Poor Philippa Beary. The singer can't seem to get through a single opera production without finding a dead body somewhere, either in the dressing room or on stage. Whether in Turandot or the Pirates of Penzance, someone must die. Fortunately, she's a super sleuth and it helps that she has a brother, Richard, who just happens to be a police detective.
Philippa is a key figure in thebook To Catch an Actress, a series of short mystery stories that use a time-honoured formula of mystery fiction. The premise of each story is handled with wit and style under the pen of Elizabeth Elwood, part-time Garden Bay resident.
The short stories are linked only by the Beary family: the siblings, detective Richard and singer Philippa, the blustery, scotch-swilling, public servant father, the righteously indignant mother and assorted relatives. The characters are likeable and human. The plots are puzzlers, often hinging on timing, impersonations and stage tricks. The settings, ostensibly in Vancouver, could also be located in England; they have more than a touch of the classic British cozy mystery novel about them.
The book is self-published, but unlike other author-produced copies that have crossed this desk, it is remarkably free of errors. Unhappy with the way the publishing company had edited her book, Elwood re-edited itto good effect.The author'sbackground matches that of her heroine. She trained at the UBC Opera Workshop and toured with the Vancouver Opera Chorus. When she describes Philippa's stage appearance as a Chinese peasant grovelling in front of the palace with her back to the audience, the scene is reminiscent of Elwood's own first role. The author has extensiveexperience in theatre and currently is artistic director of Elwoodettes Marionettes. Her husband crafted the puppets and she has created over 20 marionette shows that appear at special events and Christmas around the Burnaby and New Westminster area.
To Catch an Actress is a value packed summer read - 10 intelligent stories for $16, available at Coast Books and Talewind Books. Look for more by this author; she promises to set some future stories on the Sunshine Coast.
