Winter, 1953. A young flower seller is found dead in her room at a Brighton boarding-house, posed with a chilling perfection into a recreation of a famous painting of the death of Lady Jane Grey. This is a killer unlike any DI Edgar Stephens has encountered before. Across the city at the Hippodrome theatre, Max Mephisto is top of the bill in a double act with his daughter Ruby. Tarnishing the experience, though, is one of the other acts: a seedy 'living tableaux' show where barely -dressed women strike poses from famous historical scenes. Is the resemblance to the murder scene pure coincidence, or is life imitating art? When another death occurs - this time within the troupe itself - Max once again finds himself involved in one of Edgar's cases. They have faced down serial killers and anarchist bombers together, but this threat will come closer to home than anything before. What should be just a job is about to become personal.

This is the 4th book in the Stephens and Mephisto Mystery series. I have read all of Elly Griffiths books and have enjoyed them all. I like this series but I do prefer her Ruth Galloway series better. This one is very different as it is set in the 50's and involves a magician and an investigator that seem to solve the mysteries together. The characters are interesting and the plots are unique. I would definitely read this series in order so you can get to know the characters better. I look forward to reading the next in the series but frankly, when this book ended it seemed like a final ending to the series. I would recommend this series to anyone who likes mysteries set in the 50's with a touch of magic.

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