The Vanishing Box

DI Edgar Stephens and his DS, Bob Willis, are at a murder scene.  A young woman’s body has been posed in an unusual way.

Later, having seen the photos of the victim, DS Emma Holmes realises that the pose is exactly like a painting of Lady Jane Gray just before her execution.  This makes Stephens think about the tableaux that are being performed at a local Brighton theatre.

A few days later the sergeants attend the performance of the tableaux and notice that one of the participants, while wearing a wig looks similar to the victim.  She discovers flowers at her door when she gets home, just as the victim had.  Could they have been left for her roommate?

The next day the manager of the tableaux is found murdered in his flat.  The most obvious suspect is his mistress.  The problem is that Max Mephisto, a good friend of Stephens was seen in her company in the morning at the flat. 

Later one of the girls from the tableaux is attacked just as she reaches home.  While there taking her statement, Stephens is called to the home of the mistress of the manager.  She has been found dead and posed.  When will the killer stop?

As the title implies, a bit of magic and misdirection by author Elly Griffiths, leads to a surprising conclusion in more ways than one.  An enjoyable, quick read.