a slow-burn romance? That's usually my jam. Unfortunately, I don't think my mind was totally in it, or maybe I just wasn't in the mood for mysteries when I read this, so yeah... I admit, I ended skimming a lot of the lengthier descriptions too.
Apart from that, all in all, I did like this.
I really like Bertie as a protagonist: I like his dry humour, how laid-back he is; and I really like the chemistry between him and Hugh. The mystery was well-built, although I preferred the one in book one, but the cast of side characters (and suspects!) was pretty compelling. I'm looking forward to see what will happen next! Hopefully we'll finally get the much-awaited blossoming of romance between the two leads.

Following the success of Death on the Pier, Bertie Carroll returns in this engaging sequel to explore the thrilling world of 1930s London theatre. In this golden-age-style whodunnit, an unexpected phone call from a rival playwright thrusts Bertie into another perplexing mystery when a newspaper advert ominously announces that a murder will occur during a show’s third act—a claim that contradicts the play’s script.

As the drama unfolds, a real victim emerges, prompting the police to investigate and bringing Bertie and Inspector Hugh Chapman back together in a less-than-comfortable partnership. The narrative cleverly shifts focus from one suspect to another, keeping readers on their toes as even Bertie finds himself under scrutiny.

With a cast of characters that includes the entire production team and theatre staff, the story immerses readers in a vibrant theatrical setting. The author’s deep understanding of the industry enhances the authenticity of the atmosphere, making for a quick and enjoyable read.

Death on the Stage masterfully combines intrigue, rivalry, and the complexities of human relationships, making it a delightful addition to the series. Fans of classic mysteries and theatre enthusiasts alike will appreciate the clever plot and richly drawn characters.

3.5/5.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

Overall. I enjoyed the story. It moved slowly at first and took some time for me to really get into it. But I liked the characters and the story was interesting. The murderer took me by surprise, I would not have guessed that character, but a good murder mystery make it hard to solve, at least too early in the book. Bertie, the main character in the book, is very likable. It’s worsening such a way that reading the first book is not necessary, but it would have given me more backstory to better understand the main characters. I enjoyed it enough that I can see myself reading other books in this series. I received an advance copy of this book for free. All opinions are my own.

I’d read the first of this series so was excited to be give. The opportunity to read this sequel and I wasn’t disappointed. Another cracking tale of murder and mystery set in the 1930s wonderful world of theatre. The characters continue to grow and the story had plenty of intrigue to keep the reader guessing.

Enter the world of 1930 London in the world of theater with a cozy mystery.

First I have read by this author and was glad to delve into mystery and murder! When a newspaper advert predicts a murder in the third act of a play, what is one to do?

Follow from first page to the last to find out what happens! I read this through NetGallery

An advert is placed in the local newspaper stating there will be a death in act three of today’s matinee. Bertie is called in to investigate by friend and fellow playwright Alice. Although no murder takes place, a star of the show is later found dead in a dressing room. Bertie starts to investigate with the help of policeman Hugh.

The Review

A good traditional crime novel with everything you’d expect from a well written plot. As soon as I read about the murder is announced theme, I thought this was going to be very Christie-esque, and I was not disappointed. Each chapter was full of style and purpose, leading us through a whole cast of suspects. I was totally there in the moment with our sleuths guessing along as to whodunnit. It could have been easy to guess the murderer, but the writing led you off in different directions and information was well timed. Excellent dialogue and great rapport between characters. 4.5 stars as I would have liked a few more character and time period details, but these are very minor points. Overall a skillful classic crime novel, encore!

i loved this!! it’s such a brilliant continuation of the story and i love the range of characters! i
love the theatre setting!

A riff on Dame Agatha's <I>A Murder is Announced</I>, this quozy story of Bertie Carroll coming to the aid of frenemy Alice, with his...well, his policeman Hugh there to do...rather less than in the first book; and then narrowly miss out on taking a starring role in the murder as a suspect so that comes out okay.

The reason that sounds incoherent is that I felt more at sea this time than last. How is it Hugh, clearly being set up as Bertie's Gentleman Caller, recedes more into the background? I wasn't expecting grand passion, it may be set in the theatre world but it's 1930s London so discretion was all. However Hugh and Bertie weren't as bantering-mates-with-subtext this time. That was disappointing. I suspect we'll get more of the bantering, and maybe even that mooted swim from the first book, in the next one.

I was pretty clear on who killed Alice but really didn't know why until the polyphonic ending unfolded. This was more than enough to satisfy my series-mytery reader brain. The first book's adeptness at scene-setting that transported me, this time, to 1930s London (instead of the first book's Brighton) is very much in evidence again. The author is a theatre professional. It's clear he's also willing to do careful research into the past. It is always a pleasure to read the words of someone who presents the world being evoked with such panache and confidence.

Aside from missing more Hugh-time for Bertie and me, I felt the mystery was satisfying my series-story craving enough to get a solid four stars. I probably wouldn't have been as generous if I'd read this book first, so read Death on the Pier (my review linked above) before this. But don't miss out. Bertie and Hugh will wile away a few hours while you're focused on the made-up problems of fictional people.

Having read the first instalment in this series, I was excited to read the next and it didn't disappoint. I like the main character and his friends and the settings are interesting. Altogether it is just a nice easy to read murder mystery, not exactly cosy crime, but certainly like a comforting read on a cold day!

I really enjoyed this book. I was excited to read it from the description, and it didn't disappoint. This was my first in this series, and I didn't feel like I was missing anything by coming in cold, but I will definitely be reading the preceding books and be on the look out for more.

I haven't had the chance to read Jamie West's first book yet but I'll certainly be coming back for more Bertie Carroll investigations soon.

'Murder at the Matinee' is a wonderfully atmospheric cosy crime with hardly any violence in it, even the dead body is tastefully despatched! For someone like me who shies away from anything too graphic, this was a perfectly pitched level, enough detail to understand the story and try and work out whodunnit, but with very few gruesome details of the crime itself. I loved the detailed 1930s setting, the sounds and smells of the Gaiety theatre and the bustle of Romano's restaurants jumped off the page; after I finished reading, I went down a very satisfying rabbit hole googling 1930s London theatres!

But back to the story: celebrated playwright Bertie Carroll is visiting his friend and rival Alice, as her play wows the audiences in the Gaiety theatre. The stars of the play are married couple Katherine and Anthony Debenham; at the penultimate performance of the play, an anonymous letter is sent to the crew and posted in the newspapers saying there will be a murder in the third act of the show. There's no murder - but after the show, Anthony's lifeless body is found slumped in the dressing room. With all the backstage to-ing and fro-ing, there are a host of suspects to consider. Bertie and Alice start looking into it, only to be joined by Bertie's old school friend Hugh. There are tender looks and lingering stares between the two of them, but policeman Hugh knows that he can't do anything illegal, even if his heart is telling him otherwise.

Loved it -and already looking forward to where Jamie West will take Bertie and Hugh next!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Cozy indeed! Read it if you like theaters

1934, London West End
Bertie Carroll has no choice but to go when his friendly rival and playwright, Alice, gives him a frantic call. Someone had placed an advert that a murder would take place in the third act of her play. Though Bertie has no idea how or what he should do, he goes to offer moral support to Alice.
However, a murder indeed occurs, and Alice is determined Bertie should solve it (with her help, of course)! With Inspector Hugh Chapman assigned to the case, Bertie has to navigate the clues as well as his feelings for his friend.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Bertie (mostly), Hugh, and Alice.

My Thoughts:
As someone who quite enjoyed the first book, I was excited to read this one. The author’s experience with theater shines even in this book. The detailing of the Gaiety theatre- the seats, the backend, etc., is so good! Also, don’t miss the author’s note at the end.
While this works as a standalone, reading the first book will be better. That’s because unlike other LGBT+ works, this one is subtle and hush-hush (better than book one, though). It was the same in book one. Though the friction between the lead characters is a bit more apparent, it doesn’t openly highlight anything.
Bertie is easy to like, which makes this an easy and entertaining read. Alice is a force to reckon with (for the MC and readers, lol). She does bring a lot of lighthearted moments and chuckles, though. Her characterization is steady, and I would be delighted to meet her again in future books.
Once again, the theater industry, actors, and relevant issues are the primary focus. The 1930s setting adds a lovely charm as well as provides details about how the backgrounds (for plays) were made, the local living conditions (based on income), transportation, etc. Quite a lot of history is packed into it without distracting from the plot.
The mystery as such is easy to guess. While it should have been a whodunit, it is more of a howdunit and whydunit for me since I guessed the killer early. The repetition of certain details made it even more obvious (toning it down a little should help the plot).
Bertie’s secretary, the efficient Miss. Gertie (Gertrude) Williams, has a small role in the last quarter. It’s fun meeting her again. Always give me characters that thrive on order and color-coded lists.
The reveal is not a monologue but comes from more than one character and involves others asking questions and such. This works well as it keeps the reader more invested in the proceedings.

To summarize, Murder at the Matinee is a light and cozy read set in the world of theater from the 1930s. It reads a lot like a classic mystery with the visible influence of Christie’s works.
We are told there will be more books in the series, so I’m hoping the next one will not be a long wait.
Thank you, NetGalley and Brabinger Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.