Set in 1764, Terri Karsten’s A Player’s Exit takes place in the colony of Pennsylvania. Penelope Corbitt is trying her best to raise two children after her husband died. Thankfully, she’s found a place to work and live in Miles Tucker’s tavern. But while she’s grateful for Miles and aware of his interest in her, she’s hesitant to marry again. Speaking of relationship headaches, Nabby, Penelope’s daughter, is involved with Ethan Gibbs, a well-meaning but unreliable young man. Neither family approves, but the lovers don’t seem to care. As if all this wasn’t enough to worry about, a theater troupe filled with shady characters arrives in town. Miles agrees to let them stay, though Penelope is concerned. Those concerns turn out to be well-founded when one of the actors dies shortly after. Miles, who is also the local constable, now needs to get to the bottom of it.

Terri Karsten uses carefully researched authentic dialogue and historical context to immerse you in the setting. There are also notes on the research and decisions that went into developing the story, so history buffs should find plenty to enjoy. As for the mystery, I had fun tackling the case and thinking of theories, but the characters stole the show for me. The troupe members are a colorful bunch with strong, varied personalities and seemingly endless secrets. Their inability to be forthcoming makes them frustrating but intriguing, and each of them has an interesting story to tell (or hide). Whether you’re a fan of mysteries or someone interested in colonial America, A Player’s Exit is an easy recommendation. Though it’s the second book in the series, you don’t need any prior knowledge.

Terri Karsten’s A Player’s Exit is set in 1764 Pennsylvania, where widowed Penelope Corbitt manages Tucker’s Crossing, a tavern owned by Miles Tucker, the local constable who hopes she will agree to marry him. Their routine changes when the Macklinsey Troupe of Comedians arrives looking for rooms before a scheduled performance, bringing traveling actors into a community where playacting is unfamiliar to many residents. The visit becomes Miles’s official concern when one member of the troupe is discovered dead in the stable. With the performers staying at the tavern as preparations for the show continue, Miles begins questioning people whose profession depends upon becoming someone else. Penelope watches the visitors from inside the busy establishment, where her familiarity with Tucker’s Crossing gives her a different view of the newcomers and the questions surrounding the death.

Terri Karsten does a beautiful job with the historical setting, bringing 1764 Pennsylvania to life through details. Mysteries can be tricky, especially with so many players, but here it is well done. The best element is the way the troupe’s conflicting accounts keep changing the picture, with pieces of truth tucked inside each story as the investigation works through who was where when the murder happened. Penelope is such a great lead, and the author develops her into a fully fleshed-out woman whose intelligence comes through in the way she watches the surrounding tavern. Miles is a close second, particularly when his duties as constable draw on everything he knows about Tucker’s Crossing and its people. Where the author shines brightest is in bringing readers into the story's world, from Will Harris tending the troupe’s mules in the pasture to the company assembling an eight-foot wooden platform with upright boards and a burlap curtain before the performance. Fantastically written and immersive, readers who enjoy historical mysteries will adore A Player’s Exit.