Anna Lee Huber - A Bitter Cut

July 1833. Lady Darby and her dashing husband, Sebastian Gage, are settling into their newly renovated home at Bevington Park in Warkwickshire with their young daughter. With the breach between them and Sebastian’s father recently healed, they've agreed to help host a country house party for friends and family to share in their joy. Kiera is also anxious to help promote a match between her brother, Trevor, and the woman he’s fallen in love with, inviting her family to join them. However, Kiera swiftly discovers that the would-be bride’s family is not without their detractions. Her brother is unpleasant. Her mother is abrasive. And her father—the prosperous industrialist Jeremiah Birnam—is brusque, discourteous, and, at times, downright rude.
So when Mr. Birnam’s secretary is found murdered with Birnam standing over her body, many are content to allow him to take the blame. But neither Kiera nor Sebastian believes he did it, and in spite of his bluster and boorish behavior, they can’t let an innocent man be hung for another’s crime. Unfortunately, Birnam had his fair share of enemies at the house party, and any one of them might have struck out at his secretary in order to get to him. It's up to Kiera and Sebastian to uncover the truth and salvage Birnam’s reputation. As the couple slowly inches their way closer to the truth and threats emerge against their loved ones, Kiera begins to fear that the price of solving the crime may mean sacrificing her brother’s future happiness.

Comment: This is the 14th installment in the Lady Darby series, one I have buddy read with a friend for months now. Of course, we would want to read this one too.

Kiera and Sebastian and their daughter are staying with Sebastian's father while he hosts a house party. Kiera took the opportunity to invite the Birnams, the family of Matilda, the woman her brother Trevor hopes to marry, but she quickly realizes what a mistake it was since mr Birnam is very obnoxious and only interested in discussing a certain bill. Mrs Birnam is also unpleasant and Kiera fears the problems if Trevor and Matilda ever marry, but all this takes second place when mr Birnam's secretary is found murdered. No question that Sebastian and Kiera will investigate but will everyone be ready for what they find?

What else can I say about these books that I haven't already, in terms of positive aspects? For me, the books remain consistent, appealing, and the only things I'd change are related to personal preferences and little things that would make the story flow more easily. That aside, it was like seeing friends again.

I think the author achieved the perfect balance in this series in regards to mix a crime to be investigated in a time period without modern devices, and in presenting us with recurrent characters that we care about and want to see happy. Sometimes, one element or the other takes over but here, in my opinion, everything seems to be suitable placed together. I'm quite glad that this installment maintained this trend.

The crime being investigated seems simple when they learn that the secretary, a young woman, which is unusual, wasn't liked by Mrs Birnam and her son. Matilda seemed ambivalent and only mr Birnam defended her in front of others, a situation that caused enough gossip. I thought the most obvious explanation would be too easy and, in fact, it was. The way the situation is finally explained at the end is actual quite simple and, as always, thoughtful conversations would avoid a lot, but of course that part of the fun is seeing things develop.

There is also an interesting segment regarding the possible marriage between Trevor, who is Kiera's younger brother, and Matilda. It seems the couple is in love and interested in being together but it also becomes obvious that her parents don't seem that happy and believe she would aim higher in terms of finding someone titled, something Trevor cannot have. I think the undercurrents about this were an interesting comparison to Kiera and Sebastian's own relationship, especially before they married, and to the other relationships we get to see here.

In a way, a very good element in these books is precisely the constancy and the confirmation that the difficulties Kiera and Sebastian went through before they go their HEA is validated by how happy and in tune they still are. It might seem boring to some, but to me this a wonderful element and I hope the author keeps up with it. Since it seems there is one more book, at least, coming out next year, I can't wait to see what comes next.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - This Side of Murder

An Unpardonable Sin?
England, 1919. Verity Kent’s grief over the loss of her husband pierces anew when she receives a cryptic letter, suggesting her beloved Sidney may have committed treason before his untimely death. Determined to dull her pain with revelry, Verity’s first impulse is to dismiss the derogatory claim. But the mystery sender knows too much—including the fact that during the war, Verity worked for the Secret Service, something not even Sidney knew.
Lured to Umbersea Island to attend the engagement party of one of Sidney’s fellow officers, Verity mingles among the men her husband once fought beside, and discovers dark secrets—along with a murder clearly meant to conceal them. Relying on little more than a coded letter, the help of a dashing stranger, and her own sharp instincts, Verity is forced down a path she never imagined—and comes face to face with the shattering possibility that her husband may not have been the man she thought he was. It’s a truth that could set her free—or draw her ever deeper into his deception . .

Comment: I have buddy read the Lady Kiera Darby series by Anna Lee Huber with a friend and we have enjoyed those books immensely, which is why we also decided to give it a go at this other series. This one, set right after the end of WWI, presents another determined and resourceful heroine, just like Kiera in the 19th century was/is.

Verity Kent is a young woman, a war widow in fact, who is on her way to attend a house party, to celebrate the engagement of a friend of her husband. She wasn't too keen but she had received an intriguing letter and decides to investigate. She is quite self conscious to realize the other male guests are all men who knew her husband since they all belonged to the same division, and some are evidently not as laid back as they were before the war. In fact, some are clearly still feeling the effects of returning home after seeing or suffering terrible things and this affects their moods. Then, some secrets start to being hinted at and it becomes obvious someone wants them to not be shared, but at what price...?

I will start by saying that while I did my best not to compare this story with those of the other series I love, I wasn't fully successful and I struggled quite a bit to adjust expectations. I mean, the writing is as competent and composed as I imagined, and the mystery regarding who is the culprit of what happens is good on its way, but the rest - characters and setting - wasn't as great for me.

Stories set after WWI and in the 20s aren't things I look for on purpose but I have read other books set in this period and some have been appealing. However, there is this sense of sadness - rightfully so - and an overall notion society is changing and evolving into certain features, which I'm not as interested in, namely how people would socially behave. I mean, when doesn't this happen, especially the closer we are to contemporary times, but in this novel, the attitude towards life, feminism and relationships put me off.

Of course this would not need to be as negative, despite the reality of having people who went through so many traumas, mostly the psychological ones - I did like the fact the story didn't try to hide the sadness and the effects on people, despite those elements making the narrative slightly depressing - if the characters had been as captivating as I know the author can make them. In this regard, however, I wasn't impressed either and, as a matter of fact, had to push myself to keep reading about these people.

The truth is, I wasn't taken by Verity and her way of coping with the news of having lost her husband. I will be a prude and say I'd rather have her be alone and a martyr than dealing with loss by going to parties and being with other people. I can understand the psychology of why this happens but to my personal taste, I cannot connect with characters who do these things, it seems so obviously like acting, and I think that or this should not have been her choice of life, or the author should not present it this specific way, giving it the importance it apparently has. I didn't connect with Verity.

We are also told she was part of the secret service but it seems several characters guessed this very easily, and I'm not sure if this was such a big deal about her war efforts.

As one can imagine, there's also the question of the romantic elements, and at first I was ready to see it as a way for me to like Verity more, if she and the love interest were to develop something solid, perhaps to develop further in the following books, but it seems the author had another idea.... this is another element I didn't end up liking that much.

Anyway, regarding plot, everyone is reunited at the house party with an obvious goal, which is so that it becomes possible to discretely investigate if someone was a traitor during the war, to the point of some men being killed over those actions. This case was intriguing enough, it's not something overly complex, but with the setting - an isolated island - and the little things about the house and the guests giving a dark aura to everything made for a satisfying mystery to solve. As for the murderer...well, I will simply say the reasons for the crimes don't seem to be very solid.

I think that, in general, this is a very accomplished story line, with interesting characters and social elements to consider, but I wasn't grabbed by this book as I had been when I read the first of the other series by the author I liked. If my friend likes this more than I do, I might give it another chance and try the second installment...

Grade: 6/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Tarnished Canvas

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.
Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they’re on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter’s repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

Comment: This is installment #13 in the lady Darby series, which I have been buddy reading for the past months.

Kiera and Sebastian have been enjoying their life in Edinburgh and Kiera has been painting so she can have her own art exhibit soon when she is invited to an art auction. She and Sebastian decide to go but something goes wrong and the floor collapses where the auction is taking place, killing one of the men attending. With several possibilities on hand, Kiera and Sebastian embark on a new investigation, for perhaps the intended target could be Kiera... what they discover is that the reason for this crime, for there was interference with the supporting beams, might be related to something that happened years ago...

It felt really good to go back to these characters. As I've said before, reading the books in this series is already like comfort reading and the fun is as much about the plot as it is about the emotions linked to the characters and how they have evolved. Of course, this is the best thing about a beloved long series...

This story was not amazingly plotted, to be honest, and the investigation of how the floor collapsed and why was good but didn't thrill me in any specific way, especially when compared with other installments which I've found more intriguing. However, it does show how clever the author is in planning things and in setting up the narrative...for instance, I'd never think of such a detail but the use of the floor collapsing as a starting point for an investigation was certainly a novelty.

As a matter of fact, when we learn about the reasons why and who is the culprit, I wasn't shocked nor surprised and not because the identity of this person was meant to be a big twist; more so because my focus had been on the main couple and their domestic life. Still, it can be said that the details about structures, about architecture and then about art and auctions (since it was the setting in which the collapse happened) were all interesting enough and gave veracity to many of the things that were done by many of the characters involved.

As it happens with all investigations, one thing led to the other and so on, and we obviously learn a lot about how the whole situation came to be. In the process, Sebastian and Kiera need to deal with the repercussions of their work, and once more the character of Bonnie Brock shows up to give a convenient hand when necessary. I cannot say I love this character and I actually wish the author could set him up in a different course, but their combined efforts took things to where they had to go. 

Kiera and Sebastian are in a very stable relationship and while we only see things from Kiera's POV, it seems clear he respects her as much as does him, which we can see in the scenes related to her upcoming art exhibit. I do like these scenes in which we see the more domestic or vulnerable side of the characters and how things are going around them, even apart from their "work", and this time was no exception. It's fantastic to have characters who do not get themselves into ridiculous conflicts just to keep the plot moving or something.

I don't think there's any reason for this anyway, since there are many secondary characters who provide drama/friction and considering the way this story ends, we will certainly have one more adventure that I'm eager for now. I hope it won't be too long until it comes out. As for this one, perhaps not my favorite story but comforting for certain.

Grade: 7/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Deceptive Composition

Lady Kiera Darby and her dashing husband, Sebastian Gage, hope they’ve finally found peace after a tumultuous summer, but long-buried family secrets soon threaten to unravel their lives . . .
October 1832. Kiera is enjoying the slower pace of the English countryside. She, Sebastian, and their infant daughter have accompanied her father-in-law, Lord Gage, home so that he can recuperate from the injuries he sustained in a foiled attempt on his life. But as the chill of autumn sweeps across the land, they receive a summons from an unexpected quarter. Lord Gage’s estranged uncle—a member of the notorious Roscarrock family—has been murdered, and his family is desperate for answers. Despite Lord Gage’s protests, Kiera and Sebastian press on to Cornwall to assist.
It isn’t long before they discover that almost nothing is as it seems among the Roscarrocks, and they’ve been lured to their isolated cove under false pretenses. There are whispers of a lost treasure and frightening allusions to a series of murders stretching back decades that touch the lives of the family personally. Kiera and Sebastian are left with no choice but to uncover the truth before the secrets of the past threaten to destroy them all.

Comment: This is installment #12 in the Lady Darby series and, once again, it proved to be as enthralling as all the previous books had been.

In this new adventure, things seem to be getting on track for everyone, especially since the events in the past novel made it possible for Sebastian and Kiera to develop a stronger relationship with Sebastian's father, something they are thankful for mostly because of their daughter, who has a grandparent to look up to. When lord Gage receives a letter from his mother's side of the family - known to have been smugglers and not as respected as one might want - telling him about the death of an uncle in a suspicious way, they decide to travel to Cornwall to investigate and, if possible, to try to build bridges with that side of the family. Of course things don't go as easily as they would think, and there are several secrets to uncover...

When characters in long series become familiar, as I've repeated many times already, reading about them is no longer much of a challenge. This 12th installment didn't offer any spectacular content, apart from the novelty of Kiera and Sebastian meeting a side of the family they had not known before, but I still had a good time, even if accepting it wasn't the most thrilling of novels.

The real interest for me is in seeing the characters I've come to appreciate interacting and dealing with new situations in their lives. I liked the fact they could find enough common ground with Sebastian's father so that there is connection there for their daughter to have too. Thinking about this, what difference, indeed, from the early books where lord Gage wasn't likable. The fact he had family he wouldn't discuss was known, but in the last two books, what we learned, told us of some of the reasons why that side of the family isn't one he would want to cultivate. Still, what a great reason to yet another adventure!

In all stories, the fascinating elements to me are the interactions between Kiera and Sebastian and those closer to them. It's comforting to see them well and so on, and of course they now seem to be a united front when dealing with new people. By traveling to the estate of lord Gage's uncle, we have to assume they would find likable and unpleasant people which would help them develop their investigation. I will confess I wasn't particularly captivated by this investigation and perhaps my perspective had also been affected by what had been shared about the characters they would meet. Despite this, it was certainly good to see them get the way of things and learn about each new individual.

As the plot moved along and the investigation about the death of lord Gage's uncle went on, some discoveries are made and I will have to say I was quite surprised by a certain twist. I really didn't see it coming and this did make me more aware and interested in what was happening. I still wasn't fond of the whole smuggler side of things, which the family was reputed for, and when this subject came on here and there, I overlooked it. It turned out that while this wasn't such a big deal as initially might have looked, it had a small role into the conclusion of the story, so everything got wrapped up nicely, in a way.

What was surprising in what this meant to our protagonists is that they didn't seem to regret that this new side of the family wasn't as hard to miss as they might have wanted. The things they learned about them mean that while they aren't all bad people, they still didn't act as Sebastian and Kiera would want and probably they don't wish her daughter to be influenced by them... it almost feels as if this installment was a detour to usual state of things...

While the plot is ongoing, of course there are characters interacting and Bree and Anderley, as servants to Kiera and Sebastian, also play their roles in the usual method of investigation, namely talking to other servants. In this book, however, a situation is played so that Anderley ends up, at some point, in a more vulnerable position, as Bree had been in the previous book. I can't tell if this was to even up the score, or because we only get glimpses through Kiera's narration, but the servants also have an important role in the stories and are seen as people to care about by their employers. I do like this side of things and, as expected, makes me like Sebastian and Kiera more.

Having finished this story means my buddy read friend and I have reached the end of the available published books. The next one is coming out in June and we will only read at a later month in the year. It's definitely more difficult to wait for a new installment than to know we are only spacing them out...

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Fatal Illusion

New parents Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage look forward to introducing Sebastian’s father to his granddaughter, but instead find themselves investigating an attempt on his life...
Yorkshire, England. August 1832. Relations between Sebastian Gage and his father have never been easy, especially since the discovery that Lord Gage has been concealing the existence of an illegitimate son. But when Lord Gage is nearly fatally attacked on a journey to Scotland, Sebastian and Kiera race to his side. Given the tumult over the recent passage of the Reform Bill and the Anatomy Act, in which Lord Gage played a part, Sebastian wonders if the attack could be politically motivated.
But something suspicious is afoot in the sleepy village where Lord Gage is being cared for. The townspeople treat Sebastian and Kiera with hostility when it becomes clear they intend to investigate, and rumors of mysterious disappearances and highway robberies plague the area. Lord Gage’s survival is far from assured, and Sebastian and Kiera must scramble to make the pieces fit before a second attempt at murder is more successful than the first.

Comment: This is the 11th installment in the Lady Darby series by author Anna Lee Huber, which I've been buddy reading with a friend for several months now.

In this new story Kiera and Sebastian, along with lord Henry, are traveling as quickly as possible to reach Sebastian's father, who was attacked in Scotland. They discover him still recovering from a surgery and a lot more ill than what they assumed, but dr Baker, the doctor who helped him and in whose house he is recovering, did what was necessary, Now lord Gage needs rest but that is surely to be difficult since his relationship with his son has never been easy and it also seems the attack might not have been as random as it seemed at first. However, the more Kiera and Sebastian investigate, the more muddled the information... who is telling the truth and why would someone need to lie anyway?

As always, entering a new story about these characters is quite a treat. When a long series is seen as a comfort rather than a duty, it can make all the difference and it has been the opinion of my friend and mine that this is like spending time with people we care about and whom we want to see how they are doing. This one was also a lot more focused on Sebastian, for obvious reasons.

The plot has, I'd say, two main themes being explored. We have the investigation of lord Gage's attack and who might be behind it, and then the interaction dynamics between the main characters. I keep thinking this is a good series in this regard, in the sense that it's not only about how engaging an investigation is or how clever the design of what happens, but mainly because we can maintain the interest in the characters' lives and their emotional state.

The investigation into the attack on lord Gage has a mix of possibilities, including the idea someone wanting to have revenge on him for things he did in the past. I will confess I wasn't particularly interested in this theme, for more than what it meant in terms of what would our main characters do. I was more curious to see how this situation would affect them and how would they react to information coming out of learning what lord Gage did and how it might affected his behavior, including how he treats Sebastian and lord Henry.

In this regard, this was quite the story. Nothing happens in a miraculous way and relationships didn't get perfect simply because lord Gage is ill, but I did like the advance made in bringing father and son closer and, also, in how lord Gage shared something from his past and his (apparent) attempt to become a more patient man. Since the story is told by Kiera, of course that a lot about these family dynamics are seen through her descriptions or we know about something when someone tells Kiera, but it's one of those especially well done situations in which the narrator's voice is compelling and Kiera's certainly is so.

While investigating what happened to lord Gage and why it seems people nearby to the place where he was attacked have dubious attitudes, Kiera also starts suspecting that something else is not as it should and that there is, in fact, a secondary little mystery to investigate. This different subject doesn't really pertain to the main investigation but it adds layers to the characters involved and I've found it to be a great little extra, still never stealing the attention of the key situations.

For fans of the series, this is another great addition for certain but for new readers, perhaps it's not as exciting. Although it does feel one could read out of order - in terms of main plots there's no reason not to  - the fact this also includes secondary domestic issues related to the main characters, might mean it's quite a pity if one doesn't profit from the experience of starting with book #1. I'm looking for to see what novelties come from what will happen in the next installment.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Perilous Perspective

Argyll, Scotland. July 1832. 

After a trying few months in Edinburgh, Kiera and her husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, are eager to escape to the Highlands with their three-month-old child. Kiera is overjoyed for her cousin Rye and her detractor-turned-friend Charlotte who are being wed in a private ceremony at the estate of Rye’s great-uncle, the Marquess of Barbreck, in what seems to be the perfect wedding party.
But when Kiera is invited to peruse Barbreck’s extensive art collection, she is disturbed to discover that one of his most priceless paintings seems to be a forgery. The marquess’s furious reaction when she dares to mention it leaves her shaken and the entire house shocked. For it turns out that this is not the first time the word forgery has been uttered in connection with the Barbreck household.
Matters turn more ominous when a maid from a neighboring estate is found murdered where the forged painting hangs. Is her death connected to the forgeries, perhaps a grisly warning of what awaits those who dare to probe deeper? With unknown entities aligned against them, Kiera and Gage are forced to confront the fact that they may have underestimated their opponent. For they are swiftly made to realize that Charlotte’s and Rye’s future happiness is not the only issue at stake, and this stealthy game of cat and mouse could prove to have deadly consequences.

Comment: This is the 10th installment in the lady Darby series and my first book of 2025.

In this story Kiera and Sebastian are enjoying their new role as parents while also celebrating the upcoming nuptials of Kiera's cousin Rye with their friend Charlotte, whom they helped in the first book. While at her cousin's family estate, owned by the marquess of Barbreck, Kiera is able to appreciate the art collection Rye's great uncle owns but she is both worried and shocked when she realizes several paintings are forged. Things don't go well when she and Sebastian tell the marquess this, for a similar rumor had happened years ago and even caused the marquess' engagement to be called off, but Kiera cannot ignore it. They decide to investigate, including the Campbell neighbor estate, where miss Campbell, the marquess ex fiancé still resides, but what they discover might uncover a lot more than they imagined...

Once again, I was captivated by this novel and felt entertained for the duration of reading it. I feel very lucky that, along with a friend, we've managed to find a few stories and/or series that remain enthralling and interesting, even after several installments, and even more so when the main characters are the same from book to book. Mystery series with a (good) dose of domesticity and romance seem to be the way to go for us!

After ten books, there isn't much I can say without spoilering previous installments, thus this should be taken into consideration.

I've felt this story was clearly oriented to focus on Kiera and her artistic abilities. It was even obvious how the author seemed to focus the most important tasks of investigation on her side of things and not on Sebastian's, as is the norm in most of the books. I can't tell if this is a way to highlight the feminine role and all that, but it was a very intentional decision.

The mystery investigated is interesting enough, but I must say a few details were a bit too hard to accept. For instance, the amazing coincidence of a slow poison killing the victim at the exact moment that person was in the key spot to raise suspicions... not easy to accept, but in the big scheme of things perhaps this wasn't too bad. I also felt that the paintings' forgery went on for too long and it's also hard to imagine no one would suspect the culprits when all evidence pointed that direction, even before Kiera and Sebastian investigate for real.

Still, all this would have passed me by as of little consequence if the mastermind killer were to be a true surprise. It wasn't. In fact, very soon that character seemed to me as being too insignificant and sometimes, that is all the clue we would need. I wanted to be proven wrong but no, and even motivations started to be obvious after a few things were shared. Still, despite knowing this, I was was entertained as I've said because the other elements I like in these books compensated.

Kiera and Sebastian are a couple in love and loving their newborn daughter and all the little scenes with them all or with the couple alone were very sweet. It's also quite interesting how Kiera as a character keeps evolving which should not be a novelty in this type of narrative - the POV is always hers - but she does and she was both thrilled and scared of becoming a mother and now that is is, she has actions and reactions which feel realistic enough to make me think her relationships with others and her thoughts about her worth are an important part of the story.

We also got to see some scenes where Bree and Anderly, their personal servants, had a role and this also makes the story feel richer, with a lot going on besides a mystery to investigate. In this story we also had a small new development in the relationship between Sebastian and another character and, considering how the story ended, this will certainly be a huge part of the next installment too.

Anyway, this was a very satisfying story, even with the elements I'd prefer to be different, and I'll certainly finish it and keep reading if the series is to continue.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Wicked Conceit

Edinburgh, Scotland. March 1832. 

Kiera and Gage have been eagerly awaiting their bundle of joy but trouble has been brewing in the form of the roguish criminal Bonnie Brock Kincaid. A new book and subsequent play features some of Kincaid's daringly heinous exploits, although he swears he had nothing to do with it or the characters which are obvious representations of Kiera and Gage. While the scoundrel's fury seems genuine, as well as his determined quest to uncover the real identity of the author, the Gages still hold doubts about his innocence. A rash of crimes break out across the city, seemingly inspired by the play and book. When the publisher is found brutally murdered--in an imitation of a gruesome scene--the finger not only points to Bonnie Brock as the possible culprit, but also the Gages, who have been outspoken in their condemnation of the tale. Now, the Gages are on a hunt to unmask the killer. Between the infamy garnered by the play, the cholera outbreak still wreaking havoc throughout the city, and the impending birth of their child, they will need all the resources they can garner.

Comment: This is the 9th installment in the Lady Darby series, which I have been buddy reading for the past months. By now, reading these books is already a comfort reading.

In this story Kiera and Sebastian are getting things ready for the birth of their baby but trouble comes their way again when a play about the life of criminal Bonnie Brock, whom has already been part of previous investigations they conducted, starts being well deceived. Depending on the theater, the play is more or less well done, and it's based on a book published by an anonymous author. Kiera and Sebastian now need to investigate again because the publisher of the book, rumored to have a possible sequel on the works is murdered. When things get more complicated and even Kiera and Sebastian are mentioned in regards to the police investigation, will they solve the case before their baby is born?

I'll confess that while I generally enjoy these books as a whole, and in terms of execution all seem competent and appealing to me, this installment was not one of my favorites. I was curious about the imminent birth of the protagonist's baby and what it would mean for them, but the case investigated just wasn't very interesting to me. I know my buddy reading friend liked it a bit more so this is totally a personal impression, but it's one of those things that just knowing what to expect was enough this time.

The case was a little boring to me. The book about Bonnie Brock, a criminal that still has the approval of many people, should be fascinating on itself and his presence in other books was specific enough to have added something to that story, but this time I wasn't as dazzled. It's actually a pity if I think about it, because although he is a criminal of sorts, his life isn't only about being a bad person, and we obviously discover here things that place him in a different position and make him seem better by comparison. He does have some charm. I also liked knowing his origins weren't as negative as they were made to seem in other books.

However, despite these more or less positive aspects, I was still not fully on board with the narrative. The fact a book existed and how it was adapted and then the way the play added elements (such as the connection between Bonnie Brock and Sebastian and Kiera) for publicity and the investigation of why just didn't seduce me. I'd say I prefer the plots in which the investigations the couple conducts are more about relationships or a human connection, so to speak.

I might have had a less than amazed reaction too because of something else. Throughout the books - and this was addressed by the characters several times already - Kiera's closest family has helped and defended her, especially her sister Alana. We've come to realize that Alana is extremely protective and in the past book there was some tension between them over Kiera's continuing her investigations while pregnant. In this book, they had already talked but some animosity was still there. I understand this is yet another tactic to portray development, evolution, whatever one wants to think, but it also added tension and drama which I think was not really necessary. It's just one more element to add something else to the overall plot.

Personal taste aside, the book is certainly a consistent one and the plot is fluid and easy to read. I might have liked others more, but in no way was this not readable. I also liked what happened at the end and I'm already eager to read the next one.

Grade: 7/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Stroke of Malice

January 1832. After enjoying a delightful few weeks with her family, expectant mother Kiera and Sebastian Gage have been invited to the Duchess of Bowmontʼs Twelfth Night party in Traquair, Scotland. Though she normally avoids such fashionable, rambunctious events, Kiera is ready to join in the festive merrymaking. But upon their arrival at the opulent estate, it becomes obvious that all is not merry in their hostess's home. The family appears to be under a great strain, and someone seems determined to cause mayhem among the guests with a series of forged notes.
Matters swiftly turn from irksome to downright deadly when the partygoers stumble upon a decomposing body in the castleʼs crypt. The corpse is thought to be the duchessʼs son-in-law who had purportedly traveled to Paris more than a month earlier. It is evident the man met with foul play, and Kiera and Gage soon realize that a ruthless murderer walks among them—and may well be a member of the duchessʼs own family. And when the investigation takes a treacherous turn, Kiera discovers just how deep the killer is willing to dig to keep their secrets from ever seeing the light of day.

Comment: This is the 8th installment in the Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber and as it happened with all the others, it was engaging and interesting throughout.

In this new adventure, Sebastian and Kiera are attending a house party at the estate of the duchess of Bowmont and while everything seems to be going well, it is obvious some people don't feel as comfortable, especially since both the duke and the duchess included their current lovers. The party includes several amusements and the family members also share a lot of the history of the estate and the castle. That is how a group stumbles on a dead body found in the crypt and, of course, Sebastian and Kiera feel it's their duty to investigate, but the problem is that the clues don't seem to match to the most obvious possibilities. While they investigate, a few other details seem to come to light and they believe the possible killer might still be around. How can they discover who that person is before another crime is committed?

Once more, I had a great time reading a book in this series. The installments are pretty consistent to me, there isn't one so much better than the others but neither that much worse and I always have a good time going through them, in fact I'd say they are comfort reading by now.

In this new story Kiera is six months pregnant and attending a house party of the duchess whose portrait she was commissioned to paint. She and Sebastian were invited, as well as her brother and sister, and a few friends as well, which means it has been a merry entertainment for everyone. I liked seeing this funnier, or lighter side of their life, how they could be in a more domestic setting, which often takes second place when an investigation is ongoing. Although, to be fair, the author does manages a good balance between these elements in most stories.

I liked the book for how we can kind of compare Kiera and Sebastian's relationship to others. The dukes don't love each other but they love their children, and the duke recognized four he knew he was not the father. Although this situation was certainly not uncommon I still liked that the duke made the four of them legitimate, even though everyone knows they aren't, and their mother even shared who their fathers really are. Still, this made me feel rather sad, that the lives of so many people had to be emotionally affected this way just because people decide to marry for reasons not emotional.

Yes, yes, marrying for love comes with all kinds of negative aspects too, but I think this is the first time in the series that the author addressed this infidelity fact so much, and along with getting to know a few of the characters, of course they felt an impact of this situation. How lucky the illegitimate ones had a duke for a father who was sensitive to their situation... it's also not a secret this very situation is, in part, why the big conflicts happen in this story but by the end, the solutions are quite simple for the amount of worry they caused.

The identity of the villain isn't much of a secret once a few details become known. I think the author highlighted interesting elements about the society by choosing this person to be the villain, but in terms of criminal investigation it wasn't a really complex or surprising one. I would also say that things were a bit too basic in how they happened but the real strength of this novel is in the family relationships and what they entail and why they make the characters act this or that way.

In relation to Kiera and Sebastian, while the investigation goes on, there are a few details that give us a glimpse of how they are as couple (which is quite well) and how they are interacting with the secondary characters closer to them. I'm saying this because one specific situation kind of affects Kiera's relationship with her sister Alana and I hope this is solved in the following book. We also have some inkling of what is happening between their servants Anderley and Bree and it's always nice to see that they aren't there just to conveniently help their masters.

There is also a very interesting surprise we learn in this story, regarding Sebastian's family, but due to plot reasons, it's not something we see discussed on time. I wonder if this will be important in the next book too or if the author will delay this being a pertinent fact for longer. I surely hope not, for it's something I believe to be better solved as quickly as possible.

All in all, another interesting story, even more so if I feel invested in the characters and in the main story line. Despite the mystery not being really great, I still consider this to be one of the books I felt more eager to keep reading since most elements as a whole felt well done.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - An Artless Demise

November 1831. After fleeing London in infamy more than two years prior, Lady Kiera Darby’s return to the city is anything but mundane, though not for the reasons she expected. A gang of body snatchers is arrested on suspicion of imitating the notorious misdeeds of Edinburgh criminals, Burke and Hare—killing people from the streets and selling their bodies to medical schools. Then Kiera’s past—a past she thought she’d finally made peace with—rises up to haunt her.
All of London is horrified by the evidence that “burkers” are, indeed, at work in their city. The terrified populace hovers on a knife’s edge, ready to take their enmity out on any likely suspect. And when Kiera receives a letter of blackmail, threatening to divulge details about her late anatomist husband’s involvement with the body snatchers and wrongfully implicate her, she begins to apprehend just how precarious her situation is. Not only for herself, but also her new husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, and their unborn child.
Meanwhile, the young scion of a noble family has been found murdered a block from his home, and the man’s family wants Kiera and Gage to investigate. Is it a failed attempt by the London burkers, having left the body behind, or the crime of someone much closer to home? Someone who stalks the privileged, using the uproar over the burkers to cover his own dark deeds?

Comment: This is the seventh installment in the Lady Darby series, which I have been buddy reading with a friend for the past months... we will keep on going one moth at a time until we're updated in it.

This time, Kiera and Sebastian are back in London and dealing with the not very loud, but existing, gossip conversations about Kiera's past and their marriage, when a new situation brings it all back yo everyone's minds. Someone seems to be digging up bodies again and the link to Kiera's previous husband, and her role in the whole things, once again in the papers. However, a distraction happens in the death of a member of the nobility. At first it seems the case is linked to the criminals digging up bodies, but it's soon proved it couldn't be. As Sebastian and Kiera investigate, another person is attacked. Is there any connection between the cases or only a coincidence? What will this mean for Kiera's peace of mind now that she and Sebastian are expecting their first child?

One more series which reads to me almost as a comfort reading. I like the protagonists and I'm invested in what they go through and even if some details aren't as exciting to read about, the dynamics and interactions often make up for it. Series like these, with some investigation and development of the personal lives of the characters seems to be a type of story I really feel immersed in, and with some romantic elements to top it off, even better.

This time, the plot focused on two main situations: the crimes being committed against specific members of the nobility and what should link these people, and the investigation of the men who might be killing people to "sell" the body to the doctors and anatomists. This clearly is linked to Kiera's past, since her first husband had been precisely such an anatomist and he used Kiera's skills as an artist to better depict anatomy and he intended to publish scientific books, which he could not illustrate himself.

There is a time it seems the idea is to push the notion the two investigations should be the same, but it isn't the case. Both provide interesting elements, but the one regarding the bodies used for science actually leads into something very interesting: Kiera isn't welcomed by some people, who believe she was an accomplice of her late husband, and there was a lot of negative publicity at the time of his death and when papers proving his misdeeds came to be known. Due to this, Kiera was protected by her close family, and when she and Sebastian fell in love, Sebastian's father was against their marriage. Now, because of what is found in this story, lord Gage can now see Kiera differently and I feel confident this will mean their relationship will be a lot more amicable than before..

In regards to the nobility members being killed, which was the most complex investigation, the reasons why were more complicated than it seemed at first, but part of me can't help but feel disappointed there hadn't been a better way to use a different culprit. Crimes being committed for good reasons are always worse to think of, because while the idea of doing something wrong to cause a good situation/deed is generically captivating, there are also reasons why it's not legal to do what one wants in any way, and I actually fell bad for the "villain" here...

Our protagonists are going on with their lives in a very predictable way, and the fact Kiera is expecting adds interesting layers to their days and investigations. Something else I like seeing is the interaction with certain secondary characters, mainly their private servants, maid Bree and valet Anderley, who also get to be develop as characters, from story to story. I also like the interactions with family members and how those scenes let us see how the protagonists also change, as time and life happens. This situation with the body snatchers helps to put Kiera in a different light, especially towards the end, and I'm eager to see if it has any weight in future installments.

As it has happened, the crimes are solved, positive things happen to validate why certain things happen this or that way and, as in previous books, the last sentences mention situations which are going to be part of the next book's plot. I'm quite eager to see where things will be at then, especially for Kiera's pregnancy and the attitude of others towards her after what is shared in this book. 

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Brush with Shadows

Sebastian Gage returns home to battle the ghosts of his past and prevent them from destroying his future with Kiera in the latest exciting installment in this national bestselling series.
July 1831. It's been fifteen years since Sebastian Gage has set foot in Langstone Manor. Though he has shared little with his wife, Lady Kiera Darby, about his past, she knows that he planned never to return to the place of so many unhappy childhood memories. But when an urgent letter from his grandfather reaches them in Dublin, Ireland, and begs Gage to visit, Kiera convinces him to go.
All is not well at Langstone Manor. Gage's grandfather, the Viscount Tavistock, is gravely ill, and Gage's cousin Alfred has suddenly vanished. He wandered out into the moors and never returned. The Viscount is convinced someone or something other than the natural hazards of the moors is to blame for Alfred's disappearance. And when Alfred's brother Rory goes missing, Kiera and Gage must concede he may be right. Now, they must face the ghosts of Gage's past, discover the truth behind the local superstitions, and see beyond the tricks being played by their very own eyes to expose what has happened to Gage's family before the moors claim yet another victim...

Comment: This is the 6th installment in the Lady Darby series by Anna Lee Huber, which I have been reading one book a month, more or less, in the past months.

In this story Kiera and Sebastian are traveling to his family estate, to see Sebastian's grandfather, who is ill. They are also there to investigate what happened to Alfred, Sebastian's cousin who will inherit the estate, who has been missing for a while. While they try to understand the role of everyone involved, Alfred's younger brother Rory, who has been quite helpful, also goes missing. Sebastian doesn't have many fond memories of the estate and his childhood still makes him remember bad things but he is trying to get past that and find out what happened so that he and Kiera can go back home. However, someone is determined in maintaining the "curse" which is often mentioned among the family, as if something prevents the members from straying too far from their supposed role. Will Kiera and Gage discover who wanted to harm Alfred and Rory?

This was another interesting story featuring Kiera and Sebastian, who are now happily married and still investigating whatever cases come their way. As soon as they finish the case in Ireland (from the previous book), they are recalled back to England to learn what they can about the disappearance of Sebastian's cousin. Alfred has been described as a womanizer and not very considerate of others but he is still family and Sebastian's grandfather is ill, he wants to know where Alfred is before something happens to him as well.

Once again, I've found the story to be compelling, easy to follow and to be interested in. The author has created a strong pairing in Kiera and Sebastian and I like seeing them work together, not only as two people who investigate specific cases, but also as a married couple, who is also still learning to trust one another and is trying to compromise and enrich their relationship with respect and mutual appreciation of the other person's skills and knowledge.

The plot was captivating enough and I think it was especially well achieved because under the disguise of "interviewing" this and that person, Kiera and Sebastian can learn interesting things, mostly Kiera whose POV we follow. For me, the success of the series so far is in the little things, the small details that might seem irrelevant to many readers but that allow the big picture to feel more complex and that somehow justify the author's time into putting those elements there. For instance, the easy rapport between Kiera and her maid Bree might seem unimportant or only something to fill in the gaps, but to me it's as a worthy element as discovering the villain's identity, because it shows me how gracious Kiera is. 

Regarding Alfred's and then Rory's disappearance, I must say that this time I kind of suspected the villain to be the one who eventually turned out to be the correct, and the only reason I thought this is because that person seemed too inconspicuous. The reasons for the acts and the methods seemed to be based on far fetched ideals and I can't imagine how no one really pondered things before, since similar enough situations had happened to other members of the family. The explanation given at the end was a little weak... I can accept his as not being as great as it could because I like the main characters and I enjoy reading about their lives, but yes, something better could have been done.

This book also provided interesting facts about Sebastian and his childhood, his mother... things that had been alluded to in other books finally have some answers. I felt a little frustrated, though, that the family couldn't get past what divided them before, so that they could be a more united group now. This felt a little sad as well, considering some events in the book and how they cannot be changed. In the middle of this, though, we get to see Sebastian relying on Kiera's support, to think and to go through what would be difficult o him, establishing their relationship as even stronger for that.

This said, although this installment wasn't the strongest, plot wise, it was still a good one, now i'm more than invested in the characters and in what happens to them. Of course, for those who aren't familiar with the series, perhaps it's best to not start here...

Grade: 7/10

Anna Lee Huber - As Death Draws Near

July 1831. In the midst of their idyllic honeymoon in England's Lake District, Kiera and Gage's seclusion is interrupted by a missive from Kiera's new father-in-law. A deadly incident involving a distant relative of the Duke of Wellington has taken place at an abbey south of Dublin, Ireland, and he insists that she and Gage look into the matter. Intent on discovering what kind of monster could murder a woman of the cloth, the couple travels to Rathfarnham Abbey school. Soon, a second nun is slain in broad daylight near a classroom full of young girls. With the sinful killer growing bolder, the mother superior would like to send the students home, but the growing civil unrest in Ireland would make the journey treacherous. Before long, Kiera starts to suspect that some of the girls may be hiding a sinister secret. With the killer poised to strike yet again, Kiera and Gage must make haste and unmask the fiend before their matrimonial bliss comes to an untimely end..

Comment: This is installment #5 in the Lady Darby series, a series I've been reading one book a month for the past months.

In this story, Kiera and Gage have been married for a short period of time and have been enjoying their honeymoon, but nothing in their life is as simple as that and they receive a letter from Gage's father requesting them to travel to Ireland. A cousin of the duke of Wellington has been murdered at the convent which she joined and the local police, due to the issues between protestants and catholics, has not investigated too deeply, and if they arrive with the authorization of higher powers, perhaps there is something they can do. Investigating the death of a future nun doesn't seem to be that tricky at first,except the conflicts aren't as easy to ignore as they were led to believe... what could have happened?

Having now read five books in this series, I can say it is like revisiting familiar characters and checking up on what they are doing. The mysteries are all independent, being the common continuous factor the personal lives of the protagonists and I'm quite happy to see where they are now.

Gage and Kiera have been married for a short period of time when this story begins (I know there is a novella between this and the previous installment, where the wedding is central stage, but I have not read it) and they are still enjoying each other, but of course "real life" cannot stop and they are given a new task. They travel to Ireland to investigate the death of miss Lennox, a cousin of the duke of Wellington, which is to say a young protestant lady who converted to Catholicism and who wished to become a nun, although she had not yet professed her vows.

I thought, from the start, that the author decided to add food for thought in this one by having the whole protestant/catholic issue and even more than that, a converted character. In fact, I imagined until a certain point that perhaps we would discover the death had been because of religious factors and that the plot would be focused on that but, I was proven wrong and the whole thing is more directly related to the conflicts than personal issues. Well, kind of... obviously, the reasons the killer had are personal...

It was quite interesting to see the conflict portrayed in this story, since it's something that has lasted until today and had many changes throughout the years, but I can imagine how meticulous the author's research was, since there is a very obvious dichotomy between those who are catholic and protestant in this story and some even mention the prejudice against the others with expressions not as used nowadays, but it's always interesting to think abut this while reading a fictional story whose main goal isn't to study/analyze historical facts or something like that.

Even better is how the author found a way to insert this into the plot and, as always, how even some red herrings were played on purpose to distract the reader from other issues, namely the really important ones which are directly related to the murder. I say this because while the religious conflicts play a certain part, the reason why miss Lennox was killed was a little secondary to them, and done in such a way that I could only guess closer to the end. Well, as if this is that special, to be honest I don't usually find who the killers are in these types of stories, unless it's too obvious.

Gage and Kiera also must deal with one more layer they find out about one another, small things that can only be discussed after something happens that makes us think about it. They married because they are in love but mainly because they respect each other, and that respects needs nurture and needs them to be honest, so of course we have some scenes where they talk about their expectations and thoughts in regards to this and that, and it makes me feel that their relationship is in constant evolution and it's a work in progress, with them finding some new each day.

When we discover why miss Lennox was killed everything is so...avoidable... one of those stories where the why is more important than the how, and I think there were details which were very well done, while others made some situations confusing... well, nothing is ever perfect...

Still, another enjoyable adventure and here's to the next being as addictive to read too.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Study in Death

Scotland, 1831. After a tumultuous courtship complicated by three deadly inquiries, Lady Kiera Darby is thrilled to have found both an investigative partner and a fiancé in Sebastian Gage. But with her well-meaning—and very pregnant—sister planning on making their wedding the event of the season, Kiera could use a respite from the impending madness.
Commissioned to paint the portrait of Lady Drummond, Kiera is saddened when she recognizes the pain in the baroness’s eyes. Lord Drummond is a brute, and his brusque treatment of his wife forces Kiera to think of the torment caused by her own late husband.
Kiera isn’t sure how to help, but when she finds Lady Drummond prostrate on the floor, things take a fatal turn. The physician called to the house and Lord Drummond appear satisfied to rule her death natural, but Kiera is convinced that poison is the real culprit.
Now, armed only with her knowledge of the macabre and her convictions, Kiera intends to discover the truth behind the baroness’s death—no matter what, or who, stands in her way…

Comment: Following the buddy read of the Lady Darby mysteries series by Anna Lee Huber, with a friend, this is book #4.

In this story Kiera and Gage are still living the bliss of their engagement, but Kiera is worried for her sister, who is going to give birth soon, but whose health has not been the best. When the story begins, Kiera is painting the commissioned portrait of lady Drummond, but a glimpse into her marital relationship allows Kiera to realize the lady's husband isn't treating her well. Things progress quickly into a mystery when lady Drummond dies in front of Kiera a few days later, and while the doctor summoned claims it was an apoplexy, Kiera believes lady Drummond was actually poisoned. It seems the husband doesn't want to investigate, but Kiera is certain someone deliberately murdered lady Drummond, the problem is to prove it...

The fascination of a series which becomes addictive is that there are always elements that are so well combined, they make the story feel cohesive and engaging, even when there are situations one doesn't feel as invested in. I liked the first book in this series because of several aspects, among them the promise of a romance. It is certainly rewarding to see the character growth of the characters through their interactions, but also the physical changes of their decisions and, in this book, Gage and Kiera are happily discussing their wedding plans.

Although, I should say, that isn't the focus of the story - the romance itself seems secondary, even if the emotions and the personal conversations convey a lot more to the reader - but it does help in understanding where the characters are, what they think and feel and how will that imp'act other things or how they go on to act on something. I say this because yes, while these stories aren't as detailed on the romance as other "historical mysteries with elements of romance" as one might politely describe this genre, it's still a great way to see character evolution.

Regarding the mystery, I think it was plotted and developed well enough. I only think that, even bearing in mind specific details such as Kiera being known to have helped investigations before, and her past as the wife of a anatomist, and the familiarity with lady Drummond and the servants in her house, she could get inside awfully easy anyway when necessary... social norms or hierarchies alone would help her? I found it too easy for her to go to lady Drummond's house when she died and even later on to investigate, without the police, for instance. But, perhaps, this is a minor flaw that affected only me...

The plot turns out to be quite simple and the reason why lady Drummond was killed a very basic one. I can somehow accept the reason given by the killer when we learn it, but because it was necessary to keep that person's identity a secret until the end, of course that when that happens, some details don't seem to match and in the big scheme of things, I've found the explanation flimsy.

As Kiera and Gage investigate, they have conversations with many characters and interactions with secondary ones we've met before... there was a moment or two, I'll admit, that some of the situations seemed a little farcical, as if the unlikeliness of it had no other escape, but it did move things alone. I say this because, despite the fact I do like the books and what happens, there are times when things are clearly done for plot's sake, and not because they are that sequential to what could happen... well, I guess in a book one cannot wait weeks or months for the experts to finally place the clues together properly...

Two interesting subjects in this story were more personal related to the main characters. First, the whole issue of Alana's risky pregnancy provided a good enough debate on what it meant for women to go through so many pregnancies, even against doctor's advice (Alana was on her fourth, after a third one which had complications), but of course the goal was to highlight the need for her husband to be with her in this difficult time, instead of away, as was the norm.

Another subject was Gage's father showing up on the page and how he seemed against his son's marriage with Kiera. Considering the end of the book, this is, perhaps, not as important, but I wonder if it will still be an issue in future installments.

All in all, another good story overall, fluid, easy to read and for me to be interested in reading... I'm hoping the next one has the same quality.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - A Grave Matter

Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her dear friend, Lady Kiera Darby is in need of a safe haven.
Returning to her childhood home, Kiera hopes her beloved brother Trevor and the merriment of the Hogmanay Ball will distract her. But when a caretaker is murdered and a grave is disturbed at nearby Dryburgh Abbey, Kiera is once more thrust into the cold grasp of death.
While Kiera knows that aiding in another inquiry will only further tarnish her reputation, her knowledge of anatomy could make the difference in solving the case. But agreeing to investigate means Kiera must deal with the complicated emotions aroused in her by inquiry agent Sebastian Gage.
When Gage arrives, he reveals that the incident at the Abbey was not the first—some fiend is digging up old bones and holding them for ransom. Now Kiera and Gage must catch the grave robber and put the case to rest…before another victim winds up six feet under.

Comment: This is the third installment in the Lady Darby mystery series featuring lady Darby and investigator Sebastian Gage. I have liked the previous two stories and will keep on reading the next ones.

In this story Kiera is staying with her brother Trevor when, during a special holiday party, someone appears and tells everyone there had been a murder and there was a missing body from the cemetery. From this situation it is decided Kiera will investigate a little, as she has done in other cases, and to help her in an official capacity, she is asked to write to Sebastian so he can give her some aid. When the two meet again after some time part, it is as if the feelings between them never ended, but they will need to feel they can trust one another so that their relationship can advance. At the same time, they find more bodies were taken from their graves, which suggests a planned crime, but who and why is the question...

I have enjoyed reading the adventures of lady Darby and Sebastian Gage because I already had the expectation they would become a couple, and the romance reader in me is always ready for one more world/series to appreciate. It also happens that in the past years I've come to really like these historical stories that combine romance and mystery investigations, this not being the first series in the genre I try. I surely hope the trend can continue...

In this adventure Kiera and Gage reconnect for a new case and it was quite a case. The resurrectionists in the 19th century were people who dug buried people to sell to the doctors for medical experiments and/or research and while this could be seen as a small way to advance medicine as it was back then, it certainly is horrifying when one considers the ethics and the lack of respect. It seems the plot of this book has to be related to this when more than one body is taken from a grave, but it soon becomes apparent there is a special reason for why those bodies.

I think the big reason, the one that is behind the bodies being taken turns out to be a bit flimsy. Well, to the way I see it, but it does make sense to what the story is about and to what people who might be more closely related to the historical facts depicted might have felt as well. In terms of how the plan was put into action, I liked the evolution of things and the steps taken into us realizing what was going on, at the same time Kiera and Gage found out things. The author also used red herrings and a secondary plot to divert the reader's attention and I think the mesh of things was successful because I did not realize right away that there were two different plans into action from the start.

The romance between Kiera and Gage has some new developments, and more than what happens, is the emotions connected to some of their actions that i liked seeing the most. Both feel certain things about one another and about past experiences, which they take into consideration when thinking about what might come next. I like it that they don't simply do things because, that they have a reason and a justification for their choices. Of course, I also liked where things went and cannot wait to see what will happen in the next book.

I also find these stories to be special because often we get to see the characters interact with others, with their families or in more domestic/everyday situations. For me, this is a great element because it is always interesting to see the dynamics and how people behave in different scenarios. It was particularly fun to see Kiera's relationship with brother Trevor and, again, with sister Alana and brother-in-law Philllip. I'm hoping we might see more about Gage in the future too.. of course since things are narrated from Kiera's POV, there is always some limit to how things are described...

Anyway, this was another successful book to me and carrying on with the series will not be much of a task, but more of a fun discovery process.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - Mortal Arts

Scotland, 1830. Lady Kiera Darby is no stranger to intrigue—in fact, it seems to follow wherever she goes. After her foray into murder investigation, Kiera must journey to Edinburgh with her family so that her pregnant sister can be close to proper medical care. But the city is full of many things Kiera isn’t quite ready to face: the society ladies keen on judging her, her fellow investigator—and romantic entanglement—Sebastian Gage, and ultimately, another deadly mystery.
Kiera’s old friend Michael Dalmay is about to be married, but the arrival of his older brother—and Kiera’s childhood art tutor—William, has thrown everything into chaos. For ten years Will has been missing, committed to an insane asylum by his own father. Kiera is sympathetic to her mentor’s plight, especially when rumors swirl about a local girl gone missing. Now Kiera must once again employ her knowledge of the macabre and join forces with Gage in order to prove the innocence of a beloved family friend—and save the marriage of another…

Comment: This is the second installment in the Lady Darby Mysteries series, whose first book I've buddy read with a friend in January. Since we both liked it, we've decided to keep up with the series.

In this second installment, Kiera and her family are visiting Michael, a family friend who became engaged recently, but trouble is at the horizon because his older brother William, presumed dead for years, isn't dead nor missing and, in fact, is at home after years in an asylum. The news aren't welcomed by all, but things become more complicated when a local young woman goes missing and people start making noise about William and if he could have done something in a bout of madness. Kiera decides to stay to help investigate the case, not only because she remembers William fondly for his art lessons, but also because Sebastian Gage is there as well, although she isn't certain on why. As they team up once more, it seems all clues point to William, but can he really be that dangerous?

I was, again, quite invested in this story and in the characters. I think the author has a great talent to present the information and slowly develop it but always in a compelling way. My friend says she could guess the culprits very early on, and I had my doubts but I think I was so dedicated to savor the story that it was secondary to me to guess who the villain could be.

The plot is focused on investigating what happened to the missing girl but of course the attention is on William and why is he considered mad. The author includes an interesting note at the end about her investigation work to write the book and how many people suffered from a multitude of psychological illnesses or other issues and no one could really understand or heal them, thus making them all seem mad. William clearly suffers from what we would now consider PTSD and his experience at the asylum was a terrible one.

I actually thought the story would include a lot more content regarding this, but apart from key information to carry the plot along, that wasn't so. The story went more towards the investigation Gage and Kiera do about the missing girl and how everything must be connected or how can someone be using this - or caused this - to put the blame on William. The question is why, especially if he had been considered dead for so long, but I was actually quite interested in seeing what would happen and in my opinion, for the most part, the plot was a successful one to me.

I will have to say that some plot choices felt quite emotional here and there, for I expected a different path to one or two elements. Still, I think Kiera and Gage were, again, very competent with what they had to begin with, and their investigation felt logical and followed a believable path. I think some secondary characters were a good addition to the story and made things feel livelier. Others, I think weren't as fascinating and seemed to only be there because something had to be added.

One element which is kind of a given is how Kiera and Gag didn't get along at first but then started to become reluctant partners and when the last book ended, it seemed their paths would converge on more than just crime investigations. Depending on how one sees this, it does feel as if some kind of advance happened, they learned something else about the other and this feels like cementing something. They are only friends who clearly feel something, but it seems a good choice to develop this element slowly. I'm now eager to see what happens next.

The story ended more or less in a way one would expect, although I still wished for a slightly different choice regarding a specific element. Nevertheless, this was a good story for me, one I was enjoying and happy to keep reading and I hope the whole series remains so.

Grade: 8/10

Anna Lee Huber - The Anatomist's Wife

Scotland, 1830. Following the death of her husband, Lady Darby has taken refuge at her sister’s estate, finding solace in her passion for painting. But when her hosts throw a house party for the cream of London society, Kiera is unable to hide from the ire of those who believe her to be as unnatural as her husband, an anatomist who used her artistic talents to suit his own macabre purposes.
Kiera wants to put her past aside, but when one of the house guests is murdered, her brother-in-law asks her to utilize her knowledge of human anatomy to aid the insufferable Sebastian Gage—a fellow guest with some experience as an inquiry agent. While Gage is clearly more competent than she first assumed, Kiera isn’t about to let her guard down as accusations and rumors swirl.
When Kiera and Gage’s search leads them to even more gruesome discoveries, a series of disturbing notes urges Lady Darby to give up the inquiry. But Kiera is determined to both protect her family and prove her innocence, even as she risks becoming the next victim…

Comment: I've been recently interested in the historical fiction genre when it includes mystery and romance. I've been following a few series and this one caught my attention as well, and that is why this book was in the pile.

Lady Kiera Darby is the widow of dr Anthony Darby, a renowned doctor and anatomist, but it came to light that it was Kiera who did the drawings of her husband's work. When certain problems came to light, she was also accused of being part of something illegal and even though deemed innocent, the gossip followed her. She has been living in peace at her sister's but now that they hosted a house party, she still feels uncomfortable by some of the guest's looks and opinions, especially since things become incredibly worrisome when a female guest is murdered. Kiera's brother in law requests the help of fellow guest Sebastian Gage, who has experience in investigation, and along with Kiera they decide to check the deceased's body for clues and from then on, to identify who might be the culprit. The problem is that the killer is still at the house and who knows what will happen if Kiera and Gage get too close...

I was positively surprised by this story and even though a part of me could not help but compare it with similar stories I've liked in the same genre, I feel confident to say I will at least read the next installment too. The author's "voice" was appealing and I thought the narrative flew by well enough.

Lady Kiera is not a common woman. She is a talented painter and she believed that marrying sir Anthony would be a way for her to have a marriage where they could be interested in the same things, but it turned out that her husband didn't have the same idea in what he expected, so their relationship wasn't as balanced as she imagined. In fact, her husband's interests weren't conventional, he was very focused on anatomy and he used her talent for drawing to become an expert, never recognizing his wife's help until the problems began.

I can understand this set up to make two things happen at the same time: making us aware that lady Kiera has had a bad marriage and is likely ready to be with someone who will love her, and that she was not appreciated but her talent and ability will be useful in future investigations. Some of this information is given to us throughout the novel, some things we infer by her behavior and conversations, and of course this is the element that makes these novels so interesting. We get to find out things by the characters' actions and how often they are as surprised as we are by certain things.

The plot is not too complicated and developed in a sort of predictable way, considering the genre: the woman found dead had a secret and someone is determined to keep it that way. As Kiera and Gage investigate, or by checking places or by talking to other guests, they start uncovering details about the victim's personality and life and about those who were closer to her and who might know more about her life, thus her possible secrets. The motif isn't really unheard of and things do happen in a slightly predictable way, which doesn't have to be a bad thing, if the story goes on in an engaging manner.

I think the author did manage to add one or two elements which were intriguing to shake things up, but for those used to thrillers or mysteries, even in different genres, this wasn't anything spectacular. Despite this, the plot did develop at a believable pace, and as one would expect, in between these things, we got to know the main characters better and there was even a small hint of a possible connection between Kiera and Gage. Even if I had not seen references to this possibility in blurbs of future books, it's not necessary to be a genius to guess where the author is taking this...

I liked this book, for the main characters, for the (sort of) simplicity of the case being investigated and by the little things that might seem unimportant but that do give structure to both plot and series. I hope the next book will be as interesting.

Grade: 8/10