A Backstage Betrayal by Michael Ball

 

A Backstage Betrayal by Michael Ball -general fiction/historical

It’s 1926 and running a theatre isn't the glamorous life some think. Purse strings are tight and when the producer of the forthcoming pantomime has gone missing due to tax evasion, they need to find someone to step into the breach. Meanwhile Lillian the proprietor has a new beau with rather a background, and Sally Blow has found herself redundant so needs to find employment pronto in order to keep a roof over her son’s head, more than the singing at the pub she already does. 

This is Michaels second book (can be read alone) based in theatre land which he knows so well. It's one that I quickly got into and could almost hear Michael reading it as it has his style right through it if that makes sense? There are numerous threads including Harry the Rat(!) which makes for a very interesting read and the descriptions are enough to put the reader at the heart of things without too much to distract from what is going on, it's a nice balance. I particularly liked Sally’s story, the underdog so to speak, wanting things to pick up for her.  A beautifully described evocative piece of the era with wonderful characters. Loved it.

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