The Case of the Christmas Corpse
Lady Theodora Ashcoombe Mystery #5
by Daisy Landish
Published: December 27, 2025
Publisher: Beaches and Trails Publishing
Genre: Short Read, Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery, Victorian Cozy Mystery
Blurb:
A festive house party. A shocking murder. And secrets that could destroy everything Lady Theodora holds dear.
When Lady Theodora Ashcombe returns to her family's estate for Christmas, she expects nothing more taxing than navigating her aunt's matchmaking schemes and enduring awkward encounters with two very different men who both seem determined to complicate her life.
But when a body is discovered beneath the Christmas tree on the first night of the house party, the festivities turn deadly.
The victim is a man no one admits to knowing—yet someone at Ashcombe Park wanted him dead badly enough to kill him in front of a houseful of witnesses. With a forged invitation in his pocket and a locket containing a photograph of Theodora's late mother, the mystery becomes devastatingly personal.
Trapped by a snowstorm with a killer among the guests, Theodora must unravel:
Why a man supposedly dead for fifteen years appeared at her family's Christmas celebration
What scandalous secrets from her mother's past someone would kill to protect
Which of the elegant guests hiding in plain sight is a murderer
With her loyal maid Bea and her clever spaniel Pip at her side, Theodora races to expose the truth. But when she's attacked in the dead of night, she realizes this investigation is more dangerous than any she's faced before.
Inspector Hargrave wants to protect her. Her rakish ex-fiancé Jasper wants to help her. And the vicar's earnest son wants to marry her. But what Theodora wants is justice—even if pursuing it means confronting painful truths about her own family.
Because some secrets are worth killing for. And some mysteries hit far too close to home.
Perfect for fans of Tasha Alexander, Deanna Raybourn, and classic Agatha Christie, THE CASE OF THE CHRISTMAS CORPSE is a delightful Victorian cozy mystery with a sharp-witted sleuth, a loyal spaniel, and enough romantic tension to warm even the coldest winter night.
My Review:
Theo returns home for Christmas, but her family's house is filled with unsettling mysteries. To her surprise, she discovers the body of a man who has been dead for 15 years hidden under the Christmas tree.
This shocking find uncovers a hidden past involving Theo's mother, and Theo finds herself trapped in a house with a thief and a murderer. Determined to uncover the truth, Theo must work quickly to figure out why this uninvited man is there and what he knows about her mother, all while fending off threats to her own safety.
What was meant to be a joyful holiday gathering turns into a suspenseful quest to solve a perplexing mystery from the past. Theo's Christmas homecoming has become a high-stakes adventure filled with ghosts, secrets, and danger.
The Case of the Christmas Corpse captivated me with its intriguing mysteries. Someone was determined to keep these secrets hidden, even if it meant taking a life.
As I delved into the story, I became increasingly curious about the unknown man found under the tree. Who was he, and how was he connected to the protagonist, Theo? The allure of unraveling these puzzles kept me engaged throughout the narrative.
If you're in the mood for an engaging mystery, I highly recommend checking out The Case of the Christmas Corpse.
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
The Case of the Christmas Corpse #5
