[Review] Stuart Douglas: 'Death at the Dress Rehearsal'

Many of us fondly remember the British sitcom 'Dad's Army' about some bungling members of the United Kingdom's Home Guard during the Second World War. The series ran from 1968 to 1977. The Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, either because of age (hence the title 'Dad's Army'), medical reasons or by being in professions exempt from conscription, such as greengrocers and butchers.

'Dad's Army' was set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea, located on the south coast of England, presumably not far from Eastbourne. The platoon was commanded by the rather pompous Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), assisted by the somewhat too relaxed Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier).

Fast-forward to the 1970s, and we encounter somewhat familiar faces in the BBC sitcom 'Floggit and Leggit', where the main roles are played by Edward Lowe and John Le Breton.

During the filming of their sitcom in Shropshire, Edward Lowe discovers the body of a young woman, apparently the victim of a tragic drowning accident. But something doesn't sit right by Edward Lowe, and he thinks that the woman might be the victim of foul play. The police are, as you would expect from a comedy like 'Dad's Army' wonderfully inept. Edward Lowe is irresistibly drawn to an investigation, assisted by John Le Breton who has retained trademark air of helplessness of Sergeant Wilson.

Unknowingly, the intrepid duo of aging actors become part of a rather sinister story that has its murky origins in wartime Britain.

No, this is not a simple pastiche of 'Dad's Army'. It's much more than that. It's more a reimagining of the characters. Yes, you can certainly hear the voices of Captain Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson in their alter egos Edward Lowe and John Le Breton, but that makes them an unforgettable pair of sleuths. A beautifully rendered group of supporting characters builds a very strong tale with a rewarding and thrilling conclusion.

Sitcoms like 'Dad's Army' or ''Allo 'Allo!' cannot be made anymore these days. People have grown longer toes over the last decade or so. If you're not one of these irritating humans, you will certainly enjoy 'Death at the Dress Rehearsal'.

The second Lowe and Le Breton mystery titled 'Death at the Playhouses' has just been published. I've immediately ordered it.