The Great Theatre Rescue

This gloriously detailed historical novel about theatre, set at the beginning of the 20th Century, draws an image of a buzzy, busy London theatre district, pulling together historical details with a fast-paced and exciting plot.

The main character, Charley, is exuberant and vivacious, shining as brightly as the London theatre lights. The theatre setting is a backdrop for a tale about Charley’s character growth, as she overcomes a nightmarish stint at a girls’ boarding school, a long trek from the south coast back to London and the scheming of a nefarious Fagin-esque London criminal, in the process making a friend, uncovering family secrets, and discovering how to overcome stage fright.

There are shades of Dickens, with its reference to orphans and foundlings, the clear London divide between rich and poor, and a richly descriptive text that showcases the rabbit-warren streets of London theatreland. Through the dawning of a new age with electric light and the onset of famous acts such as Duke Ellington, combined with the author’s homage to the theatre magic of Noel Streatfield books, this is a tale of a delightfully flawed main character and a twisty plot that emits a warmth and magnetism that is hard to put down.