A Novel Disguise is a delightful new cozy mystery by Samantha Larsen. It’s the first of A Lady Librarian Mystery series, and if the rest are as good as this was, the series is bound to be a hit and a new favorite of mine! It’s especially fitting for those of us who enjoy historical cozy mystery books set in Great Britain.

I could tell from the description that this would be a book filled with both humor and mysterious happenings and a curious female protagonist:

“1784 London. Miss Tiffany Woodall didn’t murder her half-brother, but she did bury him in the back garden so that she could keep her cottage. “

Even if I were desperate, I’m not sure I could bury someone in the back garden! I mean, maybe I would try, but Tiffany’s plan took a lot of courage! She knew that if she didn’t disguise herself as her half brother and take his place as librarian, she’d be homeless and penniless. The only thing of value that her brother owned was a diamond pin that went missing while he worked as the librarian at Astwell Palace. If she can get away with replacing him, she can casually search for the pin.

I love how easy it was for Tiffany to replace her half-brother, Uriah. It goes to show how much attention the others at the castle give to each other! Of course, maybe they knew and chose to ignore it, or they were just clueless. Her attempt to be both Uriah and herself is quite comical at times. I really love the attention to detail the author gives to how the men and women of the times dressed depending on their station in life. All of the characters were very well-written and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better as the books progress.

A Novel Disguise’s mystery is puzzling unless you pay very close attention to the little details. I enjoyed it very much, including how and why the suspect was arrested. The author definitely did her research for the characters and how each is treated according to their station and heritage. As I said, I loved the details about the clothing. I’m so glad we don’t have to wear corsets now…

I highly recommend A Novel Disguise for its quirky, well-written characters, humor, attention to detail, and its bewildering mystery. If you’re a fan of historical cozy mystery books, I think you’ll enjoy A Novel Disguise as much as I did!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this very much it was georgian rather than my preferred regency but this didn't really matter as the wigs and face powder made it much easier for the disguise to work. The mystery was very interesting and quirky I felt this should have been more of a comedy than it was though. It made me smile where it could have gone much further and could have made me laugh out loud through out. It did have it' serious parts though with lots of societal injustice. However it was a fun quirky story with the love interest still to be resolved so I am hoping for more. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When her half-brother dies unexpectedly, Tiffany Woodall quietly buries him and then assumes his identity. There is nothing else for her to do in 1780’s England, especially if she wants to stay in the cottage the two of them lived in. But she quickly finds that being two people is much more challenging than she expected, especially when she starts falling in love with the local book seller and has to dodge the marriage proposal of the local rector. But it’s taking over her half-brother’s job of the local duke’s librarian that puts her in the most danger when one of the servants dies. Might it tie to her brother’s death?

Obviously, there is a lot going on here, and it does mean the mystery takes a little time to become an important part of the story. But I didn’t care. I was quickly caught up in Tiffany’s life and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to her next. And make no mistake about it, the mystery here is strong. I loved how things were all pulled together for the climax. The characters are also wonderful, with plenty of them to love or love to hate. I always felt like I was transported back in time as I was reading. My only complaint was that we learned a little more than I felt necessary about the after effects of the poison, but that was a minor issue. I’m already looking forward to the sequel. If you are looking for a fun historical mystery, don’t miss this one.

🎭 A Novel Disguise 📚
A Lady Librarian Mystery
✒️Samantha Larsen
🌟🌟🌟🌟

The author offers us a cute cozy mystery, and while I loved the notes at the end of the book to explain part of some historical facts, I was a bit surprised by the resolution and the way the culprit was sentenced, I am not historian but I thought there were two kind of trials depending of the ranks of the accused.

I loved Tiffany, she is resourceful if not at time a bit lost but she seeks a path to rescue herself. And while the diner scene would have been clearly impossible in real life, it was fun.
After twenty years under the thumb of her half-bother, officiating as his unpaid servant, barely acknowledged and always deprived of everything, it is intelligible she does not want to go back to a similar situation. She is now free, yet at the same time, once more put in a cage, at the mercy of others. Being a woman in these times was like having no right, choice nor voice.
So her decision is understandable, yet not well thought.
She would have had more chance if she had moved to another place.
Still it was entertaining to see her navigate her brother’s sphere. Watching her struggle and muddle things as she is unaware of plenty but her good heart can not let a crime goes unpunished, even despite the risks for herself.

Her partner in this investigation is such a sweet fellow, despite the prejudices he faces, he is kind, fair and works at best with his means to make the truth surfaces.
After there is no real romance, just hints of what could have been as with the last scene, I am not sure Tiffany will test her new independence even for a so cute and kind man.

Now the mystery was nicely crafted, I am just not sure the culprit would have truly paid for his crimes in such a manner, more like only his henchman would have been heavily condemned.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 none

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

What a fun historical mystery! I had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised!

A really quickly heroine takes on the guise of her brother after he dies. Unfortunately she determines he was murdered and sets out to find the culprit. When another body turns up and her guise as her brother has her trying to keep up with her pretense, solving a murder and a possible budding romance, a journey begins!

Fun and fast paced. Looking forward to more!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this opportunity to review “A Novel Disguise.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Miserly Uriah Woodall, Librarian to the Duke of Beaufort, has gone to the great book collection in the sky. Tiffany Woodall, his half-sister, is going to find herself out in the cold streets (being an unmarried woman with no prospects) unless she thinks of something really quickly. And quickly, she does. She buries his body in the backyard, assumes his identity, and takes over his employment. Thus begins “A Novel Disguise,” the first in a new historical mystery series by Samantha Larsen.

This rather outlandish premise is handled well. The author describes Tiffany’s feelings of finally being free; the brother was a terrible snob, keeping away from everyone, so impersonating him is relatively easy. And the clothing and accoutrements of the time (I’m thinking late Georgian, from references in the book) lend themselves to the deception. The real problem is “handling” her life as Tiffany. She has to “keep up appearances” there, too, which obviously lead to complications, especially with the odious village rector. And trouble may arrive in a visit from the Duchess of Sussex, a one-time friend. And the bookseller in town -- he’s rapidly becoming a complication; a welcome one, however. Did I mention that you can feel the romantic underpinnings of this story coming? Maybe I should.

Well, we are talking mystery here, and pretty soon we have one; one of the household maids, “no better than she should be,” is dead from poison. And Tiffany/Uriah realizes that her brother was likely poisoned, too - seems he may have been blackmailing someone. Is “he” on the “hit list,” also? More reason to be careful!

Someone is arrested, the wrong person, naturally -- for reasons that modern readers will understand all too well. Tiffany now has to work to find the real culprit, and for this she needs help, in the form of bookseller Sam Lathrop. And gets it, of course, not without some real complications for her and for Sam; prejudices are definitely alive and well, no matter the time period. But a murderer is revealed in a well-orchestrated fashion.

The language and setting of “A Novel Disguise” are competently used and described, although a little more “time and place” would have been appreciated. One real problem I have with the story is what happens to the murderer, which I can’t describe without resorting to spoilers. My issue relates to class and society and the treatment of people within that class and that society. More research should have been done here. Be that as it may, all’s well that ends well. “A Novel Disguise” is a story that moves along nicely, and even though you don’t think the basic premise can work, author Larsen handles it just fine.

This book was an entertaining and engaging story! Tiffany is a forty year old spinster who is finally freed from her horrible half brother Uriah when he not-so-sadly dies in the middle of the night. Disguised as him, she takes over his position at the home of a Duke and Duchess and subsequently gets roped into a few mysteries; all while trying to keep her ruse from being discovered. Adding a budding romance to the above as well as providing detailed historical references at the end made this an excellent binge read and an overall enjoyable experience.

I loved this! Tiffany is one of my favorite characters Samantha's written so far. She is kind and loving despite how she's been treated by her family and society.

When Tiffany wakes up one morning to find her brother dead in his room she panics. What is she going to do when they find out? Where will she go? A spinster with no money would inherit nothing. So she takes her fate into her own hand and takes on his identity instead.

The process of becoming her brother was quite extensive and I found myself anxious any time she made the switch between herself and Uriah. It's like being on the edge of your seat hoping no one discovers what she's doing. When murder takes place at the Palace where she's taken over Uriah's position as librarian, she starts to wonder if her brother's death wasn't natural.

With the help of a very handsome bookseller, Tiffany sets out to solve the mysteries happening at the Palace. I enjoyed reading about Tiffany and her life in disguise. The workings of the palace, the differences in status and station, and what is acceptable for women in society at that time made this for a balanced and exciting read. It doesn't just touch on social norms of the time period but also addresses racism and women's rights.

I 100% recommend this!

This was an interesting read, but definitely not for me. The descriptions were amazing, but too much. Defintiely for someone who loves a descriptive writing style.

Poor Tiffany Woodall is in quite a pickle. She is the housekeeper et al for her selfish, not at all nice, half brother Uriah. She is at his beck and call and, as it is 1785 England, she is, at age forty, totally dependent upon his largess. He earns a living as the librarian for a titled gentleman with a grand home. Duke's tend to have things like that. The job of librarian comes with a cottage. All very nice for Tiffany until it all goes off the rails. One morning she finds that Uriah has died in bed.She won't break down in tears over that, she's terrified that, with his death...well there goes the cottage and the income and it's hello to a homeless life of a spinster with no family to turn to. What is a clever lady supposed to do? First dig him a grave and plop him into it. As long as she can keep his demise a secret she has a chance of not ending up on the street. Then she has a brilliant idea! As she and Uriah looked very much alike she will don his wig and his clothing and become him. And now comes the challenge.
Tiffany has to lead two lives, deal with two men who want to know her better - the rector who wants a mother for his large motherless brood (no thank you) and the bookseller/constable (a much nicer prospect) and solve two murders. It appears that both Uriah and a member of the Duke's household were murdered. As she searches for clues to the murderer's identity she also searches here, there and just about everywhere for Uriah's missing diamond stick pin, an item of great value.
As all of this unfolds the laughs are plentiful, the puzzle well crafted and Miss Tiffany Woodall shows that she is very much a strong woman up to the challenge. I was cheering her on from chapter one and I hope we will get to spend more time with her.
My thanks to the publisher Crooked Lane and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this 18th century mystery…the author did a great job highlighting the difference of quality of life that men and women led. I also enjoyed learning more about the different styles of dress that were portrayed by different people in different stations.

Tiffany is the master of disguise- I was constantly amazed of how she was able to lead a double life. The mysterious murderer kept me guessing until the very end. A great book!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Oh my! Beware the mask of disguise!

When Miss Tiffany Woodall’s sanctimonious, penny pinching, selfish brother died overnight her second thought was what would happen to her. His position as librarian to the Duke of Beaumont gave them a house to live in and money. Where would she go? Then she hit on her desperate ingenious plan. Disguise herself as her brother and continue as normal. As Uriah’s sister she’d been the one to shop, and engage village folk. Uriah had been too high in the instep for that. What could go wrong?
Everything! Moving Uriah’s body was just Tiffany’s first difficulty. From then on, being caught naked bathing in the lake, to the hilarious time of both Tiffany and the dead Uriah (yes, at the same time) being asked to dinner with the Duke and Duchess, and her once upon a time friend, another Duchess. Despite these setbacks Tiffany manages to win through, only to have the sudden death of one of the staff in a suspicious manner disturbs things. As the bodies begin to pile up, it’s obvious that there’s a murderer on the loose! Tiffany is once again liable to exposure. Especially given the attention of the intelligent, dreamy Constable Lathrop.
Lots of high jinx had this novel galloping to an end that didn’t quite resolve some questions I’d had, but definitely answered others. I’m unsure if this is black comedy, or a satire of the times. Interestingly the laws and practices of the time are documented, heightening my knowledge of why Tiffany would consider the actions she took.
Well worth the read.

A Crooked Lane ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Pride & Prejudice meets Downton Abbey meets Agatha Christie in this hilariously fun mystery. I've never read anything by Samantha Larsen/Hastings but now I'm interested in more from her!

Miss Tiffany Woodall is a 40-year-old spinster keeping house for her brother. When she tries to wake up her brother one morning and he's dead, she assumes his vocation and identity in order to keep her home and her freedom. When it turns out her brother didn't die from natural causes, Tiffany makes it her mission to discreetly figure out who is administering poison and for what purpose. There are also marriage proposals, affairs, skinny dipping, jail time, and more. The writing was very engaging and I couldn't wait to see what happened next!

I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy when this releases in a couple of weeks.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

When Tiffany Woodall's older half-brother Uriah dies in the night, Tiffany decides to bury him in the garden and assume his identity as the librarian for the Duke of Beaufort. If she doesn't, she'll lose her home and be thrown on the parish for charity.

She is almost caught the very first night of her deception when bookseller Samir Lathrop catches her swimming in the Duke's lake to clean up after grave-digging and attempts to "rescue" her. She gradually fits herself into life at Astwell Palace but things begin to get difficult when one of her childhood friends comes to visit and she needs to find a way to be both herself and her brother.

More problems come when the slimy vicar decides that Tiffany will make an excellent third wife and mother to his fourteen children. And still more problems arrive when a larcenous maid dies after taking poisoned snuff and the footman who takes the maid's snuffbox gets sick. Tiffany realizes that her brother's death was also caused by poisoned snuff instead of his usual stomach complaints as she had first believed.

Now Tiffany needs to find out who murdered the maid and her brother while keeping her identity secret from everyone including Mr. Lathrop who has introduced her to novels and been a friend to her.

This was an entertaining historical mystery set in the 1700s in England. There was interesting historical detail especially regarding people of color in England at that time. I also enjoyed reading about the various costumes and make-up of the day and the criminal justice system.

When Miss Tiffany Woodall finds her cruel half-brother dead, she knows she must act fast if she wants to ensure her future security. With no one the wiser, she buries him in the garden, dresses in his clothes, and takes over as librarian to the Duke of Beaufort. If that wasn’t complicated enough, the body of a servant is found. Can Tiffany solve the crime without revealing her scandalous secret?

Well. This was an unexpected delight to read! Tiffany was a mature, no-nonsense character, and it was fun to follow her through the story. She made the best decision she thought she could in her situation. I also enjoyed that she made mistakes as she put her clues together.

If there was one thing that I didn’t like was that I found it difficult to place the time period. The summary tells us this is in the late 1700’s, and descriptions of face powdering, powdering the hair, wigs, and patches on the face confirm this. But then we are also treated to scenes of Tiffany being laced tightly in a corset and feeling it difficult to breathe. Corsets of the time (stays) were not made in a way where that was possible. So I found this a bit frustrating and confusing.

Overall, this was a fun beginning to a series and I would recommend it to readers looking for a historical mystery series.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was just what I needed. A cozy mystery which I will definitely be looking for more books that are similar. A Novel Disguise was a charming historical mystery set in the 18th century before women or racial and ethnic minorities had the same rights as white men. They were seen as lesser than, and this book did not shy away from that fact. The author included a lot of notes and cited references at the end of the book that highlighted some of the horrific treatment minorities were subject to. It was clear she did a lot of research while writing this book, and while they were mentioned in it, the book still managed to maintain that cozy feeling that mysteries of this type often need.

This was very original, as I hadn't really read anything of this vein before. Historical mysteries may now be my favorite type of mystery. It followed a "spinster" whose brother dies, so she takes over his identity to remain living in the way she had grown accustomed to. The mystery aspect that of this was really cool. People being poisoned with no one knowing how or why or who was doing it. I enjoyed uncovering the mystery with the Tiffany. She was smart and capable, and it definitely made me glad that I was born in the time period I was. The historical aspects furthered the plot and I was glad that the romantic subplot wasn't the highlight. Overall it was a really great book and I look forward to reading more from Larsen as well as the books she writes under the name of Samantha Hastings.

Story of the book-

London in 1784. Miss Tiffany Woodall buried her half-brother in the backyard to maintain her cottage even though she didn’t murder him. The confirmed spinster now has to explore Astwell Palace for Uriah’s lost diamond pin, the sole valuable item they own, while acting as Uriah and doing out his responsibilities as the Duke of Beaufort’s librarian. She is just washing up in a lake after burying her brother when she is spotted by Mr. Samir Lathrop, the neighborhood bookshop, who attempts to prevent her from drowning.

She intends to follow the rules up until the rector asks her to marry him and she begins to feel something for Mr. Lathrop. Yet Tiffany soon discovers that her secret isn’t the only one kept behind these walls when her childhood friend Tess pays a visit. A body of a servant is discovered, coupled with a cache of stolen goods, and another person develops an unexplained illness. Can Tiffany complete these puzzles without having her cover revealed? She risks losing her life and her cottage if she doesn’t.

My review-

We learn a tonne about historical events that occurred in the middle of the 18th century, as well as a glimpse into the lives of aristocrats and servants, as well as plenty of social injustice. All of this is deftly woven into the tale, and its presence serves to advance the storyline or foster empathy for the characters. I found this to be a fantastic beginning to a new series because of the murder, hidden secrets, blackmail, repulsive suitors, illicit liaisons, and masquerading deceit that abound and intertwine with a variety of well-rounded and different characters and a growing relationship.

This novel was fantastic, and I adored Tiffany. She was juggling being a librarian, maintaining a household, and making sure her lie was not found. She was falling for the gorgeous bookseller/constable while also fighting off the approaches of the neighborhood rector. The struggle and contrast of individuals who live in various social, racial, and gender roles, and how Tiffany felt bound by them but attempted to break free of them, or how she perceived others because of how she had experienced them, were fascinating aspects of the novel that I loved.

Although it’s mostly a murder mystery with a dash of romance, Tiffany herself and how she handles her new circumstances in the wake of her half-passing brothers are my favorite aspects. I don’t believe I would revisit it because the characters, narrative, or writing aren’t especially ground-breaking or memorable, but I still enjoyed reading it, and that’s what counts. Although the pace of this endearing narrative was sluggish and there were historical errors (for example, ladies had pockets and peers were tried in the House of Lords), I loved our elder heroine and would read another novel about her.

Set in 1794, Miss Tiffany Woodall's brother Uriah dies under unusual circumstances. Tiffany makes a quick decision to masquerade as him to avoid losing everything including her cabin and financial means. As a female in a man's world, her options are otherwise slim, especially as she is over forty Her admirers want to "rescue" her and felt they would be doing her a favour by marrying her. But she wouldn't have any of that as an independent and feisty woman who would only marry for love. She would dress for success and had to be convincing as two people at all times, preferably not simultaneously! Turns out she wasn't the only one with secrets. And then death comes knocking again.

Uriah was also a librarian and therefore had access to countless books, precisely what Tiffany yearned for and dreamed of. Author Samantha Larsen includes beloved Classics which are as treasured now as they were then (though it was scandalous for women to read novels). I really like the tender book shop scene with Mr. Lathrop.

The Georgian era is supremely interesting to read and learn about. Samantha Larsen gorgeously etches history into her words with details I gobbled up such as face powder, fancy wigs, dress, food, flirtations, social mores, manners, delousing, funerals and banns. Socioeconomic divisions are highlighted as well. What was considered abhorrent for the lower classes was ignored in upper classes. Some characters are quirky and others downright unlikeable (which for me really adds to a good story).

Historical Fiction fans seeking a fun new series filled to the brim with future potential, this is for you. I am so curious to discover what the author has in store for her readers!

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this delightful book...hopefully they author has many more to follow in this new series!

Read it for the:
-Old FMC (40 years)
-Cozy murder mystery vibes
-Mulan trope (woman disguised as a man)
-Diverse charter cast
-Sweet romance subplot
-Surprising humor

Romance/Steam: Clean
Content Warning: Murder, racism, cheating (side characters)
Final Rating: 4 / 5

A refreshing take on a classic genre, A Novel Disguise will be a welcome addition to your TBR.

What I enjoyed the most about this book had to be the main character, Tiffany. I loved the fact that she was a 40-year-old spinster. Her personal journey to independence was at the heart of this story. Thrown in stolen identity, a couple of murders, a mansion full of suspects, and an unlikely romance, you have a well-rounded but entertaining read.

I really appreciated that Tiffany was a loveable and intelligent main character. I also loved the diverse cast of side characters, including the love interest Sam. Their “meet cute” made me laugh and I enjoyed the fact that their friendship brought a lightheartedness to the plot.

As far as the mystery aspect went, I appreciated how the crime unfolded, and was surprised at how it developed. I kept guessing who the final villain was until the end.

My only complaint was that I wished more from the ending and wanted to see more of Tiffany and Sam's relationship development. But I hope for a second book because they make a great duo!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

What a lovely surprise! The mystery is solid, the characters interesting, and the hint of romance is charming. Tiffany is an inspiring heroine - she’s a spinster with moxie. I certainly hope this is the start of a series because I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.