A Witty British Historical Whodunnit and Manor House Murder Mystery Set in the 1950s
REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Professional Mourners for Hire. Troupe of experienced thespians. Exceptionally discreet. Will dress smartly and can suit ourselves to the atmosphere of any funeral."
And that's exactly how Hippolyta Halfpenny, alias Ethel Jones, found herself in the bowels of the Montfort Manor with a dead body, except it wasn't the one who was just buried. Her family's unusual enterprise, posing as mourners for hire, had them pretending to know the deceased, a wealthy earl who lived as a virtual recluse towards the end of his days . . . thus, the need for hired mourners at his passing. Finding the undertaker minutes away from his expiration date in the library, coming face to face with the charming heir of the already deceased and fainting deadaway in the floor was most certainly not on her father's strict list of mourner's etiquette.
As fate would have it, torrential rain sequestered the small grouping of family and friends attending the post internment luncheon, forcing them to seek shelter in the Manor overnight. While local officials began the process of interviewing every person on the premises, Hippolyta's siblings rose to the occasion, demonstrating their theatric abilities, but the newly minted earl managed to intersect with Hippolyta at every turn. After all, it was his house now, and she was merely an imposter mourner who was determined to expose the person who had knocked off the undertaker.
What a clever than ever conundrum of quirks and clues, stirring up family secrets, unlikely chemistry and ulterior motives, leading towards the final destination; solving a murder! With authentic messaging, dramatic ingenuity, and an interesting backdrop, this story and the characters who play upon its stage form an alliance to make sure that every reader will enjoy all five acts until the final curtain falls! The end!
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book for the author and publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Grief was clever. It catered to each of them in their own way, and perhaps that was what made it difficult to escape.”
"Professional Mourners for Hire. Troupe of experienced thespians. Exceptionally discreet. Will dress smartly and can suit ourselves to the atmosphere of any funeral."
And that's exactly how Hippolyta Halfpenny, alias Ethel Jones, found herself in the bowels of the Montfort Manor with a dead body, except it wasn't the one who was just buried. Her family's unusual enterprise, posing as mourners for hire, had them pretending to know the deceased, a wealthy earl who lived as a virtual recluse towards the end of his days . . . thus, the need for hired mourners at his passing. Finding the undertaker minutes away from his expiration date in the library, coming face to face with the charming heir of the already deceased and fainting deadaway in the floor was most certainly not on her father's strict list of mourner's etiquette.
As fate would have it, torrential rain sequestered the small grouping of family and friends attending the post internment luncheon, forcing them to seek shelter in the Manor overnight. While local officials began the process of interviewing every person on the premises, Hippolyta's siblings rose to the occasion, demonstrating their theatric abilities, but the newly minted earl managed to intersect with Hippolyta at every turn. After all, it was his house now, and she was merely an imposter mourner who was determined to expose the person who had knocked off the undertaker.
What a clever than ever conundrum of quirks and clues, stirring up family secrets, unlikely chemistry and ulterior motives, leading towards the final destination; solving a murder! With authentic messaging, dramatic ingenuity, and an interesting backdrop, this story and the characters who play upon its stage form an alliance to make sure that every reader will enjoy all five acts until the final curtain falls! The end!
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book for the author and publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Grief was clever. It catered to each of them in their own way, and perhaps that was what made it difficult to escape.”
Patriarch Herbert Halfpenny pondered what to do when he was grieving his wife. His solution was to recruit his family in the business of professional mourners, complete with assumed names and a set of rules to follow including: Don’t Upstage the Body.
This was an enjoyable who-done-it with an unexpected ending. It was so well written that it played as a movie in my head. I could not help but cast my favorite old time actors, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn as the main characters. Or maybe Jimmy Stewart and Loretta Young. But not quite screwball comedy.
At the funeral of Lord Basil and caught in a storm at the estate of the wealthy Cavendishs, Hippolyta and her family are compelled to stay when an additional dead body is found. Hipployta (aka Ethel) and the rest of the Halfpennys have to pretend not to know each other while they try to figure out who poisoned the undertaker. Hippolyta has help, of course, in the person of Crispin Cavendish, the new Earl who does not want to be an Earl.
These characters grow on you and just add to the quirkiness and intrigue.
Altogether a top-knotch mystery reminiscent of a good Agatha Christie yarn with a supporting faith thread and a tender romance.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and an underlying faith thread
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and an underlying faith thread
BackCover 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.
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.
Rules for professional mourners:
· Plan your aliases well--no improvising.
· Wear proper mourning attire.
· Maintain discretion at all costs.
· Don't upstage the body.
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.
Bethany House Publishers, June, 2026
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:
