A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries
by Samantha Larsen
I am delighted to kick off this tour today!
About A Staged Death
A Staged Death: Lady Librarian Mysteries
Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – 1787, Bath.
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: March 31, 2026
Listening Length: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0GCGRPKHW
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?
©2018 Samantha Larsen (P)2026 Dreamscape First
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.
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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.”
Author Links
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Purchase Links:
Dreamscape – Amazon – B&N
TOUR PARTICIPANTS – Please visit all the stops.
March 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
March 31 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
March 31 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
April 1 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW
April 2 – Salty Inspirations – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 2 – Novels Alive – REVIEW
April 2 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
April 3 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
April 3 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
April 3 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT
April 4 – The Editing Pen – AUTHOR GUEST POST
April 4 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT
April 4 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW
April 5 – Connie’s History Classroom – REVIEW
April 5 – Sarandipity’s – CHARACTER GUEST POST
April 6 – Hall Ways Blog – REVIEW
April 6 – deal sharing aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
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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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