3.75 stars
This enjoyable series is set in mid 19th century England and features Laetitia Rodd, a clergyman's widow, who helps her lawyer brother investigate cases. Laetitia is remarkably noon-judgmental given her background and the setting, and this case tests her limits.

She is thrown into the world of the theater -- and at that time, actor and actresses were looked upon with great disfavor and considered to be immoral. A famous theatrical family has become a giant soap opera: infidelities, family jealousies, out of wedlock pregnancies, threats, and elopements have split the family into factions. The discovery of a body at the theater, murdered years ago, sets a whole new series of actions into motions. And since no one in the family seems able to tell the truth, false confessions and made up alibis muddy the waters.

Laetitia is an appealing character and her relationship and interactions with her brother are appealing. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

1853 Laetitia Rodd, widow of an Archdeacon is asked to help in the negotiations between theatre owner and actor, Thomas Transome, and his wife Sarah. Inspector Blackbeard comes into the situation when a body is discovered in the King’s Theatre, which burnt down ten years previously when Transome owned it. What could be the motive and who is the guilty party, and will this be the only murder.
An entertaining and well-written cozy Victorian mystery with its likeable characters. The novel can easily be read as a standalone story and is a good addition to the series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden is the third book starring private investigator Laetitia Rodd, widow of an archdeacon in Victorian London. Mrs Rudd is an indomitable lady who often puts herself in situations one would not expect from a middle age maiden. Upon her husband's death it was assumed Mrs Rudd would move in with her brother and become an unpaid governess to his seven children. Although she loves her brother and his family she also loves her independence. So as a source of income she becomes a private investigator. These books may be classified as cozy mysteries but the stories are often complex as we see in this book. It is a twisted tale involving the theater and a cast of several feuding families. I thoroughly enjoy Mrs Rudd and think I would enjoy being her friend and neighbor in real life. Hoping there will be a book four in this series.