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Murder on Opening Night: A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Spann Craig (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 454 ratings
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Murder steals the spotlight.


When Myrtle Clover and her friend Miles attend a play in their small town, there’s a full house on opening night.


It’s clear to Myrtle that one of the actresses is a stage hog who loves stealing the spotlight. Nandina Marshall certainly does upstage everyone—when her murder forces an unexpected intermission.


Can Myrtle and Miles discover who was behind her final curtain call….before murder makes an encore?

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  1. Book 9 of 24
    A Myrtle Clover Cozy Mystery
  2. Print length
    264 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    November 27, 2015
  6. File size
    1760 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

Photo of Author Elizabeth Spann Craig

Interview with Bestselling Cozy Mystery Author Elizabeth Spann Craig

How would you describe your mysteries?

I write old-fashioned puzzle-style cozy mysteries. These books are all about providing an armchair escape for the readers. I love the interactive nature of the stories where the reader safely solves cases alongside the sleuth.

Most of your books feature murders in sleepy Southern towns. Why do you choose these settings for your fiction?

Smaller towns work really well with the traditional mysteries (also called cozies) that I write. The suspects in these books must be known by the victim and the gifted amateurs that operate as sleuths need to be able to casually question them. This becomes a lot easier when you move the stories into a village setting.

The murder motives for these books also tend to be very basic…and annoyances in small towns tend to blow up into something a lot bigger. When everyone knows everyone else, there are plenty of opportunities for feuding.

Book cover with black cat and a broken headstone

What made you decide to write mysteries?

Mysteries are my favorite genre to read and write. I think my whole life prepared me for writing mysteries! Murder, She Wrote was one of my favorites when I was a teen. I started out reading Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and the Hardy Boys, then moved on to Agatha Christie . . . and I kept reading Agatha Christie. She was a huge influence on me.

Anything else about you that you'd like to share? I'm the mother of two and live with my husband in North Carolina--the setting for several of my series.

Praise for Elizabeth Spann Craig's Books

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Editorial Reviews

Review


Amazon readers love this series - over 1500 4 and 5 star reviews

Praise for Myrtle Clover Mysteries:

Publishers Weekly: "Myrtle's wacky personality is a delight."

Mystery News: "Wonderful cozy mystery: solidly written, well-plotted and funny."

ForeWord: "The treat here is Myrtle's eccentricity, brought to life with rich humor and executed ...with breezy skill."

"I hope I'm half as lively as she is when I reach my 80's.." Amazon Reviewer

"Sassy and funny as ever" Amazon Reviewer

"Myrtle is a feisty lady and I enjoy her wit and ability to figure out who done it." Amazon Reviewer

"With all her garden gnomes, horrible cooking and many more cute features I just can't help loving this octogenarian and her mysteries." Amazon Reviewer

From the Author

One of my favorite things to do here in Matthews, North Carolina is to see plays with either my children or my husband. The Charlotte area offers many different kinds: from Broadway-style productions at the Belk Theater to lower-budget plays at odd spots and unusual venues around town. I used to enjoy the more serious plays (maybe not as serious as the Malaise that Myrtle and Miles were inflicted with), but I've found lately that I like more comedic things. Maybe life is too serious and it's good to inject some humor sometimes? 

I've been asked a lot by readers about Myrtle's and Miles's friendship. I was always heavily influenced by friendship stories growing up--whether it was the friendships in children's mysteries like Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden or the bond between children and animals like The Black Stallion and Where the Red Fern Grows. I especially loved The Secret Garden,  Frog and Toad and The Wind in the Willows. Particularly The Wind in the Willows. I like to think that Myrtle and Miles's close connection with each other and general, humorous acceptance of each other's flaws take their genesis with those stories. 

Again, thanks so much to you for reading. There are only so many hours in the day and I'm honored that you chose to spend some of them with Myrtle and Miles. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B018O3SNLW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Elizabeth Spann Craig (November 27, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 27, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1760 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 454 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Spann Craig

Elizabeth Spann Craig

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Elizabeth is the bestselling cozy mystery author of the Southern Quilting mysteries, the Myrtle Clover Cozy Mysteries, the Village Library Mysteries, and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House, Midnight Ink, and independently. She is a library-loving, avid mystery reader. A pet-owning Southerner, her four series are full of cats, corgis, and cheese grits. The mother of two, she lives with her husband, a fun-loving corgi, and a shy fluffball of a cat. Follow Elizabeth and learn more about her books by visiting her website at https://elizabethspanncraig.com/

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
454 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Beverly C Redd
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
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Good story.
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Cassie
4.0 out of 5 stars Theatre Can Be Deadly
Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2021
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When Myrtle Clover's daughter-in-law Elaine gives her free tickets to a play that is being featured in the community theatre, Myrtle decides to invite her friend and trusty sidekick Miles to go with her for a night out. That night turns out very different than either of them thought when the star of the cast turns up dead on stage. Having witnessed the cast of the play at Bo's Diner fighting amongst themselves, Myrtle has suspicions that it could have been murder.

With her usual determination to solve this murder investigation before her son, the police chief of their small town of Bradley, North Carolina, Myrtle begins to snoop around. She thinks that things are going well... until another cast member ends up dead. With twisted relationships, motives on every side, and secrets hiding behind practiced smiles, Myrtle has to quickly come up with the answer, or she might end up becoming the next victim. Can she survive this mystery, or will it be her last?

This was a great book to add to the Myrtle Clover series. The old characters get more depth, and the new characters are a welcome addition, and they're different enough to make them fascinating. This time the new characters are all actors connected to theatre life. They're all so unique, and the murderer was actually a surprise. The interactions between the new characters were entertaining, and it added rich layers to the mystery. And Wanda is just as clever as ever, which was a great bit of entertainment. Craig always mixes it up with her, and she is just fantastically funny.

If you love Myrtle Clover, you won't regret picking this book up. This is a great cozy mystery, and it adds even more depth to this rich southern small town that Craig has invented. The more I read, the more I want to read. Myrtle has spunk and a sharp tongue, and she is one of my favorite sleuths. This mystery is a fun, surprising mess, and it's glorious.
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K. Albeck
5.0 out of 5 stars Deserves an encore
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017
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I love all the Myrtle Clover books for their humor, first. I love the ongoing form of torture Myrtle uses to punish her son, the police chief, who lives across the street: she puts her huge collection of garden gnomes out in the yard (" ...an insult punishable by gnomes".) Craig is extremely good at the use of a carefully worded aside or thought to give us a chuckle (or an outright laugh) too - never over-the-top, never trying too hard. Like a good comedian, the jokes aren't forced on us - they're simply placed there for us to enjoy or to overlook. To me, that's top-notch writing.

The other thing I truly appreciate is that Craig's books (in this series, anyway) have a lovely set of characters that carry through from book to book: Myrtle, her friend Miles, her annoying neighbor Erma, town psychic Wanda and other townsfolk. Each book then introduces a handful of new characters to set up and
provide fodder for plots, victims and villains. I enjoy this format far more than the more common one where you can guess the villain because he or she is the new character in town.

This is a favorite series for me and I hope there will be lots more outings with Myrtle and her cohorts.
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angelpeaches
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder on Opening Night: A Myrtle Clover Cozy...
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016
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Murder on Opening Night: A Myrtle Clover Cozy...This book has Myrtle and Miles once again on the trail of a murder case. Myrtle has tickets to the local theater to see a play and asks Miles to attend with her. The play is just getting underway, when one of the cast members winds up dead on stage. Myrtle's son Red, the police chief, only wants his mother to write about household tips for the local paper. But Myrtle has other ideas. She likes to try to solve the cases of murders that take place in her town. No matter how much Red objects because he wants his mother to be safe, she manages to get her friend Miles to go along with her and usually ends up in some kind of trouble. Miles cousin Wanda again warns Myrtle that she is in danger. Myrtle just ignores this prediction of Wanda's and almost gets herself killed. I love reading the Myrtle Clover series. It's always the perfect cozy mystery book/s to read. The author never disappoints the reader with Myrtle's antics. I can't wait for the next one in the series. Please keep writing about Myrtle and Miles, I can't get enough of their stories!
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Marshal Connell
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2017
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Writing was a bit cutesy and self conscious for my taste. Characters were an interesting bunch.
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Ellen Oceanside
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2020
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New Narrator and was good, had a good voice and added to this suspense. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep you to the end. Always enjoy cozy mystery light reading and yet with a mystery to figure out..
Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
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mint tea
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great visit with Myrtle, and Miles, and everyone else!
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2016
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This isn't my favorite Myrtle Clover mystery, but being with Myrtle and Miles is always a pleasure. This one is a little different because there are so many new characters to look out for. While there are normally a few new characters in each book, this one has many, many of whom I had trouble really getting a feel for, since things came up while I was reading it, and normally I finish Myrtle's tales in one night. In this one, a play ends up tragic when the star gets murdered before the play is even over. So naturally, it is up to Bradley's favorite sleuth to start asking the right questions and get to the bottom of the matter. I liked that Wanda was in this one a lot, since I really like her, but I don't really understand what's up with people not liking squash. Can't wait for what's next!

If you haven't read one of these books before, you won't be lost, you can start anywhere. Keep in mind however, that you will want to read the rest of the books after you read one, so prepare yourself.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The Myrtle Clover series is fun, well developed mystery and you just have to ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016
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Myrtle Clover is an spunky old gal. Retired schoolteacher, part time writer for the local small town newspaper she has a habit, to her son's chagrin, of investigating and solving murders. In doing so she finds herself, only too often, in deep doodoo. The characters in her life are real characters. The Myrtle Clover series is fun, well developed mystery and you just have to keep going to see if Myrtle can again solve the whodunit and keep out of too much trouble.
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Top reviews from other countries

Sharon E. Leighton
5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy
Reviewed in Canada on July 20, 2016
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I really enjoy Myrtle Clover. For one thing, as I'm in my sixties, it makes me feel optimistic to read about a woman in her eighties out solving murders. Myrtle is no fantasy "I-can-do-everything-I-could-when-I-was-twenty" senior citizen, either. When she kneels to comfort a small boy who has skinned his knees, she has to use her cane to help her down, and to scoot backward to find a step to serve as an assistant when she gets up again. Her fury at being treated like an old woman is real. She has to solve murders and write journal articles about them because otherwise it will look as if her son, the chief of police, is smarter than she is, and that would be intolerable. Anyone who has gotten weary of the "I'm a detective, so I must be a gourmet cook" trend in modern mysteries will especially enjoy her outrageous and disastrous approach to cooking. Myrtle's favorite meal is a couple of chili dogs - cooked by someone else! Minor characters, like her male friend/sidekick and her eccentric psychic associate, her harried son and his delightful wife and child, and all the suspects, are well-drawn, interesting human beings. The plot is believable, her attempts to unravel the mystery are reasonable, and I had no idea who the villain was until the denouement.
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S. R. Coulter
5.0 out of 5 stars Always a good read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2016
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Nice plotting and fooled me until the end too! I'm slightly out of sequence with these but each book is completely self-contained and fun.
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Geraldine
5.0 out of 5 stars One Of My Favs To Date In This Series! :-)
Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2016
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I had previously read and enjoyed a couple of other books in the Myrtle Clover series and Murder on Opening Night was yet another delight!

Myrtle is at her finest in this one: feisty, opinionated, witty and ready to "read the riot act" to anyone who sells her short, because of her age (80+). Myrtle is far from "over the hill" in the ways that truly counts and when it comes to solving murders, she leaves even the law enforcement pros, including her son Red, in the dust!

The plot moved along at a good pace, just enough detail and murder suspects to make it interesting but not TOO much. And there is such a thing as TOO much detail etc, in cozies in particular. This book had just the right balance.

I had guessed who the murderer was, about 1/2 way through the book. Happily, I was wrong!!! But Myrtle sure wasn't! ;-)

Highly enjoyable, I look forward to more adventures with Myrtle, Miles and the gang.

Keep them coming Elizabeth, Myrtle is a winner!

Geraldine Helen Hartman, author of: Third Chapter, Second Chance ( a midlife romance).
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Sharon J. Skates
5.0 out of 5 stars Good easy read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2016
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I really enjoy these books, full of interesting characters they are fun but still a good read.
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PreecevilleSaskLAD
5.0 out of 5 stars Myrtle makes me smile!
Reviewed in Canada on November 29, 2015
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Very glad the series continued. I enjoy reading about Myrtle, Miles, Wanda and Red and the rest of the characters even Erma.
I have a craving for a pimento cheese dog and chili fries. Looking forward to the next book Cruising for Murder.
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