Alias Hunter Knox wonders how people can easily remember the actor he plays but once off the stage they all draw a blank. His good friend, Alfie, wishes him to help finance a musical. Finding a dead body under the stage was not part of the deal. Alfie Rangoon, the owner, composer and musical director of Alfie Rangoon-Podrous Wolfman Productions, believes making a musical from the works of Edgar Allan Poe will be a hit. He hopes his investment will pay off. He believes his good friend, amateur actor and detective, Hunter will help to make the musical unique. It isn’t long after Hunter joins Alfie with his production that they learn they are being sued by Frederick Grate, the President and C.E.O. of Brandenburg Enterprises, who sues people for their publication rights. They learn that Frederick even planted some spies to watch the show. Not long after, Frederick’s dead body is found under the stage. Apparently he was murdered, poisoned by injection into his blood, placing the cast and crew of the musical in the center of a homicide case. Hunter works with the other detective assigned to the case to unlock the mystery.

I must say that Poe-The Musical is a delightful read. There is always something interesting happening when in the presence of Hunter. I thought it quite cute the way people could remember Hunter when he was in character, but after he was no longer in his player role, they couldn’t recall him five minutes later. He is an enigma in himself. The assortment of characters is so diverse and colorful, it makes the story really interesting. T. K. Sheils blends a fascinating spoof that kept me turning the pages. I like the way he incorporates humor into the read. Dynamic and full of surprises, he knows how to spin a magnificent mystery that left this reader completely content.

Reviewed by: Linda L.