The Corpse in Court Dress and Other Inconvenient Alterations

A Cozy Regency Mystery of Love and Murder

By: Marisa Paxon

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

I am the narrator of this book, which means I have already hauled you through foggy London, French trimming, and the exact number of pins required to keep society stitched together. And now they have decided I must also persuade you to buy the privilege of watching it all unravel.

At Madame Follet’s modiste on Bond Street, Lydia Hart’s mornings are meant to involve court satin with a temper and ladies with opinions, not a viscountess collapsing mid-curtsey and refusing to breathe ever again. Unfortunately, Viscountess Dalrymple chooses to die in the fitting room, in her unfinished court dress, directly after demanding tea and her own precious box of sugared almonds. Lydia poured the cup. Lydia handled the sweets. Lydia, being Lydia, noticed a smear of fine white powder where it did not belong, and now cannot unsee it.

Bow Street arrives with boots, notebooks, and an enthusiastic interest in the last hands near the teapot. Royal patronage wobbles, clients sharpen their gossip, and Lydia’s entire livelihood hangs on one small, ugly fact: London loves a simple story, and “seamstress poisons a viscountess” fits very neatly on a tongue. Unlike most gowns.

Helping, interfering, and generally refusing to stay in his lane is Lord Benedict Ravenshaw, a charming menace with excellent timing, ink-stained fingers, and far too much practice at listening to people when they think they are safe. Lydia makes lists. He collects secrets. Together, they pick at a trail of debts, grudges, and a suspiciously effective almond box, until the truth is forced to show its stitching.

Perfect for readers who like prickly competent heroines, Regency London fashion rooms, Bow Street investigations, razor-dry humour, and romance that simmers rather than singes.

A cozy-leaning, non-gory Regency mystery with a clue-rich investigation and a closed-door slow-burn romance with a happy ending (yes, properly committed). It is also a complete, standalone case, so you may begin here without being scolded by anyone, except possibly me.

Go on then, click Look Inside and let us see what needs altering.