This was such a fantastic book, it had me hooked from the start and couldn’t have surprised me more when the accused revealed itself. I absolutely adore this series, it’s such a cozy series to read. I think the dynamic between the Dahlias just get better with each book in the series. I thought the plot was fantastic, the setting in theatre land was really entertaining. I enjoy Katy Watson’s writing so much that I know I don’t need to read the blurb beforehand, I know I won’t be disappointed. I really hope there are more to come, it’s certainly been left open.

What a brilliant and tense farewell to the three dahlias! We see Posy getting accused for murder and tensions are so high! It was a wild ride featuring familiar faces and even more secrets than ever before! This was a breeze to read - even though I was in the edge of my seat throughout!

A Deadly Night at the Theatre was my first experience of the Three Dahlias but definitely won’t be my last.
It speaks volumes of the author’s skill to allow a reader to come in mid-series and not feel they’ve missed anything.
I adored the main characters, well-fleshed out and the author clearly knows them by heart and a fabulous crime-busting story to boot!
An easy five-star read and I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by Little Brown Book Group UK, Constable via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to Constable, for providing me with the arc for review.

Plot
The fifth book in the Three Dahlia Mysteries series, following Rosalind, Caro and Posy who become friends and an investigating team when they all play the same golden age detective. This book opens with Caro and Posy both starring in plays in neighbouring theatres in London, but they have a recent falling out over Caro’s co-star and Posy’s ex - Luke. While Rosalind is trying to bring them back together, Luke is found dead and Posy is the prime suspect.

Thoughts
My reviews for the previous books in the series is basically just gushing about how much I love the ladies and their friendship.

This book moved away from that, while Posy is the one framed for murder, her perspective is fully missed in the first half of the book, leaving it up to Rosalind and Caro to clear her name.

Posy is typically my favourite character and perspective, so I really missed her investigative skills and insights. I would have also liked to see the Police investigation into her, we hear about it all from other characters telling us what is happening.

The falling out between Caro and Posy relies a lot on miscommunication, which seems unlikely giving their strong relationship that’s been established in the series. I wished it had either been explained better or resolved quicker.

I also missed the boys, Rosalind and Posy’s boyfriends, who are away for the majority of the book.

In relation to the actual murder, I enjoyed the mystery and how all the threads came together in the end.

Not my favourite in the series, but still a solid read. I will continue to pick up this series until it ends.

Easily my favourite Dahlia novel (so far)! This time the story takes us to the West End where Posy and Caro are both starring in separate plays. But the two plays are more linked than they think when one of the cast members of Posy’s play is found dead, and they all become suspects.

The characters are well-established at this point, but the author still manages to find fresh ways of developing them, like Posy dealing with being the prime suspect, Caro having doubts of her friends’ innocence, and Rosalind’s adjustment to life in Wales with Jack. Thankfully for us, the one constant no matter the issues in their personal lives is murder, and boy do they know how to work those out.

Watson’s experience in the theatre shines through in her vivid and authentic writing, capturing the setting of the West End. The pacing of the book is flawless, and the reveals are restrained and satisfying, with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the final j’accuse.

I eagerly await the next book, which appears to take us to Monte Carlo to solve a murder before it happens. I am confident that this novel will elevate the series to new heights.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for an earc of this, the fifth in the Thre Dahlias series.
I enjoyed this cozy crime novel even though I had no prior knowledge of the series.
Posy, Caro and elegant Rosalind are a likeable trio of sleuths and the theatrical setting of this particular murder mystery was one I found myself very much caught up by.
The final denouement was, indeed theatrical, but cosy crimes often have a group of suspects all brought together patiently waiting for the murderer to be unveiled.
There were motives and clues and red herrings galore before the final reveal and it was fun to try to second guess the sleuths themselves
I guess the best recommendation I can give is the fact that I have gone to my local library to read the other titles in the series!
I would definitely rate this as a 3.5 stars review.

We're back with the Three Dahlias with both Posy and Caro treading the boards at two London Theatres with support from Rosalind in the opening weeks of their plays. However, Rosalind notices that things aren't what they seem with Posy and Caro as Caro is becoming close to Luke Burrows (someone from Posy's past) but Luke is found dead in Posy's dressing room. Was it Posy? Rosalind and Caro set out to investigate the crime. It was well written and very descriptive. I loved how the characters interact with each other.

A Deadly Night at the Theatre was my favourite Three Dahlias mystery yet, combining two of my great loves.

With this series, Watson is consistently delivering excellence. Yet again it is a well-constructed story that develops these characters further and skews their dynamic a little more. The mysteries are always gripping and packed to the brim with twists and this is no exception. I relished the build-up, the tension and the way the atmosphere tightened with each chapter. The denouement is spectacular to boot. To note, Watson goes into some dark territory here but treats these subjects with care and sensitivity. It is not just played as a shocking reveal but as the evil it is. This is probably the darkest the Dahlia books have got so far with a terrifying display of the monstrosity of humanity in these pages. It got under my skin and tugged at my heartstrings.

You can see how much love Watson has for the theatre in every page of this book. It is filled with Easter eggs and titbits, much like the series has for classic murder mysteries. Watson’s writing is so wonderfully joyous in its celebration of these art forms, though it is thorny and deadly with the fiendish schemes she concocts for every book. I too am a massive fan of the theatre and so I relished the chance to follow the Dahlias backstage. There is a strong thread around artifice and pretence in this book, which thrives in the sphere of acting. It adds an interesting layer to a mystery when everyone around the characters is capable of manipulation and deceit, in fact they are skilled. Also, one of the Dahlias is firmly in the spotlight here as Posy is centre stage in this investigation. Over the series, I have really enjoyed getting to know our trinity of Dahlias and their history is very much on display here. Posy’s past may have come back to haunt her.

A Deadly Night at the Theatre is a box-office smash and a delight, even as it delves into darkness. Long may this series continue.

The fifth book in the Three Dahlia series is centred around a murder that takes place in the theatre where Posy is performing. To make matters worse, Posy becomes a suspect.

This series is one of the best and I always make sure to read the latest instalment as soon as I can. A Deadly Night at the Theatre is a brilliant addition to the series and I can't recommend it enough. I wouldn't say it is necessary to have read the previous books but I think it would add so much more to your reading experience.

As always, it is the characters that make this book exceptional. I loved the twist of seeing Posy as a suspect because it created so much tension and conflict. It was also fascinating to delve into her past and understand her character even more.

The theatre was the perfect setting fort this plot. A whole cast of characters with unkown motives created a story full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I would love to say that I guessed what was going on but I was definitely fooled by the charade!

I'm already excited to see what the future holds for the Three Dahlias as I enjoyed this book immensely.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I love these books and this outing for the Three Dahlias does not disappoint. Both Caro and Posy are appearing in plays in the West End, unfortunately Carl’s leading man is Luke, the man from Posy’s past who caused her a lot of heartache and led to her going off the rails. Caro can’t understand Posy’s animosity, she had changed so why couldn’t she see that Luke had also, but had he?
Rosalind tries hard to bring her two friends back together, but fails and then disaster strikes as Posy discovers a dead body in her dressing room and is photographed covered in blood.
Well written as usual with plenty of twists to keep you glued to the story, I could hardly put it down, and of course at the end a bit of a teaser. My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

This might be one of my fave Dahlia mysteries so far! I’ve been religiously following this series as it’s been released and I just love the different settings. It continues to make it such a fun series to read making every book brand new.

Now back to the main book at hand, I loved the setting of the two theatres and the tapas bar to meet in the middle. It was easy to follow and despite the amount of characters, I still knew who everyone was and how they slot in to the story.

I also enjoyed seeing a different side to the Dahlia relationship. Sometimes things can get very “samesy”??? but this changed the dynamic. I think adding the element of the dark and eerie tones of certain events gives readers an insight on how dark it can get and not just a cosy muster mystery.

Now that epilogue!!! I won’t say much but this makes me want the next book IMMEDIATELY!!

This is a thoroughly entertaining mystery! Clever clues and well constructed, especially the theatrical elements which are particularly well done.

I absolutely love this series and was excited that it ended by setting up another book in the series.

I enjoyed that they all have different perspectives and I loved the big reveal at the end too.

Thanks for the arc.

All is not well with the Dahlias. Caro and Posy are both starring in London stage productions. Caro is delighted with her leading man, Luke Burrows, but Posy encountered him at a bad time in her life. She knows he's a cheat and liar but Caro declares that he's a reformed character and won't hear a bad word against him. Rosalind does her best to pour oil on troubled relationships but when Luke is murdered -- and Posy is the one with his blood on her hands -- things go from bad to really terrible.

With Posy taken in for questioning, it's up to Caro and Rosalind to clear her name, but do they really believe in her innocence. Could it have been self-defence?

This is the most difficult case yet for the Dahlias and Katy Watson has created a world peopled with interesting and complex characters, many of whom have motives for wishing Luke dead and gone.

A thoroughly enjoyable addition to a series that gets better and better. More please!

Another wonderful adventure with the Three Dahlias! This series would look great on TV (which isn't surprising, given the premise) the relationship between the three main characters was explored well, and as is typical for Katy Watson's writing the killer wasn't obvious until the Dahlias themselves revealed it. This is such an underrated series and we can't wait to see what the Three Dahlias get up to next.

A Deadly Night At The Theatre is a mystery novel by Katy Watson, the latest in her Three Dahlias series, and is set to be published by Constable on the 10th July 2025.

4.5 stars

The series follows the ‘Three Dahlias’ who solve crimes together, comprised of the three actresses to play Dahlia Lively (a detective from a 1930s book series) on screen. Rosalind Young, the first actor to play Dahlia, is a ‘National Treasure’ in the vein of Penelope Wilton or Celia Imrie. Caro Hooper, PI and star of a 2000s TV adaptation, comes across initially as a Lesley Sharp-type figure (except pricklier and trying harder to come across as posh) who is now a best-selling author documenting the trio's investigations. And finally there's Posy Starling, star of a recent reboot film, whose career as a child star came to an abrupt end in her teens.

In this fifth installment in the series, we open on press night for Posy's new play Lights Out, set during the 1977 New York Blackout. Rosalind has been away in Wales for six months, and in this time things have become tense between Caro and Posy. It seems to be centred on Caro’s new costar and friend Luke Burrows, the two getting close in rehearsals for play Finding Freddie, but his unclear history with Posy causes tension which Rosalind is eager to squash as soon as possible.

But when Luke is found dead in Posy’s dressing room, and she quite literally has blood on her hands, Rosalind is determined to clear her fellow Dahlia's name, sure she didn't do it, even if all evidence and gossip points to her.

Had Luke really changed? If not Posy, who could've killed him? Will the rift cause the Dahlias to come apart at the seams?

I had never read any of the other books in this series (or any others by Watson), and didn't realise in the first place that it was a sequel. However, I don't think you need to have read the previous books to get a lot of enjoyment out of this one (I certainly enjoyed it a lot), it might be better to read the others first, though. I can safely say that I'll be tracking down copies of the rest of the series to read in future.

This one is a fun, immensely satisfying West End murder mystery, and I love the characters, especially the three protagonists. I love how different they are, and how real they feel. It's a really wonderful premise to me as someone who has always been a sponge for actor trivia to have three actresses linked by a role teaming up to solve murders.

The mystery itself also really hooked me, and I wouldn't say it was obvious how it would end/resolve, but in hindsight makes a lot of sense. I'm really looking forward to reading the previous books in the series and find out more about the other mysteries mentioned here. There's even a further installment in the series ahoy, I would guess from the ending, and I can't wait for this either.

Absolutely loved this next instalment of the three dahlia’s. The London theatre setting was entertaining with lots of twists and turns, with plenty of red herrings to throw the reader in the wrong direction. Perfect storytelling. Can’t wait for the next one!

Yay for another Three Dahlias mystery! Posy, Caro and Rosalind are back and this time they’re starring in London’s West End.
Actually, that’s not strictly true as only Posy and Caro are actually treading the boards as they both have lead roles in plays that are just about to open. There is trouble between the three of them though as Posy is not talking to Caro due to Caro’s friendship with her leading man, Luke, who just happens to be Posy’s ex-boyfriend.
Things go from bad to worse when Luke’s body is discovered in Posy’s dressing room and Posy’s hands are covered with blood. She is immediately the main suspect for his murder and even though Caro and Rosalind begin to investigate to find out who actually committed the crime, Caro isn’t completely certain that Posy is innocent.
Theatres are some of my favourite places and the setting for this latest mystery was brilliant. The descriptions of the two theatres together with the streets, cafes and bars of London all brought the setting vividly to life. There is a darker side to the story too with control and gaslighting forming part of the plot and this makes an effective contrast with the bright lights of the stage
The murder mystery was brilliantly executed. Luke appears to have completely set aside his bad boy image and no-one other than Posy appears to have a word to say against him so there doesn’t appear to be anyone with a motive for his murder. Even when their investigations do uncover others with possibly motives. Caro still isn’t totally convinced about Posy’s innocence and it begins to look as though as though the rift between them will be permanent. As always, the characters are brought together at the end for the grand unmasking and this time it’s as theatrical as anyone could wish. It probably isn’t at all realistic but I loved it.
I really enjoyed the different dynamics of this book. For once, with Posy being an actual suspect, the three Dahlia’s aren’t working together and they all recognise that they’re not ss effective as when they are a threesome. The tension between them makes this a very different read to the last couple of books which stops the series from becoming too much of the same thing.
This was an excellent read and the Three Dahlias remain some of my favourite characters. I heartily recommend this book and the whole series to anyone who loves a good amateur crime story.
My thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group, for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fifth in the series, but works as a standalone because Katy catches you up (but without dragging it out for people who've read the whole series - I would recommend the whole series, though, as they're excellent reads).

The series gets better and better, and this is my favourite of the lot so far!

It's set in the West End (and all the details are PERFECT - really makes you feel part of the theatre). Caro and Posy are both starring in new plays, but they've fallen out - Caro's friendly with a new co-star, but Luke has a shared past with Posy (one she hasn't told her fellow Dahlias about, and she thinks he's feeding journalists information about her wild-child past). Meanwhile Rosalind comes to London from Wales to try and smooth things over. When Luke's found dead in Posy's dressing room, Posy's the chief suspect - and only the Dahlias can get to the bottom of it.

The characterisation is wonderful, as always; the pace is spot on. There are plenty of twists and turns, and every layer seems to uncover a new potential suspect with a credible motive. Plus the three main characters evolve and develop a little more - it's beautifully written and thoroughly good entertainment. The J'accuse moment in particular is superb.

Can't wait for the next one!

I have loved all the Dahlia books but I think this might just be my favourite. A fabulously dramatic setting, some great character development and a truly theatrical denouement added up to a didn't want to put down read. Perfect.
Caro and Posy are both starring in new plays in London's West End, but things are frosty between them. Caro has befriended her co-star Luke, but Posy has a past with him, one she is ashamed to remember - and despite his protestations he's changed she doesn't believe him. It doesn't help that the papers keep harking back to her wild child past, it's almost as if someone is feeding them stories about her. It seems too much of a coincidence that this is happening just as Luke re enters her life. Rosalind has spent the last few months in Wales but makes it her mission to reconcile her fellow Dahlias. If only they weren't both so stubborn. But when Posy discovers Luke's body,in her dressing room and she is catapulted to number one subject things get even worse, because it seems to Rosalind and Posy that Caro isn't as convinced of Posy's innocence as she should be. If the Dahlias are turning on each other, what does this mean for the most important investigation yet, the race to clear Posy's name?
Meticulously researched and full of fabulously theatrical detail, twists and turns and plenty of suspects, this is a hugely enjoyable whodunnit. Highly recommended.