Audition For Murder (Morgan Taylor Mysteries) [Paperback]

Sussman & Avidon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Morgan Taylor Mysteries | Publication Date: June 15, 2000

Welcome to the world of Morgan Taylor, a thritysomething struggling actress who is dying for a juicy role in a prestigious revival on the Chicago stage. She hasn't had a role in months, and the chance to work with the esteemed director Martin Wexler has her practically salivating.

Though Morgan shows up right on time for the audition, Lily London, her assigned auditioning partner and a cantankerous older woman Morgan has never really liked, seems to have forgotten. Morgan gets more and more anxious until it seems that nothing can salvage this chance. Her mood is shot, her nerves are frazzled, she's got the stage manager for an auditioning partner. When it's all over, of course, Morgan finally comes across Lily--dead, lying cold on the floor of the theater bathroom....

The character of Morgan Taylor is fresh and thoroughly entertaining; she's as dramatic as the most talented actresses and as shrewd as the most calculating investigator--in short, a perfect amateur sleuth. Her debut, Audition for Murder, peopled by a delightful supporting cast, including Morgan's best friend, Beth, who suffers from MS, and Beth's finicky dog, Hamlet, is one of those rare mysteries that delivers a wonderfully written story and an engaging, suspenseful puzzle.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From novelist Sussman (The Dieter) and actress Avidon comes a sparkling first mystery, told in the present tense, that displays no opening night jitters as Chicago actress Morgan Taylor makes her memorable sleuthing debut. Vying for the lead in the revival of a seldom performed play, Morgan is drawn into the manic anxiety and excitement of theater auditions and rehearsals. Not even the sudden death of aged actress Lily London can cast too great a pall over her new opportunity. When a second death erases any doubts about the first being an accident, Morgan finds suspicions turning to her closest friends and decides to do a little detective work of her own. Her supporting cast is an able one: Martin Wexler, a once-great director who is trying to reclaim some glory; actress Beth, Lily's close friend who is attempting to hide the symptoms of her multiple sclerosis; and police detective Roblings, a lumbering, bright and endearing fellow who catches Morgan's eye. Even the bit players make notable contributions in Sussman's entertaining and witty romp, which will have readers applauding for an encore.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Struggling actress Morgan Taylor emerges from the Chicago theater crowd as inspired sleuth when murder strikes close to home. Morgan discovers her elderly audition partner dead in the lavatory, presumably of a heart attack, but police think otherwise. They suspect Morgan herself, especially after she gets the part and her unwanted understudy collapses and dies. Morgan necessarily takes the offensive but has some help from a sympathetic detective. Additional human interest arises from potential romance, a best friend suffering from multiple sclerosis, a spoiled-rotten orphaned dog, and a plethora of actor/actress types. An undemanding yet thoroughly satisfying mystery debut.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Worldwide Library (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373263511
• ISBN-13: 978-0373263516
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,942,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brava!, August 13, 2000

By 

kellytwo "kellytwo" (cleveland hts, ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Audition For Murder (Morgan Taylor Mysteries) (Paperback)

Although this is a very difficult book to really get into, it's well worth the struggle for the reader. The writing is crisp and witty, and first person narration in a mystery (or in anything, as far as I'm concerned) makes for wonderful reading. Theatre drips from every page, and it's obvious that the authors know a good bit about that world. So what makes it so difficult? It's in present tense! Makes for a very strange reading experience. In fact, I think it must be the first book I've ever been able to complete, written in that tense. ('We walk down the street', rather than 'We walked down the street.') It's a perfectly valid method, but it does take some getting used to.

Any mystery lover who persists, however, should find the experience well worth while. And a mystery lover who also loves theatre will find it an absolute delight. One can only be thankful that most theatres are not quite so murderously inclined. Morgan Taylor nee Miriam Tiersky, is an Equity actress plying her craft in Chicago, with its abundant theatre life. Beginning with her audition for the part, and continuing through opening night and then some, we're introduced to all the hangers-on, the veterans, the novices, the entire panoply of the biz. The atmosphere is wonderfully detailed. Morgan's wonderfully ditzy family isn't ignored, either.

When the aging actress who is Morgan's audition partner is found dead backstage, the cases is assigned to Detective Frank Roblings, and Morgan's life begins to perk up. It is sometimes a bit confusing as to which one is the real detective, but Morgan's theatrical bent stands her in good stead, as she slowly but surely figures out who dunnit.

This is a must-read for theatre buffs, especially, as well as cozy mystery fans. I'm off to find the next book in the series.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun to read new mystery series, February 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Audition for Murder: A Return To Natural Sensuality (Hardcover)

Actors would die for a role in former superstar director Martin Wexler's latest play that he hopes will lead to a comeback for him. One of the performers hoping to gain the lead in the Chicago-based play is Morgan Taylor. However, her audition partner, elderly actress Lily London, fails to arrive on time, turning the formerly calm Morgan into a bundle of nerves. After her near hopeless audition, Morgan leaves the stage only to find the corpse of Lily in the nearby bathroom.

Thinking nothing of it, Morgan continues to push for the part. However, a second death occurs that makes the performer wonder if serial murders are the opening act. Being melodramatic, Morgan decides to do a bit of amateur sleuthing before the culprit turns the play into a real life tragedy.

AUDITION FOR MURDER is a genuine surprise that will enchant anyone who gives the tale a chance. The story line is entertaining, intelligent, and fun to read as the insider,s world of theater is vividly portrayed. Morgan is a warm, delightful actress cum detective. However, it is her ensemble cast that makes this a necessary read for sub-genre fans. Novelist Susan Sussman and actress Sarajane Avidon leave no doubt that their corroboration will lead to a critically acclaimed, long running hit.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Likeable, readable - and i normally don't like these....., May 15, 2006

By 

Douglas Hileman (Van Nuys, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Audition for Murder: A Return To Natural Sensuality (Hardcover)

To be honest, I dont know how I ended up with this book. I tend to dislike books/ theatre written around show business, the whining "poor me, it's so tough to make it as an actor......." --> excuse me, it's tough to make it as ANYTHING, the rest of us are working just as hard. And, second, I've read a lot of fiction by women authors where the men are cardboard cut-outs, or emote the way women do, or are women's fantasies....... shallow, unrealistic persons.

This book feel into neither trap. I picked up this light fare to read on the beach on vacation, and it fit the bill perfectly. The authors use the theatre as a setting for the story, offering interesting insights and tidbits about "the business" without getting self-absorbed. All the characters - women AND men - are colorful, as necessary for a whodunnit - but also realistic. It's not as predictable as many in the genre, and made for an enjoyable couple days at the beach. Would be perfect take-along for a flight if your ipod runs out of batteries too.

I've given my book to an actor friend, hope i get it back. happy reading.