A Deadly Portrayal
by L M Milford

What it’s about?

When local crime reporter Emma Fletcher is asked to help identify her friend’s blackmailer, she discovers a link to the recent death of a teacher at Allensbury Dance and Drama School.

Meanwhile, a police investigation is uncovering some dark secrets, and it is clear that someone is
seeking revenge for past wrongs.

As Emma’s list of suspects continues to grow, the discovery of a second body puts her in the killer’s
sights.

Warned off the investigation by the police for her own safety, Emma decides the best way to save
herself is to find the culprit first.

With the help of fellow news reporter Dan Sullivan, Emma must work out who is targeting Allensbury
Dance and Drama School before the killer strikes again.

What I think:

A Deadly Portrayal throws the reader straight into a new investigation. It grabs your attention quickly and keeps it.

This is the fourth book in the Allensbury Mysteries series. I haven’t read any of the previous mysteries and this is a standalone mystery.

Investigating the mystery are Emma and Dan, the local journalists and the police Burton and Shepherd, so the reader gets to see different aspects of the investigation as Emma and Dan have access to information and witnesses in a different way to the official investigation.

Emma is called to the dance college to report on the death of one of the teachers, former TV star, Travers McGovern. He’s found dead in his office by the college cleaner, and the post-mortem reveals foul play.

There’s lots of rumours buzzing around the college about McGovern’s personal life and relationships with students, including Emma’s friend, Natasha Kent.

18 year old dance student, Natasha is preparing for her dance showcase and the rivalries and tensions between the dancers are increasing and Natasha herself is being blackmailed.

This is a twisty whodunnit with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. There’s rival actors, spurned lovers and possessive family, secrets and lies galore.

I had no idea who the killer was and was kept guessing until the tense climax.

This was a compelling read that held my attention all the way through to a satisfying conclusion.

About the author:

LM Milford is a crime fiction author who writes the Allensbury mysteries, covering the exploits of
local newspaper reporter Dan Sullivan.

A former newspaper journalist, Lynne’s experience has influenced her work, although her stories
were never as exciting as Dan’s.

Lynne was born and brought up in the north-east of England, but now lives in Kent with her husband
and far too many books. She loves cooking, baking and holidays in Spain. She’s partial to a good red wine and plates of cheese.

Social Media Links:
www.lmmilford.com
https://twitter.com/LMMilford
https://www.instagram.com/LMmilford
Bluesky – @lmmilford.bsky.social

Thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my gifted copy of A Deadly Portrayal and for inviting me to be a part of this intriguing blog tour.