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A Staged Death
A cozy historical mystery set in the 18
th
century - perfect for Bridgerton fans!
1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.
Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.
If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?
1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.
Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.
If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?
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Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 2, 2026
It was down to the wire that the wrong person would be convicted. Once again, Tiffany is relentless to se Justice prevails. I plan to read the backlist to this series. The narration was just perfect, I especially loved Marni Penning’s performance of the children. Always made me smile. The author’s notes were fascinating. Highly recommend.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
This is a review of the audiobook.
I was blessed with an ARC. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
This is a review of the audiobook.
April 4, 2026
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop and her husband, Samir, embark on a journey to Bath with Mr. Thomas Montague. He has requested her assistance with his mother, Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood. He needs her to accept his engagement to the beautiful Miss Rosalyn Arden. Miss Roaslyn is a famous actress, and Catharine thinks he son needs to choose a better match.
As soon as they arrive in the city, Thomas brings them to the Theatre Royal so they can meet Rosalyn. Instead, they find Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy, wearing a red wig and looking very much like Thomas’s beloved dead on the floor. Tiffany finds evidence that the woman had been blackmailing her castmates. She also learns of the estranged relationship Rosalyn has with her family. With Tiffany’s history of solving murder mysteries, there is pressure for her to take on this new one.
Sleuthing at home is difficult. Here, it may be impossible. Can Tiffany flip the script and make sure the killer has performed for the last time? Or is the killer someone who has never set foot on the stage, acting on their murderous thoughts?
Tiffany and Catharine’s relationship is closer than ever—true friends, more like sisters. Tiffany has become more relaxed in Catharine’s social circles, and Samir fits right in as well. He is a “brilliant conversationalist and a keen listener”. In this story, his position as the constable of Mapledown gives him an in with the local constable, enabling him to get information about Miss Shakespeare’s death. Tiffany really doesn’t want to get involved, but soon she is visiting suspects and asking questions. Samir is often nearby or chasing down clues himself.
There are many social events in Bath where Tiffany and Samir accompany Catharine and Nicholas, the Marchioness and Marquess of Harwood. Sometimes, the young Duke of Beaufort, Beau, also attends. Tess, the Duchess of Surrey, is also in the city. I enjoy the strong, intelligent women the author has created for this series, and the strong, intelligent men they have in their lives. The relationships are modern for the time, and it shows when we meet Miss Rosalyn Arden’s family.
I was entertained by all the events attended and appreciated the author’s detailed descriptions that set each scene, and what the characters were wearing, including the makeup and hairstyles. The words paint vivid images of time and place.
Ms. Larsen has written a compelling mystery that crosses the theater world and members of the Upper Rooms. Rosalyn’s family appears to be at the center of all the happenings. Long-held secrets come to the surface as Tiffany diligently tries to pull the clues together. Just when she is ready to give up, an incredible observation blows open the whole case. I absolutely loved how the much-needed evidence was obtained and how the takedown played out.
Again, these wonderful characters allowed me to escape into their world and treated me to a powerful mystery. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. A Staged Death is responsible for my latest book hangover, keeping me up to the early morning hours. It was worth every minute. Ms. Larsen is a fabulous storyteller, and I eagerly await each new installment of this series. I am excited to say this is the 1st book to receive my Paradise rating this year, landing it on my Best Reads List for 2026.
Like A Poetic Pox, this book is being released as an audiobook first; other formats should be available in a few months. The Kindle format of A Poetic Pox is on sale right now for $1.99.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC.
Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop and her husband, Samir, embark on a journey to Bath with Mr. Thomas Montague. He has requested her assistance with his mother, Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood. He needs her to accept his engagement to the beautiful Miss Rosalyn Arden. Miss Roaslyn is a famous actress, and Catharine thinks he son needs to choose a better match.
As soon as they arrive in the city, Thomas brings them to the Theatre Royal so they can meet Rosalyn. Instead, they find Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy, wearing a red wig and looking very much like Thomas’s beloved dead on the floor. Tiffany finds evidence that the woman had been blackmailing her castmates. She also learns of the estranged relationship Rosalyn has with her family. With Tiffany’s history of solving murder mysteries, there is pressure for her to take on this new one.
Sleuthing at home is difficult. Here, it may be impossible. Can Tiffany flip the script and make sure the killer has performed for the last time? Or is the killer someone who has never set foot on the stage, acting on their murderous thoughts?
Tiffany and Catharine’s relationship is closer than ever—true friends, more like sisters. Tiffany has become more relaxed in Catharine’s social circles, and Samir fits right in as well. He is a “brilliant conversationalist and a keen listener”. In this story, his position as the constable of Mapledown gives him an in with the local constable, enabling him to get information about Miss Shakespeare’s death. Tiffany really doesn’t want to get involved, but soon she is visiting suspects and asking questions. Samir is often nearby or chasing down clues himself.
There are many social events in Bath where Tiffany and Samir accompany Catharine and Nicholas, the Marchioness and Marquess of Harwood. Sometimes, the young Duke of Beaufort, Beau, also attends. Tess, the Duchess of Surrey, is also in the city. I enjoy the strong, intelligent women the author has created for this series, and the strong, intelligent men they have in their lives. The relationships are modern for the time, and it shows when we meet Miss Rosalyn Arden’s family.
I was entertained by all the events attended and appreciated the author’s detailed descriptions that set each scene, and what the characters were wearing, including the makeup and hairstyles. The words paint vivid images of time and place.
Ms. Larsen has written a compelling mystery that crosses the theater world and members of the Upper Rooms. Rosalyn’s family appears to be at the center of all the happenings. Long-held secrets come to the surface as Tiffany diligently tries to pull the clues together. Just when she is ready to give up, an incredible observation blows open the whole case. I absolutely loved how the much-needed evidence was obtained and how the takedown played out.
Again, these wonderful characters allowed me to escape into their world and treated me to a powerful mystery. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. A Staged Death is responsible for my latest book hangover, keeping me up to the early morning hours. It was worth every minute. Ms. Larsen is a fabulous storyteller, and I eagerly await each new installment of this series. I am excited to say this is the 1st book to receive my Paradise rating this year, landing it on my Best Reads List for 2026.
Like A Poetic Pox, this book is being released as an audiobook first; other formats should be available in a few months. The Kindle format of A Poetic Pox is on sale right now for $1.99.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC.
April 16, 2026
If you love historical mysteries with a theatrical flair, A Staged Death by Samantha Larsen absolutely delivers—and on audio, it’s even better.
Set in 1787 Bath, this installment finds Tiffany Lathrop unexpectedly swept into the drama of the Theatre Royal. What starts as a hopeful attempt to help Thomas Montague win his mother’s approval of his engagement to the actress Rosalyn Arden quickly turns deadly. A body in a red wig. A blackmailing understudy. Suspicious actors. Estranged relatives, some with old grudges. Honestly? The mood is perfect.
This is my favorite of The Lady Librarian Mysteries so far. The theater setting adds such a wonderful layer of intrigue—everyone is already pretending for a living, so figuring out who’s acting innocent felt extra tricky. I loved the tangled web of motives and the steady unraveling of secrets. Tiffany continues to shine as a clever, observant heroine, and I always enjoy her dynamic with Samir.
Marni Penning returns as narrator (which I always appreciate in a series), and she is fantastic. Her performance is lively without being overdone, and she brings each character to life—especially the theatrical personalities. The distinct voices make it easy to follow the ensemble cast.
If all the world’s a stage, then this mystery makes sure every suspect gets their moment in the spotlight. Clever, atmospheric, and thoroughly entertaining—this one gets a standing ovation from me. This is part of a series and can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order since each book builds since each book builds on the characters and their ongoing journeys. I received a digital copy from the author as well as an audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
Content: There are a couple of minor gay characters; nothing happens between them on the page.
Set in 1787 Bath, this installment finds Tiffany Lathrop unexpectedly swept into the drama of the Theatre Royal. What starts as a hopeful attempt to help Thomas Montague win his mother’s approval of his engagement to the actress Rosalyn Arden quickly turns deadly. A body in a red wig. A blackmailing understudy. Suspicious actors. Estranged relatives, some with old grudges. Honestly? The mood is perfect.
This is my favorite of The Lady Librarian Mysteries so far. The theater setting adds such a wonderful layer of intrigue—everyone is already pretending for a living, so figuring out who’s acting innocent felt extra tricky. I loved the tangled web of motives and the steady unraveling of secrets. Tiffany continues to shine as a clever, observant heroine, and I always enjoy her dynamic with Samir.
Marni Penning returns as narrator (which I always appreciate in a series), and she is fantastic. Her performance is lively without being overdone, and she brings each character to life—especially the theatrical personalities. The distinct voices make it easy to follow the ensemble cast.
If all the world’s a stage, then this mystery makes sure every suspect gets their moment in the spotlight. Clever, atmospheric, and thoroughly entertaining—this one gets a standing ovation from me. This is part of a series and can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading them in order since each book builds since each book builds on the characters and their ongoing journeys. I received a digital copy from the author as well as an audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.
Content: There are a couple of minor gay characters; nothing happens between them on the page.
April 13, 2026
This series is everything a cozy murder mystery series should be - suspenseful, full of compelling characters, and very tame as far as violence goes.
While A Staged Murder could technically be read as a stand alone, I’ve loved returning to the core cast of characters with each book in this series. Tiffany and Samir are my favorites, unsurprisingly, but I also enjoyed getting to see Catherine grow into a marriage filled with love, and Beau being both an imperious Duke and a mischievous 9-year-old, and Thomas happily engaged.
The plot was excellent. It was very murky for a while who could have committed the murders, and there were so many possible culprits from such a diverse set of characters. There were so many layers to each new character (even the side characters!) and so many intertwined circumstances.
As is standard for Larsen, the book’s style is very approachable and pulls you right in to the story!
The narrator is very well matched to the book; the narration is clear and kept me very well immersed in the story!
Thank you to the author for the audiobook ARC; all opinions are my own.
While A Staged Murder could technically be read as a stand alone, I’ve loved returning to the core cast of characters with each book in this series. Tiffany and Samir are my favorites, unsurprisingly, but I also enjoyed getting to see Catherine grow into a marriage filled with love, and Beau being both an imperious Duke and a mischievous 9-year-old, and Thomas happily engaged.
The plot was excellent. It was very murky for a while who could have committed the murders, and there were so many possible culprits from such a diverse set of characters. There were so many layers to each new character (even the side characters!) and so many intertwined circumstances.
As is standard for Larsen, the book’s style is very approachable and pulls you right in to the story!
The narrator is very well matched to the book; the narration is clear and kept me very well immersed in the story!
Thank you to the author for the audiobook ARC; all opinions are my own.
April 16, 2026
Tiffany and her husband, Samir, are headed to Bath with their good friend, Thomas Montague. Thomas is engaged to a lovely actress, Rosalyn, but his mother, the Marchioness of Harwood, does not approve. He’s hoping Tiffany can help convince her it’s a fine match. But of course, Tiffany tends to find dead bodies – this time it’s Rosalyn’s understudy who is murdered. When an innocent man is arrested, Tiffany starts asking questions.
It’s the late 1780s, but Tiffany and her family and friends are modern their views of everything from homosexuality, prostitution, to marriage and the treatment of women. It makes it a more enjoyable story to read, but is perhaps not terribly realistic for the era. I’m not sure that Tiffany wouldn’t have been arrested for some of the things she did, even with her husband’s approval.
That being said, we have several nice twists and I do like Tiffany’s persistence and intelligence. We have several strong female characters who I liked spending time with.
It’s the late 1780s, but Tiffany and her family and friends are modern their views of everything from homosexuality, prostitution, to marriage and the treatment of women. It makes it a more enjoyable story to read, but is perhaps not terribly realistic for the era. I’m not sure that Tiffany wouldn’t have been arrested for some of the things she did, even with her husband’s approval.
That being said, we have several nice twists and I do like Tiffany’s persistence and intelligence. We have several strong female characters who I liked spending time with.
April 8, 2026
Our lady librarian is back and has a new adventure on her hands! She's been invited by Lady Catharine's son, Thomas, to come to Bath and help his mother meet his fiancee and help smooth over the fact that she's a famous actress. Tiffany agrees and finds herself with her husband Samir, at the Theatre Royal with another murder! It all seems a little suspicious and she finds herself stepping in to investigate and discover who the real murderer is. Especially when a second murder occurs and makes Thomas's fiancee, Miss Rosalyn Arden, out to be the murder.
Donning another disguise, Tiffany and Samir set out to question everyone, turn over all stones (metaphorically speaking), root out all bad guys and lies!
I was hooked and loved diving back into following the clues and seeing if I could spot them before Tiffany revealed all. Very engaging plot for me. The narrator was delightful! I loved how she voiced a range of different aged characters! From children to older adults. There were definitely several characters that I didn't care of. No thank you! Hahaha! But there were also many favorites from previous books that made appearances and had me cheering for them!
This is part of a series and I would recommend you reading them in order. They can be read as standalones, as the author does a good job at explaining stuff in a way to help the reader not feel lost. But they build on each other that I feel like you would want to have that prior information.
Content: Some mild swear words, this is set around a theatre and actors during that time so it has some interesting minor characters. There are some minor LGBTQ+ characters, some mention of promiscuity, mention of assault, blood and murder. There are some kisses, a few more intense between a married couple, and some alluding to marital relations/fade to black scenes.
I received a digital copy from the author as well as an audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading/Listening!!!
Donning another disguise, Tiffany and Samir set out to question everyone, turn over all stones (metaphorically speaking), root out all bad guys and lies!
I was hooked and loved diving back into following the clues and seeing if I could spot them before Tiffany revealed all. Very engaging plot for me. The narrator was delightful! I loved how she voiced a range of different aged characters! From children to older adults. There were definitely several characters that I didn't care of. No thank you! Hahaha! But there were also many favorites from previous books that made appearances and had me cheering for them!
This is part of a series and I would recommend you reading them in order. They can be read as standalones, as the author does a good job at explaining stuff in a way to help the reader not feel lost. But they build on each other that I feel like you would want to have that prior information.
Content: Some mild swear words, this is set around a theatre and actors during that time so it has some interesting minor characters. There are some minor LGBTQ+ characters, some mention of promiscuity, mention of assault, blood and murder. There are some kisses, a few more intense between a married couple, and some alluding to marital relations/fade to black scenes.
I received a digital copy from the author as well as an audiobook copy from Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading/Listening!!!
April 2, 2026
I almost did not finish this one, but felt an obligation to since I received an early copy to listen to from Netgalley. It is not required to finish it, but I decided to push through. Samantha Larsen is a pen name for Samantha Hastings. I have read Regency books by her through the Hastings name, but this was the first book of hers I have read with the name Larsen. When I saw that the series was Lady Librarian Mysteries, I thought it sounded right up my alley. To be fair, this was the last book in the series, so some things didn't make as much sense to me, although the author did do a pretty good job with explaining events from previous books. One disappointment was that, while the main character, Tiffany, is a librarian, you wouldn't have known it from this story. She is not home for a majority of the book, so her being a librarian didn't have much to do with anything. I was a bit surprised by how forward thinking Tiffany is for living in the Georgian era (late 1700's). We were constantly hit with topics like homosexuality, prostitution, different races marrying each other, women being treated differently, and children born out of wedlock. In this time period these things were looked at very differently, but Tiffany seems to look at it all like a modern day woman would. It's possible, I guess, but didn't seem likely. The inquest at the end of the book was also extremely unlikely. I'm not sure who Tiffany thinks she is, but charging into an inquest the way she did seemed like something that would easily get her thrown into prison. The term "lifting her skirts" was used several times, a term I would think was pretty risque and would have been whispered about instead of thrown around. Even some sexual talk was used that surprised me. In the other books I have read of Samantha's, there is a cleanness to them that I assumed would be in these books, so that was a disappointment to me. I didn't really need to hear about Samantha shoving her tongue into her husband's mouth and him stripping her clothes off. It did nothing to add to the story. I also gathered that a lot of the events in the previous books in the series had some silly plots, in my opinion. I will not be reading any more of her mystery books.
April 4, 2026
A Staged Death by Samantha Larsen is the fourth book in the Lady Librarian Mystery series, but the first that I've read. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop and her husband Samir, have been invited to Bath to his parents' home. He has recently become engaged to an actress, Miss Rosalyn Arden, and he wants Tiffany to help his mother Catherine, the Marchioness of Harwood, agree to his betrothal. Catherine and Tiffany are good friends and she is actually looking forward to the visit. On the way, they stop at the Theatre royal and discover what they think is Rosalyn dead. They quickly realize that it is her understudy, Julia Shakespeare, wearing a red wig. Rosalyn is shocked to find the body. Who would want to kill Julia? Was Julia or Rosalyn the intended target. Thomas asks Tiffany to help him find the killer as there is now a pall over the theatre. Meanwhile, Catherine and Tiffany go to visit Rosalyn's estranged family. She invites them to a dinner and dance at their home. While they are there, Rosalyn's brother-in-law is murdered and she is found with the body and covered in blood. She is arrested and now it is even more imperative to find the real killer.
I enjoyed this historical cozy mystery. There is a plot line about interracial marriages and racism, which is always an issue with some people. Rosalyn is described as a beautiful young woman with red curls and eyes of mismatched colours. I could picture this young woman. As she is introduced in the story, we learn about her past and why she is estranged from her family. The meeting doesn't go as well as she had hoped, but she made the most of it. As the investigation moves forward, there seem to be many people that were not happy with Julia, as she was blackmailing many people. Does that mean there were two killers? This is a well plotted and interesting murder mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and playing armchair detective. I was not able to solve the crime, but fortunately Tiffany works it out. This was a great book to listen to. The narration by Marni Penning was well done. Her voice and tone pulled me into the story and added to my enjoyment. If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, then I recommend you pick up A Stage Murder. I know I will be watching for other books in this series.
I enjoyed this historical cozy mystery. There is a plot line about interracial marriages and racism, which is always an issue with some people. Rosalyn is described as a beautiful young woman with red curls and eyes of mismatched colours. I could picture this young woman. As she is introduced in the story, we learn about her past and why she is estranged from her family. The meeting doesn't go as well as she had hoped, but she made the most of it. As the investigation moves forward, there seem to be many people that were not happy with Julia, as she was blackmailing many people. Does that mean there were two killers? This is a well plotted and interesting murder mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and playing armchair detective. I was not able to solve the crime, but fortunately Tiffany works it out. This was a great book to listen to. The narration by Marni Penning was well done. Her voice and tone pulled me into the story and added to my enjoyment. If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, then I recommend you pick up A Stage Murder. I know I will be watching for other books in this series.
April 21, 2026
The Lady Librarian Mystery series has been such a fun and unique find for me. I just finished the fourth book, A Staged Death, and it was another great installment. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator, Mani Penning, does a fabulous job, and it’s a perfect series to listen to.
This one is a historical cozy mystery set in the 1700s. The story follows Tiffany and her husband, Samir, as they head to Bath with their friend Thomas Montague. Poor Thomas has the worst luck with fiancés, and I was really rooting for his happily ever after this time! He’s engaged to a beautiful actress named Rosalyn, but since his mother (the Marchioness) doesn’t approve, he’s hoping Tiffany can help smooth things over.
Of course, Tiffany has a knack for finding dead bodies. This time, it’s Rosalyn’s understudy who ends up murdered. The plot gets pretty thick with two dead bodies and two innocent people accused of the crimes. I honestly wasn't sure if Tiffany would be able to exonerate them in time! It’s a well-plotted mystery that kept me guessing with plenty of secrets and blackmail. I tried playing armchair detective, but I couldn’t solve it myself. Luckily, Tiffany is on the case, and she knows what she's doing.
What I love most are the characters. The author has created such strong, intelligent women and men, and their relationships feel very modern for the time period. I also really enjoyed Lady Catherine and her young son, Beau; they added some much-needed humor to the story. The book also touches on heavier themes like racism and interracial marriage, which adds a lot of depth.
The setting is honestly gorgeous, too. The author's descriptions of Bath, from the social events to the makeup and hairstyles, make it so easy to visualize the world. I could perfectly imagine Rosalyn with her red curls and mismatched eyes.
If you like a fast-paced mystery full of family secrets and great historical detail, I definitely recommend this one. It’ll keep you on your toes!
I received an audiobook copy from
Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
This one is a historical cozy mystery set in the 1700s. The story follows Tiffany and her husband, Samir, as they head to Bath with their friend Thomas Montague. Poor Thomas has the worst luck with fiancés, and I was really rooting for his happily ever after this time! He’s engaged to a beautiful actress named Rosalyn, but since his mother (the Marchioness) doesn’t approve, he’s hoping Tiffany can help smooth things over.
Of course, Tiffany has a knack for finding dead bodies. This time, it’s Rosalyn’s understudy who ends up murdered. The plot gets pretty thick with two dead bodies and two innocent people accused of the crimes. I honestly wasn't sure if Tiffany would be able to exonerate them in time! It’s a well-plotted mystery that kept me guessing with plenty of secrets and blackmail. I tried playing armchair detective, but I couldn’t solve it myself. Luckily, Tiffany is on the case, and she knows what she's doing.
What I love most are the characters. The author has created such strong, intelligent women and men, and their relationships feel very modern for the time period. I also really enjoyed Lady Catherine and her young son, Beau; they added some much-needed humor to the story. The book also touches on heavier themes like racism and interracial marriage, which adds a lot of depth.
The setting is honestly gorgeous, too. The author's descriptions of Bath, from the social events to the makeup and hairstyles, make it so easy to visualize the world. I could perfectly imagine Rosalyn with her red curls and mismatched eyes.
If you like a fast-paced mystery full of family secrets and great historical detail, I definitely recommend this one. It’ll keep you on your toes!
I received an audiobook copy from
Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.
April 4, 2026
Librarian Tiffany Lathrop is at it again! She can’t seem to go anywhere without stumbling across dead bodies & a mystery to solve. This time she’s off to Bath with her husband Samir, to help reconcile Lady Catherine to her son’s engagement to a beautiful actress, & hoping it’ll pull her out of her doldrums. Of course, the worst happens when Rosalyn’s understudy is found dead. With plenty of twists & turns, this Georgian mystery kept me on my toes!
Tiffany & Samir make quite a duo, & I was thrilled to read another cozy mystery featuring these brilliant sleuths. Tiffany’s forward-thinking ideas occasionally pulled me out of the time period, but I loved her humor & intelligence. Samir is every bit her equal, & their swoony romance continues to make them such a delightful, unique couple, though they can never seem to get a moment alone!
The mystery involves two innocently accused persons & two dead bodies. With plenty of suspects & clues piling up, Tiffany has a particularly difficult time with this case. I wasn’t sure she’d be able to solve the mystery & exonerate the accused in time. I enjoyed Lady Catherine & her young son Beau, the Duke of Beaufort who added some much-needed humor & lightness. My heart went out to Mr. Thomas Montague, who has terrible luck with fiancés, & I was rooting for his happily ever after.
This latest whodunit leans a bit more on the scandalous side than previous installments, after all, it involves the theatre. But, I enjoyed how it all played out, & the unique historical details woven in.
I listened to the audiobook & really enjoyed the narrator. She brought the characters to life beautifully & her voice was easy to listen to.
Recommend to closed-door historical mystery fans. This could be read as a standalone, but suggest reading the books in order to avoid spoilers & fully appreciate the characters. I received an advanced listener copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.
Includes: LGBTQ+ minor characters, mentions of assault, blood & murder, a few mild swears, alluded-to marital relations, mentions of promiscuity.
Tiffany & Samir make quite a duo, & I was thrilled to read another cozy mystery featuring these brilliant sleuths. Tiffany’s forward-thinking ideas occasionally pulled me out of the time period, but I loved her humor & intelligence. Samir is every bit her equal, & their swoony romance continues to make them such a delightful, unique couple, though they can never seem to get a moment alone!
The mystery involves two innocently accused persons & two dead bodies. With plenty of suspects & clues piling up, Tiffany has a particularly difficult time with this case. I wasn’t sure she’d be able to solve the mystery & exonerate the accused in time. I enjoyed Lady Catherine & her young son Beau, the Duke of Beaufort who added some much-needed humor & lightness. My heart went out to Mr. Thomas Montague, who has terrible luck with fiancés, & I was rooting for his happily ever after.
This latest whodunit leans a bit more on the scandalous side than previous installments, after all, it involves the theatre. But, I enjoyed how it all played out, & the unique historical details woven in.
I listened to the audiobook & really enjoyed the narrator. She brought the characters to life beautifully & her voice was easy to listen to.
Recommend to closed-door historical mystery fans. This could be read as a standalone, but suggest reading the books in order to avoid spoilers & fully appreciate the characters. I received an advanced listener copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & voluntarily provided.
Includes: LGBTQ+ minor characters, mentions of assault, blood & murder, a few mild swears, alluded-to marital relations, mentions of promiscuity.
April 25, 2026
In the fourth installment of the Lady Librarian Mysteries, Tiffany and her husband Samir have been invited to Bath, England by their friend Thomas in order to meet his fiancée, the actress Rosalyn Arden. When they reach Rosalyn's dressing room, they think they have discovered her dead body, but it turns out to be Rosalyn's understudy, Julia Shakespeare. Julia had been wearing a wig to more closely resemble Rosalyn, and Tiffany and Samir must investigate to determine whether the murderer meant to kill Julia or Rosalyn. When Rosalyn is arrested for another murder at a fancy ball a week later, the stakes get even higher as Tiffany and Samir race against time before Rosalyn is hanged in just a few days.
I love how Tiffany is able to do more than most women of this era, with the full blessing and help of her husband. The themes of racism and sexual identity woven into the mystery give the story real depth and make it feel layered in a way that a straightforward whodunit might not. These aren't afterthoughts; they're part of what makes the characters and their world feel lived-in.
I somehow missed the third book in the series, A Poetic Pox, and I will be listening to it as soon as possible. I think the story works fine as a standalone, but I enjoy knowing the full history of a series.
Marni Penning does a great job narrating this Georgian era mystery. She brings all the different posh and common accents to life, and her pacing keeps the suspense moving without ever losing the charm of the period setting.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love how Tiffany is able to do more than most women of this era, with the full blessing and help of her husband. The themes of racism and sexual identity woven into the mystery give the story real depth and make it feel layered in a way that a straightforward whodunit might not. These aren't afterthoughts; they're part of what makes the characters and their world feel lived-in.
I somehow missed the third book in the series, A Poetic Pox, and I will be listening to it as soon as possible. I think the story works fine as a standalone, but I enjoy knowing the full history of a series.
Marni Penning does a great job narrating this Georgian era mystery. She brings all the different posh and common accents to life, and her pacing keeps the suspense moving without ever losing the charm of the period setting.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, Thomas really knows how to pick em! Once again Tiffany and her dreamy hubby Samir are called into action to solve a murder involving Thomas's love interest. This time it's an actress named Rosalind who needs Tiffany's help after her understudy is found dead and she attempts to reconcile with her family. Dude likes a complicated woman!
This is the fourth book in the cozy historical "Lady Librarian Mysteries" and I've enjoyed every one! The endearing characters have fantastically created a found family outside of class, race, and convention that is based on kindness, respect, loyalty, love and of course crime solving - and I'm here for it til the end.
As the bodies keep stacking up and the complicated motivations of Rosalind's family get unraveled, Tiffany and Co. get dragged deeper and deeper into danger. As usual, Kathryn and Duke-let Beau, are great comic relief and throw in their status to help. The romance is on the scant side- why must Tiffany and Samir always be interrupted JUST when things start to get steamy?! They are couple goals!
The audiobook narration is superb. All the voices are done expertly and easy to follow at 2x speed for me. Listen closely when we meet ALL of Rosalind's sisters and husbands cause keeping them all straight can get confusing. Thanks to the team at Dreamscape Media for the early listen!
This is the fourth book in the cozy historical "Lady Librarian Mysteries" and I've enjoyed every one! The endearing characters have fantastically created a found family outside of class, race, and convention that is based on kindness, respect, loyalty, love and of course crime solving - and I'm here for it til the end.
As the bodies keep stacking up and the complicated motivations of Rosalind's family get unraveled, Tiffany and Co. get dragged deeper and deeper into danger. As usual, Kathryn and Duke-let Beau, are great comic relief and throw in their status to help. The romance is on the scant side- why must Tiffany and Samir always be interrupted JUST when things start to get steamy?! They are couple goals!
The audiobook narration is superb. All the voices are done expertly and easy to follow at 2x speed for me. Listen closely when we meet ALL of Rosalind's sisters and husbands cause keeping them all straight can get confusing. Thanks to the team at Dreamscape Media for the early listen!
April 2, 2026
I absolute love this series by Larsen. It is one of my favorite historical cozies. The characters are well done and funny and I appreciate the added touches of the author’s with her knowledge of the time and research.
Tiffany and Samir are such a lovely couple. I was thrilled to see many other favorite characters, Thomas, Catharine, Beau in this story. Thomas invites Tiffany and Samir to meet his fiancé, Rosalyn, an actress that Lady Catharine isn’t thrilled with. Once Tiffany and Samir arrive in Bath, Rosalyn’s understudy was murdered. It’s up to Tiffany to help.
More and more twists and turns are introduced, as a race to solve the murder (or murders) and entangle the lies from Rosalyn’s estranged family. The mystery had me guessing and I definitely had my suspicions. The outcome was surprising and I loved the justice for those who weren’t guilty.
Although this is a series, the author does a great job of introducing the characters and mentioning the previous murders, but not giving them away.
I adore the audio narrator. Marni Penning is amazing. Her expression and tone carry Larsen’s words so well. I love how she portrays these characters. Especially Catharine.
I received an ebook ARC and audio code from NetGalley from the author. All views are my own.
Tiffany and Samir are such a lovely couple. I was thrilled to see many other favorite characters, Thomas, Catharine, Beau in this story. Thomas invites Tiffany and Samir to meet his fiancé, Rosalyn, an actress that Lady Catharine isn’t thrilled with. Once Tiffany and Samir arrive in Bath, Rosalyn’s understudy was murdered. It’s up to Tiffany to help.
More and more twists and turns are introduced, as a race to solve the murder (or murders) and entangle the lies from Rosalyn’s estranged family. The mystery had me guessing and I definitely had my suspicions. The outcome was surprising and I loved the justice for those who weren’t guilty.
Although this is a series, the author does a great job of introducing the characters and mentioning the previous murders, but not giving them away.
I adore the audio narrator. Marni Penning is amazing. Her expression and tone carry Larsen’s words so well. I love how she portrays these characters. Especially Catharine.
I received an ebook ARC and audio code from NetGalley from the author. All views are my own.
April 2, 2026
Took me a good minute to get into this book, but the storyline picked up as it went.
1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.
Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.
If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?
1787, Bath. Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop has catalogued the entire library at Astwell Palace and is feeling rather dull when Mr. Thomas Montague invites her and her husband Samir to visit Bath. Thomas begs Tiffany to help reconcile his mother Catharine, the Marchioness of Harwood, on his engagement to the famous actress Miss Rosalyn Arden—a beautiful young woman with bright red curls and eyes of mismatched color.
Eager to see his beloved, Thomas stops at the Theatre Royal with Tiffany and they discover a dead body wearing a red wig in Rosalyn’s dressing room. The body is that of Miss Julia Shakespeare, Rosalyn’s understudy and the person who has been blackmailing members of the acting company. Not only are the actors behaving suspiciously, but so are Rosalyn’s newly reconciled relatives that cast her off nine years before when she jilted Sir Frederick Bingham, who then married her younger sister.
If all the world is a stage, then someone acting innocent must be the murderer. Can Tiffany solve the mystery before the final curtain?
April 24, 2026
I’ve so enjoyed the Lady Librarian Mystery series by Samantha Larsen! They are such a unique and mysterious read, and A Staged Death definitely kept that fun, cozy mystery vibe going! Tiffany Woodall, our favorite slightly chaotic, book loving sleuth is back, and somehow just cannot stay away from murder and drama (even when she really tries). Like the earlier books, it’s set in historical England with all the gossip, secrets, and layered relationships, and the mystery itself has plenty of twists to keep you guessing!
I will say, I had a really good time listening! It's one of those easy, entertaining reads with a strong female lead and just enough romance and humor mixed in, and the narrator does such a fabulous job! The story will absolutely keep you hooked and guessing! Overall, if you like cozy historical mysteries with a clever, determined main character, this one is still such a fun pick! And if you haven't read the first of Tiffany's mysteries I recommend starting with book one, A Novel Disguise!
Thank you so much to the author and Dreamscape Media for the copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I will say, I had a really good time listening! It's one of those easy, entertaining reads with a strong female lead and just enough romance and humor mixed in, and the narrator does such a fabulous job! The story will absolutely keep you hooked and guessing! Overall, if you like cozy historical mysteries with a clever, determined main character, this one is still such a fun pick! And if you haven't read the first of Tiffany's mysteries I recommend starting with book one, A Novel Disguise!
Thank you so much to the author and Dreamscape Media for the copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I wish the NetGalley page had contained some info that this is an installment in an ongoing series. It certainly explains the massive, name-heavy introduction to A STAGED DEATH, which left me feeling like I should be taking notes.
What ultimately led to me DNF‘ing this title, however, was the writing style. It was too on the nose, stilted, overly explanatory.
„She must be an important member of the acting company. She was the star, after all.“ Closely followed by: „There are several wigs […]. Miss Arden must play many roles.“
I mean, wow. THE DEDUCTION.
The narration was good, though a little theatrical sometimes, and other times as stilted as the writing during dialogue.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. And with so many incredible audiobooks available, I’d rather spend my time listening to one I enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
What ultimately led to me DNF‘ing this title, however, was the writing style. It was too on the nose, stilted, overly explanatory.
„She must be an important member of the acting company. She was the star, after all.“ Closely followed by: „There are several wigs […]. Miss Arden must play many roles.“
I mean, wow. THE DEDUCTION.
The narration was good, though a little theatrical sometimes, and other times as stilted as the writing during dialogue.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. And with so many incredible audiobooks available, I’d rather spend my time listening to one I enjoy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 4, 2026
A Staged Death was another cute, cozy mystery in the Lady Librarian Mysteries series. I've listened to each book in this series and enjoyed the narrator. Marni Penning was really easy to listen to and follow along. I liked the way she narrated this tale and feel like the audiobook is definitely the way to read this.
Tiffany is on a holiday to Bath with her good friend Thomas when they discover a murder and Thomas's fiance as the key suspect. I liked that the true killer wasn't easy to guess at and that there were a lot of layers to the mystery. I only knocked it a star, though, because the ending didn't quite feel like that is how things had been leading or set up and so it made me wonder if I just missed something which could easily be a me thing. The pacing was really good though and I'd read more in this series. I also appreciate and enjoyed that this is a clean novel.
I received an advance listening copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tiffany is on a holiday to Bath with her good friend Thomas when they discover a murder and Thomas's fiance as the key suspect. I liked that the true killer wasn't easy to guess at and that there were a lot of layers to the mystery. I only knocked it a star, though, because the ending didn't quite feel like that is how things had been leading or set up and so it made me wonder if I just missed something which could easily be a me thing. The pacing was really good though and I'd read more in this series. I also appreciate and enjoyed that this is a clean novel.
I received an advance listening copy from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Many thanks to the author for the gifted review and audio copies.
I really enjoyed this Georgian era cozy mystery, featuring Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop, who is a riot and I loved watching her work her magic in Bath. A Staged Death embraces the theater life of the times and the mystery and deaths are wrapped around the stage.
The narrator is wonderful, breathing life into the characters and plot. Samantha Larsen does a great job of allowing Tiffany’s personality to shine, as well as incorporating lesser known historical facts into her stories. I love Tiffany and her ahead-of-the-times nature, as well as the swirling mystery that I had a blast sleuthing.
I’m eager for more of the Lady Librarian series.
Content: death; talk of affairs, mild+ romance; talk of queerness
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I really enjoyed this Georgian era cozy mystery, featuring Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop, who is a riot and I loved watching her work her magic in Bath. A Staged Death embraces the theater life of the times and the mystery and deaths are wrapped around the stage.
The narrator is wonderful, breathing life into the characters and plot. Samantha Larsen does a great job of allowing Tiffany’s personality to shine, as well as incorporating lesser known historical facts into her stories. I love Tiffany and her ahead-of-the-times nature, as well as the swirling mystery that I had a blast sleuthing.
I’m eager for more of the Lady Librarian series.
Content: death; talk of affairs, mild+ romance; talk of queerness
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
An intriguing Georgian Era cozy mystery. If you have read any of the other books in the series, you know Tiffany Lathrop is quite the detective. This story takes her to Bath to help her friend Thomas convince his mother Catherine to accept his choice of fiancé. But a simple conversation and a relaxing trip with her husband Samir, quickly turns into a murder investigation. This story will keep you on your toes and envelop you with all of the twist and turns. The characters involved in this developing story will surprise and stun you with their secrecy and complex lives. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 9, 2026
I received the audiobook on NetGalley as an ALC.
*****
Super cute! Cozy little murder mystery.
I didn’t realize this was the fourth in a series but it wasn’t strictly necessary to read the other books before this. What you needed to know from the previous books was explained when relevant.
My only nitpick: maybe I’m tone deaf, or I’ve just been listening to a lot of stronger accents lately, but I felt as though the audiobook narrator used a pretty generic accent… so sometimes I would forget this was set in England until someone mentioned Bath again, lol. But otherwise I liked her performance.
*****
Super cute! Cozy little murder mystery.
I didn’t realize this was the fourth in a series but it wasn’t strictly necessary to read the other books before this. What you needed to know from the previous books was explained when relevant.
My only nitpick: maybe I’m tone deaf, or I’ve just been listening to a lot of stronger accents lately, but I felt as though the audiobook narrator used a pretty generic accent… so sometimes I would forget this was set in England until someone mentioned Bath again, lol. But otherwise I liked her performance.
April 17, 2026
This is a murder mystery set in the 1700s.
I love a good, lighthearted whodunnit…I love Bridgerton…and I love the theatre, so all in all, this was a perfect match for me.
I didn’t realise at first that it was part of a series. It definitely didn’t affect my enjoyment and understanding of the characters or the story.
I liked learning about Tiffany and her relationship with her perfect husband…so now I need to check out previous books in the series to see how their love story began.
Thank you NetGalley.
I love a good, lighthearted whodunnit…I love Bridgerton…and I love the theatre, so all in all, this was a perfect match for me.
I didn’t realise at first that it was part of a series. It definitely didn’t affect my enjoyment and understanding of the characters or the story.
I liked learning about Tiffany and her relationship with her perfect husband…so now I need to check out previous books in the series to see how their love story began.
Thank you NetGalley.
April 5, 2026
Another excellent book in the series that was well paced and intriguing. I like Tiffany and all the characters in this series, they are pragmatic, smart and supportive. I was happy to see Thomas getting his girl, he is such a nice man. The narration was excellent. I loved Beau's voice, imperious 6 year old done to perfection.
Overall I really liked this book and will continue to follow the series.
#netgalley #AStagedDeath
Overall I really liked this book and will continue to follow the series.
#netgalley #AStagedDeath
March 31, 2026
I love this series! All of the characters’ evolution throughout the series has been such a joy to behold. I had an inkling of who the murderer was by about 2/3 of the way through the book, but the how of it all eluded me. The ending tied up everything very nicely, but I would love for there to be more stories in the future!
April 1, 2026
I received a complentary ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This was a surprisingly fun murder mystery, full of family secrets and betrayal.
Even though this is a series book, it was written in a way that I was able to understand past books without ever having read them.
No language or spice
This was a surprisingly fun murder mystery, full of family secrets and betrayal.
Even though this is a series book, it was written in a way that I was able to understand past books without ever having read them.
No language or spice
April 10, 2026
I received a copy of this title from the publisher; however, all opinions in this review are my own. A Staged Death finds our lady librarian, Tiffany, traveling to Bath to meet the fiancé of her dear friend Thomas who hopes she can help convince his mother to accept Rosalyn despite her current profession as an actress. When they stop at the theater, a young woman is found in Rosalyn's dressing room. When another body turns up at a local assembly, Rosalyn is the only suspect and faces a terrible fate unless Tiffany can find the real killer and clear her name. There is no shortage of suspects including Rosalyn's formerly estranged family and victims of the original murder victim's blackmail.
I enjoyed the mystery which was fun and moved at a good pace while keeping the reader guessing. I really liked the historical details the author provided about Bath during this time period; for example, the fact that Tiffany was excited to see a sketch of her and her friends in a local paper because she didn't have paintings or other drawings of them. The narration definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story and I hope other titles will be coming in this series.
I enjoyed the mystery which was fun and moved at a good pace while keeping the reader guessing. I really liked the historical details the author provided about Bath during this time period; for example, the fact that Tiffany was excited to see a sketch of her and her friends in a local paper because she didn't have paintings or other drawings of them. The narration definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the story and I hope other titles will be coming in this series.
April 3, 2026
Book 4 in the Lady Librarian Mysteries series.
Tiffany found another dead body. And innocent woman is accused- can she find the real killer before it is too late?
These last two books just have not drawn me in like the first two. This one also had far too many new characters to keep track of. It may be time for me to leave this series behind.
Tiffany found another dead body. And innocent woman is accused- can she find the real killer before it is too late?
These last two books just have not drawn me in like the first two. This one also had far too many new characters to keep track of. It may be time for me to leave this series behind.
April 6, 2026
very nicely written and developed.... leaves you guessing until the very end.
A different take in living in the 1800s in England and the role of women - so I had a strange time wrapping my head around, mixed races accepted in the aristocracy, and marrying actresses etc, but the book still delivered a very enjoyable read.
Will keep you guessing until the end.
A different take in living in the 1800s in England and the role of women - so I had a strange time wrapping my head around, mixed races accepted in the aristocracy, and marrying actresses etc, but the book still delivered a very enjoyable read.
Will keep you guessing until the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this newest installment of the Lady Librarian Mysteries! A fun regency cozy mystery! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing this story to life!
I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
I received an audio ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.
April 11, 2026
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book more, but it was just boring. By the time I figured out who the murderer was there was still more than 3 hours left in the book, and while the characters are all likeable, no one is necessarily noteworthy.
April 15, 2026
This was a fun read! I liked that they immediately stayed with the murder instead of this long back story to set the stage. Then you got to meet the characters as the clues were found and the story unfolded. Clean, fun, easy read
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