"Score" continues telling the story of the characters already established in "Riders", "Polo", "Rivals" and "The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous" but once again in a different setting. The minor character of Rannaldini takes centre stage here as an egotistical, tyrannical conductor, trying to produce a film of the opera Don Carlos with his godson Tristan. However, things turn sour when Rannaldini is murdered: whodunnit?
Cooper appears unfazed by the new task of a detective novel and manages to incorporate all the best ingredients of a whodunnit into "Score!". The final twist is masterful and I certainly did not see it coming. Her characters are as ever lovable and fun, and it is nice to see the return of such classic characters as Rupert Campbell Black and his now 19 year old daughter Tabitha.
This book is certainly worth reading. Cooper's books are unashamedly trashy, yet she still manages to have fun with the characters and story: and yes, there IS a story, something often unheard of in books of this ilk. "Score!" shows that there is quite an accomplished writer hidden under that reputation: read this book, and I'm sure you'll agree.