A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR
Pop diva Clarion Calhoun has packed the house with her celebrity appearance in Bath’s Theatre Royal production of I Am a Camera. But within moments of her much-anticipated onstage appearance, she’s pulled out of character as she screams and claws at her face.
When tainted stage makeup is found to have caused the disfiguring burn, fingers point to her makeup artist. Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond investigates when the makeup artist is found dead, pushed from a catwalk far above the stage.
As Diamond digs deeper, he uncovers rivalries among the cast and crew and is forced to confront his own mysterious and deep-seated theatre phobia to find the killer.
“Superb … Once again, Lovesey proves he has few peers as a crafter of contemporary fair-play whodunits.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
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"I love the Peter Diamond series; the protagonist is so imperfect and sometimes so curmudgeonly. But it gives a great dimension to these mysteries. I didn't like this one quite as much as "The Last Detective," but it was still very good."
— Mary (4 out of 5 stars)
" Yet another excellent read from Peter Lovesey. His protagonist, Peter Diamond is a very believable and likeable character and the book kept me gripped throughout. "
— Lesley, 2/17/2014" Thbbbpt. (raspberry) "
— Joanne, 2/7/2014" This was my first Peter Lovesey read and I liked it. The characters are real and the story has enough twists to keep it interesting. I will certainly be adding more of his novels to my "to read" list! "
— Paula, 2/4/2014" Another compelling read with an ending which certainly surprised me. Peter Lovesey is a great writer provided you go along for the ride and enter his world. "
— Rog, 2/2/2014" Peter Diamond investigation in Bath, England "
— Amweatherill, 1/25/2014" A really enjoyable English murder mystery set in Bath, a place I visited several years ago & never forgot it's beauty...fun, English, murder, what more do you want? "
— Red, 1/17/2014" Disappointing. Written for octagenerian males. "
— Judy, 1/15/2014" Quintessential Lovesey where the golden age puzzle mystery meets the present day. This one has a theater setting which reveals one of Diamond's phobias, that certain types of theaters make him nervous. "
— Andy, 1/7/2014" 3 1/2 An enjoyable, well written mystery involving a pop star who is hired by a theater company simply because of her popularity. She can't act, and is maimed opening night.... the mystery involves the entire company. I like a good mystery once in a while, and this fit the bill. "
— Julie, 12/16/2013" Spoiled by Ngaio Marsh's theatrical mysteries, so this one was a disappointment. And the side story of Diamond's suppressed childhood memories was poorly handled. "
— Krista, 12/10/2013" Very good mystery, but not one of my favorites. "
— Lisa, 9/5/2013" Pretty disappointed. I have liked other books by Peter Lovesey and I am found of the theater so I thought this would be fun. Totally failed to engage me. "
— Paulina, 7/10/2013" Inspector Cribb first hooked me on writer Peter Lovesey. His Peter Diamond series is equally appealing. Enjoyed the book from beginning to end. "
— Stephanie, 5/22/2013" Ok...definitely the twists and turns kept my curiosity. A theater in Bath, murder mayhem and we aren't clear who is behind it until the very end. A fun read. "
— Shifra, 1/15/2013" I didn't figure it out . . . "
— Melissa, 11/5/2012" Good British detective book by a very good author. "
— Rory, 9/20/2012" Not my favourite Peter Diamond, but still highly intriguing. "
— Narnia, 8/18/2012" A first class British police procedural. Highly enjoyable and recommended to fans of the genre. "
— Lee, 1/10/2012" Well plotted. Excellent character development. Entertaining. What you expect from Lovesey. (Spoils you for a lot of other authors though.) "
— E, 10/10/2011" It was indeed a very fairly plotted mystery and it still surprised me who the killer was. Lots of red herrings, of course. "
— Chris, 9/14/2011" I've come to the conclusion that Peter Lovesey doesn't write bad books. Another good Peter Diamond mystery. "
— Skye, 7/14/2011" Latest (2011) Peter Diamond is a pip -- set at the theatre royal in bath it concerns a company of acors and crew. Plus some delightfully dotty police. Diamond also solves his life-long fear of theaters. "
— Salli, 7/5/2011Peter Lovesey, the author of more than thirty highly praised mystery novels, has won the British Crime Writers’ Association Silver and Gold Dagger awards as well as the Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement and the Strand Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. In the United States, he has received Edgar and Dilys nominations, an Anthony Award and a Macavity Award, and the Ellery Queen Readers Award, among others. In 2018, he was named a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master.