Murder Stage Left

A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery, Book 26

By: Verity Bright

Narrated by: Karen Cass

A totally gripping historical cozy murder mystery

Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage?

Dashing showman Richard Ratcliffe is set to return to the stage at the famous Shakespeare Memorial theatre. But when priceless items belonging to Shakespeare himself go missing from the theatre’s collection, Eleanor knows someone has gone off-book…

Then the beautiful old theatre is set on fire. The gang are horror-struck, and while racing to help, Eleanor’s loyal butler Clifford discovers an act of foul play: Ratcliffe, the show’s leading man, is dead inside from a blow to the head.

Was the fire a deliberate distraction to cover up the murder? Hugh believes Ratcliffe may have caught the thief in the act, but Eleanor isn’t so certain.

With the production in tatters, the cast and crew are flailing. Everyone is playing a part and Eleanor needs to decide who is putting on a deadly show and who is telling the truth. Did the director have more to gain from the insurance money than a standing ovation? Maybe the leading lady feared she was about to be upstaged?

Hunting for local gossip at the town tearoom, Eleanor discovers Ratcliffe had secrets he was desperate to keep from stealing the show…

But the culprit is waiting in the wings. And it’s only a matter of time before Eleanor steps too far into their deadly spotlight. Can she catch the killer before it’s curtains for her too?

A totally delightful historical cozy murder mystery. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, L.B. Hathaway and Lee Strauss will be hooked!

©2026 Verity Bright (P)2026 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Glad for another story with this beloved cast of characters on their latest case.

Glad for another story wit Glad for another story with this beloved cast of characters on their latest case. h this beloved cast of characters on their latest case.

Just keeps getting better and better!

I have read this entire series. Good series. This is a good one. Fun. Keeps things fresh and holds one's interest. Growth of characters. Plot is tight and fast paced. Story is logically laid out and progressed - random details can indicate "red herrings" but not if they simply clutter things up or if one has to go back in the story to make sense of them and yet they end up being merely random - this book has purpose and knows where it is going. I also like that it is over 8 hrs as I find it irritating to spend a credit on a short book. Books are supposed to have content and that takes pages/hours. Novellas are short. Good historical details that enrich the story but are interwoven so they do not distract. The series continues to be not only a solid whodunnit but well written and engaging. I have look forward to each new Lady Swift and company. Love the raven, dog, cat, The Aprons, and Clifford. Like seeing the newlywed couple develop their rhythm. Appreciate that although the characters are affluent and are able to live in a certain amount of style, they don't live in the fantasy world of the filthy rich where expenses are of no more concern than breathing, and the normal realities of life, even for those of their station, belong to someone else. I'll keep reading this series. I like it. I look forward to the new one.

Great mystery, lots of suspects.

I enjoyed the pacing, the plot and the characters. Make sure you read or listen to the Historical Notes.