EPISODE · Apr 20, 2026 · 1H 51M
The Portrait at Blackthorn House | A Belgian Detective Mystery Audiobook
from Nocturnal Tales: Mystery Audiobooks and Crime Stories · host Nicolas and Dora – Nocturnal Tales
Surrey, England, 1934: when celebrated portrait painter Lucien Vidal is found dead in the locked studio of Blackthorn House — his latest canvas still on the easel, his laudanum tampered with, and a rival artist's cufflink lying conspicuously near the body — a brilliant Belgian detective unravels a web of old scandal and cold hatred buried beneath fresh paint; the key lies not in who is visible in the portrait, but in who has been painted over — a hidden image beneath the surface canvas revealing a woman's throat encircled by gloved fingers, an earlier truth that Lady Frances Welby had desperate reason to destroy before it could speak; inspired by the golden age of country house crime while remaining entirely fictional, The Portrait at Blackthorn House is an original Golden Age-style mystery about obsession, buried secrets, and the treachery of appearances.ℹ️ FOR LISTENERSThis is an original Golden Age-style mystery presented as a respectful homage to classic detective fiction. All characters and events in this story are fictional. No affiliation, endorsement, or official connection is implied.💬 QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTSWhen the truth beneath the canvas is finally revealed — the hidden portrait, the fingermarks at Eleanor Vane's throat, and Lady Welby's missing glove — which detail convinced you first? Was it the painting, the glove, or something else entirely? 🕵️❤️ SUPPORT & LISTENING OPTIONS📌 Patreon (ad-free episodes, early access, bonus content – tiers from $2.99/month) https://www.patreon.com/NocturnalTales❤️ Buy Me a Coffee (one-time support) https://buymeacoffee.com/nocturnaltales💛 PayPal (one-time tip) https://paypal.me/nocturnaltalesprod🎧 Spotify (follow the show) https://open.spotify.com/show/0OQ7OEseXIMbMt2NTI7oHy?si=FY8mgTx1SDqBdR7CJgymGw📚 CHILDREN'S BOOK (Amazon) Sherlock Paws and the Diamond of the Nile https://amzn.to/3MRzLNq🧾 CREDITSWritten by Nocturnal Tales. Narrated by Nocturnal Tales.🔖 TAGS / KEYWORDSBelgian detective mystery audiobook, country house murder mystery, 1930s detective fiction, hidden portrait mystery, locked room mystery audiobook, Golden Age mystery podcast, Surrey manor mystery, portrait painter murder, poisoning mystery audiobook, classic whodunit audiobook, aristocratic murder mystery, art world crime fiction, vintage detective story, mystery audiobook no music, British mystery podcast
What this episode covers
Surrey, England, 1934: when celebrated portrait painter Lucien Vidal is found dead in the locked studio of Blackthorn House — his latest canvas still on the easel, his laudanum tampered with, and a rival artist's cufflink lying conspicuously near the body — a brilliant Belgian detective unravels a web of old scandal and cold hatred buried beneath fresh paint; the key lies not in who is visible in the portrait, but in who has been painted over — a hidden image beneath the surface canvas revealing a woman's throat encircled by gloved fingers, an earlier truth that Lady Frances Welby had desperate reason to destroy before it could speak; inspired by the golden age of country house crime while remaining entirely fictional, The Portrait at Blackthorn House is an original Golden Age-style mystery about obsession, buried secrets, and the treachery of appearances.ℹ️ FOR LISTENERSThis is an original Golden Age-style mystery presented as a respectful homage to classic detective fiction. All characters and events in this story are fictional. No affiliation, endorsement, or official connection is implied.💬 QUESTION FOR THE COMMENTSWhen the truth beneath the canvas is finally revealed — the hidden portrait, the fingermarks at Eleanor Vane's throat, and Lady Welby's missing glove — which detail convinced you first? Was it the painting, the glove, or something else entirely? 🕵️❤️ SUPPORT & LISTENING OPTIONS📌 Patreon (ad-free episodes, early access, bonus content – tiers from $2.99/month) https://www.patreon.com/NocturnalTales❤️ Buy Me a Coffee (one-time support) https://buymeacoffee.com/nocturnaltales💛 PayPal (one-time tip) https://paypal.me/nocturnaltalesprod🎧 Spotify (follow the show) https://open.spotify.com/show/0OQ7OEseXIMbMt2NTI7oHy?si=FY8mgTx1SDqBdR7CJgymGw📚 CHILDREN'S BOOK (Amazon) Sherlock Paws and the Diamond of the Nile https://amzn.to/3MRzLNq🧾 CREDITSWritten by Nocturnal Tales. Narrated by Nocturnal Tales.🔖 TAGS / KEYWORDSBelgian detective mystery audiobook, country house murder mystery, 1930s detective fiction, hidden portrait mystery, locked room mystery audiobook, Golden Age mystery podcast, Surrey manor mystery, portrait painter murder, poisoning mystery audiobook, classic whodunit audiobook, aristocratic murder mystery, art world crime fiction, vintage detective story, mystery audiobook no music, British mystery podcast
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The Portrait at Blackthorn House | A Belgian Detective Mystery Audiobook
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