EXIT STAGE DEATH

Written by  AVA ELDRED

                                                       

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Weekend Book Review featuring this week a YA Murder Mystery. If you don't fancy a read, and just want a selfie of ME, head to the end!

Mrs Hudson and I like a good murder mystery adventure. It doesn’t matter if it’s MG, YA, or adult. Nor if it’s on TV, the radio, or in the theatre. But there is something about seeing live action on stage that adds to the flavour and involvement.

So a book about a murder in a musical theatre summer camp piqued our interest straight away. And it didn’t fail to impress. So, without further ado, let’s raise the curtain on an amazing tale . . .

AUTHOR: AVA ELDRED

Cover Illustration by: David Wardle

Published by: UCLan Publishing

Publication date Paperback: 5 June 2025

Paperback 13 digit ISBN: 978–191 674 7586

UK Cover price for Paperback: £8.99

Amazon KINDLE price: N/A

Pages: 366

Age range: Young Adult, (12–18, some gentle romance, kisses, and the discovery of a victim).

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to…

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme Williams and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

It is the last time Livi Campbell will be attending the musical theatre summer school at Camp Chance. It is her last chance to shine, to show her parents she has what it takes for a career in the performing arts, on stage in the theatre. To go to Drama School and then onwards and upwards. On the coach that wends its way through the English countryside are the other Camp Chance attendees, a mix of newcomers and a sprinkling of previous year’s older students. Livi has seen most of her friends from previous camps go on to pastures new, having ‘aged out’ and unable to return. It will be her turn this year.

The culmination of the summer school is the end-of-year performance, the senior showcase. If she hits all the top notes, grabs the attention of the ‘counsellors’ who assess them, and does better than anyone else, she’ll grab the lead role. That will give her a shot at being noticed and go on to better, nay, greater things.

Her male lead hopeful is Sam. They have in previous years worked together. They sneak out late at night to practice in the theatre set in the camp’s woodland setting. The extra work means they have a head start, and can polish their talent.

As the campers settle in, new friends are made. The girls and boys are separated and have been allocated lodges to stay in and assigned roommates for the duration of the camp. Livi and Sam know they have it, have what it takes, and they wholly expect, and also are expected, to be picked as the stars of the showcase.

Suddenly, everything is put off balance by the news that two young ‘celebrities’ are joining them this year. There is Juliet Stone, a renowned video blogger. She has risen to fame during the pandemic for putting on one-person performances to bring theatre to the masses. Her reasons for being at the camp are to learn more about the trade for a part she has been offered. To be able to gel with a cast and the true theatre environment. To learn the basics that she doesn’t have.

The other young celebrity Is Aaron Wilson, the son of a true Hollywood acting royalty family. He’s there at the camp, out of the glare of the press, to try and work out if the career his parents think is for him, actually is.

Both are a threat to the two established hopefuls. There is a chance the newcomers notoriety and talent will win them the leads. Livi promises she will get it, and if not, it won’t be through lack of work. To make matters more interesting, Juliet, Livi and a girl called Daisy get bunked together. Likewise, Sam is bunked with Aaron.

Livi has some fame of her own, as she has appeared in many previous showcase videos on the internet. In fact, she is considered camp royalty. Three first-time performers, Chloe, Tasha & Kitty, know this and actively seek her out and ask for advice at the camp’s second-night unofficial secret party.

After a good night, the campers drift off. For Livi and Sam, it is the start of their own secret training sessions, with Sam on the piano and Livi singing.

The following day brings a discovery that turns everything on its head. Chloe is found dead by Livi and her friends. Killed down by one of the camp’s woodland lakes. Worse, at the scene, Livi picks up a mask that was part of Chloe’s costume. Within is a note that tells Livi and her small group of friends that they are now in the middle of their own mystery. The ending is as yet unwritten. They have until the end of camp to find the killer, or Chloe won’t be the only one dead. Tell anyone, and they could be next.

And the notes keep coming, little clues indicating they are being closely watched. All the time, they still have to do their classes and shine. At least that is what Livi plans to do, confident she can solve this.

Will she? Can she trust her small group of friends and the counsellors, or is one a killer? The pressure is very much on as they all battle with aspects of friendship, romance, loyalty, trust, career and . . . murder. Did I mention that time is running out?

So, what did we think?

WOW is really an understatement of how we felt having finished this theatrical production.

I need to say that our use of theatrical terms in this review is meant to replicate a flavour rather than create puns. Though occasionally, it may actually be a clue, also.

It is very cleverly written, cast, performed and directed. There are levels of complexity and immersion in which you and I are more than just a reader. We become an audience and arguably a crew member within the production. This, Mrs H and I agreed, comes from not only having a first-person view from one of the key protagonists, Livi, but also some dialogue being set out as in a script and a commentary from the killer who becomes a narrator in their own right.

It comes together and makes for a very compelling story from the first pages to the big reveal. And beyond that, into the final chapter, that had yet more to give.

I think many will have suspicions as to the murderer’s identity. Maybe even guess the same — I know Mrs H did. But when we discussed what we had witnessed on the stage that is this book, we realised something else. The finding out how and, more importantly, the why, and what drives Livi, and to a degree, the other cast, had been far more involving. Livi certainly has depths that don’t get fully revealed till much later in the book.

What was also interesting was the question that gets posed, directly and indirectly, as to what constitutes theatre. I shall leave you to decide that once you’ve read the book.

So, Crunch time.

Deeply satisfying, with a cast, story, explosive conclusion, and revelations right up to when the curtain falls that are worthy of a Tony or Olivier Award.

There are three lines on the top of page 363, that sum this story up perfectly. But it wouldn’t be our review if I just quoted a member of the cast, murderer or not, now would it? Suffice it to say, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this show.

A recommended YA and light adult read that we think will entertain and impress.

Ava Eldred’s X / Twitter account is under @ava_eldred and on Instagram as Threadsavaeldredwriter

UCLan Publishing’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

David Wardle’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.davidwardle.co.uk

For those that just want a selfie on Sunday, here's one of me rehearsing my part in a road movie — OK, I was inspecting the tarmac, but hey, a girl can hope you know . . .  .  

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. 

 

Till Laters!

ERin