Murder at the Orpheus Theatre by Irina Shapiro - Book Review

Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #4

Publication Date: 25th Feb 2025

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: This was good! 

1859, London 

Inspector Sebastian and Nurse Gemma didn’t expect their trip to a theatre would end up with a case on their hands. The lead couple playing Romeo & Juliet dies on stage. Sebastian is sure it was murder but solving the crime isn’t easy. 

Gemma wants to be involved in the case (as always), and Sebastian is worried for her. With no one being trustworthy, he knows the risk of trusting the wrong person. Can they find the killer before it’s too late? 

The story comes in Gemma and Sebastian’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

As the fourth story in the series, this still works as a standalone. However, I’d suggest reading at least the previous book to get an idea about the relationship dynamics and main character arcs. 

The mystery is actually interesting since it involves death by poison (not me making notes). Moreover, the killer is a cool cucumber given the murder happened, so the MCs know they’ll have to work extra hard. I admit it took me a long time to guess the killer. I could get it only a few pages before the reveal happened. 

We need an array of characters and see the social conditions of the times. It is dark and has triggers (domestic abuse) but the details are not overly graphic. We see only what is necessary for the plot development and the injustice of the times stays true to the era. 

Since the theatre is the primary setting, we also get insights into the lives of the actors, running the showbiz, etc. Since I’ve read other mysteries with similar settings, I didn’t actually learn anything new. Still, I enjoyed the descriptions of the theatre. There’s something about the stage and the backend work that makes theatres feel larger than life. 

The MMC’s professional life also sees a shift. While I’m not sure yet, I feel hopeful about the situation (much like the guy himself). 

There are teeny developments in the personal track. At this point, I can’t wait for the FMC’s mourning period to be over. I also appreciate how a certain aspect has been considered but not directly addressed by the FMC. No unwanted drama. That said, the lead couple had very few scenes together. 

Maybe we can have a time jump for the next case? There’s a new entry too, and I hope she’ll become a permanent addition to the group. Everyone needs HEA if you ask me! 

To summarize, Murder at the Orpheus Theatre is an intriguing mystery with enough suspects and red herrings. The pacing is decent, though I wouldn’t call it fast. 

I’m glad I didn’t give up on the series. Have liked it better with each new release. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderAtTheOrpheusTheatre