Murder in the Painted Mask

Ginger Gold Mystery #27

by Lee Strauss

Murder is so theatrical…

Lady Ginger Gold and her husband Basil head to the countryside for a weekend of elegance and art at the estate of Lady Horatia Zouch-Nettleby. But beneath the glamour of a masked ball and private auction swirl whispers of blackmail, betrayal—and a scandal from Ginger’s own family past.

When a provocative artist is found gruesomely murdered, Ginger must unmask a killer before the next secret turns deadly.

Murder in the Painted Mask is a classic locked-room mystery brimming with 1920s glamour, sharp wit, and deadly secrets.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2025

About the author

For fans of Golden Age who-dun-its ~ from a USA TODAY Bestselling author!

You'll adore Lady Gold from the acclaimed Ginger Gold Mysteries series, and the spin of series, Higgins & Hawke.

Look for the connected 1950s era Rosa Reed Mysteries.

NEW ~ The Velvet Spy ~ The Wartime Journal of Ginger Gold

For more info visit: leestraussbooks.com

Reviews

[Emily Gawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic! The Ginger Gold series never disappoints! I’ve been following this series for a while; read every book and started the audiobooks. The characters are divine and the plot is incredibly intriguing! A well hidden mystery, it keeps you guessing right up until the big reveal! I, honestly, didn’t figure it out; my favorite kind of mystery!

Murder in the Painted Mask is outstanding! I love the fact the plot takes places inside an estate where everyone is appears to be clear of the crime; but are they really?

Ginger and Basil are wonderful, as always. Charles and Felicia being there with them added another enjoyable aspect to the story. Boss, too, is a crucial element in the story.

I don’t want to say too much more for the fear of giving away spoilers. I’ll leave this review with my recommendation. I highly recommend Murder in the Painted Mask and the Ginger Gold mystery series. Whether you start with this book or work your way through from the beginning, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Curl up in your favorite reading spot and start reading today! It’s worth it!

Until next time, happy reading! 📖

[Helen Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Ginger Gold stories are always a treat. In this one she and her husband, Basil, who is a Scotland Yard Inspector are invited to a New Year’s Eve Party in the country along with her former sister-in-law and her husband who is a lord as well as involved in the intelligence service.

This party is a masquerade that is also an art auction. The artist is flamboyant and collects people’s secrets and uses his art to expose people. All the art that is auctioned is disparaging to the people forced to buy the pieces. Not surprisingly the artist is killed in a bizarre way, and there are too many suspects.

Right after the body is found, the outside storm causes the electricity to go out as well as the phones. The road to the ten is washed out and everything outside is very muddy. There is no way to leave the estate so all the suspects are forced to stay.

As Basil and Ginger talk to the various suspects,it’s very difficult to find the killer as most everyone appears to have an alibi. I was amazed when the mystery was resolved.

This type of mystery where all the suspects are forced to be in one place is my favorite type of mystery.

All the characters are so well developed I can see them in my mind. All of Lee Strauss’ books are so descriptive you can “see” the setting and the characters’ appearances.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this engaging series.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Ginger Gold mystery that hooks you from the beginning and holds you until the surprise ending. In this one Ginger and Basil along with Charles and Felicity are all invited to a New Year's Eve masked ball and art auction at the estate of Lady Horatia Zouch-Nettleby. The artist, is arrogant, vengeful and totally egotistical Lucien Valentino. With the storm outside making the guests stuck in the estate, things go sideways. With the loss of electricity and phone service, Ginger and Charles face three murders; one being the Valentino. And of course, since all the possible suspects are in the estate and they all can account for their whereabouts in the estate, and all the paintings Valentino made of the guests, Ginger and Basil are not short on suspects. But three murders? Are they all connected? Or are there 3 different murderers? Leave it to Ginger's dog, Boss to find clues. Just when you think you guessed it, you are wrong! This book in the series is the 27th book. And each book is as fresh as the first! I highly recommend each book in the entire series. I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Kelly Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canadian author Lee Strauss turns her skills towards a historical locked room mystery and, true to form, knocks it out of the park!
Murder in the Painted Mask finds Ginger, Basil, Felicia, and Charles trapped with some truly despicable people in a country estate home in the English countryside during a horrendous storm on New Year's Eve. Bodies of the masked party goers start to fall, and everyone in attendance is a suspect.
As Ginger and Basil start to unravel connections and motives, they uncover a tangled web of secrets and simmering hatreds that provide more suspects than immediate answers. Unable to leave or call for help, it's up to them to solve the mysteries.
Strauss does a superb job at providing both clues and red herrings while the suspense builds, keeping the reader turning the pages until the very end.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this entertaining book. I highly recommend it!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a night!

Ginger and her husband Basil are invited to a country home for a New Year’s Eve party with an art show and auction. On the way, the weather becomes increasingly inclement with icy winds and pouring rain that ultimately leads to a power outage and nonfunctional telephone. The art show and auction itself is tense enough and then things really start to happen. As the guest count decreases and the body count rises, time is running out for Ginger and Basil to uncover all the secrets. By morning’s first light, thanks to Ginger, Basil and vital contributions by Boss, all is revealed and hope is renewed for the start of the New Year of 1929. An excellent twist on the classic British manor house murder!

[T M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ginger, Basil, Felicia and Charles head out of town to a New Year’s Eve party at a Gothic Manor hosted by a rich widow and her special guest, a somewhat twisted and shocking artist.

The feel of this one’s quite a bit different from previous entries. It’s dark and brooding, almost a bit melodramatic in parts. The tone is definitely a lot more serious. Perhaps this is mirroring the times, 1929, when the world was a combination of frenzied excess and dark undercurrents? At any rate, I quite enjoyed the different tone. I love it when an author takes a chance and switches things up- Ginger Gold novels are definitely not cookie cutter!

Highly recommend.

[Shauna Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Ginger Gold story
This book starts out intense and stays that way to the end as bodies pile up and suspects are plentiful. All within a house isolated by a storm. Ginger and Basil, her husband, have been invited for a weekend visit which includes a masquerade and art auction. What was not mentioned was that the art had secondary meanings that would threaten many of the guests there. When secrets are revealed and guests feel threatened unexpected consequences begin. This book will keep you reading to the end. A wonderful story. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a unique addition to an amazing series in that it's a locked-room mystery. Ginger, Basil, Felicia and Charles are attending a masquerade/art show/art auction/ New Year's Eve Party at the country estate of Lady Horatia Zouch-Nettleby. From the first chapter there is a sense of impending doom with the gloomy weather adding a foreboding air. There is a sense of uneasy and tension amongst the attendees culminating with shock and betrayal as the eccentric, despicable artist Lucien Valentino reveals his work. Upon his murder Basil and Ginger get to work quickly knowing the person who killed Lucien is still inside. As the bodies add up the suspect list dwindles and I had no idea who was behind the killings and waw quickly turning the pages for the big reveal. I look forward to reading the next in this series and can't recommend this series enough. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ginger and Basil along with sister-in-law Felicia and her husband Charles attend a gala art unveiling at a country estate. The rain and wind make the roads impassible and scandal is the theme of the evening. The lights go out and when they come back on, the artist is dead, impaled on his own sculpture. Talk about an unsympathetic victim! As the night drags on, everyone has a motive and most had opportunity. Eventually, all is revealed and the police finally show up, just in time to make the arrest(s).
Such a fun read. The costumes, the atmosphere of the twenties, and the history of the artist's cruelty to everyone makes an exciting book.

[Gail Souter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful!

Oh dear! This was a very poor attempt at a locked room murder! Basil and Ginger left the suspects unattended so a second death occurred then again left them unattended so a third death occurred. They uncovered nothing and it was only thanks to the suspects confessing that solved the murders. Time for Ginger to focus on her dress shop and Basil to retire from the Met! These books have had their day.

[Kelly Rosario · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I have enjoyed all the books in the Ginger Gold series, this was my least favorite. It is a "locked room" mystery, of which I am not a fan. I missed the regular setting of the series and could not get interested in the characters and crimes in this one. Looking forward to the upcoming entries to the series, hoping they return to the regular setting with a broader range of characters and more interesting mystery.

[Janice Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice twisty whodunit for Ginger and Basil on New Year's Eve. I enjoyed the book. I received it for free and wished to leave a review. Strauss certainly knows how to keep the suspense going and the story moves along well. I love her attention to historical detail and the characters are well written and believable.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Year’s Eve to remember

This story is filled with revenge, deadly secrets, rejected love, animosity, cruelty, and blatant public humiliation. A small group of seemingly unrelated guests all with motive. Emotional angst running high and a deadly winter storm outside. Stranded in a house of murder, how will Basil and Mrs Reed sort out the clues?

[Kelvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed every book in this series, usually rating them higher. I gave this one only two stars as the plot line (concept) of a group of people cutoff from the outside world by a weather event (or similar), has just been used so many times before, by so many authors. Other than figuring out who committed the murders there was nothing unique here.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Locked estate, murder at midnight in the dark and a cast of people with secrets. There were many twists and turns, most clues were sorted out by talking to the others on site. I liked the pacing. I could feel the tension. I was glad Boss was there. Ginger and Basil work it out. I will read more by this author.

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner From This Author

I have so enjoyed Ginger and Basil as well as their daughter Rosa's books and Higgins as well. The mysteries and the intrigues around them are always so interesting and well written, including this dark artist and the murders that follow. Excellent work by the famous couple who investigate and solve so well together.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would have thought going to the countryside for a weekend could be so eventful. But if your with Lady Ginger Gold and her husband Basil anything could happen and it usually does. A masked ball abit of art and blackmail in the mix and your weekend is made. Another great rolling 1920s mystery by author Lee Strauss.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy (?) New Year

Shades of Agatha Christie. A dinner party with a small guest list. Given for diabolical artist and his paintings. All of the guests, save Ginger and Basil, despise the artist. At the end of the day, 3 men have been murdered. And the remaining guests are all stuck in one room. Together.
It was tricky story. Read it through.

[Meg Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of her best

I have read every single one in this series and have ordered the next one also. This one is one of the very best. I was there. I was in the manor house. I was in the storm. I was in Sitting room with the fireplace in the middle of the night with everyone else who was there. I really felt it and I bet you will too.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Country New Year's Eve festivities marred by.... you guessed it .... murder! For me, this was had too many characters, and it was confusing to keep them all straight. Instead of being a Locked Room mystery it was a Locked Country House mystery.

My unusually low opinion of this outing in the series will not stop me from reading the next one when it's released! I love Ginger and Basil.

[Tonya Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

As usual, Lady Gold solved all the mysteries. This was an interesting book. It was a fast read. I loved it so much i read it within a couple of hours. Can't wait for the next one.

[Joy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ginger and Basil solve another conundrum

In the midst of a terrible storm, murder strikes again - and again. But Ginger and Basil put all the pieces together (with a little help from Boss) in a surprise solution. An intriguing read, especially for fans of the Lady Gold series

[Gary and Sandra Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

With marvelous characters and witty dialogue a New Years Eve party turns into a great murder mystery full of suspects and secrets. Ginger and Basil
shine while trying to solve the murders and confronting the suspects.

[Mary Byrnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I love the Ginger Gold mysteries. The settings are great and I can picture them easily by the way they are described. The characters are always interesting and the mysteries varied and quirky. I recommend this series and author to those who love a good cozy mystery.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

so many suspects

Lady Gold, Basil and Boss deliver a twist New Year’s Eve tale. Classic closed circle mystery set in an English country manor during a winter storm that isolates the murder suspects

[Deborah Sturdivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

I enjoy lady golds series by Lee Strauss very much. I recommend this book as it keeps you guessing to the end.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

I liked this book. It flows really well and I am always amazed how murders were solved without DNA and cell phones.

[Carola Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising

I hadn’t expected this book to happen all in one night. It was surprising at every step. Even the arrival of Scotland Yard seemed unnecessary . I enjoyed it very much.

[Kim Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels almost as if the author wanted three murders but couldn't decide who the murderer was. Hence the rather odd resolution. It all feels somewhat unsatisfactory and not up to usual standards.

[Sharon Koop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Period Mystery

One of the better books in this series! It kept the reader's interest throughout! The ending was complicated but interesting!