A 1937 humorous whodunnit by the established team of Caryl Brahms (Evening Standard ballet critic) and S. J. Simon bridge international and Observer columnist. Murder runs rampant among the members of the Stroganoff ballet company. It seems that the title role in the ballet Petroushka is an unlucky one. When the dancer Palook is shot just at the moment of the character's death, Inspector Adam Quill is called in to discover who might have wanted the dancer dead. Just when he settles on fellow dancer Pavel (who just happens to move into the vacant starring role) as his culprit, someone eliminates the newest Petroushka before he even gets to make his entrance. Is it possible that someone hated both dancers? Or does someone have a real dislike for the ballet itself and hopes to cancel the show? Quill hunts among the dressing rooms for clues and interviews all and sundry in the company....but it will take one more performance of the ill-fated ballet before the case will be solved?