Who Dropped Peter Pan?: A Jocelyn O'Roarke Mystery

I think this is the last one Dentinger wrote but it's a hoot. Jocelyn has problems juggling her two boyfriends while solving the mystery of who killed the actor/director who played Peter Pan. Lots of interesting NY and theatre type characters including the tough NYC lawyer who falls for her client. This is a classic in my opinion.

I haven't heard from those who know this story is loosely based on the PaperMill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey where it's artistic director cast himself as Peter Pan. The names have been changed, but those who were there can laugh uproariously at the characters they recognize. Great fun for New York theatre folk of a certain age.

A superannuated Peter Pan takes one high flying bow too many and Jocelyn's good friend PJ Cullen is the Police's first pick for a murder suspect because he had quarreled with the deceased and was in charge of props for this production at the prestigious regional playhouse where the death occurred. Jocelyn (with the help of Jack Breedlove, a cowboy, hairdresser friend from California who is in Manhattan for a horse show) hooks PJ up with an aggressive little lawyer whose reaction to the geraniums that grow outside the police station is priceless.With hilarious characters and great dialogue (not to mention great blocking) Dentinger puts her characters through their paces. Because the theatre world does depend a lot on gossip and innuendo, it's not surprising that the case is cracked by using less than usual police procedures.Dentinger just keeps getting better-- and manages to keep her characters fresh because they have such endearing human foibles. Avoiding the mistake that a lot of authors make of resolving their character's personal issues and then just leaving them with the mysteries, Dentinger keeps the pot boiling in every direction.

For theatre fans who also happen to like mysteries Jane Dentinger is a particular treat. Her New York actress/sleuth Jocelyn O'Roarke involves us in investigations where she is a professional actress but an amateur snoop. In this one Jocelyn pursues the murderer of the star of a summer-stock production of "Peter Pan." Jocelyn/Jane is funny, bitchy, and full of details about both the theatre and crime. If this is your milieu, this is your book.