A Staged Death: A Lady Librarian Mystery (Lady Librarian Mysteries)
By Samantha Hastings, Samantha Larsen
A cozy historical mystery set in the 18th 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?
Praise for A Novel Disguise:
Deadly Pleasures’s Best Mysteries of 2023
“Rich with detail about life in the 18th century . . . Wildly enjoyable.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Class differences, prejudice, and the lack of women’s rights drive this enjoyable mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Historical romance fans will be charmed by Miss Woodall.”
—Library Journal, audiobook review
“Memorable characters and deftly crafted (and surprising!) plot twists make ‘A Novel Disguise’ a riveting read from cover to cover”
—Midwest Book Reviews
“A clever play on Regency-style novels . . . [It] will interest fans of Bridgerton.”
—Historical Novel Society
“A crazy fun read . . . Everything in this debut book will make you a fan.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“A perfect beach read.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“Clever, mysterious, and utterly enjoyable. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Hastings is the first in this librarian focused series. Packed with deadly schemes, conniving characters, and rich historical detail, Hastings treats the reader not only to a twisty murder mystery within the walls of a palace, but a charming romance as well. Layered and suspenseful, a fun escape!”
—B.R. Myers, author of A Dreadful Splendor
“Tiffany Woodall, who leads a cast of unforgettable and diverse characters, is a captivating, enterprising, and relatable heroine anyone would cheer for. Samatha Larsen, who obviously did impeccable research, accomplished no small task by bringing Georgian England to life while creating a mystery that was as novel as Tiffany’s disguise. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
—Clara McKenna, author of The Stella and Lyndy Mysteries
“A Novel Disguise is a delightful historical mystery with a daring heroine who has no choice but to embark upon a daring masquerade in order to keep her home. With mistaken identities, romantic rendezvous, and twists that keep the reader guessing, Samantha Larsen’s debut is sure to entice mystery and romance readers alike.”
—Manda Collins, author of A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes
A cozy historical mystery set in the 18th 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?
Praise for A Novel Disguise:
Deadly Pleasures’s Best Mysteries of 2023
“Rich with detail about life in the 18th century . . . Wildly enjoyable.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Class differences, prejudice, and the lack of women’s rights drive this enjoyable mystery.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Historical romance fans will be charmed by Miss Woodall.”
—Library Journal, audiobook review
“Memorable characters and deftly crafted (and surprising!) plot twists make ‘A Novel Disguise’ a riveting read from cover to cover”
—Midwest Book Reviews
“A clever play on Regency-style novels . . . [It] will interest fans of Bridgerton.”
—Historical Novel Society
“A crazy fun read . . . Everything in this debut book will make you a fan.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“A perfect beach read.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“Clever, mysterious, and utterly enjoyable. A Novel Disguise by Samantha Hastings is the first in this librarian focused series. Packed with deadly schemes, conniving characters, and rich historical detail, Hastings treats the reader not only to a twisty murder mystery within the walls of a palace, but a charming romance as well. Layered and suspenseful, a fun escape!”
—B.R. Myers, author of A Dreadful Splendor
“Tiffany Woodall, who leads a cast of unforgettable and diverse characters, is a captivating, enterprising, and relatable heroine anyone would cheer for. Samatha Larsen, who obviously did impeccable research, accomplished no small task by bringing Georgian England to life while creating a mystery that was as novel as Tiffany’s disguise. I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
—Clara McKenna, author of The Stella and Lyndy Mysteries
“A Novel Disguise is a delightful historical mystery with a daring heroine who has no choice but to embark upon a daring masquerade in order to keep her home. With mistaken identities, romantic rendezvous, and twists that keep the reader guessing, Samantha Larsen’s debut is sure to entice mystery and romance readers alike.”
—Manda Collins, author of A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes