The third book in the Sergeant Cribb series, from Peter Lovesey.

A practical joker is haunting the popular music halls of Victorian London - but far from being funny, his intentions are deeply sinister. A trapeze artist misses her timing when the ropes are shortened; a comedian who invites the audience to sing along with him finds the words of his song 'shamefully' altered; mustard has been applied to a sword swallower's blade; a singer's costume has been rigged; the girl in a magician's box is trapped.

And then the mischief escalates to murder. Or was murder intended all along? The indomitable detective team of Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray dive into the back rooms and dark alleyways of London as they pursue the elusive criminal.

A reissue from the delightful Sergeant Cribb series, set in Victorian London.

About the Author

Peter Lovesey is the only living author in Britain to have received the two highest honours in crime writing - the Diamond Dagger of the Crime Writers Association and Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America. He started with the Sergeant Cribb series set in Victorian London and later progressed to modern times with the award-winning Peter Diamond books set in Bath, his home for almost twenty years.

Now living in Shrewsbury with his wife Jax, whom he met at Reading University, he continues to reach and entertain new readers across the world.

Reviews
Music hall's heyday lovingly recalled as Sergeant Cribb and Constable Thackeray cope with limelit poisoning and Victorian permissiveness . . . thoroughly entertaining - Guardian * Guardian *
Sinister fun in splendidly atmospheric setting * Sunday Telegraph *
It's a tangled business, both evil and intricate. Very much Grade A * John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine *
For a delightful, offbeat offering in the mystery field try Peter Lovesey's Abracadaver * San Francisco Examiner *
Lovesey has a special flair for re-creating Victorian England with to-the-manner-born wit. I love Lovesey * Saturday Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9780751572605
Author Peter Lovesey
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Sphere
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 180g
Dimensions(mm) 131mm * 199mm * 16mm