Murder on Union Square by Victoria Thompson

Sarah and Frank want to adopt the little girl they are raising.  When her guardian dies, they go to visit the attorney to make it official.  But there's a small problem.  The lady who had her was married to another man when she got impregnated by a lover and the child is now his responsibility.  They have to get him to sign off his parental rights.  He doesn't seem to object but, unfortunately, he doesn't live long enough to sign...

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 1st.

When Frank discovers him dead in his dressing room, the woman who finds him there screams and accuses him of murder.  He goes to jail denying the charge and Sarah finds a lawyer to bail him out.  Then they begin their own hunt for the murderer.

He was killed at the theater and there's plenty of gossip and affairs going on.  Not only that but they have not joined the Syndicate (a union of actors who are guaranteed work).  The lead lady likes to choose her own roles, her own leading men, and sleeping with the leading man before going on the stage.  Her husband finds her the venues but she's aging, their plays aren't as popular nowadays and things are not going well.  A murder will bring them notoriety but whether that will be good or bad is another worry.

Frank and Sarah find out there are any number of reasons the lead man and the parent of the child they want to adopt might have been killed.  He's sleeping with the lead lady and she's married.  He has a girlfriend who says they are getting married.  There's another man in love with the girlfriend.  Nobody is telling the whole truth.

This was a very interesting case and I liked reading about Frank and Sarah.  They're a lovely couple and they make a good team.  They find the killer. Can you?