Could it be a mid-life crisis brewing or the looming possibility of a divorce that has Jane Wheeler scurrying off to her hometown of Kankakee, Illinois? Or maybe it is the pleas of her best friend, Tim Lowry, and the chance to pick through the furnishings of a renowned local home that has Jane leaving town. But one thing is a sure bet -- wherever Jane Wheel goes, murder and mystery is sure to follow.

In mystery author Sharon Fiffer's seventh novel featuring the intrepid private investigator/treasure picker Jane Wheeler, BACKSTAGE STUFF is filled with excitement, intrigue and humor -- all trademarks of this entertaining cozy mystery series.

As Jane and Tim begin to pick through the enormous amount of furnishings and bric-a-brac in the old Kendall mansion for the upcoming estate sale when Tim stumbles upon an old play, written by a Kendall ancestor. Tim becomes determined to make his mark on the Kankakee theater world with a top- notch production featuring the old script and enlists Jane's help to find props for the production. But a spooky ventriloquist's dummy named Mr. Bumbles springs forth with ever-increasing threats to not continue with the play. When a local carpenter working on the set meets with a suspicious death, Jane feels her old private eye instincts kick in and soon begins to delve into the mystery.

With a little help from her family and friends, and her mentor Detective Bruce Oh, Jane picks through the clues (as well as the odds and ends that she finds so fascinating) and is close to identifying the killer, but one miscue or late curtain call could be the last of Jane Wheeler if she isn't very careful!

Sharon Fiffer's Jane Wheeler Mystery series is a delight, and BACKSTAGE STUFF is no exception. With the popularity of the American Pickers, Pawn Stars, and Storage Wars reality television series, it was a sweet surprise to find that the character of Jane was a picker herself. And while Jane and Tim are the center characters of the tale, Jane's mother Nellie very nearly steals the show with her dramatic and over-the-top antics that readers are sure to find endearing as well as hilarious!

Don't worry if you haven't read the previous books in this series as this lively and humorous story stands on its own merits to be enjoyed. But once you've have devoured this edition, I feel sure that you'll be anxious to acquire the rest of the books featuring the feisty and plucky Jane.