An Astounding Historical Cozy Mystery: Don’t Upstage the Body by Naomi Stephens

This book was so much fun! A family of professional mourners is hired to attend Lord Montfort’s funeral, but little do they know a murder will ruin their evening plans! A quirky and quick-witted cozy mystery that moves fast and kept me guessing at every turn, this was an absolute pleasure to read!

Check out my full review below and see if this is a book you might like to read as well!

Title: Don’t Upstage the Body

Author: Naomi Stephens

Series: N/A

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery

Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐

Disclaimer

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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

My Thoughts:

It takes place in 1957 and has all the poignant moments and feel of my favorite movie series of all time, The Thin Man! Both Crispin Montfort and Hippolyta Halfpenny give and take in this masterful mystery where a man is found dead in the Montfort Estate and Hippolyta finds the body. She’s a clever actress, only pretending to be there for the funeral, as her family are paid funeral attendees. But she doesn’t want Crispin to know this and blow their entire family business.

Not to mention that she’s fully ready to leave the business, but would never embarrass her family in such a way. She holds on as long as she can, but Crispin’s utter enjoyment at teasing her and trying to guess who she really is, brings her around to realizing that he can accept her as she is.

But their immediate attraction to one another and equally interested snooping personalities, take them on a wild adventure trying to figure out who the murderer is before they strike again. As they find clues, it continues to make less and less sense and they start to struggle to put it all together. Their hard work starts to pay off though and then Hippolyta is in danger, which really irks Crispin. He loves having her as his partner in crime, but also doesn’t want her in danger.

I truly can’t say enough good things about this book because it was absolute perfection and ended far too quickly for me. I loved every moment of the story and fell in love with all of the characters. The banter was amazing and the teasing and jokes between the two main characters really kept it funny and light.

A huge thanks to Bethany House Fiction for sending me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. I’d highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a great historical cozy mystery!

Publisher’s Blurb:

Rules for professional mourners:
· Plan your aliases well–no improvising.
· Wear proper mourning attire.
· Maintain discretion at all costs.
· Don’t upstage the body.

It is 1957, and Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family have mastered the business of bereavement. As professional mourners, they are so accomplished that even Lord Basil Monfort, the famous and wealthy recluse, engages the family’s services for his own funeral. Tired of disguises and aliases, Hippolyta vows it will be her last performance. Then she discovers the undertaker’s body during the wake and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an increasingly unpredictable investigation. 

Soon rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort’s estate–with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father’s wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta navigates a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort’s charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be.

Concealing her family’s true identities while unraveling secrets might be a role Hippolyta is hesitant to play, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls. 

With her Agatha Christie inspired voice, Naomi Stephens pens a 1950s manor house murder mystery set in England–perfect for book clubs and fans of cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, Enola Holmes, Michelle Griep, Julie Klassen, and Anna Lee Huber.