Murder Stage Left
Verity Bright
SeriesLady Eleanor Swift #16PublisherBookoutureGenreCozy MysteFormatKindle ARCPages326Pub. DateAugust 26, 2026Rating🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
DESCRIPTION
Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage?
Dashing showman Richard Ratcliffe is set to return to the stage at the famous Shakespeare Memorial theatre. But when priceless items belonging to Shakespeare himself go missing from the theatre’s collection, Eleanor knows someone has gone off-book…
Then the beautiful old theatre is set on fire. The gang are horror-struck, and while racing to help, Eleanor’s loyal butler Clifford discovers an act of foul Ratcliffe, the show’s leading man, is dead inside from a blow to the head. Was the fire a deliberate distraction to cover up the murder? Hugh believes Ratcliffe may have caught the thief in the act, but Eleanor isn’t so certain.
With the production in tatters, the cast and crew are flailing. Everyone is playing a part and Eleanor needs to decide who is putting on a deadly show and who is telling the truth. Did the director have more to gain from the insurance money than a standing ovation? Maybe the leading lady feared she was about to be upstaged?
Hunting for local gossip at the town tearoom, Eleanor discovers Ratcliffe had secrets he was desperate to keep from stealing the show… But the culprit is waiting in the wings. And it’s only a matter of time before Eleanor steps too far into their deadly spotlight. Can she catch the killer before it’s curtains for her too?
A totally delightful historical cozy murder mystery. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, L.B. Hathaway and Lee Strauss will fly through the pages!
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MY THOUGHTS
Lady Eleanor Swift, her husband Hugh Seldon, and her ever-steady butler Clifford are looking forward to an evening performance of Macbeth - until a rapidly spreading fire in the theater puts an abrupt end to their plans. Even before the fire, however, something was amiss: priceless items believed to have once belonged to William Shakespeare have disappeared.
After barely escaping the blaze, Eleanor and Hugh are determined to uncover how the fire started, what happened to the missing artifacts, and whether the leading man, Richard Ratcliffe, actually died as a direct result of the fire.
With their exceptional investigative skills, the trio - Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford - have always made quite a formidable team and have recently formed the Byron Detective Agency. Eleanor’s sharp wit, Hugh’s extensive career with Scotland Yard, and Clifford’s unwavering loyalty make them an impressive crime-solving team. But this case presents more questions than answers. Was the fire accidental, or was it deliberately set? What happened to the valuable Shakespearean artifacts? And what really caused Ratcliffe’s death?
What an engaging installment in this long-running series! This story is layered with intriguing mysteries, and, as always, Eleanor simply refuses to let things go. Her determination and forthright nature were particularly enjoyable in this book, even when her pursuit of the truth put her directly in harm’s way.
This historical cozy mystery, as well as every book that has come before it, is truly delightful. And, of course, we can’t forget Eleanor’s pudgy bulldog, Gladstone, or Eleanor’s ladies, the members of her staff who have become so much more than employees. They are now cherished friends and an important part of Eleanor’s life.
Verity Bright has once again delivered a wonderful mystery filled with charm, danger, and plenty of twists. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure and can’t wait to see what is next in store for Eleanor, Hugh, Clifford, Gladstone, and the rest of the beloved cast.
Thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
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