Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber

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A Certain Darkness (Verity Kent #6)A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Verity Kent Mysteries #6
Publication Date: 8/30/22
Period: Post WWI – 1920
Number of Pages: 304

Goodness! What an exciting, page-flipping, suspenseful read this was! Verity and Sidney are, as always, dynamic, engaging, flawed, and troubled by the events each of them suffered through during the war. As we know (from reading the other books in the series), the war may be over, but the repercussions and espionage are not. Then, when we add the arch-villain Ardmore to that volatile mix – well goodness – be still my palpating heart.

As you probably know, Verity sustained a bullet wound at the end of the previous book, Murder Most Fair. She and Sidney have been leading a quiet life for five months since then in order to allow her to heal properly. That all ends when Sidney receives a request from the French authorities. They want him to come to France and help with a prisoner they have in custody – this prisoner claims to have proof of treason by a number of people during the war, and she won’t speak to anyone other than Sidney. Sidney has no idea who this woman is – he’s never heard of her – and still doesn’t have any idea who she is after he meets her. She is arrogant, but begs for Sidney’s help, even though he is inclined to refuse. However, she’s very enigmatic during their interview and is quickly found hanging in her cell after Sidney and Verity leave. That, of course, almost guarantees Sidney will get involved.

As they begin their investigation, Verity gets a message that she should check in with the English spymaster stationed in France – ‘T’. He needs Verity to solve the murder of a Belgian lawyer who worked for them during the war. The lawyer was murdered on a train as he was carrying important secret documents. The documents were missing and there are few clues to follow. Those papers are supposed to contain clues to a sunken German ship carrying a fortune in gold. T (and his boss ‘C’) need her to retrieve the papers and, if possible, solve the murder.

As the investigations proceed, Verity and Sidney come to realize that all is not what it seems and their two investigations are actually intertwined. The pieces of the puzzles begin to fit together in a way that will make Verity and Sidney question the very foundations of their belief in their government and all world leaders. Some of what they find are particularly troubling to Sidney who fought in some of the worst battles of the war.

As always with this author, I highly recommend this book and this series. You absolutely cannot go wrong with it. I have absolutely loved watching Verity and Sidney find their love again and rebuild their relationship as well as their firm determination to thwart the archvillain Ardmore. Their steadfast support of their friends is awe-inspiring.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Lady Violet Investigates by Grace Burrowes

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Lady Violet Investigates (The Lady Violet Mysteries, #1)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Lady Violet Mysteries #1
Publication Date: 2/22/22 (First Published 11/25/21)
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 222

I was intrigued to see Grace Burrowes had written a mystery series, and couldn’t wait to begin. As always, the writing is excellent and the characters are well developed and very relatable. Being a Grace Burrowes series, I was sure there would be a romance – which is a good thing because that is one of my requirements for any book I read. There is – or I guess will be – a romance I’m sure, but it didn’t happen in this book. At the moment, it appears to be a triangle, and that just won’t get it for me. So, if it takes very long for the resolution to the triangle to happen, I’ll just forego the series. Just as an FYI, I have read the book blurbs through book seven, and it doesn’t look like the triangle is resolved at that point. Since I have already purchased book two, I’ll read it, but won’t purchase more until at least book seven or eight. If the triangle is resolved by then, I’ll continue. If not, I’ll stop with the series. That, however, is just one of MY personal things – you may not need a settled romance and if you don’t then this will be a very enjoyable series for you.

Lady Violet Belmaine did not have a happy marriage. It was one arranged by her father and she wasn’t given a choice. With her husband deceased, she is now a very wealthy widow who is free to do as she pleases. However, she’s had a hard time dealing with that and had become a near recluse until Dr. Hugh St. Sevier begins to coax her to come out of her shell. He advises tiny steps – a short walk, then a long walk, then a carriage ride, accept one invitation a week, etc. – until he finally convinces her to attend a house party at Bathvale Abbey. Violet loves her newly found freedom and independence – at least there is one thing she can appreciate about her husband.

Dr. Hugh St. Sevier is a French émigré who served with the English in the wars against Napoleon. It hurt him beyond belief to serve on the side against his countrymen, but he couldn’t support Napoleon. As a physician in the wars, he did his best to heal soldiers from both sides.

Sebastian, Marquess of Dunkeld was a Colonel in the English army – a war hero. He also had a history with Violet. Sebastian was totally besotted with Violet and asked her father if he could court her. Her father refused – and did even worse – he belittled Sebastian and told him Violet did as well.

At the house party, things begin to disappear. At first, it is small inconsequential items, but it quickly escalates. When the finger is pointed at Sebastian’s new valet, Upjohn, who has just gone through a severe trauma with severe head injuries, Violet knows they have to solve the mystery themselves.

The mystery and solution are convoluted with a perpetrator who has a Machiavellian bent and it begins to seem as if it won’t be solved. That is especially the case when the magistrate is bent on taking things at face value and carting Upjohn off to the Assizes. Luckily for Upjohn, Violet isn’t one to take things at face value and she has a very well-functioning curiosity.

I will say, I wasn’t a fan of the resolution, but at least Upjohn wasn’t hanged for the thefts.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the second one in the series. Then, I’ll wait for the seventh to release to see if the triangle is resolved. That resolution, or not, will determine whether I continue. Again – that may not be important to you – and if it isn’t, you’ll love the entire series.

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