The restoration of King Charles II to the throne in 1660 is occasion for much celebration in London; the Merry Monarch's boundless enthusiasm for entertainment of all sorts creates opportunities for everyone from tavern keepers to brothel owners, and even stage actors. Suzanne Thornton, no longer a kept woman, plans to reopen a theater and perform the classics, now that the Crown allows heroines like Shakespeare's Juliet to be played by women. Yet during Suzanne's first performance at the renovated Globe Theatre, a dead body lands on the stage, and the lady herself is suspect. Suzanne will have to investigate the crime herself if she wishes to keep her career—and her neck—in this debut Restoration Mystery novel.

"I read this book in one sitting, captivated by [Anne] Rutherford's vivid depiction of actors and aristocrats, political intrigue, and her strong, resourceful heroine."—Carol K. Carr