Star Trap: A Crime Novel

A show biz lawyer friend of Charles Paris is a backer of a new musical called "Lumpkin!" and he's afraid that a couple of accidents involving the show's crew mean that someone is out to sabotage the show. Because of Charles's reputation as an amateur detective, he gets Charles a nine-month contract for a minor role in the show to keep an eye on things. This is a godsend to Charles because he is usually out of work, and this show is probably going to be a big hit on London's West End. Charles likes his booze a little too much and as usual he's estranged from his wife Frances whom he has left "because she was so ordinary." The star of the show Christopher Milton, playing a con man named Lumpkin, is an extremely popular TV star who has developed a comic character named Lionel Wilkins with a tag expression, "I beg yours." that is wildly popular with TV audiences. The musical, in development, is first going to tour out-of-town in Leeds, Bristol, and Brighton. Paris learns to admire Milton's great talents, his ability to figure out exactly what an audience wants, and his theater savvy. What he grows to hate is Milton's nasty disposition, his unflinching egotism, the vitriol he lets loose on the cast members, and his biting sarcasm. He begins to suspect that Milton is behind the accidents and a death among cast members. The show was based upon Oliver Goldsmith's "She Stoops to Conquer," but Milton infuriates cast members as he slowly turns the show into a single-minded vehicle for his TV persona. Lumpkin morphs into Lionel Wilkins, and all vestiges of Goldsmith's classic gradually disappear as Milton creates a star vehicle for himself. Charles does some real investigative work in this one as he uncovers Milton's past. He interrogates, shadows, and puts himself in danger as conducts his sleuthing. This is one of Brett's best Charles Paris efforts because of its fascinating plot and its psychological study of the show's star. Reading Brett is like eating comfort food; it makes you feel good and forget your problems. It's fast-paced, is funny, full of inside theater dope, and it's fun watching our anti-hero screw up. Charles at 49 is still looking for a crumpet, a cuddable girl friend.