"A Stolen Shadow" by H L Marsay

Detective Chief Inspector John Shadow is back. There was a strong possibility that H L Marsay might stop the DCI John Shadow stories, when, at the end of A Christmas Shadow, the DCI left for an extended visit to Italy with the family of his long-deceased (and only) love. But, in A Stolen Shadow, he returns, as curmudgeonly as ever, just in time for a new case. 

While they’re investigating the theft of a ceremonial sword, Jimmy Chang, Shadow’s enthusiastic detective sergeant, convinces his boss to attend a pantomime of Snow White. In England, pantomimes are traditionally staged after Christmas, based on a fairy tale or similar story, and involved slapstick comedy, musical numbers, jokes, and audience participation.

 

Shadow reluctantly goes along. In the middle of the performance, the leading man (Prince charming) is poisoned. It’s supposed to be part of the story, but the man is really poisoned and dies on stage. His business partner, a woman, was supposed to be in the performance as well, but she was a no-show, her place taken by the understudy. She’s later found dead.

 

H L Marsay

As Shadow and Chang get deeper into the case, they soon discover that the suspect list is long and keeps growing. And way too many people had motive, opportunity, and means.

 

A Stolen Shadow is just as entertaining as its predecessors, with the bonus of knowing that DCI John Shadow is officially back and, we hope, for a long series of stories.

 

Marsay is the author of seven mystery novels in the DCI John Shadow series. Set in York, the characteristic features of each of the stories are a curmudgeonly DCI, his irrepressibly cheerful sergeant, a culinary tour of the city restaurants, café, and pubs (some of which actually exist), and an introduction to York’s colorful history and present. A member of the Crime Writers Association, she lives with her family in the city of York in England. 

 

Related: 

 

A Long Shadow by H L Marsay.

 

A Viking’s Shadow by H L Marsay.

 

A Ghostly Shadow by H L Marsay.

 

A Roman Shadow by H.L. Marsay.

 

A Forgotten Shadow by H L Marsay.

 

A Christmas Shadow by H L Marsay.

Some Thursday Readings

 

How Walmart, Delta, Chevron and Starbucks are Using AI to monitor employee messages – Hayden Field at CNBC.

 

The spectre of the past – J.S. Barnes at The Critic Magazine on the “Great English Ghost Story.” 

 

Sherlock Holmes, That Enigma We Know So Well – Laurie King at CrimeReads.