More Peter Lovesey: Sergeant Cribb: * Mad Hatter's Holiday * Abracadaver Inspector Diamond: * The Secret Hangman * Skeleton Hill Inspector Mallin: * Headhunters

The "accidents" cause injury, but no deaths. Cribb receives a handbill for a music hall with certain terms circled. He suspects it involves another accident. Mishaps instead of causing real damage, however, effectively destroy the careers of those involved. Cribb sets Thackeray to watch the latest victim, a weightlifter named Albert. They encounter a private investigator, a retired Army major, also watching Albert.

All the accident victims disappear and leave no forwarding addresses. Their agents haven't heard from them. In the morning following Albert's mishap, a coach and two men visit him and he leaves with them. Thackeray and the major follow the vehicle to a wealthy area. They identify the house and Thackeray reports to Cribb.

The house belongs to a rich man who has established a rest home for indigent music hall artists. Cribb and Thackeray visit and see Albert who assures them all is well. Cribb remains skeptical.

They visit one small better-class music hall that has not suffered any accidents. The owner's daughter also moonlights as a singer at other halls and is sweet on Albert. She takes them on a tour backstage, but she has to leave for her performance at another music hall. While there, they learn that special shows for the gentry take place in a second show on Tuesdays. After finding props belonging to one of the injured artists, Cribb insists they hide backstage after the regular Tuesday performance and attend the special show.

Most of the artists subjected to the accidents perform, but Thackeray and Cribb are shocked by semi nude women. Cribb sees it as a lewd and illegal show. The audience consists of politicians and other well known people. During the performance, a young woman dies. He sees it as murder, but the owner insists it is either an accident or suicide. Cribb's boss refuses to act on the accident or on the lewd performance and forbids Cribb to investigate further.

Once on the trail, Cribb refuses to stop and risks his career to solve the murder. He even tries romancing the man-crazy housekeeper of the home for indigent artist.

Filled with the mores and color of Victorian London, Lovesey's mystery provides an enjoyable read with enough twists to satisfy readers. A prolific author, he has a long list of other mysteries. Soho, the publisher, provides access to both older mysteries and to newer ones set in exotic