Don't Upstage the Body

Author: Naomi Stephens
Genre: Historical Mystery
Pages: 304
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Rules for professional mourners:
· Plan your aliases well--no improvising.
· Wear proper mourning attire.
· Maintain discretion at all costs.
· Don't upstage the body.

It is 1957, and Hippolyta Halfpenny and her family have mastered the business of bereavement. As professional mourners, they are so accomplished that even Lord Basil Monfort, the famous and wealthy recluse, engages the family's services for his own funeral. Tired of disguises and aliases, Hippolyta vows it will be her last performance. Then she discovers the undertaker's body during the wake and finds herself cast as an amateur sleuth in an increasingly unpredictable investigation. 

Soon rain washes away the roads, trapping the funeral party at Lord Monfort's estate--with an unidentified killer in their midst. Bound by her father's wishes to maintain their charade, Hippolyta navigates a web of secrets spanning decades. But sorting truth from deception proves even more difficult when Lord Montfort's charming yet perceptive heir suspects Hippolyta is not all she appears to be.

Concealing her family's true identities while unraveling secrets might be a role Hippolyta is hesitant to play, but with a murderer among them, she must unmask the truth before the final curtain falls. 

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

Don’t Upstage the Body is a rip roaring mystery with the most interesting characters. A troop of professional mourners, aristocrats, flighty relatives, and villains in disguise make this a jewel of a story.

If I had one thing I’d change, it would be all the detail at the beginning with little action. For me, it didn’t grab my attention. I almost didn’t keep reading, but I’m glad I did. I quite enjoyed trying to unravel the clues alongside Crispin and Hippolyta.

The pacing throughout the book was perfect for drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged. Each clue revealed raised more questions, and as those in the story had their own suspicions, it made the interactions real as well as sometimes amusing.

Hippolyta seemed like a square peg in a round hole in some ways with her family and Crispin, yet somehow as she moved through the book she began to find herself and fit perfectly with those she loved. 

I received a copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

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Reviewer: Ewurabena Wilson

Naomi Stephens’ Don’t Upstage the Body is undoubtedly one of my best novels ever. The suspense and beautifully blended romance warmed me like hot chocolate on a chilly night.

Don’t upstage the Body is a historical novel set in England. The protagonist is Hippolyta Halfpenny, a young woman who works with her family as professional mourners. What is supposed to be a simple job of mourning at Lord Basil Montfort’s funeral becomes an unforgettable night of murder and budding love. 

The discovery of a dying man clutching something dear to Hippolyta causes her to become a detective overnight. Hippolyta is, however, not alone as she finds help in Crispin Monfort. Is Crispin who he seems? Who among the guests would murder someone? Will Hippolyta and her family have their identities revealed? All the answers are found in this suspense-filled novel. Naomi Stephens has done an excellent job with this novel. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I don’t know what kept me engrossed more: the sweet budding romance between Hippolyta and Crispin, or finding who the killer is. I highly recommend this novel to all fans of Naomi Stephens and new fans like me.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

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