MURDER IN THE SPOTLIGHT (Book 5: A Comedian Dies)

A rising television star. A fading comedy legend. And a death on stage that looks like a tragic accident—but may be a carefully planned murder.

When Charles Paris and his wife Frances visit a summer variety show in Hunstanton, they expect an entertaining afternoon by the seaside. Instead, they witness the shocking death of Bill Peaky, a young comedian whose career is suddenly taking off. A violent electric shock kills him in front of the audience, and the inquest concludes that faulty wiring caused the fatal accident.

But Charles notices something that does not add up. Bill was meticulous about checking his equipment, so how could such a dangerous fault have gone unnoticed? The more Charles investigates, the more convinced he becomes that someone deliberately tampered with the wiring.

His search leads him into a world of jealous performers, ambitious agents, bitter rivalries, and forgotten stars. Among them is Lennie Barber, a once-famous comedian struggling to reclaim the success he lost. As Charles becomes involved in a new television comedy project, he discovers that the entertainment business can be every bit as ruthless as the stage is glamorous.

Then another shocking incident makes the investigation far more personal.

With sharp British humour, backstage intrigue, and a cleverly concealed killer, A Comedian Dies delivers a gripping mystery where the biggest performance may be the most dangerous one of all.