{"product_id":"played-to-death-9781448317684","title":"Played to Death","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIt's curtains down for one actor when preparations for a new murder mystery play at the local theatre take a chillingly real twist . . . \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Librarian\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eRetirement \u003ci\u003ewas\u003c\/i\u003e beckoning until local lawyer Adam Cunningham - aka the Hopewell Players' pantomime dame - requested my professional opinion on the script of their next play that he's been given. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Lawyer\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe script is terrible! And it rips off a number of Golden Age mysteries. With Roly's knowledge of crime fiction, I might be able to get the whole thing cancelled. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Producer\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eI couldn't believe it when I learned that my late father had written a play of all things! And now the players will perform his work - until one of them is found dead. . . \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Inspector\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA body on the stage of the local playhouse doesn't happen often round here. Was it a pre-rehearsal accident, suicide . . . or is the spotlight about to fall on a murderer? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eTold from the point of view of four unreliable narrators, most of whom can't be trusted - The Librarian, The Lawyer, The Producer and The Inspector - this cunningly inventive novel is a refreshingly fun, subversive take on the crime fiction genre.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mike Ripley\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Severn House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/02\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.60h x 5.50w x 1.10d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781448317684\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/06\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2026","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Mike Ripley \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":48397169393821,"sku":"9781448317684","price":35.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_d08605b1-6401-4b90-b6d8-606c90f06feb.jpg?v=1781074907","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/played-to-death-9781448317684","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}