[4] Bruce Harding suggests that the character of Peregrine Jay, a New Zealander who achieves theatrical success on relocating to England, was based on three of Marsh's proteges, Jonathan Elsom, Elric Hooper and James Laurenson.

Harding compares Jeremy Jones's co-running of a small shop in London to Marsh's own "experiment in shopkeeping" with her friend Nelly Rhodes.

During the sold-out run, the glove is stolen and Harry Jobbins, the chirpy cockney nightwatchman is viciously battered to death by one of the two dolphin statues in the theatre foyer, commissioned by Conducis.

The novel's murder plot is set against an engrossing account of how a historic London theatre is rescued from oblivion and a Shakespearian-themed modern play is produced, staged and launched into a solid West End triumph, with accompanying backstage dramas and tensions.

Edmund Crispin wrote in The Sunday Times, "of the several excellent theatre stories she has written, I count this easily the best — a first-rate book, with an enticing opening, a fine whodunit plot and exceptional richness in characterisation, background and humour.

Ranged before Alleyn and Fox are the full cast amid the smell of size and grease-paint, the fuss and fume of rehearsal, the backstage bitchery, and the closed circle of theatre folk which make this a story to be remembered.