Thanks to Compulsive Readers Book Tours and Zaffre Books for my gifted copy of the book.
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?
In this perfect Christmas gift for theatre lovers, Michael Ball transports readers to the roaring twenties as he works his magic in this second Empire Theatre novel.
My Review
I was so excited to be able to read Micheal Ball’s latest novel! I read the first and have been waiting so patiently! When I received the book, I had to start it immediately.
The book takes us back to The Empire Theatre in Highbridge with characters new and old. There are quite a few characters, but the cast list that is given to us at the beginning of the book does really help. The roaring twenties are definitely roaring at the theatre as the glamour and drama carry on.
As the story unfolds Jack Treadwell, his wife and his mum are struggling to keep the theatre afloat. They come up with the idea of a pantomime and the best talent show around. Hopefully, these will be just the ticket for bringing the customers! But with everything on the line, the last thing they need is pressure and drama. This is the Empire. It runs in drama and secrets… doesn’t it?
I thoroughly enjoyed travelling back in time to The Empire and the many varied characters. The characterisations are all well done. They all have secrets, but can they keep them? Well, it’s hard. It’s a highly entertaining and fun novel and one that kept me with the book until late at night.
The glitz and glamour are not what it all seems, and Michael Ball does a great job with weaving a story. You can certainly tell he has so much experience in that world. It sent my imagination going, that’s for sure. I now can’t think about the theatrical world without wondering about what’s going on backstage!
I also loved the fact that it’s set in the twenties. Historical fiction is amongst my favourite genres. He has every detail so richly described I could have been there. I have my fingers crossed that we will visit The Empire again.
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