To say I was excited when this book dropped onto my review desk, would be an understatement. I love Tara Sharp's adventures. She's witty, she's quirky and she has Nick Tozzi - need I say more?

If you haven't read SHARP TURN and SHARP SHOOTER yet, I can highly recommend both books. Unemployed and with the reluctant ability to read aura's, Tara Sharp finds herself dropped into the role of private investigator. Skimming beneath the surface of Perth's elite and not-so-elite has never been this dangerous or exhilirating. Her brush with the criminal underworld throws her squarely in the path of star basketballer, Nick Tozzi. Despite their  instant attraction, Nick is strictly off limits being married to socialite drug addict, Antonia. They develop a friendship and Nick finds himself coming to Tara's rescue throughout the first two books in the thrill of the chase and investigations.

In STAGE FRIGHT, Tara leaves Perth to undertake an assignment to protect a popstar with bizarre habits. Still under threat from criminal mastermind, Johnny Viaspa who wants to kill her for destroying his dastardly plans, Tara thinks she's safe in BrisVegas...until she sees Johnny on the same flight. When he spots her, the chase is on and the story bolts along at a rapid pace as Tara juggles her bodyguard/security duties with saving her skin.

Nick Tozzi (sigh) is sadly absent from this adventure, except for a few quick mentions, and this takes a bit of the zing out of Tara's usually zappy aura. Her developing relationship with ultra gorgeous, almost-too-perfect male model, Ed pushes Nick into the background where he quietly goes about sorting out his life.

Delacourt spins a great tale of crime, mystery and witty suspense with all the mis-matched characters from the previous books making an appearance and causing dramas in STAGE FRIGHT. And, oh my! what a cliff hanger...

4/5 Stars for Stage Fright. I can't wait for the promised TV Series.

Tara Sharp is at it again, and this time she’s not missing a beat... 

When Marianne Delacourt first sat down to write Tara Sharp, she knew she was tapping into something special.  As Marianne says, “Tara Sharp seems like a second skin”.  A great believer in writing what she knows makes Marianne’s Tara Sharp the quick, down-to-earth and endearing character that keeps her fans coming back for more.  Stage Fright is the third, exciting instalment in Marianne Delacourt’s latest series.

Tara Sharp’s finding things a bit hot in Perth right now.  She’s unemployed, twenty-something and has a psychic gift she’d sometimes rather forget.  So, when music promoter Wal offers her a gig minding a rock star in Brisbane, it’s no surprise she jumps at the chance to leave town.

Sure, it’s not Tara’s usual line of work but the money is good and she’s a sucker for a backstage pass.  Escaping from her overbearing mother is also a plus.  Not to mention some much needed time to sort out her mixed up feelings for the two men in her life. A break is exactly what she needs!

But arriving in BrisVegas, Tara finds her hands full with the young rocker’s bizarre habits and his even crazier fans.  She soon discovers the music industry is far more cut-throat than she’d ever imagined, and the promoter who hired her is well over his head.  Tara’s about to discover how dangerous it can get when you’re messing with the big boys.

Like Tara Sharp, Marianne too made the big move from Perth to Queensland to pursue a new career and new opportunities.  From all the places she’d been and the people she’s met (including one very “in the know” musician) Marianne’s Stage Fright parallels her life in a way that makes her characters spring from the pages, and soon to land on the small screen...

Emmy® Award-winning multiplatform production company Hoodlum Entertainment has announced the option of turning Marianne Delacourt’s Tara Sharp series into a TV Show.  Step aside The Mentalist and Lie to Me, there’s a new crime-solving psychic in town, and this time she’s home-grown.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marianne Delacourt is the pseudonym of a successful Australian fantasy writer who is sold throughout the world.  A Davitt award-winning author, Marianne grew up in Perth and now lives in Brisbane with her husband and three sons.  Marianne’s Stage Fright is the third in the successful Tara Sharp series.  To find out more go to www.tarasharp.com

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my advanced reading copy.

PUBLISHED: September

IMPRINT: Arena

CATEGORY: Crime & Mystery