Fun stuff. I love the combination of mystery and theatre. ( )

Jocelyn O’Roarke, a broadway actress, gets suck into an understudy role by an old friend and when the actress that's actually playing the role dies suddenly, she is a prime suspect. But things get dangerous not just in the police eyes but the killer's as well.

What a great start for a series - glad I grabbed this one, had to buy the next one right away!
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Murder on Cue by Jane Dentinger was originally released in 1992. This book is now in digital format and is an Open Road Integrated Media publication. I receive a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Netgalley.

Jocelyn O'Roarke is called up to be the understudy in a new Broadway play. The cast in the play is plagued by past relationships, jealousy, health issues, and a lead actress that isn't the best actress for the role.

When the actress turns up dead, it is determined that it was murder. Jocelyn is the number one suspect since she was the actresses rival for the role.
So, Jocelyn sets out to find out what really happened, with the help of a handsome detective.

This mystery is written like a classic whodunit. All those associated with play are suspects. This mystery does keep you guessing. Although written a good while back, it's not all that dated, and the setting is fun.
For me the only issue was that were maybe too many characters and some aspects of the mystery didn't really come together in the end.
This book would appeal to cozy mystery lovers, and lovers of old fashioned whodunit type mysteries. Overall this one gets a B- ( )

Murder on Cue is the first in a series of mysteries about Jocelyn O’Roarke, a New York actress. From the beginning it reminded me of the Charles Paris mysteries by Simon Brett and that is always a good thing. You are plunged into the atmosphere of the New York theater scene. It is a setting that the author obviously knows well.

Jocelyn is given the understudy role in a new dramatic courtroom play. The actress playing the lead is not universally loved by the rest of the cast. Tensions are high and result in murder which Jocelyn is forced to help investigate to protect herself.

I really enjoyed this book which is a bit edgier than a cozy but definitely close to that genre. There were a couple of mentions of casual drug use and more talk about sex than will happen in a cozy so you can decide if that is for you or not.

The characters were realistic and fun. The mystery wasn’t the most difficult to figure out but it didn’t jump off the page either. I found myself playing “Name that Play” throughout as the characters love to quote famous theatrical works. Likeable characters, great setting, decent mystery. I’ll be back for more of Jocelyn O’Roarke .

I received this copy through Netgalley and appreciate the opportunity to read it. ( )