📚 Book Review 📚

A golden age whodunnit, written with a bit of flair and pizzaz; this is a fun, enjoyable read.

This is the second book in a series involving playwright Bertie and his old school friend, DCI Hugh Chapman. I haven’t read the first instalment, but it made no difference to my enjoyment. It’s a good mystery with a couple of nods to my favourite, Agatha Christie, which I loved. The message in the newspaper, the typewriter and the final reveal are all very Agatha-esque and added to the charm of this read.

I did guess the identity of the murderer but I wasn’t sure how it was done, so the reveal was a great one for me! I really enjoyed this book and I’m really looking forward to reading more by Jamie West, what a fab find!

I’d like to thank Brabinger Publishers, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 5th September 2024

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This is a murder mystery set in the 1930's that revolves around the Gaiety Theatre with the main character Bertie who is a playwright and part time would be detective. Lots of twists and turns in the story after Bertie together with his friend and detective Hugh try to discover the murderer of one of the main characters in the current play. All this action occurs after the murder had been predicted in the local media.
This is a very good read and reflects the times it is set in perfectly.

1930s pre-war London West End.
Playwright Bertie Carroll investigates a murder at a theatre, aided by his fellow playwright Alice Crawford, and London detective Hugh Chapman
The atmosphere is beautifully evoked, the oddities and rivalries of theatre folk, and also the attitude to anyone who doesn’t quite fit the mould, as do a lot of the characters. Bertie and Hugh would like to be more than friends, but have to be circumspect, Alice is a successful single woman.
There are a lot of golden age references, many red herrings, wonderful descriptions of theatre life, and an Agatha Christie type ending with all the interested parties collected together.

However, although enjoyable, there is a lot of “cosy crime” about at the moment, and this book doesn’t shine.

Thanks to Netgalley and Brabinger Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

"...you're the one who's done this before. How do we go about solving a murder?"

I do love a whodunnit.

The second installment in the Bertie Carroll Mysteries series sees Bertie Carroll back in the middle of a golden-age-style whodunnit, set against the backdrop of the Gaiety Theatre in London. When Bertie recieves a call from fellow playright/rival Alice Crawford, he doesnt expect to be in the middle of another murder mystery. After all, the threatening note stating that there will be a very real murder in the third act of the play on closing night can't be anything more than a hoax right? The cast of the play seem to think so, until the body of the male lead, Anthony Debenham, is found hours after the matinee performance. Bertie must once again team up with his old school friend Hugh Chapman to find the killer, but no one is above suspicion. Can they work together to unravel the mystery of this seemingly inprobable murder?

I really love a classic whodunnit. I grew up watching Midsomer Murders with my dad, always being excited when he'd guess the killer within the first half hour, meanwhile all my guesses ended up being the next victim. This book really felt like a love letter to the golden age of whodunnit murder mysterious, as well as the old fashioned theatreland of the London West End. I loved the discovery of the murder, the way there was no solid explination for the killer getting in and out undetected. I also really loved the subversion of it focusing a lot on Bertie's investigation rather than Hughs as it really felt like something I could follow along with.

The cast of this book are really really interesting. Although its a relativley small cast of chracters, they all add soemthing to the story. Alice was really interesting. Once we got past the 'they're still so in love, I oculd never be like that it would tire me' i found her a bit more interesting. I could never figure out if she had something to do with the note, maybe to drive up sales for her play. It made for a really interesting read trying to figure out her motives. My mind almost immediatley drifted to thinking it's always the wife, but that was more because I always said that watching Midsomer. But I think Katherine may have been my favourite character. she really embodied the glitz, glamour and dramatics from 1930s theatreland. I kept flitting between her and Alice as to who I thought did it, sometimes thinking maybe it was Margo, but each character was crafted so carefully, that I thought they all could have plausibly done it, but also thinking that I didn't want any of them to be the killer.

As it is the second book in the series, I didn't think I was able to connect with Bertie and Hugh as much as I wanted to. Whilst this book can be read as a standalone, there is just enough intrigue into Bertie and HUgh's past, and enough mention of what happened in Brighton for me to not fully understand their dynamic, but that's mostly on me for not reading the first book before delving into this one.

It was a shorter read than I was expecting, but it really worked well. It meant there were never any filler scenes. The pacing of the book really worked well , from the beginning, to the murder, to the investigation, to the reveal. My favourite part of the book was the reveal. Having evryone in one room while they talked it out is my favourite way of finding out who the killer is. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I thought it was so well done. I liked that it never felt out of left field, the whole explanation felt like it made sense.

All in all this was really enjoyable, and I was happy to see at the end that Bertie and Hugh will return. This was a 4 star read for me

ARC provided by Brabinger through NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity to read this early copy, all thoughts are my own.

A golden age style murder mystery set in the Gaiety theatre and surrounding areas in London in 1934. I have not read the first book in the series but I found it easy to read as a standalone novel. The information in the appendix about the theatre was very interesting.

This is a great old time murder mystery. Like a great game of Clue almost. You will fall in love with the characters and wo t be able to put this down. Love it!!!

A cosy mystery set in 1934 in the West End of London. The story follows police officer Hugh from Scotland Yard and his old school friend Bertie, a playwright, as they team up to solve a murder at the Gaiety Theatre.

The plot is straightforward but engaging, with a variety of lively characters from the theatre world - perfect for lovers of golden age detective stories.
A perhaps slightly predictable but entertaining read - I look forward to future instalments in the series.

Set in the 1930's, this is a murder mystery set in the Gaiety theatre.
Hugh, a police officer from Scotland Yard, leads the investigation, with help from Bertie, a playwright with knowledge of the theatre.
Hugh and Bertie are school friends and possibly lovers. This is illegal at the time, so the romance is very subtle, with an air of longing for what could be.
The plot isn't very complicated, although there are lots of suspects to eliminate.
Bertie's theatre friends are lively and fun. Gertie, Bertie's indomitable secretary, is great, I would like to see more of her.
The tone of the book is very gentle, it reminds me of Agatha Christie. This is the second in the series and I enjoyed meeting Hugh and Bertie again. I look forward to the next one! Recommended.

I found this to be an enjoyable story very much in the vein of the golden age of detective fiction. I found the choice to make Bertie openly gay to the reader, if not to most of the characters, a refreshing choice that added a dynamic that was not openly explored in the 30s and 40s.

The story was well rooted in it's time and location, as well as in the world of theatre. As someone who doesn't know a lot about the mechanics of theatre, I found this element very interesting. It reminded me a lot of Ngaio Marsh's theatre novels, in particular Enter a Murderer.

I think West did maybe too good of a job of ensuring the breadcrumbs were laid for the reader to work out the murderer, as I worked out who it was almost immediately. I didn't find that I was persuaded that anyone else could be the murderer through the novel, which cemented West's commitment to fairplay but turned the story into more of a howdoneit than a whodoneit.

Overall this is a solid example of the genre with an interesting take, but I would have liked a little more mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Brabinger Publishing for the ebook ARC, this has been a good fun book to read and review.

This was a nice cozy crime read. Since I am a fan of not only the theater but also Agatha Christie, this ticked all the right boxes for me. If you enjoy a historical murder mystery, this could be for you.

Not for me I am afraid. The writing style is simplistic with very little character building of note. A cosy crime that I guessed very quickly. So I skipped to the last chapters to see if I was right, and I was.

I liked the setting. A good cast of characters. The lead amateur detective, Bertie, shows promise as a character alongside the actual detective, Hugh.


I do think this book will be popular, despite the drawbacks for me.

I read a copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

Thanks to Brabinger Publishing and Net Galley for this ARC. I had hoped Death of the Pier would not be a stand alone novel so was so pleased to see a sequel. This is more or a howdunit rather than a whodunit; I guessed the murderer very early on but couldn't work out how it was done. The plot in this sense is very good though. I really enjoyed the character development too and do really hope there will be a third.

Excellent golden age style mystery with a theatrical leaning; this is the second in the Bertie and Hugh series and I’m sure could be enjoyed as a standalone. (Do read Death on the Pier though, it’s very good fun too).

As a classic detective mystery it ticks all the boxes, and as a piece of insight into lost theatres and theatreland in the 30s it also excels. West’s love of the genre, and of theatre, shine through and make this series really special.

This is a brilliantly plotted murder mystery with a fabulous cast of characters, all of whom are suspects. I loved meeting up again with Hugh and Bertie, who team up to solve the case. I also can’t get enough of the chemistry these two share.
As well as being hugely entertaining, Jamie West carries out so much research into the history of the theatre’s featured in his books that I can’t help being fascinated about the history of them and the theatre business in general.

If you enjoy an old style crime fictional read then this could very well suit your taste. An enjoyable, easy read that is easy to slip in and out of at your leisure. Perhaps not a gripping, page turner likesome, but it is one that is easy to enjoy.

A well-written but slightly bland Golden Age style whodunnit, set in the theatre world of 1934 London.

Successful playwright Bertie Carroll gets a phone call from his worried friend/rival Alice Crawford. Some anonymous person has placed an announcement in the newspaper that there is going to be a murder in her play that night. Since Bertie has had previous experience with murder in the theatre (in the preceding book, which I haven’t read) she thinks he might help. Bertie agrees to accompany her that night, and lo and behold, someone does get killed… Detective Chief Inspector Hugh Chapman, Bertie’s old school friend (and unhappy love interest) shows up to solve the mystery, with some help from Bertie and his secretary Gertie.

The mystery is fairly straightforward and I guessed the murderer early on. However, the real star of this book is the Gaiety theatre. I loved reading about the theatre, the descriptions of its machinations and history etc, so much so that I dug out Dorothy Parker’s complete Broadway reviews as a companion read.

A nice read.

I absolutely loved this book! It was the first I had read although second in the series but it didn't matter that I hadn't read the first one. The character development was great and I loved learning about the period and the theatre.

The murder itself was a bit obvious.

But overall a great read and I'd recommend!

Thanks for the arc.

Murder at the Matinee is a welcome return to 1930s and the world of Bertie Carroll, playwright and amateur detective. Bertie first appeared in Death on the Pier, and having finished the second book in this series, I opted to read The first book, as I was curious about his adventures in Brighton. And the first novel, is equally full of theatrical info.
The author's knowledge of theatre and the history of the Gaiety Theatre is evident in every page, as this novel is full of historical details which added to my joy of the storyline.
This time around, Bertie has been invited to attend a performance of a new play by fellow playwright Alice, once a number of Death threats are received. And when a murder does occur (after all, a Golden Age mystery must involve a murder!), Bertie is reunited with his old school-friend, Hugh.
Now, a successful detective at New Scotland Yard.

There are numerous references to Bertie's friends and the places where he socialises - mainly when Hugh warns Bertie to be careful and I soon realised that my hopes for a relationship between these two, was seemingly unlikely. Hugh's reticence may well be related to the absurd laws of the time, outlawing homosexuality. However, our duplicate work so well together, with both parties playing a role in resolving the case (though Bertie plays a greater role in the denouncement) , and I can see them as less Sherlock & Holmes but more my beloved Tommy & Tuppence who work solidly as a team.
The case is a delightful mix of red herrings and hidden clues, as our duo struggle to work together again and resolve the mysteries taking place at the Gaiety Theatre.

There is a reasonably large cast of characters so I did need to keep my attention carefully focused on the storyline.

But to be fair, this was hardly a difficulty and I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and funny historical cosy mystery

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Brabinger Publishing, and author Jamie West, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for September 5, 2024.

Murder at the Matinee is book #2 in the Bertie Carroll Mystery series written by author, Jamie West. West is familiar with the theatrical form, having previously worked backstage on countless shows in London's West End, so knows firsthand the history and fascination for theatres and the shows performed in them. His first book, Death on the Pier was published in October 2022.

In Murder at the Matinee, West takes us back in time to 1934, to the Gaiety Theatre, located in London's West End. Steeped in history, the theatre was first established as the Strand Musick Hall in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. In 1868, it became known as the Gaiety Theatre and was, at first, known for music hall and then for musical burlesque, pantomime, and operetta performances. From 1868 to the 1890s, it had a major influence on the development of modern musical comedy.

The story opens with playwright (and amateur sleuth), Bertie Carroll, on his way to the theatre to meet his friend Alice Crawford. Crawford, who was also a playwright, had telephoned Bertie with some distressing news. After a very successful run, the play was finally coming to a close. While reading articles about the play in the newspaper, Alice had come across something that caught her eye. There was an advertisement in the back of a newspaper which read: "Beware patrons of the matinee performance of Alice Crawford's latest thrilling play: Time to Kill. A terrifying and very real murder will be committed in the third act." Seeing this ad brought Alice to a state of high alert. Not knowing what to think - whether the add was a stunt, some sort of prank, or, heaven forbid, real, she phoned Bertie for help.

With a full house for this matinee performance, the play started, and. that was exactly what happened, there was indeed a murder at the matinee.

Working the case alongside an old school friend, Chief Detective Inspector Hugh Chapman, Bertie investigates the mystery and breaks down the list of possible suspects and their motives.

All possibilities, however unlikely, remain possible until they can be disproven.

The cast of characters is moderately high - basically the entire cast and crew of the production together with the theatre employees.

This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the theatrical setting and the author's prior knowledge of the industry certainly helped recreate a more realistic atmosphere.

For this reader though, I thought the characters were a little underdeveloped and I would have liked a little more depth to Bertie especially. This book has been shelved as LGBTQIAP+, with the mc described as a gay playwright detective, but this element in the story is so subtle that it's almost entirely non-existent. I would have liked to have seen that element explored a little more. Maybe that's something that's coming in future books?

The mystery had perfect pacing, but the ending was a little contrived and my belief in the ending was hanging by a thread. I found myself wanting to enjoy this more than I did. Unfortunately, I found myself not really caring for the main characters. Bertie especially, was just too subtle for me.

I finished this one a couple of days ago and have been wavering on my rating. A solid 3.5, but whether to round up or down. I chose down. Would I continue with the series? Yes, I'd very much like to see the author explore the main character - I think Bertie Carroll has a lot to offer.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Brabinger Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

A cosy mystery set in 1934 in the West End of London. This is the second book in the series but the first one I have read.
Following the final matinee performance an actor is found dead in one of the dressing rooms. Bertie Carroll teams up with his friend DCI Hugh Chapman to try to solve the crime.
This was a very quick and easy to read book. The story was reasonably entertaining but I did guess the perpetrator early on. The characters didn't really engage me and there was no real sense of the historical setting. Otherwise this was a pleasant read but nothing special.