A Pretty Deceit

Anna Lee Huber

Oct 2020 · A Verity Kent Mystery Book 4 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

“A historical mystery to delight fans of Agatha Christie or Daphne du Maurier.”
—Bookpage

In the aftermath of the Great War, the line between friend and foe may be hard to discern, even for indomitable former Secret Service agent Verity Kent, in award-winning author Anna Lee Huber’s thrilling mystery series.
 
Peacetime has brought little respite for Verity Kent. Intrigue still abounds, even within her own family. As a favor to her father, Verity agrees to visit his sister in Wiltshire. Her once prosperous aunt has fallen on difficult times and is considering selling their estate. But there are strange goings-on at the manor, including missing servants, possible heirloom forgeries, and suspicious rumors—all leading to the discovery of a dead body on the grounds.
 
While Verity and her husband, Sidney, investigate this new mystery, they are also on the trail of an old adversary—the shadowy and lethal Lord Ardmore. At every turn, the suspected traitor seems to be one step ahead of them. And even when their dear friend Max, the Earl of Ryde, stumbles upon a code hidden among his late father’s effects that may reveal the truth about Ardmore, Verity wonders if they are really the hunters—or the hunted . . .
 
Praise for Anna Lee Huber’s Penny for Your Secrets
 
“Stellar mystery . . . a great read for fans of the series and all who enjoy
Downton Abbey-era fiction.”
—Booklist

Ratings and reviews

Verity and her husband Sidney are still trying to discover why the previous Lord Hyde was murdered, presumably on Lord Ardmore's orders and the connection to the smuggling of opium on the Zebrina during the war, with the help of the new Lord Hyde and Verity's old war secret service colleague Alec. However, Verity's father insists they visit his sister in Wiltshire to investigate various issues, including a missing maid. At first I found the split focus of this novel a bit distracting, one minute Verity is in Wiltshire comforting her very annoying aunt and her cousin Reg who was blinded in the war, the next minute she's careering around the countryside following a series of cryptic clues around Roman ruins. I am not a fan of the overarching Lord Ardmore plot, although I have a secret hope that he turns out to be a good guy working deep undercover to unmask traitors, and the treasure hunt that leads Verity and her gang around the country seemed a bit overblown - does anyone in real life go to the trouble of burying a series of cryptic clues all over the country? I also have issues with the way that all of Verity's investigations seem to be linked - is Lord Ardmore a one-man crimewave. And don't even get me started on Verity's use of slang, most of which seems to be either anachronistic and/or wrong for an uppercrust woman to use, or the use of the word 'elite' when it should be aristocracy. Okay, so that's a whole bunch of niggles but overall I really enjoy these amateur detective mysteries. I didn't guess the identity of the murderer, but the clues were there, which I really like - I am definitely not a fan of the detective story where no-one knows the clues. I also appreciate that this mystery did not get solved by Sidney talking to one of his acquaintances in order to get the clue that unlocks the mystery. And, despite myself, I am getting enthralled in the Ardmore mystery and the secret Verity uncovers about her war service. Now I can't wait for the next book. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

post WW-1, historical-fiction, historical-research, cosy-mystery, murder-investigation, espionage, survivor-s-guilt, suspense, blindness, England***** Sidney and Verity have been married for five years but spent most of the time apart because of the war, so those problems are a large part of the plot. Included in that aspect is, (1919, eleven months after the Armistice) that Verity spent much of that time working in the Intelligence Division. Enhanced her detective ability but made for some problems in home life considering the time as well as their post war issues. Verity and Sidney have been ordered off to her aunt's estate to resolve some problems that the aunt will not turn over to fully capable son who was blinded in the war. While there, a groundskeeper is murdered and some other oddities surface. As the police appear to be managing, the couple hare off to London to celebrate her birthday with friends but become embroiled in finding proof that another peer has been and still is a traitor. This is a very busy book going back and forth between complicated issues an might be a tad difficult for a reader who is coming to the series cold. I am not, so I thought it was really well done! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

1919 October. Verify and her husband Sidney are asked by her father to visit her Aunt Ernestine and her cousin Baronet Reginald Popham, who was blinded in the war. Their home, Littlemote House, was requisitioned by the RAF during the war and was badly treated and she believes that they deserve compensation. Also Lady Lionel is convinced that some of the heirlooms have been stolen, and some forgeries replacing others. But then a body is discovered. But the Kents have other problems as Lord Ardmore and his schemes continue. As this story is the series arc, I would recommend reading the others in the series first. Another enjoyable mystery, a well-written story with its very likeable characters. A good addition to the series.

About the author

Anna Lee Huber is the Daphne award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries and the Verity Kent Mysteries. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in music and minored in psychology. A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, she currently resides in Indiana with her family.