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.

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery #12
Publication Date: 6/28/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 287

A QUICK NOTE HERE: Amazon says this is the 12th book in the series and Goodreads says it is the 13th. The difference is at the 7th book where the author wrote a mystery featuring Beatrice Hyde-Clare’s cousin Flora as the investigator. Goodreads counts that as book seven and Amazon doesn’t include it in the series listing at all. This may not matter to you, but I keep up with the series and the book number within the series and I thought others might as well.

Ahhhh – this quick, entertaining, witty mystery was just the pick-me-up I needed. Bea and the Duke are always so entertaining and fill their investigations with banter, sly observations, leaps of logic, informative friends and family, and dogged determination. This series is intertwined with the new Verity Lark series, so the last couple of books in each series have had crossover stories/appearances. BTW – if you haven’t tried Verity’s series, you should – it is as interesting and entertaining as this series. Just a quick bit of background – Verity is the sister of the Duke – but he never knew she existed until just a short while ago. I think she is his full sister, but I may not remember correctly. At any rate, his father and her mother had not married when Verity was born and she was put into an orphanage where she suffered a horrible childhood. She and her two close friends managed to live through their childhood and have gone on to create successful lives for themselves – and they’ve exacted revenge on all of those cruel, uncaring individuals who were involved with the orphanage.

While the Duke of Kesgrave has briefly met his sister, Bea has not. She very much wants to meet her, but Kesgrave isn’t sure whether he wants a relationship or not – and neither is Verity. What Bea did not want to do was meet Verity for the first time with Verity imprisoned at Newgate – accused of murder. Oh! My! With Kesgrave away until the evening, Bea knows someone has to go to the prison to see what can be done. So, Her Outrageousness, the Duchess of Kesgrave, proceeds to the prison for an interview with Verity.

Miss Agnes Wraithe, the murder victim, is one of the vilest creatures ever and she sincerely deserves the nickname – The Wraith – given to her by Verity and her friends. Did she deserve to be shot? I vote YES! But, did Verity do it? I vote NO, and so do Bea and Kesgrave – and anyone else who knows Verity. Will Bea and Kesgrave be able to find the proof they need? It definitely won’t be easy because Verity was found standing over the body with the gun in her hand. OOPS!

There are plenty of suspects and none of them are innocent victims of anything – but are they murderers? Bea and Kesgrave eliminate one red herring after the other until there are no more red herrings – just the murderer.

I enjoyed watching Bea and Kesgrave zip all over London interviewing suspects, following leads, participating in witty banter, and ultimately solving the case. I hope you will love it as well. I’ve always loved that Bea is referred to as Her Outrageousness, but she also has a new sobriquet in this book – The Murder Duchess. I don’t care for that one and I hope it doesn’t stick. I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Happy Reading.

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