A Backstage Betrayal – Michael Ball | Book Review | #ABackstageBetrayal @ZaffreBooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n

ESCAPE TO THE EMPIRE THEATRE WITH THE NEW NOVEL FROM MUSICAL THEATRE LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL. GLAMOUR. DECEIT. SECRETS. SCANDAL. THE THEATRE MAY SEEM GLAMOROUS, BUT SECRETS WAIT BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they need to get things back on track – and how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.

But could Lillian’s new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?

While Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.

As the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid the glitz and glamour there are strange goings on and a plot afoot. Is everything Jack and Grace have worked so hard for about to come crashing down? And could this be curtains for The Empire?

Cosy up and get ready to step into the roaring twenties as Michael Ball works his magic and transports you to a world you won’t want to leave in this second Empire Theatre novel.

Publisher: Zaffre
Format: Ebook, Audiobook, Hardback (7 November 2024) | Paperback to follow
Source: Copy to review


MY THOUGHTS


My thanks to Tracy of Compulsive Readers for the tour invite and to the publisher for the copy to review. A Backstage Betrayal is the second book in The Empire series, I reviewed the first, The Empire here on the blog last year and jumped at the chance to review this new one.

The first thing to say is there a detailed cast list at the beginning – this was useful however being familiar already with many of the characters I didn’t need to refer to it and new ones are easy to follow. Some old favourites from the first book return – Jack Treadwell, the Empire’s manager and his playwright wife Grace, the widowed co-owner Lady Lassister who now has her new beau in tow in the form of exiled Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov from Marakovia, and the ever loyal (and wise) front of house manager Mr Poole. Surprisingly a favourite new character turned out to have four legs – Harry the rat, who survived Jack’s many attempts at removal and turned out to be worth his weight in cold cream (you need to read the book to get this!)

It’s 1926 and back in the Yorkshire town of Highbridge the Empire is in trouble following a difficult couple of years. However with political unrest and power games from overseas, scandal, sabotage and betrayal, it’s fortunes are not looking to improve any time soon and Jack and his colleagues need to constantly thwart those who wish them harm. Hopes are high for a new venture to ensure financial viability but even before it gets off the ground, disaster looms thanks to unscrupulous people.

I enjoyed the first book and this second quickly found its stride with intrigue aplenty. It helps to have read the first one but its not essential as sufficient backstory is given where needed. Family feuds are still ongoing as are criminal activities involving the local gangland boss who has his spies everywhere.

I loved the theatre setting with its glamour and backstage shenanigans but its the characters and their personal stories that also make this a great read. Alongside the upsets and traumas there is a little bit of romance together with a storyline that had me cheering our characters on with their endeavours for happier times.

Intriguing and heartwarming, A Backstage Betrayal is a super entertaining read from a writer and performer whose love of theatre shines out from every page. I do hope there will be a future performance from the Empire cast.


Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He’s been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he’s also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums.


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