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.
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