The Opening Night Murder

(Paperback)

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At the dawn of the Restoration Period, Suzanne Thornton hopes to find a second life in the theater. But instead, on opening night, she finds a dead body on stage... The triumphant return of King Charles II in 1660 is occasion for much celebration in London. The Merry Monarch's unquenchable thirst for entertainment creates opportunities for everyone from tavern keepers to brothel owners to actors. One of these is Suzanne Thornton. No longer a kept woman since her man has fled, she sees an opportunity to reopen a theater and stage the classics-Shakespeare, Marlowe, and the like. And now, thanks to Royal decree, Juliet can be played by a woman. Suzanne secures financing from an old lover, assembles a troupe, and restores the venue-none other than the historic Globe Theater. Tragically, during the opening night performance, a dead body lands on the stage. After the curtain comes down, Suzanne finds herself a suspect. But she also finds that murder is good for business-the next night's performance is sold out. Wishing to live to enjoy her success, Suzanne undertakes her own investigation to find a killer who may try to close her down for good...

Reviews

"Anne Rutherford brings the world of Restoration England to vivid life, from the teeming streets to the halls of the royal palace. Her heroine, Suzanne Thornton, has always done what she must to survive in a cruel world where women count for little, and now she must solve a murder to save the one person in the world she truly loves."Victoria Thompson, Author of Murder on Fifth Avenue

I read this book in one sitting, captivated by Rutherford's vivid depiction of actors and aristocrats, political intrigue, and her strong, resourceful heroine. The world of Restoration London and its theaters leaps off the page in this impressive novel.Carol K. Carr, National Bestselling Author of India Black and the Widow of Windsor

Author Bio

Anne Rutherfordis a pseudonym for Julianne Lee. Lee has been writing historical fiction in several genres, under various pseudonyms, for over a decade. She was the author of the Catherine of Aragon novel,The Spanish Bride, in Berkley's Wives of Henry the Eighth series (under the house name Laurien Gardner) and as J. Ardian Lee wrote an historical fantasy series for Ace.