<p>Small town controversies can be murder.</p><p>When a newcomer to Erin, Ohio, proposes to tear down the historic Bijou Theater and erect in its place a boutique hotel, Sebastian McCabe adds &ldquo;civic activist&rdquo; to a long resume that already includes magician, mystery writer, professor, and amateur sleuth.</p><p>With the strategic help of brother-in-law Jeff Cody, Mac launches a far-reaching campaign to &ldquo;Save the Bijou.&rdquo; The issue becomes highly political when three eccentric mayoral candidates stake out their positions &ndash; &nbsp;which one of them switches after a hefty campaign contribution.</p><p>&ldquo;The plot machinations of grand opera seem positively guileless by comparison!&rdquo; Mac cries. Can homicide be far behind?</p><p>The opera comparison is a natural one, for the new Erin Opera Company is staging an original work with a Mardi Gras theme. As murder strikes again, this time back stage, Sebastian McCabe becomes aware that many of the actors in this real-life drama are wearing metaphorical masks as well. &nbsp;</p><p>Lynda Teal, Jeff&rsquo;s wife, records much of Mac&rsquo;s sleuthing for a podcast series, never imagining that the most dramatic audio of the concluding episode will come from the murderer.</p>