Show Time is the debut of the Dodie O'Dell Mystery series. Having had her Jersey shore job and home destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, Dodie has moved further inland to the sleepy town of Etonville and taken a job managing the restaurant, Windjammer.
Managing the restaurant has its challenges that include smoothing the feathers of ruffled owner, Henry who is constantly in a funk over the successes of rival restaurant La Famiglia. When Lola Tripper, Dodie's friend begs her to come help with the auditions for Romeo & Juliet at the Etonville Little Theater next door, Dodie isn't sure that the Shakespearean production is her "scene".
The theater manager Walter Zeitzman has his hands full with the cast and asks Dodie to assist his assistant Penny Ossinging in keeping the production on track. Jerome Angleton, Windjammer customer, Dodie's mystery reading friend and theater worker/performer reveals to Dodie that he suspects Walter of skimming money from the Theater cash fund. The next morning Jerome is found dead on the loading dock of the theater and a real mystery evolves.
With the help of Chief Bill Thompson, Dodie sets out to find Jerome's killer. Delving into Jerome's past she discovers a secret mystery woman and the possibility that he was in possession of a valuable document. Plenty of suspects present themselves including shady Walter, former theater player Elliot Schenk, and the nefarious Wendover brothers, Morty and Marshall.
A fast paced cozy with interesting characters and insight into the behind the scenes workings of a theater production as well as the dramas often found in a restaurant kitchen. It was pretty easy to identify whodunit upon introduction of the character, but that didn't take away from the storyline. The author wraps up the mystery with plenty of potential for the characters to continue to find themselves embroiled in future adventures.
Managing the restaurant has its challenges that include smoothing the feathers of ruffled owner, Henry who is constantly in a funk over the successes of rival restaurant La Famiglia. When Lola Tripper, Dodie's friend begs her to come help with the auditions for Romeo & Juliet at the Etonville Little Theater next door, Dodie isn't sure that the Shakespearean production is her "scene".
The theater manager Walter Zeitzman has his hands full with the cast and asks Dodie to assist his assistant Penny Ossinging in keeping the production on track. Jerome Angleton, Windjammer customer, Dodie's mystery reading friend and theater worker/performer reveals to Dodie that he suspects Walter of skimming money from the Theater cash fund. The next morning Jerome is found dead on the loading dock of the theater and a real mystery evolves.
With the help of Chief Bill Thompson, Dodie sets out to find Jerome's killer. Delving into Jerome's past she discovers a secret mystery woman and the possibility that he was in possession of a valuable document. Plenty of suspects present themselves including shady Walter, former theater player Elliot Schenk, and the nefarious Wendover brothers, Morty and Marshall.
A fast paced cozy with interesting characters and insight into the behind the scenes workings of a theater production as well as the dramas often found in a restaurant kitchen. It was pretty easy to identify whodunit upon introduction of the character, but that didn't take away from the storyline. The author wraps up the mystery with plenty of potential for the characters to continue to find themselves embroiled in future adventures.
Show Time by Suzanne Trauth is the first book in A Dodie O'Dell Mystery series. Dodie O'Dell is the manager of the Windjammer restaurant in Etonville, New Jersey. Dodie left the Jersey Shore after Hurricane Sandy. Etonville is a quaint small town and Dodie made a good friend in Lola Tripper. Lola is a retired science teacher who now spends her time at the Etonville Little Theatre (ELT for short). Dodie convinced Windjammer's owner, Henry, to start a dinner and theater affair. Dodie creates special menus (themes) to go along with each ELT production. ELT is getting ready to hold auditions for their latest play which is Romeo and Juliet. Walter Zeitzman, the director and general factotum, decided to try Shakespeare (ELT has not done works of the Bard before). Lola convinces Dodie to help out during the auditions. Walter's assistant, Penny tends to be a little scatterbrained and disorganized. Jerome Angleton is friend of Dodie's. Jerome is another retired teacher (English) who acts in the theater's productions. Jerome and Dodie share a love of mystery novels. Jerome confided in Dodie that money has been disappearing from the theater, and Jerome has been looking into it. Unfortunately, Jerome is found dead on the theater's loading dock before he concludes his investigation. Dodie wants to find out who killed her friend and sets out to get answers in between her work at Windjammer and helping out with the production of Romeo and Juliet. Chief Bill Thompson is new to the town and could use some help (Dodie cannot help but notice his handsome exterior). Bill is not privy to the gossip at ELT nor is he familiar with all the citizens of Etonville yet. It turns out that Jerome had some secrets (who doesn't). Follow Dodie as she unravels the clues to find the killer.
Show Time has some interesting characters (Dodie, Lola, Carol), and I liked the theater aspect. However, I found the book to be slow paced (it seemed to drag at times) and the book was not holding my interest. There are many characters (and they all seem to be quirky and troubled) thrown at us in this first book as people are trying out for Romeo and Juliet. The author tried to make the mystery complicated (we are led on a merry chase), but it is actually child's play to solve (the killer stood out like there was a flashing, neon arrow over the culprit's head). There are way too many references to Dodie's car which she refers to as "my metro" (I have no clue what that is). It was entertaining to read about what goes into a small town theater production. I give Show Time 3.5 out of 5 stars (It was okay, but needs some work). The series does have potential, and I will read the next book in A Dodie O'Dell Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of Show Time from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments expressed are strictly my own.
Show Time has some interesting characters (Dodie, Lola, Carol), and I liked the theater aspect. However, I found the book to be slow paced (it seemed to drag at times) and the book was not holding my interest. There are many characters (and they all seem to be quirky and troubled) thrown at us in this first book as people are trying out for Romeo and Juliet. The author tried to make the mystery complicated (we are led on a merry chase), but it is actually child's play to solve (the killer stood out like there was a flashing, neon arrow over the culprit's head). There are way too many references to Dodie's car which she refers to as "my metro" (I have no clue what that is). It was entertaining to read about what goes into a small town theater production. I give Show Time 3.5 out of 5 stars (It was okay, but needs some work). The series does have potential, and I will read the next book in A Dodie O'Dell Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of Show Time from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. The opinions and comments expressed are strictly my own.
