Another case of `Blake among the thespians`. One never feels that he`s totally in his element in such company, but he`s preapared to give it a go ; "Even show people have a few of the human sensibilities" he admonishes the insensitive Inspector Coutts.

It`s interesting to see how Thomas, a writer who joined the SBL during the 4th series as a protege of editor W H Baker, differs from his predecessors and peers. Where Walter Tyrer would have peopled the theatre with larger-than-life characters and Baker would have indulged in a little gentle satire at the expense of the theatrical world, the best Thomas can offer are a bunch of flirtatious chorus girls. Having said that, this was his sixth published SBL story and he certainly seems to have developed as a writer during the (relatively short) period in question.

At the end of the day, the plot is not too bad. The story is told well, but not brilliantly. Certainly there is nothing glaringly wrong with it, but it`s difficult not to find oneself damning it with faint praise.

Maybe it`s fairest to say that, in joining the SBL, Thomas found himself among a list of writers that includes some very well-respected names indeed - John Creasey, Hank Jansen, Jack Trevor Story, Rex Dolphin, Walter Tyrer and John Hunter. In that company, it`s hardly a reflection on him if he wasn`t `the brightest star in the sky`. He was certainly not the worst writer to contribute to the Blake canon. If he also wasn`t the best, maybe we shouldn`t blame him unduly for that. ( )