The Murderer Inside the Mirror (A Theatre of Thieves Mystery, 2)
This is the second Theatre of Thieves novel from mystery writer, Sarah Rayne, featuring the eccentric Fitzglen family and their rival thespians, the Gilfillans. Those who know the Fitzglens well know that their more lucrative sideline, aside from staging plays, is theft – of the Robin Hood variety, whereby they relieve those who can afford it, of part of their wealth. It’s 1908, and sadly, a message has arrived that Great Uncle Montague (the family’s master forger) has died unexpectedly. Now it’s up to young Jack to find the infamous iron box Montague was rumoured to have hidden. Jack also needs Montague’s notes on his plan to rob the wealthy Girdlestone family of an original Gainsborough, if he is to pull off the heist himself. The box turns out to hold a manuscript entitled “The Murderer Inside the Mirror,” which seems to have been penned by the deceased Irish playwright, Phelan Rafferty, and has ominous and shadowy overtones within its first pages. This makes Jack think some darkness may be best left undisturbed. While sidelining on the Gainsborough heist, Jack spies a painting of Catherine O’Raifeartaigh hung in a dark corner. Why has her history been concealed by the Raffertys?
This entry, like the previous book, Chalice of Darkness, unrolls multiple stories in multiple timeframes. Rayne’s mystery novels are intriguing, but readers have to pay close attention to connect all the pieces of the puzzle. As one character tells Jack, “you need to hear the story… in full—or you won’t understand.” Rayne blends fiction with history—in this case Henry VIII’s rebellious nemesis, Thomas Fitzgerald, 10th Earl of Kildare—and her stories prompt many questions along a circuitous route. A few scenes stretch credulity a little, and one can’t help thinking there’s a bit of tongue-in-cheek going on, but overall, a clever story-within-a-story of rebellion, betrayal and revenge.
