The Case of the Masked Stranger
(2026)(The ninth book in the Lady Theodora Ashcombe Mysteries series)
A novel by Daisy Landish
A masquerade. A murder. A message meant only for her.
When Lady Theodora ‘Theo’ Ashcombe attends a glittering society ball, she expects gossip and dancing—not a masked stranger who warns her that ‘unfinished cases’ are about to erupt into violence. Minutes later, an influential investor collapses in the orangery, poisoned in full view of London’s elite.
The killer leaves clues as theatrical as the crime itself—perfumed silk fruit, a walking stick abandoned in haste, and a wax seal marked with three interlocking rings. And every breadcrumb leads straight back to Theo’s old espionage investigations…along with a powerful traitor who’s been hiding in plain sight.
With Inspector Hargrave at her side—and her clever spaniel Pip sniffing out evidence others miss—Theo follows a trail from Bond Street perfumers to Foreign Office corruption, opera-house intrigue, and the whispered name of a man once presumed dead. But someone is eliminating witnesses faster than Theo can question them…and she may be next.
As masks fall and loyalties shift, Theo must decide who to trust before the final act plays out in the most dangerous theatre in London.
Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, and Tasha Alexander—this Victorian cozy mystery blends high society glamour, slow-burn romantic tension, coded messages, and a twisty whodunnit that keeps readers guessing until the last page.
Genre: Mystery
When Lady Theodora ‘Theo’ Ashcombe attends a glittering society ball, she expects gossip and dancing—not a masked stranger who warns her that ‘unfinished cases’ are about to erupt into violence. Minutes later, an influential investor collapses in the orangery, poisoned in full view of London’s elite.
The killer leaves clues as theatrical as the crime itself—perfumed silk fruit, a walking stick abandoned in haste, and a wax seal marked with three interlocking rings. And every breadcrumb leads straight back to Theo’s old espionage investigations…along with a powerful traitor who’s been hiding in plain sight.
With Inspector Hargrave at her side—and her clever spaniel Pip sniffing out evidence others miss—Theo follows a trail from Bond Street perfumers to Foreign Office corruption, opera-house intrigue, and the whispered name of a man once presumed dead. But someone is eliminating witnesses faster than Theo can question them…and she may be next.
As masks fall and loyalties shift, Theo must decide who to trust before the final act plays out in the most dangerous theatre in London.
Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn, Anna Lee Huber, and Tasha Alexander—this Victorian cozy mystery blends high society glamour, slow-burn romantic tension, coded messages, and a twisty whodunnit that keeps readers guessing until the last page.
Genre: Mystery