Rose Campion and the Curse of the Doomstone - review

When famous actress Lydia Duchamps visits the lively Campion’s music hall to see the Great Gandini performing his magic act, she is wearing the famed, but possibly cursed, Doomstone diamond. 

Then, in a packed theatre, it is stolen. Is it part of some trick? 

Rose Campion and her friend Aurora (the other half of a bicycle act at the run-down, but much-loved theatre), respond to this intriguing mystery and soon find plenty of shady goings-on when they turn detective.

This is a lively mystery that makes the most of its energetic Victorian theatrical setting. Lyn Gardner brilliantly creates a truly colourful atmosphere of life behind stage. There is an eccentric cast list of showbiz folk, all shady in their own way, all making a living not being what they seem. Other London landmarks, such as the grim Newgate Gaol add gritty historical ambience. 

Rose and her theatre friends are a great bunch of sleuths and their relationships give the story a lot of heart. They never know when they are beaten and fight for the scattered strays that have made Campions their home. 

The clues and red herrings stack up satisfyingly, then the stakes ramp up when the mystery becomes a murder – also committed in a packed theatre.

The plot keeps twisting in a very clever way. Whoever the reader next suspects is bound to be revealed to have a totally different secret to the one you thought! 

A gutsy intelligent heroine, brilliant setting, an intriguing mystery, clever and with enough plot twists to keep young sleuths guessing. Great stuff.