He has a great eye for detail and the ridiculous nature of much of daily life as we know it, and transports this loosely to the Discworld. His humour isn't for everyone: it's wry, ironic, and often requiring some knowledge of literary works. I don't usually laugh aloud with Pratchett, but I smiled several times while reading the book and even chuckled a couple of times. Oh, and an investigation of why the opera house, despite its success, seems to be losing money at a rapid rate. There's also the publication of Nanny's book of promiscuous recipes for which she hasn't received any royalties, and a great deal of general discussion about the opera - what is real, what is expected, what goes on behind the scenes. As ever, there are many intertwining sub-plots, the most encompassing of which is a kind of murder mystery at the opera house, loosely spoofing 'The Phantom of the Opera'. Of course that's only one small part of the book. She travels to Ankh Morpork to join the opera, and is followed shortly afterwards by Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg, who hope to persuade her to return. It's a novel that features the witches, primarily Agnes Nitt, a rather well-built girl from Lancre who wants to be a singer. This is the 18th 'Discworld' book by Terry Pratchett, and one I thoroughly enjoyed both on first reading about seven years ago, and more recently. It also has something to say about the nature of reality and how far people will go to please an audience. Summary: Laugh aloud funny, Maskerade is a worthy contribution to the Discworld.

Maskerade by terry pratchett