Death in the Spotlight: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery 07 (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, 7)

Product Information

Don’t you like her?’ I said, surprised, for I had seen Martita patiently working with Daisy on her graveyard scene, showing her how to project her voice into the depths of the stalls. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Death in the Spotlight by Robin Stevens , read by Katie Leung. You certainly do,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘And I agree with you on it.’ She frowned. ‘Actors have got in the habit of declaiming Shakespeare as though they’re speaking nonsense poetry and not simply talking to one another. We won’t have any of that in this production.’ I was expecting prim and proper instruction, like porridge for the mind. But I should not have been surprised that the lessons we were given turned out to be, once again, as unusual as Aunt Lucy herself, not like the starchy Deepdean hours of Latin and Deportment and the names of kings. Daisy is killed when she puts herself between the bullet and Hazel, saving her best friend. But did she really die...

Has something been misspelled?!’ called Miss Crompton, striding up the aisle between the stalls. ‘All right, show us what the trouble is.’ Have a look at those,’ said Aunt Lucy, ‘and then begin to go through this exercise book. Solve what you can, and bring your work to me this afternoon.’ But then I remembered that Daisy and I are a brilliant detective double act because we notice different things. There are many things I have seen that Daisy never could have – it’s no good either of us trying to measure up to each other. Hey, it wasn’t me!’ Simon said, shaking his head. Lysander crossed his arms and Annie shrugged, her hands draped in deep swags of material.Does not know her own name,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘Excellent. Begin your recitation, if you please.’

Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse. Then, of course, I realized why I had chosen it: I have often felt like Ruth in that poem, and I did at that very moment. I staggered on to the end, melting under the lights and frying with dreadful shame, for I had let out more of myself than I had meant. Then I stopped and there was only a ringing silence. I felt as though every empty chair was staring at me. That’s good of you, Simon darling,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘But I was in fact wondering whether Martita could help me while Theresa is away. She knows the theatre well, and she has seen us both work.’ Rose was absolutely delighted with them, and paraded them around the Rue. Miss Crompton smiled, Martita rolled her eyes, Simon shrugged, Inigo sniffed, Lysander glared, and Annie treated everyone who came into Wardrobe to a long description of all the roses in her mother’s garden. (Annie spoke almost constantly, a cloud of chatter that enveloped anyone who went near her.)

Chapter 6

My theatre, Inigo darling,’ said Miss Crompton, patting his shoulder. ‘Mine and Theresa’s. Your play.’ He pointed out the actors who would be playing the Montagues and the Capulets, Paris, the apothecary – and at last he introduced Rose. As he did so, it was as though a bright light had been thrown on her. It was clear that she was the star. Oh, hey, poor you,’ Simon said to us with an American accent that gave me a start, for it was rather similar to Alexander’s. ‘Martita is a horrible person.’ But he winked and grinned, and Martita thumped him on the shoulder, looking furious and fond at the same time.