The story takes place in 1930s London. Amory Ames and her husband Milo meet an old friend, Gerard Holloway who has just written a play he is casting his mistress in to play the lead. They are shocked that he has a mistress as he and his wife Georgina have always been such a loving couple. Holloway has asked for help as the actress has received some threatening letters. Amory attends the play rehearsal trying to decide who could be the person behind the letters. On the night of Georgina's charity gala and the premier of the show Flora Bell is killed. Now the setting requires finding who did it. It could be one of many but maybe not who you would expect.

Ashley Weaver's sophisticated married couple, Amory and Milo Ames, are not the essence of perfect domestic life---and, that is part of the tension (and suspense) in her light, historic mystery series. They are bright, and prickly, and don't hesitate to let a little murder intrude on their glamorous life.

Yes, it is a wee bit of a stretch to think people behave like this, but the Ames' like to escape into murder and it is a fun escape to follow them. This book takes us in to a cast of actors premiering a new play written and directed by one of their aristocratic friends. There is not a single character introduced in to the story who is not a suspect---a bit dizzying for the reader--but, I was still totally surprised by the conclusion.

Like a Nick and Nora Charles movie, Amory and Milo Ames find themselves mixed up in another murder, this one taking place in the theater. Of course the difficulty lies with figuring out which actor or actress is a murderer and not just playing a part. Enjoyable, light hearted cozy mystery, well done.

Fans of Jacqueline Winspear or Rhys Bowen are sure to love Amory Ames's latest adventure. Amory and her suave husband Milo are drawn into London's theatrical world when a leading actress is found strangled on stage.

The book is set in the glamorous 1930s.

Amory is with her Husband Miles when they bump into their friends Gerard and Georgina. Gerard invites them to see a dress rehearsal of his new play starring his mistress. Its not just a social visit, his mistress Flora has been receiving threatening letters.

Despite being Georginas friend Amory gets involved and starts making enquiries.

The period setting is really interesting and the characters are likeable. I look forward the next book.

I realize how totally I’ve fallen into into the Ashley Weaver world of Amory and Milo....I always think after finishing each title that the plot twists
are delightfully done. I was happy when I thought Murder At the Brightwell, m fave was a stand-alone title. My reading days have
been enriched by each new book and the writing is especially prone to visuals...same pleasures as watching old movies.

Ashley Weaver creates enjoyable mysteries with flawed yet relatable characters. The life of privileged Amory has its marital mysteries as well as other high society high jinks, some involving murder.

Enjoyable followup to the series. The main couple's matrimonial problems are still realistic without taking up too much space in the novel.

An Act of Villainy continues the adventures of Amory and Milo Ames. This one involves a West End theater, threatening letters, a friend whose marriage is disintegrating as her husband has an affair, and of course, a murder.

Set in the 1930's, Ashley Weaver's series echoes some of the techniques of The Golden Age of Detective Fiction with some modern twists. Clever detection, stylish writing, the avoidance of graphic violence, and in an Act of Villainy, a surprising twist.

If you've been following this series, you will enjoy Weaver's latest offering for the mystery and the characters.

Read in June; blog review scheduled for August 23.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Detective Fiction. Sept. 4, 2018. Print length: 320 pages.

I enjoy this series, although the constant theme of uncertainty in the marriage is wearing a bit thin. The plot is interestingly set in the theater and populated with actors. Well written and with good action, the only quibble I have is with the strained, doubting relationship between the main characters. It's time for some fun and joy with them, instead!

Ashley Weaver returns with the fifth book in her Amory Ames series. Weaver's writing and plot construction is superb. Clues are given out that may be red herrings or planted there by the murderer or they could be real clues. The reader must pay attention to the nuances and character description. A level of mastery on par with Agatha Christie. By far my favorite mystery writer is Ashley Weaver, I always stalk the publishing news for talk of her next book.

Excellent! So many mystery series have "plot drift"- it starts out amazing and then gets worse and worse. Delightfully, this does not seem to be a problem for Weaver. This book is just as fresh and fun as the first in the series. Recommended!

Milo and Amory have become one of my favourite sleuthing duos. Their tales, set in Weaver's pitch- perfect setting of ambience and crystal-cut-glass dialogue are refined, surprising and deliciously elegant.

However, despite the vintage splendour, the human interest piece and the very flawed characters that populate her high London set make the series easily accessible. For no matter whether you are dripping in diamonds and lush dressing gowns, matters of the heart, betrayal and jealousy transcend time and class.

It is quite obvious that Weaver has a passion for the russet chairs and electric marquises of the theatre. Here, in a mystery that evokes the West End in a delectable age, she carefully unveils a tale of affairs, lovers, the spotlight and murder. In the meta moments when the play is brought to life, we see that Weaver has a nose for secondary plots ( and even for theatrical writing. Seriously, reader friends, I would watch this play to DEATH! <--- pun intended)

I cannot say enough for the atmosphere here which in all books is perfect-- but in this one becomes more and more delicious as the curtain is tugged open to reveal a world sinister and splendid.

With several plausible suspects, Milo and Amory's healing marriage (SUCH ROMANCE), a monkey (!!!) and a really well-honed sense of rapier wit, An Act of Villainy is a love letter to an era Weaver owns in current mystery ( I said on twitter recently I prefer her to Agatha Christie-- and I do). Amory's inimitable narrative is paired here with a city I love and a hobby I adore.

Also, Milo is chocolate, moonlight and Valentino ( of course) and we even meet Amory's mother!

I am so in love with this series. I read each book more than once and act of Villainy is yet another immensely enjoyable addition to a series that really, truly, wonderfully stands out.


(with thanks to the author for the ARC copy )

One of the most delightful mysteries I’ve read in some time; it fills the void left by the old Nick & Nora films. I haven’t read the others in this series, but they’ve moved to the top of my TBR list after reading this charming mystery.

There was a brief moment near the end that left me disappointed, as it felt cheap and meant I was wrong in my assumptions about how the mystery would be resolved, but fortunately the next chapter cleared things up in a scene that felt right out of Murder, She Wrote in the best possible way.

I do wish there was more of the inspector, but perhaps he featured more in earlier installments. This mystery has a wonderful cast of suspects, each full of secrets and motives, and the clues are spread throughout artfully. It doesn’t cheat, but there is enough going on that it isn’t immediately obvious who the killer is from the start, like so many other mystery novels of late. A great classic mystery.