Foiled Again

At Maine's Bowmouth College, the Drama School Chair Vera Pruczak is producing a gender bending version of Romeo and Juliet, Romiette and Julio. Vera enjoys sticking it to the prim and proper English Department Chair Danton McGraw, which this production does as he holds Shakespeare sacred. However, this time Vera also annoys the local residents who feel she is going too far with poetic license. As Vera and Danton argue, English Professor Sarah Deane tries to bring a truce between her friend and her boss. During rehearsal talented Todd Mancuso is beaten up and his replacement as Mercutio Draco Malfoy, is almost killed. However, the show proves a success in Sarah's mind because no one else was hurt though anger simmered near the surface. Sarah soon knows her assessment was wrong when the curtain closes because Grover Blaine is dead backstage. Ignoring Maine State Police Sergeant George Fitts plea to stay out of the investigation, as she has done with other homicides, Sarah investigates the murder investigation Once again, Sarah proves the world's a stage where a murder investigation becomes the prime show. The story line provides readers with a glimpse at the rivalries often acrimonious amidst the "gentle" academia. As the Bowmouth drama school prepares for its next production, perhaps of Hamletta, Princess of Denmark, FOILED AGAIN is as the opening quote from Shakespeare says "a hit, a very palpable hit" Harriet Klausner

Bowmouth College's new play is a unique twist on Romeo and Juliet. They're staging a production of "Romiette and Julio," and things are not going well. The off-stage drama mounts until two female drama students attack Todd Mancuso, the actor who plays Mercutio in the production. Sarah Deane is an English professor at Bowmouth where department tension (between English Department head, Danton McGraw and the Drama School head, Vera Pruczak) escalates with far-reaching consequences. The play proceeds, but following the performance Sarah discovers an injured faculty member, and then a student is found dead. As usual, Sarah ignores all warning about not getting involved and is determined to find out 'who done it.' Foiled Again is J.S. Borthwick's thirteenth Sarah Deane mystery and my first reading of her books. I've become a fan and will search out her previous novels. The characters are quirky and interesting, the academic politics are delicious and the plot takes you for a ride and you don't want it to end. This is a wonderful book for those lazy afternoons where you just want a good read. Armchair Interviews says: Check out Foiled Again, you'll become a fan.