Paige Marshall is between roles in her career in musical theater, dance and opera and has taken a job helping to coach the Prospect Glen show choir. It definitely won't further her career, but at least it will keep her in food and clothing. Luckily her Aunt Millie (whose style is described as "Legally Blonde on crack") lives close by so she will have a very nice roof over her head. She only needs to put up with inedible meals and her aunt's prize- winning poodle, Killer.

Unfortunately, before Paige can sink her teeth into her new job, she discovers Greg Lucas, a man who loved to be hated murdered on an empty stage. When one of her students is charged with the murder, Paige does what she can to free him until his parents can return from vacation.

I loved MURDER FOR CHOIR, Paige's aunt Millie is warm, caring and hilarious, the other characters (including a sexy but gay love interest and the gruff and attractive police detective) are drawn with individuality and believable quirks. Charbonneau's writing style is clever yet approachable, filled with humor but still evoking deeper emotions when the plot calls for them. The mystery is very well done, I truly could not guess whodunit 'til very near the end despite the (in retrospect) clear clues provided.

MURDER FOR CHOIR has plenty for both mavens of the performance world and those who never set foot in a theater. It's a very promising start to a new series by the author of the Rebecca Robbins skating mysteries. The next Glee Club Mystery, End Me a Tenor is due out in April, 2013. Highly recommended, my copy is headed straight for the keeper shelf.

Book Summary

Even as a struggling opera singer, Paige Marshall has never seen anything like the cutthroat competition of the Prospect Glen High School show choir. Coaching these championship-hungry students may be her toughest gig yet...

Especially when her best young male singer is suspected of killing the arrogant coach of Prospect Glen's fiercest rival. To clear his name, Paige will have to sort through a chorus of suspects, and go note-for-note with a killer who wants her out of the spotlight for good.