The Queen Is Dead

Jocelyn ``Josh'' O'Roarke again proves she is a real trooper as professional actress and amateur sleuth when the sudden death by heart attack of renowned actress Tessa Grant leaves Corinth College's production of A Winter's Tale without a female lead. Josh, a Corinth alum, agrees to take over the role even though the death of Tessa, who'd been her mentor at the school, hits her hard. Heartened to be reunited with her old roommate, Frankie, now a less-than-sedate faculty wife, Josh is not so pleased with the arrival of NYPD Lt. Phillip Gerrard, an ex-lover hoping to regain favor. She's glad for his assistance, however, when Sheriff Calvin Kowaleski (who, alas, remembers Josh and Frankie's youthful pranks) seems disinclined to investigate suspicious events surrounding the death of Tessa, who was known as ``a man-eater of the first rank.'' As Josh thoughtfully picks her way through on- and offstage dramatics, she realizes that some of the best amateur acting around her has nothing to do with the Bard. Although readers will note a major secret long before Josh and Phil cotton to it, Dentinger ( Dead Pan ) puts on a show that is terrific fun and will hold special appeal for theater fans. (Sept.)