The Case of the Dovetail Opera
Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery #4
by Daisy Landish
Published: December 13, 2025
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Genre: Short Read, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Victorian Cozy Mystery
Blurb:
When a soprano dies on stage during La Traviata, Lady Theodora Ashcombe discovers that murder isn't the only performance at London's Royal Opera House.
A prop dagger that turns out to be steel. A victim who asked too many questions about Continental patrons. And a wealthy opera house benefactor with secrets worth killing for.
Lady Theodora Ashcombe thought her investigation into a fashion house espionage ring was finished—until a desperate letter arrives from the Royal Opera House. Celebrated soprano Mlle. Claudette Rousseau has collapsed on stage during rehearsal, struck by a blade that should have been harmless. The police call it a tragic accident, but the opera house manager fears something far more sinister.
The curtain rises on conspiracy...
When Theo and her investigative team arrive at Covent Garden, they discover that Claudette had been documenting suspicious meetings in the private boxes, coded messages hidden in musical scores, and a Continental intelligence network using London's most prestigious stage as their coordination center.
With her loyal spaniel Pip detecting poison, her sharp-witted cousin Bea translating musical cipher, and help from both the brooding private inquiry agent Jasper Welles and the determined Inspector Hargrave, Theo must navigate theatrical temperaments, backstage secrets, and deadly performances to expose the truth.
But the real danger lurks behind the velvet curtain...
As escaped operatives from her previous case resurface with murderous intent, Theo races to find the evidence Claudette died protecting. The investigation leads from dressing room secrets to catwalk confrontations high above the stage, where one misstep could be fatal.
And when the wealthy patron Mr. Percival Dovetail proves to be far more dangerous than he appears, Theo must orchestrate a trap during the opera's final performance—with every seat in the house potentially occupied by a spy.
Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Tasha Alexander, and classic Victorian mysteries with wit, intelligence, and a thoroughly modern heroine.
My Review:
The
Case of the Dovetail Opera brings us the next great mystery to solve
in the Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery story by Daisy Landish. With
each clue she unravels, the stakes grow higher, leading her closer to
a truth that could shatter the very foundations of the opera house. I
couldn’t wait to dive into The Case of the Dovetail Opera to see
what mystery Theo and Pip find themselves in the middle of.
And
believe me, I was not disappointed in the least, as The Case of the
Dovetail Opera was everything I was expecting and more, as it had
many twists and turns, not to mention all the suspense that had me
hanging on every word from beginning to end.
The Case of
the Dovetail Opera may be a short read, but it had more than enough
mystery and intrigue to keep me captivated and the pages turning with
many questions that I wanted and needed to be answered quickly. I was
drawn in by all the secrets that Theo kept finding in her
investigation. As she delved deeper into the case, each clue
unraveled a new layer of complexity that left me eager to see how it
would all tie together. The unexpected alliances and betrayals added
to the tension, making it impossible to predict the outcome until the
very last page.
Mlle. Claudette Rousseau has collapsed on
stage during rehearsal, struck by a blade made of steel, not a prop,
during a performance of La Traviata. The incident sent shockwaves
through the theater community, raising suspicions about the true
intentions of those involved.
As
Theo delved deeper into the shadows surrounding Mlle. Rousseau's
collapse, she realized that the dangers lurking behind the scenes
were far greater than she had imagined. Theo’s investigation could
turn deadly if the case is not solved soon, as there are secrets that
someone does not want to see revealed.
Claudette’s
death appeared to be an accident, but was it? Theo is not so sure
after the things she discovered Claudette was involved in during her
search for the truth about what really happened up on that stage.
As
she pieced together the fragments of Claudette's life, the shadows
around her seemed to deepen, hinting at secrets that were far more
sinister than she had imagined. With each revelation, Theo felt the
weight of the danger that loomed closer, urging her to act before she
became the next victim of a conspiracy that stretched far beyond the
curtain’s edge.
I highly recommend grabbing a copy of
The Case of the Dovetail Opera today for another great mystery to
solve!
Check out all the books in the Lady Theodora Ashcombe Mysteries I’ve read.
The Case of the Clockwork Canary #0
The Case of the Vanishing Heiress #1
The Case of the Murderous Botanist #2
The Case of the Silk Widow #3
The Case of the Dovetail Opera #4
