A Poetic Pox: A Lady Librarian Mystery
by Samantha Larsen
This book is unique because it is being released as an audiobook before being released in print or digital formats.
About A Poetic Pox
A Poetic Pox: A Lady Librarian Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – 1786, England
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: July 22, 2025
Listening Length: 8 hours and 18 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0FBBG4GZC
1786, England
It is the twelve days of Christmas, and Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop is happily juggling her duties as a new mother and a librarian to Catharine, the Duchess of Beaufort. Her employer receives a mysterious letter from an old paramour, the Marquess of Harwood, who is the biological father of Catharine’s son. He promises to leave his estate and fortune to Beau if he can see the boy before he dies.
Her elder son, Thomas Montague, has a terrible cold, so Catharine asks Tiffany to accompany her and Beau. When they arrive at the dilapidated abbey, they discover a dead body—only it isn’t the marquess, but his valet! Lord Harwood is alive, but unconscious with suspicious-looking pox marks on his hands. Tiffany wonders if the marquess is really dying, or if it is all poetic revenge? Especially when she discovers the secrets that haunt Rosedean Abbey.
Between breastfeeding and dirty diapers, Tiffany must discover who killed the valet and attempted to murder the marquess before anyone else dies.
©2025 Samantha Larsen (P)2025 Dreamscape First
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mrs. Timothy Lathrop is loving life this holiday season with her husband, Samir, their adopted son, Nat, and their new daughter, Priya, while continuing to be Catharine, the Duchess of Beaufort’s librarian. She and Catharine have also become very close friends.
Catharine has received a letter from the Marquess of Harwood. It’s been a well-kept secret that the Marquess is the biological father of her son, Beau. In the letter, he has pledged to leave his entire estate to Beau, but she must bring the boy to Rosedean Abbey so they can meet before he dies. Because Catharine’s oldest son, Thomas, is under the weather, she requests that Tiffany travel with her and Beau to the abbey. Tiffany has no desire to leave her family, but agrees, stating that Priya will also be making the trip, and hopes they will return home in time for their 12th night celebration.
After their long excursion, they are not welcomed with open arms at the abbey. The abbey has been severely neglected, and a thick coat of dust covers the top of everything. When they demand to see the Marquess, they are shocked to find a dead body. The deceased was not the Marquess but his valet. They find Lord Harwood near death, unconscious, with strange-looking wounds/pox marks covering his hands.
What has been happening at Rosedean Abbey? Could the Marquess have set up a ruse to win over the Duchess of Beaufort? Or was someone truly trying to kill Lord Harwood? And why?
It isn’t long before Tiffany is uncovering secrets while seeing to her young daughter’s needs. Can she piece together all the clues to get to the truth and get back to the rest of her family and their plans? Or will she be another victim of the madness at Rosedean Abbey?
A Poetic Pox, what a perfect title.
The story takes these dynamic characters on the road with some creative storytelling put into effect when they arrive at Rosedean Abbey. Tiffany Lathrop is a strong woman, but knows her place. She had to use her strength to help Catharine, who became a mere shell of herself when they arrived. It was clear how close these women had become and the trust that they had built. Tiffany was uncomfortable taking the lead, but there was something fishy going on at the abbey, and she needed a plan to keep the people she cared for dearly safe. Beau is one smart little boy, knowing his own title carried power even at his young age. He was ready to help his mother and Tiffany any way he could. When the truth of his parentage was revealed, he had many questions but was excited about all it could mean. Ms. Larsen’s characters continue to evolve in all the right ways. I have been a fan of Tiffany since book 1, A Novel Disguise. She was a woman then who had to think on her feet to protect herself. Now, she is surrounded by people whom she will always protect.
Lord Harwood was an intriguing man with an interesting past. We soon see how that past affects his present and future. Actions he had not even considered were now vital. According to the Author’s Note in the book, three out of every ten people who contracted smallpox died. While inoculations were available, many chose not to be inoculated or didn’t have access. It was a complicated time in the world and a stirring theme for this story. Ms. Larsen took the disease head-on, describing the types of pox and the disfiguration, scarring, and death caused during the outbreak. She also explains treatments and potential cures at the time. The story is made more powerful in the face of the horrific suffering felt personally.
The author has plotted out an incredibly complex mystery. The staff at the abbey was a curious, somewhat sinister set who were all keeping secrets. Tiffany was dogged in her pursuit of the truth. She multitasked her sleuthing with her mothering like a pro. Her visit to the local rector and review of the church records were quite revealing about the time of the epidemic. It also opened the door for more suspects and motives. Some unexpected twists and turns kept everyone, including me, on my toes. Catherine became more like her demanding self after some revelations, fully on board to unwind all the deception in her midst, knowing there were still more secrets to be uncovered. Each woman has their own strengths and weaknesses, but together they make an excellent team. I was delighted to tag along on this shocking adventure right up to the surprising ending.
A marvelous cast of characters and a fantastic mystery allowed me to totally escape into A Poetic Pox. I am amazed by how much happened in a short span of days. I just know it was an impossible book to put down. It was darker than the first books in the series, and the setting at the abbey gave it a real Gothic feel. Audio books are not my thing, so I was grateful to receive a digital copy. I was so moved reading the words, I can only imagine the feelings evoked by hearing them read aloud.
I am thrilled to say A Poetic Pox will hold a place on my Best Reads of 2025 list. I hope it is released soon in other formats so that everyone can enjoy this outstanding story. Until then, if you haven’t read A Novel Disguise and Once Upon a Murder, you have time to get to know Tiffany’s story from the start. If you are an audio fan, you are all set.
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, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About Samantha Larsen
Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, having tea parties, and chauffeuring her four kids. She teaches World Literature at Brigham Young University. Her young adult fiction books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections and her historical romances are published around the world. She also writes murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen that Publisher’s Weekly called “wildly enjoyable.”
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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