Theater, Theft, and a Deadly Design
When Broadway costume designer Julian Westfield is found strangled with iridescent fairy fabric at the Majestic Theater, director Thea Martinelli's summer production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" transforms from magical to murderous. As the prime suspect, Thea must clear her name while uncovering why Julian really came to Curtain Falls—to search for a legendary lost portfolio of revolutionary costume designs that could be worth a fortune.
The investigation leads Thea to mysterious fabric specialist Rosalind Hayes, who harbors secrets about the designs' true creator, and reclusive textile artist Martin Fletcher, whose woodland cottage contains suspicious fabric scraps matching the murder weapon. With theatrical threatening notes appearing throughout the theater and valuable costume pieces going missing, Thea realizes the killer is using elements from Shakespeare's play itself to create deadly misdirection.
As opening night approaches, Thea sets a trap during the dress rehearsal to catch a killer who turned innovative costume techniques into a method for murder. With help from her theatrical community and Detective Ben Cue, Thea races to solve the case before the final curtain falls on another victim, while bringing long-overdue recognition to a brilliant designer whose work was stolen decades ago.
Genre: Mystery
When Broadway costume designer Julian Westfield is found strangled with iridescent fairy fabric at the Majestic Theater, director Thea Martinelli's summer production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" transforms from magical to murderous. As the prime suspect, Thea must clear her name while uncovering why Julian really came to Curtain Falls—to search for a legendary lost portfolio of revolutionary costume designs that could be worth a fortune.
The investigation leads Thea to mysterious fabric specialist Rosalind Hayes, who harbors secrets about the designs' true creator, and reclusive textile artist Martin Fletcher, whose woodland cottage contains suspicious fabric scraps matching the murder weapon. With theatrical threatening notes appearing throughout the theater and valuable costume pieces going missing, Thea realizes the killer is using elements from Shakespeare's play itself to create deadly misdirection.
As opening night approaches, Thea sets a trap during the dress rehearsal to catch a killer who turned innovative costume techniques into a method for murder. With help from her theatrical community and Detective Ben Cue, Thea races to solve the case before the final curtain falls on another victim, while bringing long-overdue recognition to a brilliant designer whose work was stolen decades ago.
Genre: Mystery
Used availability for Maisy Marple's Midsummer Murder