Month: October 2024

Review: A Lark’s Release: A Regency Cozy by Lynn Messina

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A Lark's Release: A Regency Cozy (Verity Lark Mysteries Book 4)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Verity Lark Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/25/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 351

This book starts right at the close of the last Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery. It recaps bits of that story from Verity’s perspective and continues with the current Verity mystery. If you are a fan of both series, you are aware that the two series have become intertwined. I don’t know if it will stay that way or not, but, for the moment, it is kind of fun. I just don’t want them to become so intertwined they are basically one series.

Verity isn’t sleeping since ‘Her Outrageousness’ proved Verity’s innocence and got her released from Newgate prison. Now, someone is trying to send her back to prison for antiquities theft. Then, there is a murder, and . . . Who could possibly have that much cold hatred for her? Who has she offended so much? Surely it isn’t against her personally, so it must be something to do with her Twaddle newspaper column. Or not. The murder for which she was sent to Newgate was because of her past – could this be from her past as well? It seems attacks are coming at her from all directions. Will one of them succeed?

With the able help of master spy Lord Colson Hardwicke and her two childhood friends, Delphine and Freddy, the mystery is unraveled and they are all shocked at what they learn. Who would have thought?

I always enjoy reading this author’s books and this was an excellent addition. We learned a little more of Verity’s past and we saw what I hope is a fair-sized shift in Verity’s relationship with Colson. Verity is growing more and more well-rounded in each book and I am enjoying watching her cope with the mysteries while she grows and comes to grips with her past. Another thing I truly enjoy is the many personas she adopts to ferret out information for her Twaddle stories and her stories written as Robert Lark. Those characters and how Verity uses them will keep you smiling.

This was a quick, entertaining read with wonderful, charismatic characters and a mystery that will have you scratching your head. I am usually good at figuring out the villain(s), but this time – well – it eluded me. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Murder in Highbury by Vanessa Kelly

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Murder in Highbury

Barbara’s rating: 3.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Emma Knightly Mysteries #1
Publication Date: 10/22/24
Period: Regency – Highbury
Number of Pages: 403

I am not normally a fan of taking another author’s characters and ‘reinventing’ them, so I was apprehensive about this read. However, these characters weren’t ‘reinvented’, they just moved into the next logical progression for their characters without losing anything of themselves in the process. I couldn’t remember all of the characters and their personalities, so I watched the movie, Emma, to reacquaint myself. It was a nice surprise to see that the characters were spot-on and I could easily see Emma’s natural curiosity and tendency to matchmake turning into a curiosity, bravery, and loyalty that would cause her to poke her nose into whatever mystery might come her way – this time – a murder.

Emma and George Knightley are still in their first year of marriage and Emma has settled into her role within the community very nicely. The book begins with Emma and her good friend Harriet – now Mrs. Robert Martin – arriving at the church to freshen the flowers for the Sunday services – only to find a bloody body lying on the altar steps. It is Mrs. Augusta Elton, wife of the local vicar.

Emma tries to stay out of the fray (NOT!), but the seemingly inept coroner and constable doing the investigation can’t seem to get it right. Suspicions seem to fall everywhere except where they should be. There are plenty of suspects because the lady was universally disliked – but who disliked her enough to murder her? Why would they want her dead? Who is likely to gain from her death?

I loved the dynamic between the characters as they remained very much as they did in Austen’s book – with a bit of character growth. I loved the case’s twists and turns as the investigation continued. You won’t find an exciting, fast-paced adventure in this book. However, if you are an Austen fan, you will probably love the book because it is very much in her style. I enjoyed the gist of the story, and the wonderfully familiar characters, but I couldn’t enjoy the very long and slow delivery. I will be interested in seeing where future books in the series take our characters and what adventures await them. It will also be interesting to see if the pace of the delivery quickens in the next books.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.