Compared to the other theatrical mysteries I've read this month, this was immensely more intelligent and interesting. I can believe in the characters, and the crime and solution come out of believable situations and personality traits. They aren't just cardboard figures being moved around by a manipulative author. The nagging question I had throughout of why a suspect would invite an investigator to his home was cleverly, and movingly, answered at the end. And the glimpse into backstage life rang true, with the unsavory side behind the glamour, as well as the talent that often dances on the edge of desperation.