First Published in 2006. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

A stranger takes over a role in a play, leaving the rest of the cast to ponder his motives. Two minutes into the second act, there is a knock on Nicolas Boehlmer’s dressing-room door, just as he’s smoking his last cigarette before having to go back on stage . . . and, without thinking, he says,“Come in,” still in character. He quickly finds himself bound, gagged, and stripped by a man who appears to be his mirror image: costumed in the same wig, make-up, and clothes. Nicolas is powerless to prevent his usurper from going out and playing his role—with increasingly ridiculous consequences. Is this “upstaging” the act of a depraved amateur? Sabotage by a rival? A piece of guerrilla theater? A political statement? Whatever the cause, Nicolas and his fellow actors soon find their play—and their lives—making less and less sense, as the parts they play come under assault by this irrational intruder.

Enjoy this pulse-pounding hardboiled mystery novel set in a modern-day Shakespeare troupe--from USA TODAY bestselling mystery author Paul Austin Ardoin "There's nothing better than a well-plotted mystery investigated by a witty, wonderfully clever (and flawed) heroine. A well-paced and suspenseful piece of crime fiction not to be missed!" --Gabriella Messina, author of The Kate Gardener Mysteries The local university's Shakespeare troupe already had plenty of drama. Then their manager was murdered. The morning after the coroner election, Fenway Stevenson finds herself in the middle of another emotionally charged case. The manager of a renowned Shakespeare group is killed — and there's no shortage of suspects. Uncovering secret affairs and ties to a deep conspiracy, she gets stonewalled by actors, accountants, and even the university president — who all seem to know more than they admit. Can Fenway solve the murder before she becomes the next victim? ------------ The Upstaged Coroner is the fourth book in the bestselling edge-of-your-seat Fenway Stevenson Mysteries series. KEYWORDS: California beach town murder, female coroner, medical examiner, medical thriller, former nurse solves murders, estranged father, hard boiled mystery, brozy, theater murder, Shakespeare murder, strong woman sleuth, interracial romance mystery, political thriller, conspiracy murder, Santa Barbara crime fiction, similar author to Leslie Wolfe, LJ Ross, Willow Rose, Blake Banner, Tom Fowler, Jeff Carson, TJ Jones

When a dead body is found in the royal box of her sorcerous theater, Mage Nevis Conarkin is shocked to realize that she’s being framed for murder. Although Nevis cannot provide an alibi to prove her innocence, she apparently has a motive to have stabbed the corpse. While struggling to uncover the true villain, with the help of her flamboyant friend who operates the local brothel, Nevis unhappily finds the evidence pointing to one of her actors. In the midst of the murder investigation, Nevis dives into the chaos of rehearsals for the opening night of a play she detests. The script commemorates her successful defeat of a renegade mage, her personal friend, and his plot to allow an invasion by Cashogi foreigners. Hating to be in the spotlight and wishing to avoid the sad memories engendered by the play, Nevis is unable to convince Devlin Graham, the monarch and Nevis’ lover, to cancel the performance. And so the rehearsals—fraught with touchy actors, frazzled stage crew, dangerous incidents, and interruptions from the hard-nosed constable—move forward.

A president who distances himself from stagecraft will find himself upstaged. George H. W. Bush sought to “stay the course” in terms of policy while distancing himself from the public relations strategies employed during the administration of Ronald Reagan, his predecessor. But Bush discovered during his one-term presidency that a strategy of policy continuity coupled with mediocre communication skills “does not make for a strong public image as an effective and active leader in the White House", as author and scholar Lori Cox Han demonstrates in A Presidency Upstaged. Incorporating extensive archival research from the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University—including documents only recently available through requests made under the Freedom of Information Act—Han thoroughly examines the public presidency of George H. W. Bush. Han analyzes how communication strategies, relationships with the press, and public opinion polling shaped and defined his image as a leader. The research for this study also includes content analysis of press coverage (both print and television) and major public addresses during the Bush administration. "Lori Cox Han skillfully uses archival materials, interviews and leading academic studies to present a thorough analysis of George H.W. Bush's public presidency. Her book is a valuable addition to the literature on presidential communications, media, and politics, and also stands as a very useful resource on the events of the first Bush presidency."-Mark Rozell, professor of Public Policy, George Mason University and author, Power and Prudence

"Challinor, who often modernizes and repurposes golden-age mystery ploys, this time takes the further step of recruiting the stars of those classic novels to help solve the case."—Kirkus Reviews "Fans—and there are many—will be shouting, 'Bravo!'"—Booklist A flawless murder is performed on stage, but it's no act Rex Graves and his new wife, Helen, attend the opening night of a play in which five famous literary sleuths of a bygone era are invited to Pinegrove Hall to solve the mystery of a missing heirloom. When the heroine meets with a sinister end, the audience applauds, unaware that the real drama has only just begun. As a Scottish barrister and private detective, Rex is called upon to help discover who among the cast and crew staged the death of the beautiful young actress. But this challenging mystery has unexpected complications waiting in the wings, and Rex must use all his skills to unmask the true culprit. Praise for the Rex Graves Mysteries: "Satisfying...Smooth prose will keep cozy fans turning the pages."—Publishers Weekly "Nicely mixes procedural detail and village charm and will appeal to fans of Deborah Crombie and Anne Cleeland."—Booklist "C.S. creates devilishly complex characters, keeping the reader on edge until the final page."—Suspense Magazine

Ellie is used to getting leading roles in her small-town school’s musicals, but her place at center stage disappears when her dad becomes the host of a breakfast TV show and they have to move to the big city. When Ellie auditions for—and lands—a spot with the Youth Works Theater Company, she comes up against a tight-knit group of talented, experienced and competitive triple-threat performers. Not only does she not get a lead, but she has to share a role with Marissa, a company veteran who seems determined to do all she can to outshine Ellie. Out of her depth and far from all that she’s known, Ellie wonders just what she has to do to stop feeling upstaged by everyone around her.

Zack is back—and taking on the school play! Bah humbug! Zack Delacruz wants to win the role of Scrooge in Davy Crockett Middle School’s production of A Christmas Carol—and Abhi’s admiration, too. But he’s not the only one trying out for the play. So are José (El Pollo Loco), Marquis, and Janie, who dreams of being all three ghosts. What role will Zack end up playing on stage . . . and in his life? Bowling balls, gurgling stomachs, complete chaos, and quick detective work turn this year’s drama into a spectacular scene that will have actors rising to new heights—literally—and leave readers rolling in the aisles.