Welcome to my stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Poetic Pox: A Lady Librarian Mystery by Samantha Larsen! Today we are featuring a review of this historical mystery. Stop by each blog on the tour for interviews, guest posts, spotlights, reviews, and more! There is also a Rafflecopter Giveaway for one audio copy of A Poetic Pox. ENTER HERE! ⬅️

A Poetic Pox: A Lady Librarian Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – 1786, England
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: July 22, 2025
Listening Length: 8 hours and 18 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0FBBG4GZC

About the Book:

1786, England

It is the twelve days of Christmas, and Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop is happily juggling her duties as a new mother and a librarian to Catharine, the Duchess of Beaufort. Her employer receives a mysterious letter from an old paramour, the Marquess of Harwood, who is the biological father of Catharine’s son. He promises to leave his estate and fortune to Beau if he can see the boy before he dies.

Her elder son, Thomas Montague, has a terrible cold, so Catharine asks Tiffany to accompany her and Beau. When they arrive at the dilapidated abbey, they discover a dead body—only it isn’t the marquess, but his valet! Lord Harwood is alive, but unconscious with suspicious-looking pox marks on his hands. Tiffany wonders if the marquess is really dying, or if it is all poetic revenge? Especially when she discovers the secrets that haunt Rosedean Abbey.

Between breastfeeding and dirty diapers, Tiffany must discover who killed the valet and attempted to murder the marquess before anyone else dies.

©2025 Samantha Larsen (P)2025 Dreamscape First

My Review:

I have loved Samantha’s previous stories featuring Tiffany Lathrop, so when I had a chance to listen and review an audio copy of the newest, I signed up right away. Audiobooks are my jam, and I listen as much as I can – cooking dinner, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom (boo)…any opportunity to slip in my earbuds is one I take. And A Poetic Pox did not disappoint!

Tiffany remains a great sleuth, and it was fun to travel with her to help her dear friend Catherine. The dilapidated Rosedean Abbey gives the book such a gothic, spooky feel. I could easily picture the scenes as described. Tiffany balances caring for her daughter and investigating a rather haunted mystery with bravery and determination. 

The small pox descriptions are definitely upsetting, but handled with care. I also found the author’s note in the back fascinating. Samantha clearly has done her research and told an accurate and engaging historical story. I’m also always so happy that Samantha’s stories demonstrate the diversity of life – and the ups and downs of that time period. 

Fans of historical mysteries should not miss out on this series! 

About the Author:

Samantha Hastings met her husband in a turkey sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, having tea parties, and chauffeuring her four kids. She teaches World Literature at Brigham Young University. Her young adult fiction books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and her historical romances are published around the world. She also writes murder mysteries under Samantha Larsen that Publisher’s Weekly called “wildly enjoyable.”

Author Links:

Website

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Purchase Links: Amazon   B&N  

TOUR PARTICIPANTS:

• July 21 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT
• July 21 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT
• July 22 – Salty Inspirations – CHARACTER GUEST POST
• July 23 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT
• July 24 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
• July 25 – Sarandipity’s – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
• July 26 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT
• July 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
• July 27 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT
• July 28 – Review Thick And Thin – REVIEW
• July 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR GUEST POST
• July 30 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
• July 31 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW  
• July 31 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST
• August 1 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

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