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. (Feb.)

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.

A foray into Chicago's theater world introduces Morgan Taylor (née Miriam Tiersky), daughter of a loving Jewish family, who scratches out a living with part-time work at the Junque and Stuffe antique shop between all-too-rare acting jobs and auditions. A current tryout is for producer Martin Wexler, who's reviving a 40-year-old play. Longtime actress Lily London is to audition for the role of Mother, to Morgan's Daughter, but Lily doesn't show for the early morning call. She's found hours later in a theater bathroom stall, seemingly the victim of a fatal heart attack. An anonymous call to the police, though, says Lily was poisoned-and so it proves to be. Detective Roblings, in charge of the case, is suspicious of Lily's much younger best friend Beth, recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the sole heir to Lily's surprisingly substantial estate. At the Actor's Equity office, where Rosie the Secretary reigns, Morgan, ecstatic after a callback from Wexler, runs into little-liked Diana Tuttle, who's to audition for the Mother role. Next day, at the theater, Diana is another poison victim-this time the weapon's a foil-wrapped piece of kugel made by Morgan's mother and filched from Morgan's audition bag. Morgan's actress friend Annie and Lily's dog Hamlet are next on the perp's list but manage to survive. Meanwhile, Morgan's budding romance with Roblings is no help when she's forced into a life-threatening showdown with the unconvincing killer. Morgan's cheerful, with-it stream-of-consciousness narrative, along with some lively, fully-realized characters, and our heroine's vibrant, warm and funny persona, help outweigh a clumsily contrived plot. Altogether, a fresh andentertaining debut. .