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CORPSE DE BALLET is the second of two mysteries by the late Lucy Cores. Like its predecessor, PAINTED FOR THE KILL, it features Toni Ney and Eric Skeets, although now we find that both the second world war and the events of PAINTED FOR THE KILL have wrought changes in both their lives. Although they are still a couple, they are pursuing very different careers. Toni is now a newspaper columnist and de facto pin-up girl, and Eric is home on leave from the army. Toni's seemingly routine assignment to cover the rehearsals and performance of the premier danseur Vova Izlomin's return to the ballet takes an unexpected turn for the dramatic. Izlomin's career faltered years ago when he suffered a nervous breakdown on stage. Seemingly recovered, the ballet world is on the edge of its proverbial seat waiting to witness Izlomin's triumphant comeback. Although the premier danseur's talent is undeniable, so is his ability to rub everyone around him the wrong way. In true mystery fashion, Izlomin's corpse turns up and it's anyone's guess as to who did the deed. They say that expectation can kill a book, and I think this may be why I was disappointed with this. I read and thoroughly enjoyed PAINTED FOR THE KILL so much, that I expected a similar experience with CORPSE DE BALLET. To begin with, it's a much more topical book, and therefore a more old-fashioned one as well. Between references to the war and an obsolete understanding of mental illness, the result is dated -- and while I usually adore vintage mysteries, I found this hard going. I suspect that in 1944 I would have had a different reaction. On a more positive note, Cores imbues her main characters with a great deal of depth. Toni's amour fou for a publisher is presented in such a way as to make the reader both understand and empathize with her. And Eric's dignity is heartbreaking throughout. Unfortunately, the secondary characters are a little harder to care about. According to the forward, Cores had an understanding of dance -- specifically ballet -- and her expertise shows here. The setting she creates is one of the strongest aspects of the book. These criticisms aside, CORPSE DE BALLET is worth picking up. For all of its faults, it is still better than a good deal of the contemporary mysteries being published today.
Reviewed by Michelle L. Zafron, August 2004
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