*I received an e-arc via Netgalley from the publisher. Thank you for the opportunity to review. All thoughts are my own*

I thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the Lady Librarian Mystery Series! I liked how Samantha Larsen interwove fairytales, like Little Red Riding Hood, into this Victorian Era story. I recommend reading the first book in the series before diving into this one, as you really get to know the characters and this book jumps into where book one left off.

Tiffany Woodall is such a fun, witty and strong female character! I loved seeing how she, with the help of some friends and allies, attempts to clear her name and that of Samir’s. There were some interesting twists and turns along the way, and I love how everything came together in the end.

Highly recommend!

Once Upon a Murder is the second book in the Lady Librarian historical cozy mystery series by Samantha Larsen. Released 20th Feb 2024 by Crooked Lane, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a charming historical cozy with an appealing protagonist who employs creative and intelligent solutions to counteract some of the harsher realities of Regency history (women often lived lives of tenuous and terrifying insecurity). She's smart and generally honest and clever as well, and easy to relate to. Although she's sworn off murder and investigation after the last time, she's now stumbled over the frozen body of a former footman of the estate of her patroness and employer, The Duchess of Beaufort, and must use her abilities and intelligence to clear her name and her love interest Samir.

The book is well written and the author has a firm grasp on the nuts and bolts of plot, setting, and characterization. It's a light cozy with a strong romance subplot and a surprising amount of effective humor. It's a bookish book, and there are book titles and period book/library trivia and title-dropping throughout.

Happily, the author mostly ignores the more rigid realities of race, parentage, and class which would have precluded many of the interactions and relationships in the book.

Four stars. This would make an appealing short binge/buddy read, as well as a good choice for public library acquisition.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Book Review: Once Upon a Murder by Samantha Larsen

Rating: 3 Stars

As a fan of historical cozy mysteries, delving into "Once Upon a Murder" by Samantha Larsen was like stepping back in time to 1784 England alongside the determined Miss Tiffany Woodall. The novel follows Tiffany's journey as she navigates through a web of deception and intrigue after stumbling upon the lifeless body, setting off a chain of events that test her resolve and wit.

From the very beginning, Larsen's storytelling drew me in with its blend of mystery, romance, and historical flair. The intricate plot twists kept me guessing as Tiffany raced against the clock to unearth the truth behind the murder and exonerate her beloved.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the well-paced narrative and the abundant red herrings that kept me on my toes, the other women addition turned me off. In addition, Tiffany's character development, though intriguing, felt somewhat subdued compared to her vibrant portrayal in the first Lady Librarian mystery.

Another aspect that proved challenging was keeping track of the numerous relationships among the characters, which added a layer of complexity that might overwhelm readers new to the series. As such, "Once Upon a Murder" is best enjoyed after immersing oneself in its predecessor to fully appreciate the interconnected dynamics at play.

In summary, while this second installment may not reach the heights of its predecessor, it remains a captivating historical cozy mystery that showcases Larsen's skill in crafting intricate narratives. The enduring appeal of the characters and the promise of future adventures leave me eagerly anticipating continuing my journey alongside Tiffany as she unravels secrets and solves crimes in the enchanting world created by Samantha Larsen.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

3.5 stars.
Tiffany Woodall is still the Duchess of Beaufort's librarian, but is also teaching the Duchess' six-year-old son using play, literature and games to engage his lively and adventure-loving mind. (These scenes were so much fun!)

Tiffany is also wondering what to do about her feelings for Samir, both bookstore owner and constable in their village Mapledown.

On the way to work one morning she literally falls on the dead body of Bernard Coram, one of the Duchess' former footmen, and all round awful person (bigot, thief, womanizer, blackmailer, etc.). Tiffany is immediately accused of the crime by the justice of the peace, who does not like the Duchess, or Tiffany.

Of course Tiffany takes it upon herself to investigate, particularly as Samir ends up being accused, eventually, of the murder. Tiffany's questions lead her to uncover a tangled mess of relationships, including a heretofore unknown marriage connecting Samir to one of the suspects, blackmail, domestic abuse, etc.

I totally loved the first book in this series but I found this one a little harder to like. The relationships were hard for me to track, particularly as I found it hard to differentiate between some of the women involved. There were many revelations, and Tiffany does find the answers to her questions, but I just didn't enjoy getting there as much as I hoped to.

The trial scene, however, was well played, and it was fun watching the justice of the peace get his comeuppance by the Duchess and Tiffany. Probably the thing I liked the most about this book was the developing friendship between the strong-willed and canny Duchess and Tiffany.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Tiffany Woodall, the lady librarian, is back and she's got another murder to solve. This time the dead body is not only found right outside her small cottage, she literally tripped over him hurrying to work at Astwell Palace. It turns out it's someone she and others in the village had had dealings with so there are several suspects--including herself and Samir, the bookshop owner and local constable that she's fallen in love with. Clearing Samir's name isn't going to be easy and Tiffany's going to need all her powers of reasoning and deduction to save the man she loves.

There were so many suspects in this one I kept changing my mind about who the guilty person could be. Every time she found a believable theory new information came to light and disproved it. I liked how the fairytales fit into the story and helped solve the mystery.

I loved all the scenes of Tiffany with the young Duke of Beaufort aka Beau. They were all so sweet and delightful. One of my favorite characters in these books is the Duchess of Beaufort. She seems to have softened since the previous book, and now is becoming a friend to Tiffany as well as her employer. She's still a formidable woman and not one to be trifled with. I was shocked by Samir's secret and didn't feel that it went with his character but I'm happy he and Tiffany were able to work through it and get their happily ever after.

Content: There's a character who's had a baby with someone other than her spouse (does not go into detail, written in a sensitive manner). There's also talk of monthly cycles/childbirth. I consider this one to be a clean read.

I received a copy from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

I truly could not tell you what this one was about. It was really unmemorable for me, except that it had an older heroine, which is a nice change of pace.

I read this book in ONE day. 🧩❤️

Rating: 4.5 ⭐

Thank you Samantha Larsen, Crooked Lane, and NetGalley for the gifted e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!

PUB DATE: 20 Feb 2024

Samantha Larsen does it again! This series is 2-for-2 in reads I devour within 24 hours. One of my comfort-premises these days is “Strong, Resourceful Woman Solves Crimes in a Historical Time.” And Larsen takes us to 18th-century England, a time period I don’t often find myself in. Even better, she ensures a level of diversity within her cast that I think historical fiction tends to lack, but Larsen proves WITH RECEIPTS at the end of the book how and why diversity and historical settings are not universally exclusive elements.

I really love how our amateur sleuth, Tiffany, gains confidence in her independence as she finds her place in the community her half-brother’s controlling oppression was withholding from her prior to his death in book 1. She also continues to face challenges to her own morality and sense of justice surrounding serious issues: domestic violence and SA, prejudice and racism, and sexism. I have so much respect for an author who can juggle serious topics in a compelling murder mystery. This is a MUST read for historical mystery lovers!!

- SYNOPSIS -
“Miss Tiffany Woodall must sleuth the slaying of a footman to clear her beloved’s name in the second Lady Librarian mystery, in the vein of Deanna Raybourn and perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

1784 England. Officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, Miss Tiffany Woodall is through with masquerades and murders for good. That is, until she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman Mr. Bernard Coram. The speed with which her peaceful new life is upended is one for the record; the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder...”

This was the first book I've read from this author and I liked it. I wasn't as engaged in the story as I would've liked to be, but it was still an enjoyable read.

This is the second book by this author that I have read. It is a carry on from the first book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. It was a wonderful read with great characters and story line that kept you guessing till the end. It covered a lot of conflicts, hate, love, racial prejudice, greed and injustice and how it can be overcome. I now look forward to reading the next in the series. . I received an ARC from Netgalley and freely give my review.

3.5 stars

When I closed the final page of A Novel Disguise (book one in this series), I was eager to see where the author would take Tiffany’s character from there. She is such a unique historical fiction protagonist – a 40 year old spinster who masqueraded as her dead brother so people would think he was alive and therefore she could continue living in her home – and I couldn’t wait to see how the ramifications of the events in that book (including her growing feelings for the local bookseller) and the new independence she subsequently experiences would play out in Once Upon a Murder.

Poor Tiffany. It’s bad enough that she’s suffering from her time of the month (complete with cramps), the weather is abysmal, and she is running late for work at the palace library. But of course she has to literally stumble over the body of an odious rogue and land face-first in the mud to boot. The mystery that progresses from there has some intriguingly unpredictable layers, not to mention several women around town sporting unexplained bruises and several men willing to come to their defense. I admit to falling for a couple of red herrings and hadn’t quite pieced it all together yet by the time Tiffany did so. Mainly because I was distracted by several twists in Tiffany’s personal life that I didn’t see coming (and I’m still not sure how I feel about the way everything ended up). And for all that Tiffany delighted me in the first book, in this novel the Duchess and her young son stole the show – and my heart. I loved the friendship that develops between Catharine and Tiffany, and the Duchess’s little boy is so precociously adorable. He made me smile every time he was on the page.

If I’m being honest though, aside from the enjoyable mystery elements, Once Upon a Murder felt unnecessarily – and oddly – earthy to me. There was too much focus on Tiffany’s menstrual cramps and her bloody rags, as well as the messy and intimate details of childbirth and nursing and babies. There is no shame in any of this, of course, but so much time given to them in a historical cozy mystery felt incongruous and ultimately proved off-putting for me.

Bottom Line: Take one unique amateur sleuth, a complicated bookseller, an adorable little boy, a powerful Duchess, a villainous victim, and a town full of suspects. Mix them into the Georgian era of British history and raise the personal stakes, and you’ve got an entertaining mystery that is more complex than it first appears. In Once Upon a Murder, author Samantha Larsen also explores deeper and important layers such as racism, assault, infidelity, and abuse, though the out-of-place (at least to me) focus on bodily functions was distracting. While I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as I did the first one, I nevertheless stayed engaged in the mystery from start to finish.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This book was simply too good to put down. I loved Tiffany, Catharine, Samir, Thomas and the entire gang to be honest. This historical murder mystery is such a clean mystery, exactly there kind I love. I loved the diverse representation in the character set. Moreover, the development of the characters throughout the book was awesome.

Another aspect that I loved was the depiction of a mother's love. Being a new mom, this made the story more relatable to me. Also I loved how the author brought in concepts of abortion and the right of women to choose to be a mother even though the book is set in the eighteenth century.

I am intrigued to read the first book in the series now. This series has now become a favorite and I will follow it as new books get released.

I LOVED the first book in this series, but this second book let me down a bit. I felt Tiffany was such a weak character compared to the first installment, and the book felt overly complicated at times.

The mystery was slow to get into, but I really enjoyed the scenes with the young Duke and Tiffany.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In 1784 England, Miss Tiffany Woodall, must out-sleuth her small town in order to save her and her beloved Samir’s life. Samir is being tried for murder and set to hang if she cannot solve this murder in time. There’s only two problems: the murder victim is someone no one liked AND her list of suspects keeps growing rather than shrinking. Can Tiffany, and her band of close-knit friends, save her beloved in time?

So this was technically the second book in a series and I will be honest, I did not read the first. Should I have? Maybe. Do I regret just plowing into the second guns blazing? No, I don’t. 😂 I was able to follow along just fine without it a this one mentions the plot and gives context from the first book, which was great.

I really enjoyed Tiffany’s character and the rest of the side characters as well. They were a lot of fun and made me laugh several times throughout. The only weird thing was them consistently referring to her period in the first few chapters. I could’ve done with just one mention of it only for it being majorly redundant lol. Like we get it, she’s quite literally on the rag, she didn’t murder anyone. 🤪

This story is a captivating blend of historical charm and suspense, perfect for those who crave a cozy mystery with a dash of romance. “Once Upon a Murder” by Samantha Larsen will transport you to a world where murder and love collide. Prepare to lose yourself in the corridors of the Duchess's library, where secrets lie hidden and forbidden romances bloom.

In the enchanting world of 18th-century England, readers are told a gripping tale of intrigue and romance, with a dash of historical allure. Meet Miss Tiffany Woodall. She’s a charming librarian-turned-sleuth, how Aurora Teagarden!

After she is officially hired as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort, Tiffany is through with masquerades and murders. However, her peaceful new life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman. Suddenly, Tiffany finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, with the justice of the peace declaring her the primary suspect, and must delve into the mystery to clear her name.

"Once Upon a Murder" is the second installment in the “Lady Librarian Mystery” series, and combines the elegance of historical fiction with the suspense of a classic mystery. Larsen's vivid prose transports readers to a time of powdered wigs, hidden motives, and clandestine affairs. Larsen composed a tale that keeps readers guessing until the very last page and a heroine worth rooting for. This novel is a delightful addition to your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is book two of a series and I read it as a standalone since I didn't know that. However it was not made to be read this way and as such the prior relationships and histories were not disclosed making it hard to follow in the beginning.
Tiffany is okay as a character but I actually found the Duchess more interesting and I would read more about her.

This is another wonderful book from one of my favorite authors. Larsen sets the perfect tone for this historical cozy mystery. And i am loving this series.

My favorite librarian, Tiffany Woodall, is back, as well as Samir, Thomas, Mary, Catharine, and sweet Beau. (The interactions with him and Tiffany were so enjoyable and enduring). Many in the town are harboring secrets and have something to hide regarding the death of Bernard Coram and I loved trying to sort out the whodunit. It’s a race to catch the killer as someone who Tiffany holds dear is wrongly accused.

The mystery had me guessing and there many twists I wasn’t expecting. I am hoping for another book in this enjoyable series.
I received a copy from the author and a Netgalley link. All views and opinions are my own.

I was happy to get my hands on book two of Samantha Larsen’s Lady Librarian Mystery, Once Upon a Murder because book one, A Novel Disguise was a favorite read! And if a mystery features any type of librarian or book lover, it always goes to the top of my TBR.

It’s 1784 in England and Tiffany Woodall is enjoying her life as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort. (If I could travel back in time, I would like this job, please.). However, only pages into the mystery, Tiffany stumbles upon the frozen dead body of former footman Mr. Bernard Coram. At first Tiffany is accused as the murderer, but is quickly eliminated. Unfortunately Samir, Tiffany’s dear friend and romantic interest, was overheard arguing with Corman and officials arrest Samir. To save her friend, Tiffany dives into the mystery and many shocking secrets are revealed about those Tiffany loves.

This mystery is full of great characters–both interesting, likable and evil. (The kind you love to hate!) Tiffany remains a great sleuth, unafraid to search for the truth even when hurtful secrets are unveiled. This second entry into the series features the addition of some darling children and cute babies that add sweetness and humor to the story. Overall, there’s a strong mixture of mystery, humor and fighting for justice present in this story that I enjoyed.

Another fine Georgian mystery! Much like the first book in this series, A Novel Disguise, this book features sharp writing, excellent characters and a plethora of accurate historical detail, including people of color. (Although people of color lived in England in the 1780s, you'd never know it from most of the books set during that time period.) The mystery is pleasantly twisty and fun to figure out and I really enjoyed spending time with Tiffany, Samir and Catherine again. I look forward to future books in the series! Highly recommended.

It’s 1784, and spinster Tiffany Woodall is hoping to put the chaos and intrigue of the last few months behind her. However, when she finds a dead body on her way to work at the castle one morning, she knows that isn’t going to happen. When the local bookseller, the man Tiffany loves, is accused of the crime, she can’t help but get involved. Can she figure out what happened?

The first book in this series was one of my favorites of last year. This book wasn’t as good, but it was still enjoyable. As with the first book, the mystery takes a backseat at times. However, here the other storylines weren’t as compelling. This is especially true of the romance. I was glad it wasn’t dragged out too much and I bought it in a way I wouldn’t in other series, but I wasn’t as invested in it. When the murder really kicks in during the second half, I was more fully on board, and I love how that was resolved. Likewise, I still loved all the characters and did enjoy seeing what happened to them. Fans of the first will want to pick this up. If you missed the first, you’ll definitely want to start there.

I absolutely loved Once Upon a Murder! It’s a fabulous historical mystery with such endearing characters. I thoroughly enjoyed A Novel Disguise & this second book in the Lady Librarian Mystery series is even better if possible.

Miss Tiffany Woodall’s a 40 year old spinster who’s also the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort. She’s intelligent, humorous, and has the brilliant ability to solve mysteries. She fell in love with Mr. Samir Lathrop, a bookseller and local constable when they solved the murder of her brother. When a dead body is found near Tiffany’s cottage, she becomes the prime suspect, but when she’s exonerated Samir is accused. It’s up to Tiffany to solve the mystery & clear Samir’s name.

I loved this Georgian era mystery/romance! Tiffany is such a great character and I loved getting further glimpses into her personality. Though she’s a spinster, she longs for motherhood and a chance at love. I also love Samir and was really thrown for a loop when a secret he’s been hiding is revealed. It threatens his relationship with Tiffany and causes all kinds of chaos. I love the chemistry he has with Tiffany and was hoping there would be a way for them to be together.

The mystery was so good with all kinds of twists and turns. There are a host of suspects and I enjoyed trying to figure out who the murderer was. It’s a race against time and all comes down to a court trial in the last few chapters in the story. While everything was expertly wrapped up with a nice bow, I’m hoping that the series will continue. I thoroughly enjoy these characters and can’t wait to see the next chapter in their lives.

Highly recommend to those who enjoy romantic, closed door, cozy historical mysteries! Though Once Upon a Murder could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading A Noble Disguise first. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.