Shooting Star

by: Thomas Dunne Books

Published by: St. Martins Minotaur

Reviewed by Gerry Hartsoe

In Cynthia Riggs mystery, Shooting Star, Martha's Vineyard is not just the touristy locale that is loved by so many. Island Players, the local community theater, is the setting for a fast and interesting story of child disappearance, and murder.

The actors are performing an adaptation of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Victoria Trumball is the 92-year-old poet who has written this serious adaptation, and she is also an part-time sleuth. The new artistic director is causing a stir when he continually pushes to turn the playhouse into an equity theater with professional actors. A controversy is abounding with those that want the theater to stay a community theater with local amateur actors.

The book starts the night before opening night when an eight-year-old actor, who is playing the part of Frankenstein's young brother, disappears. He was last seen with one of the other actors, Peg Storm, who has been found dead. The child is missing and an island-wide search is started. A visiting forensic scientist is called in to help the local police. More actors turn up dead and other characters are brought into the story to keep it interesting. The fast pace of the book kept me guessing just who was the bad guy, or gal--and even though I thought I had it figured out, it was not who I thought.

Armchair Interviews says: Recommended for a nice quick read for that summer vacation.

Author's Web site: http://www.CynthiaRiggs.com