A cozy set in 1784! Tiffany is settled into her new position as librarian to the Duchess but of course things go wonky very quickly. She finds the body of Bernard outside her door. She didn't kill him and neither did her love interest Samir so she sets out to find the real villain. Bernard, of course was disliked by many. The mystery is less interesting in some ways than the relationship between Tiffany and Samir (wasn't entirely a fan). I missed the first book so this was a standalone- and it was fine that way. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

What a wonderful heartfelt continuation of this series! I have been waiting for this lovely continuation of the beautiful spinster Tiffany and handsome Indian, Samir! The writing was incredible and I could not put it down! I find this time of history to be absolutely frightening and fascinating! Loved it!

Once Upon a Murder by Samantha Larsen is the second book in the Lady Librarian series. I would recommend reading the books in order.

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 books: the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder. As Tiffany hunts for the truth to clear her name, she learns that Bernard got into a fight over a woman at the local pub the night of his death–but he was also overheard blackmailing Samir. The justice of the peace arrests Samir, and Tiffany realizes that her life may have more in common with a tragic play than a light-hearted romance. With her love locked up in jail and her own reputation on the line, Tiffany must attempt to solve the murder before the book closes on her or Samir’s life.

Once Upon a Murder is a splendid follow up to A Novel Disguise. Tiffany is settling in to her new life as librarian and fill in tutor when things stop being peaceful again. The death of Bernard is not one many mourn- but some are more interested in seeing someone pay for the crime than solving the mystery or seeing true justice done. I thought the mystery was woven well, and the variety of twists and turns surprised me more than once. I thought the prejudices and assumptions of many of the characters were very accurate- and frankly a bit maddening. The treatment of women, suspicion of anyone other or vaguely different is very well depicted here, and might give readers both the peace in how far we come and a bit of anger for how much it all still remains.

I greatly enjoyed this read and look forward any more that might follow from the author.

The Second Lady Librarian mystery finds Tiffany investigating a murder to clear her own name.

I’d highly recommend reading the first in this series before this one, otherwise you will be lost with characters! It just jumps in with little context for readers new to the series.

This book took me a while to get into, I started reading it at the end of November and have only just finished it three months later. It's hard to pinpoint what didn't work for me about this book as the premise, setting and main themes are what I look for in a book. I liked that I solved some of the smaller mysteries along the way in the story but was still in the dark at the big reveal. I thought that some of the discussions about women's bodies felt a bit out of place but having not read the first book in the series it's hard to tell if it played a bigger part in that story. I felt the pace pick up about two thirds of the way through for me but the first part of the book felt like a slog to get through for me.

Once Upon a Murder by Samantha Larsen second in the Lady Librarian series. I wanted to love this story. I loved the first one in the series and could not read to return to these characters. I just did not connect with them in this book. Tiffany seemed more unsure of herself and naiver than what she presented in the first book. Samir had a lot going for him until some choices were made that just did not sit well with me. The unnecessary focus on the workings of a woman’s body seemed out of context for this story and took away more than they added. It felt more like a young adult book based on the cadence and descriptions of conversations, scenes, and emotions. Overall, the story itself was promising, but the delivery fell short of what I was hoping for. Maybe the next one will be better. I am willing to give it a try since I have previously enjoyed this author.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Fairly predictable mystery, but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. I only thought it was predictable because I solved the mystery before the characters did. And I enjoyed this one more than I did the first book in the series.

Reasons to read:
- Murder Mystery
- Romance between older characters (FMC is 40/ MC is 35)
- Fun, twisty plot
- Diverse cast of characters

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 :
Romance: Closed-Door
Trigger warning: light violence, murder, past r*pe of a secondary character, graphic childbirth, racism, abuse

𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Once Upon A Murder feels like a new-age, satirical murder mystery film, with a feminist nod. A Whodunit, with a strong cast of characters, with even stronger motives to kill.

Let me begin by saying I loved so many parts of this book! After the previous installment, Tiffany’s life seemed to be coming together, with her ownership of a cottage, new position as a librarian, and budding romance with the town law enforcer/bookseller, Samir. Her life is suddenly thrown for a loop with the murder of a person with many enemies, including herself.

The strength of this book is the characters. It’s so unique, with its diverse cast! I love Tiffany and her intelligent, but innocent nature. This combination made for many funny situations. Her determination to find answers and forge ahead, was to be admired, especially when it came to solving a complex murder and clearing others of suspension. The returning cast added to the plot and development of the case; it was an added plus to see them again.

This story discussed many difficult topics such as racism, abuse, violence, and assault in a respectful way. It added a certain realism to the story that many historical romances do not explore. I enjoyed the historical notes and the flow of the story.

I will say, that I am uncertain how I felt about the author's decision to describe things that happen to the female body in a slightly graphic way. I applaud her for adding in those parts (especially since they also added a level of comedy and helped show/develop Tiffany’s character), but also am not used to reading about them in novels. So if you are squeamish, you may want to skip ahead.

All in all, I would love to read another installment in the Lady Librarian series!

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

Such an emotional Lady Librarian Mystery. And filled with so much love, be it romantic, familial, friendship, or found family. Tiffany literally has a body dropped on her doorstep, which causes a ripple effect of unimaginable proportions. I also found the mystery to be sharp and smart, and it kept me guessing.

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

Tiffany made some enemies in the previous installment, and that does not help her when she has to find the culprit who left a dead body near her home. In the previous book, she developed an affection for the person locally in charge of Law and Order. He encouraged the relationship as well, which is why it felt a little jarring to find out about his marital status. This particular part was explained well by the author and was interesting in its own right. The writing was better in this one than in the previous story, and the reveal was extremely unexpected.
As readers, I do not think the author means for us to guess anything about what might have happened with the murder since the information is provided in bits and pieces, and the ending reveal did feel a little out of the blue. I do not know if there is another book in the series, but it is not one I would be pursuing.
It is set in a different tone and pacing than other books set in the same time frame, and I would recommend it to readers who like that combination.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The Lady Librarian Mysteries are truly fun to read. I really enjoyed the book very much. Tiffany and Samir are just wonderful together but other than the returning characters, the new characters too did not disappoint. Although this time I found the plot to be a little disappointing. There was too much drama happening around for us to keep our focus on the murder. Other than that, I really would have loved to see more of Tiffany and Samir.

This just wasn't the book for me. The first few pages turned me off and I couldn't get into a headspace to enjoy the remainder of the book. I'm sure this a great read for others, but it's a DNF for me unfortunately.

I had a lot of fun reading this historical cozy mystery! It is the second book in the A Lady Librarian series. Although I haven't read the first one, I was still able to understand and enjoy the story, however, it does frequently reference events and characters from the first installment. I would recommend reading it first but I don't think it's necessary. I really connected to the heroine, Tiffany, who is a incredibly strong, creative, and determined woman who takes matters into her own hands and marches to the beat of her own drum. The romance was really sweet as well and had a heart warming ending. I would recommend to anyone looking for an easy, cozy read with mystery and romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read the ARC!

I very much enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was looking forward to the second book. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book and did not finish it. The characters felt very different from the first book and it took away many of the things that made the first book so enjoyable. The inconsistency between the two books felt very jarring. I will not be posting a public review of this book as I chose not to finish it. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title.

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 books: the justice of the peace immediately declares her the primary suspect in the murder. This is a murder mystery. With several suspects and murders it's hard to follow. I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

Let me preface this review by saying I did not read the first book. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had.

Historical romances are my comfort books. They are what got me back into reading as an adult and led to me finding my favorite genre, historical murder mysteries. I should have loved this book! Unfortunately, the plot and writing left a lot to be desired. I couldn’t wait to turn the page, not because it was good, but because I wanted it to be over.

None of the characters were likable except for Captain Beau, but even he couldn’t rescue the plot.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read the ARC.

In 1784 England, Tiffany Woodall, now the Duchess of Beaufort's librarian, has her peaceful life disrupted when she discovers the body of former footman Bernard Coram. To keep herself free of suspicion, Tiffany sets out to Unravel the mystery herself. She uncovers Bernard's involvement in a pub fight and blackmail, leading to the arrest of the constable Samir Lathrop. The race is on to save him before he is unjustly condemned for a crime he didn’t commit.

Since I enjoyed the first book of this series so much, I was eager to see what new adventure Tiffany would become involved in. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one as much. Tiffany, who had been a mature character before, now came across as completely different. I thought I would enjoy seeing her and Samir interacting together, but I was not expecting the interactions they would have in this book.

There were parts that felt rushed in the narrative. Problems that felt like they should have had a serious, long term impact on all the characters, were overcome in ways that felt too easy. It felt as though the mystery was overshadowed by the drama happening, so the solution to the mystery felt as though it came out of nowhere.

I was disappointed but other readers may not be. I would recommend this to readers who don’t mind a bit of drama in their mysteries.

I’m not entirely familiar with what entails a cozy mystery, but if I had to guess, it would be a read like this as that is exactly what it felt like. A historical cozy mystery. Set in the late 1700s, our main FMC Tiffany finds a body outside of her cottage. Someone has been murdered. Thus ensues a lot of finger pointing among the town, resulting in her lover being taken in as the culprit simply because he is of color and foreigner, therefore he must be the murderer right? So Tiffany tries her best to find the real murderer, which in the process uncovers a lot of secrets, and tries to get Samir released from the jail for a crime he very much did not commit. I did appreciate that— especially given the time period— she was like shame on you for being racist to the people who were like yeah Samir should hang for this, even if they knew he wasn’t the one who did it.
From this you’re probably like, what cozy about this? Well it was a nice read to just sit back and relax to and read as Tiffany brambles about town uncovering secrets and figuring out what happened to the dead man. Plus there is a baby, and a happily ever after for our dear spinster.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the early copy!

I loved that there is interesting historical information mixed in this book. The mystery is well done and it was fun trying to solve the mystery. There were several plot twists. I liked the book.

"Once Upon a Murder" by Samantha Larsen In the enthralling second installment of the Lady Librarian mystery series, author Samantha Larsen takes readers on a captivating journey through 1784 England in "Once Upon a Murder." With echoes of Deanna Raybourn's atmospheric storytelling and a touch of the beloved Bridgerton series, this book promises a thrilling blend of mystery, romance, and historical intrigue. The story revolves around the intelligent and determined Miss Tiffany Woodall, who finds herself entangled in yet another murder investigation. Having left behind a past filled with masquerades and deadly secrets, Tiffany's peaceful life as the librarian for the Duchess of Beaufort is abruptly shattered when she comes across the lifeless body of Mr. Bernard Coram, a former footman. To make matters worse, the justice of the peace hastily accuses Tiffany of being the prime suspect in this chilling crime. Refusing to accept her wrongful implication, Tiffany embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind the murder, aiming to clear her own name and save her beloved Samir from the clutches of injustice. As she delves deeper into the case, Tiffany unravels a web of secrets, discovering that Bernard's demise may be connected to a fateful encounter he had at a local pub—where he was involved in a violent altercation over a woman. Furthermore, rumors circulate that Bernard was blackmailing Samir, complicating matters and intensifying Tiffany's determination to solve the mystery. Larsen skillfully weaves together a tale brimming with suspense, romance, and unexpected plot twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The author's impeccable attention to historical detail immerses readers in the vibrant backdrop of 18th-century England, painting a vivid picture of societal norms, class struggles, and the intricacies of the time. What truly sets "Once Upon a Murder" apart is Larsen's ability to craft complex and relatable characters. Tiffany's resilience and intelligence shine throughout the narrative, making her a captivating and admirable protagonist. As she fights to clear her name and save Samir, readers will find themselves emotionally invested in her journey. The supporting cast, from the justice of the peace to the enigmatic Samir, adds depth and intrigue, keeping readers guessing about their true intentions until the very end. Samantha Larsen's "Once Upon a Murder" is a gripping historical mystery that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages. With its perfect blend of romance, suspense, and historical charm, this novel is a must-read for fans of the Lady Librarian series and anyone seeking an engrossing tale of love, betrayal, and the quest for justice. Prepare to be transported to a bygone era, where secrets lurk behind every corner and the lines between tragedy and passion blur.