Blog tour ~ extract: Murder Most Wilde by Helen Golden

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Genre: Cozy Mystery

Publication Date: June 30, 2025

Estimated Page Count: 350

Standalone Eleventh book in A Right Royal Cozy Investigation Mystery series

Murder Most Wilde by Helen Golden — Frugal Freelancer

Intro

Perry Juke is excited to take on the part of Algernon in The Windstanton Player’s adaptation of The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde. As rehearsals begin in the village hall, Perry is settling into the role and looking forward to opening night. Four weeks before the preview they move to the Windstanton Theatre Royal for their rehearsal in the historic theatre and everyone seems a little tense. Suddenly one of the lead actors collapses on stage during a scene with Perry. Noel Ashworth, the charismatic star of the Windstanton Players, is dead! After ringing his best friend, Lady Beatrice, to tell her what had happened, Perry waiting in the Green Room with the others so the police to arrive…

Extract

The door swung open and a familiar figure, with broad shoulders and a thickset frame, stepped in. Detective Inspector Mike Ainsley’s dark-grey hair was cropped close to his skull, and his blue eyes were sharp and assessing as they swept the room. His rumpled suit and weary face suggested that it had already been a long day for him.

A surge of relief passed through Perry’s body. He and Bea had worked with Mike on a handful of local cases, and he knew the DI to be a good man and a thorough investigator. 

Mike’s gaze landed on Perry, and he gave a brief nod of acknowledgment before addressing the room at large. “Folks, I’m Detective Inspector Ainsley from Fenshire Police. I know it’s been a rough evening, so I’ll try to get you finished up here as soon as I can. Forensics are on the way, but it’s going to take some time to process the scene. It’s getting late, so I’m going to have my officers take a quick statement from each of you. We’ll likely have more questions tomorrow, but for now, this will let us get the basics down and get you home faster.”

A collective murmur rippled through the group. Mike continued, “I’m going to ask that you all stay put in here for now. Someone will be in shortly to get started.” His gaze swung back to Perry. “Mr Juke, can I have a word?”

“Of course,” Perry replied, a thrill of excitement running through him as he stood and followed Mike out of the room. Is he going to let me in on things?

They made their way through the theatre to the stage. As they stopped, Perry’s stomach dropped. The scene was eerily empty—only two uniformed officers and Noel’s sheet-covered form. No bustling forensics team. No flashing cameras.

Mike stopped and turned to Perry with a tired smile. “Good to see you, Perry,” he said, holding out his hand.

“Likewise,” Perry replied, shaking the inspector’s hand. The bags under Mike’s eyes were more pronounced up close.

“I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“Me too.” Perry glanced around again. “Where’s everyone? I thought it would be teeming with people by now.”

Mike gave a dry laugh, scrubbing a hand over his face. “We’re short-staffed. Big undercover operation going on in King’s Town. Most of my manpower has been reassigned.”

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ve got one DC to take statements, and I’ve posted a couple of extra uniforms outside the theatre, but that’s about all I can spare right now.”

Perry blinked in surprise. “That’s… er, not ideal.”

“Tell me about it,” Mike grumbled. “I’m holding down the fort, but it’s a bit like trying to bail out the Titanic with a teaspoon.”

Perry could feel the man’s frustration. “I’m so sorry. I—”

The doors at the back of the theatre opened, and Liv Belmont strode in, her petite frame radiating annoyance. A uniformed officer trailed behind her.

“This lady insisted—” the officer began, addressing Mike. Perry winced. Liv won’t enjoy being addressed as ‘this lady’.

“This lady,” Liv snapped, her blue eyes flashing behind her glasses, “is the Theatre Royal’s manager and director of this production.” She clattered up the wooden stairs that led to the stage and approached Perry and Mike as the uniformed police officer retreated, clearly deciding that she was the inspector’s problem now.

Perry stepped forward, eager to defuse the tension. “Mike, this is Olivia Belmont. Liv, this is Detective Inspector Mike Ainsley from Fenshire CID.”

 But Liv wasn’t looking at them. Her gaze was fixed on the white sheet in the middle of the stage. Her face drained of colour, and she stumbled a little. “Oh my god,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “What… what happened?”

Perry hesitated, glancing over at Mike. The inspector dipped his head. “I’m so sorry, Liv. Noel collapsed during rehearsal. He…well, he’s dead.”

“Dead?” Liv repeated, her voice now much quieter.

“After a valiant effort from both your team here and the paramedics to revive him, the doctor proclaimed him dead a short while ago, I’m afraid,” Mike replied.

Liv’s eyes met Perry’s. At his sober nod, she pressed a hand to her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. “But how? He was fine yesterday!”

Mike cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ms Belmont. Were you aware of any medical issues Mr Ashworth might have had? Any history of health problems?”

Liv shook her head vehemently. “No, nothing that I’m aware of. He was always so vital, so full of energy. I can’t believe this is happening.”

Perry squeezed her arm in sympathy, his own heart aching at the shock and grief etched on her face.

“Is there an office or a room we could use to interview the cast and crew?” Mike asked. “We’ll need to take statements from everyone before we can release them.”

Liv blinked, visibly pulling herself together. “Yes, of course. You can use my office. It’s down the hall.” She gestured towards the exit to the right of the auditorium. “Second on the right.”

“Thank you,” Mike said, giving her a brief smile. “If you wouldn’t mind waiting with the others in the Green Room? I’ll have someone in to speak with you all shortly. And if you can reassure them we’re doing everything we can…”

“Of course.” Liv took a deep, shuddering breath, then squared her shoulders. “Leave it with me, inspector.” With a final, woeful glance at the white mound on the stage, she turned and headed down the stairs.

“Look, Perry, I could use your help. You’ve got a good eye and know all the people here. Can you talk me through what happened, please?”

A good eye, eh? He swelled with pride. I can’t wait until I tell Bea what Mike said… “Of course. Whatever you need.”

Book blurb:

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?

Purchase Links

Author Bio –

Helen Golden spins mysteries that are charmingly British, delightfully deadly, and served with a twist of humour.

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.

If you love clever puzzles, charming settings, and sleuths with spark, her books are waiting for you.

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