Book Review: Corpse De Ballet

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Corpse De Ballet     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Ellen Pall
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Theater   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth
St. Martin's, Jun 2001, $23.95, 288 pp.

Juliet Cherry, known to her fans as Miss Angelica Kestrel-Haven, is a very popular Regency romance writer. She has her own web site, a fan club, and is a consistent guest speaker on the Regency era. Juliet is a close friend with Ruth Renwick, who is choreographing a new ballet, Great Ex, a rendition of Great Expectations, for the Jansch Ballet Troupe of New York.

Ruth asks Juliet to provide an opinion on the work in progress because her whole career rides on the success of this show. Juliet provides advice as to how to tighten the production. When Anton Mohr slips, Juliet's superior sense of smell catches whiff talc mixed in with the rosin normally used to wipe floors. When Anton dies from an overdose of Ecstasy, Juliet feels a homicide occurred. As she continues to observe the rehearsals, Juliet watches everyone to insure that a killer doesn't walk away from his crimes.

CORPSE DE BALLET gives readers an insider's look at a ballet company from the corps d'esprit to the petty jealousies and all the hard work needed for success. The intrepid heroine uses her olfactory sense to alert the audience that the game is afoot. Her interaction with Ruth adds an extra dimension especially since they also fuss and fight. Ellen Pall has written a delightful mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner