Detective Inspector Stewart Gardener has investigated brutal murders before, but this case is different. The killer does not simply want his victims dead. He wants an audience.
The investigation leads Gardener into the world of theatre, film and performance, where appearances are carefully constructed and reality can be almost impossible to separate from illusion. At the centre of the mystery stands William Henry Corndell, a man with a talent for storytelling, disguise and deception.
But proving guilt is another matter.
As the body count rises, Gardener and his team discover that the killer’s crimes are part of a much larger production. Every victim has a role. Every crime is a scene. And when someone close to the investigation becomes the star of the final act, time begins to run out.
The curtain is rising.
And this time, death is not part of the performance.