Murder Most Wilde by Helen Golden
Series: A Right Royal Cozy Investigation #12
Genres: Cozy Mystery
In the world of amateur theatre, the drama isn’t all onstage…
Tragedy Strikes the Windstanton Players
Popular local actor, Noel Ashworth, who collapsed during the rehearsal of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, was pronounced dead at the scene. As shock ripples through Windstanton’s tight-knit amateur theatre group, the Fenshire Police are looking at them as suspects.I can’t let Perry’s acting debut end in disaster! With the cast spooked and the local police under-resourced, Bea—along with Perry, Rich, Simon, and her trusty Westie, Daisy must shift through the cast’s petty jealousies and diva behaviour to unmask the killer before they strike again.
When the show must go on...will everyone make it to opening night?
I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review
This was my first time reading a book from the Right Royal Cozy Investigations series—and wow, what a treat! Helen Golden masterfully crafts a murder mystery that stands perfectly on its own while hinting at a wonderfully rich world of recurring characters. If you’re a first-timer like me, don’t worry: there’s even a character guide at the back to help you get your bearings (though truthfully, you’ll be swept into the story so quickly, you may not even need it).
The plot kicks off when Perry, an aspiring actor finally getting his big break, finds himself entangled in a real-life mystery when the leading man suddenly collapses during rehearsal. As it turns out, it wasn’t just stage fright—it was murder. What unfolds from there is a lively whodunit packed with twists, secrets, and a cast of suspects that kept me guessing until the end. The victim? Utterly detestable. The motive? Could’ve been anyone. That’s what makes it so deliciously entertaining.
Meanwhile, Perry’s husband Simon juggles writing his detective novel and running a restaurant, while Lady Bea—royal by blood, sleuth by choice—is weighing the unexpected prospect of joining the Royal Family as a working royal. Her fiancé Rich brings charm and wit to the mix, and their chemistry is absolutely delightful.
Despite the many threads—murders, royal duties, personal ambitions—Golden weaves them all together seamlessly. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sparkles, and the characters leap off the page with warmth and humor. Honestly, I didn’t want it to end.
Whether you binge it in a day or savor every chapter, Murder Most Wilde is a sparkling, clever mystery that will leave you smiling—and craving the next installment. I’m officially hooked.
Meet the Author
About Helen Golden
With quirky characters, clever red herrings, and plots that keep the pages turning, she’s the author of the much-loved A Right Royal Cozy Investigation series, following Lady Beatrice and her friends—including one clever little dog—as they uncover secrets hidden in country houses and royal palaces. Her new historical mystery series, The Duchess of Stortford Mysteries, is set in Victorian England and introduces an equally curious sleuth from Lady Beatrice’s own family tree—where murders are solved over cups of tea, whispered gossip, and overheard conversations in drawing rooms and grand estates.
Helen lives in a quintessential English village in Lincolnshire with her husband, stepdaughter, and a menagerie of pets—including a dog, several cats, a tortoise, and far too many fish.
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