The Upstaged Coroner

The local university's Shakespeare troupe already had plenty of drama. Then their manager was murdered.

Fresh off her election win, Fenway Stevenson is ready to focus on her job as county coroner. But just hours after claiming victory, she's called to Nidever University, where the manager of a Shakespeare production has been found dead in a stairwell. The scene looks accidental—until Fenway spots signs of a struggle.

As the investigation unfolds, it's clear Jessica Marquez's death is no simple fall. Secrets swirl behind the curtain of the Merchant of Venice production, and Fenway begins to suspect the theater's drama didn't stop on stage.

Meanwhile, Fenway's father—still in jail following his shocking arrest for murder—casts a long shadow over her every move. Old wounds reopen, and a painful chapter from Fenway's past resurfaces in the form of a professor with dark secrets.

With her father behind bars, her relationship with the sheriff unraveling, and a murder investigation that's starting to smell like a political setup, Fenway must walk the razor-thin line between personal loyalty and professional duty. But in a town where alliances shift like sand and danger hides in plain sight, will Fenway's determination be enough to uncover the truth before someone else winds up dead?

Smart, suspenseful, and layered with emotional depth, The Upstaged Coroner is the fourth installment in the gripping Fenway Stevenson Mystery Series. Perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell, J.D. Robb, and Louise Penny, this page-turner weaves forensic science, complex characters, and shocking twists into an unforgettable story.

The stage is set. The players are in motion. And Fenway is running out of time.

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"There's nothing better than a well-plotted mystery investigated by a witty, wonderfully clever (and flawed) heroine. A well-paced and suspenseful piece of crime fiction not to be missed!"

—Gabriella Messina, author of The Kate Gardener Mysteries

I'm so impressed with Ardoin's study of the inner workings of a Shakespeare theater company. The Upstaged Coroner is compelling and realistic--quite a few moments struck home!

—Doll Piccotto, Silicon Valley Shakespeare