The Murderer Inside the Mirror

April 15, 2024
Rayne's latest gothic thriller, set in 1908 London and sixteenth-century Ireland, is rich with history, murder, romance, theatrical rivalries, and tragedy. Montague Fitzglen, head of a famous London acting dynasty, is known as a keeper of secrets, so when he dies, his family is eager to unpack what Montague kept hidden in his "Iron Box." Montague's nephew, Jack, discovers a work written long ago by famed Irish playwright Phelan Rafferty. He decides it's worth staging, but soon Jack learns it's been stolen by the Fitzglens' theatrical rivals, the Gilfillans, who plan to present it for the sensation and novelty. The play, a dark tragedy, portrays the sixteenth-century love affair between Thomas, Earl of Kildare, a soldier and musician who led an unsuccessful Irish rebellion against Henry VIII, and Catherine � Raifeartaigh, both of whom met heartrending fates. Another shock: Montague's diaries allude to a more recent murder in Dublin Castle and the bizarre measures taken to cover it up. The story is dense, complex, and twist filled, and readers will be riveted by this suspenseful, provocative read packed with depth, drama, and charm.

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May 15, 2024
The missing piece of a masterful stage play spawns an abundance of mayhem, both mortal and supernatural. Rayne's intricate triple-decker thriller begins in 1908 with the sprawling Fitzglen clan, whose members are equally adept at theatrical production and sublime thievery. Colorful old Great Uncle Montague has recently died, and a family meeting focuses on both funeral arrangements and future felonious plans. Together, these drive a search of Montague's stately but run-down home in Notting Hill, where his heirs find the manuscript of an unproduced play written by renowned Irish dramatist Phelan Rafferty. Could Montague's apparent relationship with the late playwright be leveraged for a major financial score? A snag in the plan comes in the person of Rafferty's daughter, Ethne, who likes to avoid the limelight. The plot literally thickens with the discovery that the play has a missing or "hidden scene." When news of the play gets out, Ethne is besieged with offers to produce. Complementing and fueling this jaunty plot are two others with roots in different centuries. Back in the 1700s, Seamus Rafferty, Phelan's ancestor and something of a literary detective, discovers letters from yet two centuries earlier that are the source of the play in question: a darker tale of forbidden love, murder, and a desperate coverup. Rayne's large, engaging cast of charismatic charlatans seems poised to reach beyond this second installment in the Theatre of Thieves series for still more suspenseful adventures. A playful puzzle with an elegant veneer and abundant twists.

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