The author’s musical theatre and showbiz background really brings the book to life, and whilst this story is set in a completely different era to what the author is used to, he uses all his knowledge to make the characters and The Empire shine!

The Empire – Michael Ball Fan Club

I so hope that the characters will rise like a Phoenix, along with The Empire theatre, from the ashes. Michael has managed to bring the theatre to me in this story I felt like I was there for every part of it, I had been going through a bit of a slump but this I couldn’t put down. To be swept away to another world by such a brilliant and instinctive storyteller as Michael is the escape I think we’re all craving.The Lassiter family don’t seem to take much interest and a rival owner of several theatres and music halls, Joe Allerdyce, is using underhand tactics to try and acquire the Empire. The initial list of characters is slightly daunting to the reader but once we are introduced to Jack, things gradually slot into place. The fact that this is historical fiction really appeals to me – I love that inter-war period, as the gloom of WW1 moves aside and the effects of the Depression have not yet been felt, and Michael Ball beautifully evokes the glitz and glamour of this period.

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Once I got my head round all the characters and worked out what was happening, I really enjoyed this.A delightful story revolving around a theatre, it’s owners, employees (all characters), some villains and sundry others.