Julian Hall finds that Laura Solon's surprise Perrier Award triumph in 2005 was far from a fluke, as she makes her first return to Edinburgh since then.

Proclaimed ‘Queen of the Fringe’ in 2005, Laura Solon has returned to Edinburgh with a show that vindicates her Perrier crown and promises plenty for the future.

Having already shown us what she can do with seven individual characters, the 30-year-old comedian has conjured up twenty of them in a story about the race to complete the unfinished novel of an author who dies suddenly.

From a power-crazed Russian ex-oligarch (who now owns the publishing house where Solon’s central character works) to the ex-stalker of the dead author who works in a call centre, Solon’s writing and voice work is crisp and sharp and conjures up delightful lines such as: “Colleagues is a businessy way of saying ‘not friends’.”

A scathing literary agent is another great cipher for Solon’s quick wit in a show that rolls from one enjoyable mimic to another.

Perhaps the only bone to pick is that, while Solon’s vocal and writing talent are impeccable, she cannot seem to wholly physically embody her characters, though she is doing all of this without costume changes that would greatly aid that illusion.

Having racked up TV credits on numerous sketch shows big and small this niggle has hardly impeded her career. Meanwhile this show signals that her comedic talents can be further stretched.

Four stars