The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden (A Laetitia Rodd Mystery, #3) by Kate Saunders

The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden (A Laetitia Rodd Mystery, #3) Reviews

• 
  Barbara

  
  
  In this 3rd book in the Laetitia Rodd series, the private detective investigates the death of a thespian. The book works fine as a standalone.
  
  *****
  
  In the mid-19th century Mrs. Laetitia Rodd, needing a source of income after her archdeacon husband dies, becomes a private detective.
  
  
  
  Conservative and respectable, Mrs. Rodd wouldn't normally mingle with theatrical people, who rate VERY low on Britain's rigid social scale. However when Mrs. Rodd's neighbor Benjamin Tully, a retired thespian, brings a delicious seed cake and asks Mrs. Rodd to help his actress friend Sarah Transome.....
  
  
  
  
  
  .....the detective agrees to listen to his request.
  
  
  
  Tully explains that his friend Sarah Transome's husband, Thomas Transome, has an acting company to which Tully himself belonged until ten years ago.
  
  
  
  At that time the King's Theatre leased by Thomas burned down, and Tully was injured, and subsequently retired from acting. Thomas Transome went on to lease another theatre, and he's now fallen in love with an 18-year-old actress called Constance Noonan.
  
  
  
  Transome wants to separate from his wife Sarah, with whom he has three adult daughters, and live with his new love. Tully asks Mrs. Rodd to negotiate a fair settlement between Sarah and Thomas Transome, so the abandoned wife has a nice house and the means to survive.
  
  The three Transome daughters, Maria, Olivia and Cordelia - all of whom are actresses - are divided in their loyalties. The oldest daughter, 27-year-old Maria, married actor Edgar Betterton, the scion of a rival theatrical family - which infuriated her father;
  
  
  
  the middle daughter, 24-year-old Olivia went to live with her father;
  
  
  
  and the youngest daughter, 19-year-old Cordelia, remained with her mother. All the daughters still compete to go on the stage, which causes some ruckus in the family.
  
  
  
  Mrs. Rodd helps to arrange an equitable financial resolution between Sarah and her adulterous husband Thomas Transome - and thinks her job is done - when there's a startling development.
  
  The Transomes' daughter Maria and her husband Edgar are renovating the old King's Theatre that burned down a decade ago. During the repairs a corpse is found beneath the floorboards, and it turns out the murdered man was a member of Transome's theatrical company.
  
  
  
  The dead man was thought to have left town after the fire, which was written off as an accident. However, with this new discovery, both the conflagration and the death must be investigated by the police. Police Inspector Blackbeard gets the case and asks his friend (and unofficial colleague) Mrs. Rodd to help with the investigation since she 'can talk' to theatre folk.
  
  
  
  Before long there's another murder, and Inspector Blackbeard and Mrs. Rodd run all over London to view bodies, locate witnesses, interview people, and so on. Along the way various scandals are revealed, such as unwed girls becoming pregnant; illicit love affairs; bankruptcies; coerced witnesses; and more. Unfortunately every witness in the case lies, and when caught out, just lies some more.
  
  
  
  For me, the endless questioning and requestioning of witnesses by Blackbeard and Mrs. Rodd slowed the story too much and I got bored waiting for a resolution. On the upside, it's interesting to see the mores of 1800s London through the eyes of a respectable widow. Mrs. Rodd contantly frets about girls being 'ruined' by things like love letters; pregnancies; scandalous relatives; etc. This kind of thing could literally leave a girl homeless and starving. Of course social norms have changed considerably since the mid-19th century and it's interesting to contrast then and now.
  
  
  
  
  
  The mystery part of the book is belabored but compelling, and - though I didn't identify the killer - I sussed out a major plot point. I'd recommend the book to fans of historical mysteries who don't mind a sluggish tale.
  
  I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Sasha Higgins, who does a fine job.
  
  Thanks to Netgalley, Kate Saunders, and Dreamscape Media for a copy of the book.
  
  You can follow my reviews at
  https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
• 
  Katerina

  I like this series very much and I'm amazed how underrated it is!
  The author manages very well to describe the era in which the story is placed!
  The main characters are likeable and the relationship between them heartwarming!
  Kate Saunders manages to write the personalities of her characters in such a way that even though at fault in some situations that you can't completely dislike them for their actions!
  
  The story of The mystery of the sorrowful maiden is fascinating since it involves the world of the theater and with actors as suspects it's difficult for Leticia Rodd and Blackbeard to figure out who is lying for what reason!
  Their partnership is delightful to read about since they balance each other's strengths and weaknesses!
  
  I really enjoyed reading it and the reason that I'm not giving it a full five stars review is because some things I could easy guess but can't say it was without intrigue!
• 
  Barb in Maryland

  Meh...
  
  I was not happy with this book--too many unpleasant characters, for one thing. I found it hard to really care who killed whom. Plus, Laetitia was really off her game for most of the book, and her barrister brother Fred began to get on my one nerve.
  
  Here's hoping the next book is better.
• 
  Alaina

  I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  
  The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden was a fun little mystery to jump into. Even though I jumped out of order, I still enjoyed the third installment. Definitely makes me want to go back just to see what I missed.
  
  In this, you will meet Laetitia Rodd. She is a widow of a clergyman and is called to help with some final funeral preparations. Upon arrival, her interest and curiosity are piqued. Mostly because she is not one to believe in coincidences lightly either. So, when she's asked to help out in the divorce settlement it's safe to say she put on her detective hat.
  
  Now I loved the theater setting. Everything was dramatic and enjoyable. I had a feeling that another body was going to show up during the investigation too. Just because it's the theater and everything is unexpected. As for the mystery? Well, I enjoyed it all. I honestly had no idea who was behind it all but that's because the twists and turns were so freaking good.
  
  It was a lot harder to keep track of everything too. For example, the clues or the suspects. Or maybe it's just me feeling that way. Either way, I definitely enjoyed this one and look forward to the next mystery!
• 
  Kathy

  The third in the Laetitia Rodd series, and I have read them all. I was not as delighted with this latest book as the focus was theater and things got very dramatic. I still find Laetitia and her brother interesting. Laetitia's assistance granted to the police inspector is fairly extreme.
  
  
  Library Loan
• 
  Chantel

  This story follows Laetitia Rodd is an established second instalment of her case as a private detective in 1853 England. The reader is exposed to a dreary & dark scene wherein the complicated relationships amongst the actors of a theatre intertwine with the murky aristocracy of the times. Though Laetitia is written as an insightful, dedicated, independent character, I struggled very deeply to find any motivation to continue listening to this audiobook & ultimately could not finish.
  
  When I requested this story I had hoped to listen to a cozy, dark, mystery that took place in the scenery which I have been unfamiliar with; the theatre. I reached the 14% mark & found that I had barely been paying attention to the story & often found myself hard-pressed to try & resume my listening. I will attribute this to the fact that some stories are better off reading rather than being told. I did enjoy Sasha Higgins’ narration. I do think she was the appropriate choice for the job. I don’t think my lack of desire to continue this book was in any way accredited to her.
  
  Perhaps, had I begun with the first instalment I might have been pulled into the quirky way that Laetitia & her brother interact. Maybe had I read this book via hardcover I would not have felt like such a third-party player in the story. Unfortunately, I did. When we are first introduced to the conflict of the story I felt that it was difficult to care. Perhaps, this story would thrive on the shelves set for younger audiences or those for whom a long-winded mystery is their cup of tea. As for myself, I was not the target audience & therefore encourage you to take my review with a spoonful of salt. If you enjoy this type of book, set in this type of scene, you will surely enjoy this one too.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Kate Saunders for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
• 
  Darlene

  Letitia Rodd, minister's widow and private detective, is pulled into the unsavory world of stage actors to help a scorned wife receive a fair divorce settlement and lands in the middle of a murder investigation.
  
  
  
  Soon, the bodies are piling up faster than Mrs. Rodd and her friend and colleague, Police Inspector Blackbeard, can investigate. With a list of suspects spanning the whole London theater scene, Rodd and Blackbeard are up to their ears in divas and drama.
  
  
  
  I really loved all the quirky characters. I tend to prefer character-driven novels to plot-driven ones because I need to have someone to root for or sometimes against (I'm looking at you, White Ivy). What I really liked about this book was how difficult it was to tell who were the heroes and who were the villains. It changed every few pages. I won't spoil it by telling how it shuffles out.
  
  I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Sasha Higgins. Her voice fit the Victorian English mystery genre perfectly and I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job. It was an excellent performance.
  
  
  
  Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
  
• 
  Melissa

  3.5 Stars
  This is the 3rd in the series of the Laetitia Rodd Mysteries.
  This is my first read in the series, and I think it went fine as a stand-alone, though the first two might explain more of how Mrs. Rodd has such a close relationship with the police inspector with the year being 1853!
  
  Mrs. Rodd is a widow of a clergyman, so she is not unaccustomed to dead bodies as she was called upon to help with final funerary preparations in her prior role as wife. The body that is discovered in a theatre is thus a curious intrigue just as she has been requested to help an actress and wife of a famed actor in their divorce settlement. Not believing in coincidences, as she points out frequently, Mrs. Rodd delves into the mystery only to uncover some unsavory truths that put her decorum to the test. When another person ends up dead, the deeper family drama unfolds in a most theatrical way.
  
  I tend to overlook any impossibilities of relationships, such as the police inspector giving so much leeway to Mrs. Rodd, in fictional tales. While some aspects of the theatrical life in the mid-1800's is very likely true, this is not meant to be a historical fiction, and I had no issues with the connections. I rather enjoyed Mrs. Rodd and her practicalities, though her Victorian decorum and shock of the lack of it inside of the theatre did get a little old. I found her character to be interesting, and I may have to look up some of the back list to catch up on her story a bit.
  
  The mystery that began the story became a complicated subplot of the entirety. I listened to the audio of this one and wonder if my brain needed to take it slower! I listened to the first half twice because I thought I must have missed something. Perhaps that means I was totally taken in! I'll go for that. There were lots of entanglements and assignations (which is a term rarely heard these days!), and it did become hard to keep track for a bit! This was definitely not a super simple cozy mystery. Lot's of layers and revelations in the end that did have me surprised.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this audio which should be out on December 21, 2021. If you enjoy a cozy mystery and are ready for some serious soap-opera drama and twists, then definitely put this on your list!
• 
  Susan in NC

  Not a favorite in the series for me - too much deception by the suspects, went on too long, and the deep, dark family secret was obvious to me from about halfway through the book. The blurb is right enough, read that for an idea of plot, convoluted as it becomes. The family of actors at the heart of the drama are all dramatic and temperamental, bearing plenty of grudges.
  
  Mrs. Rodd, being the widow of a Victorian churchman, and the theater having a reputation for immortality and vice (borne out by several of the characters), is naturally uncomfortable in these surroundings. Her successful criminal defense barrister brother, Fred, is quite at home! The plot meanders and stalls amid all the lies and contradictory clues - Mrs. Rodd even takes on and completes another case in the interim! It felt as if the author either didn’t know how to wrap it up, or how long to drag out before revealing the heartbreaking secret at the core of this dysfunctional family, which will be sadly obvious to any modern reader. Interesting Afterword by the author about the changing Victorian theatre scene, from raunchy, libidinous melodramatic reprobates trying to shock and thrill, to the more serious, professional and natural style of acting represented by a rival family of actors in this mystery.
  
  I still like Mrs. Rodd, her roguish brother Fred, the irascible Blackbeard of Scotland Yard, and her charming, sensible landlady very much, and look forward to her next case. I’m glad I got this one from the library!
• 
  Irene Michlin

  I liked this book less than the first two. Those had plausible hooks for a lady detective to be involved (the lack of which ruins most attempts at 19th century settings).
  By the time this third novel happens, she is a good friend with a police inspector who just involves her in everything. Feels a bit like cheating.
• 
  Debra Golden

  It was intended as a break from non-fiction and a delightful "escape." it did not disappoint.
  "Mrs. Rodd" has quite the way of telling a tale and this widow/detective has great instincts for who may be telling the truth. This story focuses on theatre people (actors! *gasp*)
  There were lots of twists and turns and curious characters I could "see" quite clearly.
  She still surprised me repeatedly.
  There is more here than a whodunit, with issues of class, family dynamics, and the rules of living in 1850's England.
  I'll read more by her.
  I initially gave it 5 stars as I found it hard to put down, but there are certainly some 'how did she get to do that' moments, but hey, it's fiction.
  Lots of less than pleasant characters, but also good doses of kindness.
• 
  Tonya Adams

  Didn't like the reason the "maiden" was sorrowful. TW: incest
• 
  Carol lowkey.bookish

  I listened to the first book in this series, The Secret of Wishtide, so I could get a feel for the characters before picking up this book. I found that the main character and armature sleuth, Laetitia Rodd, is a smart cookie who helps the local police detective solve crimes.
  
  In this latest installment, Laetitia gets involved in solving a murder that takes place in the Victorian theater.
  
  The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders is full of the same clever writing and mystery set up as the other books in the series. There are several potential murderers so that kept it interesting throughout. I also really enjoy Laetitia’s relationship with her brother.
  
  I didn’t care for the setting as much. The Victorian theater is not a particular interest of mine, so it wasn’t as entertaining as the first Laetitia Rodd mystery I read.
  
  Overall, another great installment in this entertaining mystery series.
  
  The narrator: Sasha Higgins has a crisp, clear accent and did an excellent job bringing the character of Laetitia Rodd to life.
  
  I received a complementary hard copy and ALC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Elaine Nickolan

  excellent tale of the theater in 1863 and how actors and actresses were looked upon back then.
  Mrs. Rodd takes on being the rep for an actress whose husband wants a separation and divorce. As Mrs. Rodd gets to know the husband, a flamboyant actor/theater owner, past secrets begin to come out. It seems a body has been found in his theater that burned down years ago. Who is the victim and how did they get there?
  Nobody wants to tell the truth and Mrs. Rodd and Inspector Blackbeard work together trying to get to the truth. Was it one of the daughters of the estranged couple? Was it a competitor in the theater business who is feuding with the father of the girls? Was it the wife's lover? And how much do the personal assistants really know? Won't someone tell the truth?????
  Through teamwork and constantly going back to all the players involved the story slowly comes together. Totally enjoyed this latest offering by Kate Saunders with the Mrs. Rodd series. I hope there are more to come.
• 
  herzbuchstories

  Ich mag die etwas altmodische und doch clevere Protagonistin der Bücher sehr. Mit Theater Setting macht man bei mir ausserdem ohnehin nie etwas falsch, sodass mir das Buch gut gefallen hat.
  Einzig die ständigen Anmerkungen der Protagonistin wie schockierend und skandalös doch alles sei, fand ich etwas anstrengend und der Schreibstil an sich lässt sich für mich nicht so flüssig weglesen wie viele andere
• 
  Marion

  Picked this out at my library as a potentially good blizzard read. I loved it!
  Lady investigator in 1850s London. Another great excuse to get out my A to Z to follow the developments through the streets of London. This was a terrific story with plenty of twists and turns. Now to read the first two.
• 
  Linda

  This is the third book in this series that I have read. This one certainly had lots of red herrings. I didn't have the murderers figured out, but I did foresee a big twist at the end. I've listened to the audiobook.
• 
  Debbi

  disappointing and I couldn't even finish it.
• 
  Karen (Living Unabridged)

  I really enjoy this series. Mrs. Rodd is a likeable, realistic character. The stories have a realistic flavor without being over the top gritty and gross. The supporting characters are good (Inspector Blackbeard, Fred, Mrs. B).
  
  This particular case is full of drama, which is realistic, I guess, since all the victims (and suspects) are involved with the theater.
• 
  Frances

  I am continuing to enjoy this series. Not my favourite but still enjoyed it. I found many of the theatre people frustrating and did guess the solution earlier than I sometimes to in mysteries.
• 
  Jesse

  Was not expecting this one to be as heavy as it was. Great plot, great characters, but definitely pretty intense.
• 
  Marney Hawes

  This is a delightful series with great characters and interesting mysteries. Mrs. Rodd is quite an excellent detective.
• 
  Debbie

  This novel is a mystery set in 1853 in England. This is the third book in the series, but it works as a stand alone. Laetitia was well-meaning and had some progressive views, but she generally reflected the current (1850s England) culture. The characters were interesting and reacted realistically to events. Historical details were woven into the story, creating a distinct sense of time and place without slowing the pacing. I appreciate that the author did enough research to get those historical details accurate. Laetitia and the detective on the case were friends and worked well together to uncover clues and gather information. Some pieces of the mystery were more obvious than others, and the critical clue pointing to whodunit didn't come until nearly the end. At that point, Laetitia understood who but still had to find a way to prove it.
  
  There were no sex scenes, though there were a lot of people meeting lovers and having babies. There were only a few uses of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical mystery.
  
  I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
• 
  Teddi

  I'm trying to put my finger on just why I didn't care for this book but I just kept wishing it would finally be finished!
  It felt long and it was full of going over the same ground over and over again.
  They'd interview multiple people, decide they were lying or giving conflicting information then go back and interview them all again . Rinse and repeat.
• 
  M.K. Daure

  CW: sexual assault
  
  [Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the gif of an eARC in exchange for an honest review.]
  
  Mrs Rodd, respectable enquiry agent in Victorian London, becomes involved with a theatrical family when hired to negotiate a separation settlement between famous actor-manager Thomas Transome, who has fallen in love with a young actress in his company, and his estranged wife. When a body is then discovered during renovations made to his new theatre by Transome’s son-in-law, bringing to light a murder committed when Transome operated the theatre, the entire family is under suspicion. Mrs Rodd assists the police to ensure that the correct person is condemned for the crime.
  
  ▪ Mrs Rodd is a very distinctive main character. I love how proper and Victorian she is. As the widow of a clergyman, she has very strict notions of what is acceptable (socially as well as religiously), but she is also unfailingly kind and forgiving when faced with people who have done things she morally disapproves of. The mix of these two almost opposites in her first person narration make her an easily lovable character.
  
  ▪ The police detective. As is often the case when the main detective is not a police detective, Mrs Rodd often works with one particular detective who has great respect for her abilities while he resents her implication in his cases. These two have such different styles and personalities that it is amazing how well they work together.
  
  ▪ Victorian theatre. The novel is set in the theatre world of the early 19th century, when it was undergoing a transformation from a rowdy, disreputable place to the more refined and codified place it often is today. I learned a fair bit about this period in the course of my Shakespeare studies, so it was even more pleasurable to visit the theatres and go behind the scenes in this fictionalized version.
  
  ▪ Warring acting families. At the heart of the mystery is the feud between the two main acting families: the Transomes and the Bettertons. The rivalries, intermarriages, defections from one group to join the other, all enhance the mystery by widening the pool of suspects. Plus it’s a lot of fun.
  
  ▪ Narrative style. The narrator is Mrs Rodd writing from a point in the future about her investigation. It makes for a different reading experience, full of foreshadowing, which makes you keep turning to the next chapter. It is very efficient, and reminiscent of the Sherlock Holmes tales written up either by Watson or Holmes himself.
  
  ▪ Mrs Rodd is much more naive than a 21st century reader. This is not necessarily a bad thing, except in one instance: you will probably guess one element of the mystery very early while Mrs Rodd will only learn of it at the very end, which may make you want to shake her. (Yes, I may be projecting a bit.) It is infuriating, while completely in character.