My first time reading a book by Anna Lee Huber, and I'm happy that I received a digital arc fróm NetGalley. A good addition to the between the wars mystery genre..

Another fascinating story in the post-WWI series featuring former spy Verity and her battle-scarred husband Sidney. This aristocratic couple has developed an investigative reputation in the society press from their past adventures. Verity and Sidney, however glamorous they seem to the public, are more of a weary, damaged, and thoughtful Nick and Nora Charles than Dashiell Hammett's sprightly, cocktail-imbibing figures, though they do share some characteristics. Huber gives readers quite a bit of depth and poignancy in their backstory and in the frantic gaiety of post war society. As Verity and Sidney struggle to put their marriage back together after four years apart and many dark secrets, one of Verity's friends is accused of murder and the frame may go all the way up to the clandestine offices from which Verity worked during the war. Readers will enjoy this well written third story.

This was another suspenseful, romantic read by Anna Lee Huber. I'm a huge fan of her books. This one didn't disappoint. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley.

Another great story in this series. Characters are evolving with each new book. Can't wait for the next on!!

The latest edition (#3) in the Verity Kent mystery series set in 1919 England in which we find Verity investigating two seemingly non related murders, one of which a friend is implicated in.

The plot turns out to be more complex than first thought (surprise!), and we are introduced to a fiendish villain who appears above the law and will no doubt make future appearances (looking forward to that!). Some familiar faces are back, and I especially enjoyed getting to know Sidney (Verity’s husband) much better and watch as they continue to strive to heal themselves while rebuilding their marriage. Out 10/29

Another great addition to the series, as Huber provides in-depth research while continually developing flawed characters who we love (not always easy to do).

Thanks to #KensingtonBooks and #NetGalley for providing the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I’ve been a fan of Anna Lee Huber since a friend got me hooked on her Lady Darby Series. When I discovered Verity Kent I was equally thrilled. From the get go I was drawn to her strength, loyalty and detective prowess and this third instalment of the story did not disappoint! As always there’s a fabulous mystery, lush detail to set the scene and plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I enjoy the touch of romance that finds its way into Huber’s books and I look forward to Verity and Sidney’s continued love story as more is revealed. From start to finish I was hooked and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series to join Verity’s next adventure!

A big thank you to Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #PennyForYourSecrets
** This review can also be found on Goodreads

Penny for your Secrets is the third installment of the Verity Kent series, while not imperative, I do suggest reading them in order. The personal relationships of the main characters do build through the series, and there is a plot twist in the first one that is important.

One of Verity's friends is accused of killing her husband after a dinner party. Verity begins searching for the truth of who killed Lord Rockham. In this pursuit of truth a known spy sets Verity on the trail of Rockham's shipping industry. Was Rockham into nefarious deeds during the war? Does this have to do with his murder? As if this isn't enough on her hands, Verity is then asked by a friend to look into the mysterious death of her sister. Are all these things seperate? Is there a tie between them? What does the missing crew of the Zabrina have to do with it all?

The Zabrina was a real ship that was found abandoned on a beach in France. It was found with no damage other than some tangled sails, no crew, no indication of trouble on board as the table was set for dinner. Yet to this day, no one knows what happened to her crew. Anna Lee Huber used this real life mystery to enhance Penny for Your Secrets and Verity's story. I also appreciate that Ms. Huber addresses the post war issues that people faced; PTSD, injuries, changed relationships, and fatherless families. It all helps to bring the story to life and you realize that just because the Great War ended, life didn't just go back to the way it had been.

Anna Lee Huber delivers another fantastic historical mystery. The third book in the Verity Kent series sees Verity and her husband continue to work on their relationship while being pulled into several mysteries. I love the history, the mystery and that the books in this series have such depth to the characters and their experiences. A must read for fans of Maisie Dobbs and Kate Shackleton. I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Anna Lee Huber is a freaking genius and here is why: this series is not just a murder mystery series ( though there is a murder and a mystery), nor is it just a plot with an espionage twist ( though Verity's work in the secret service in the Great War still plays a major role in the third instalment). This is a keen and brilliantly exploited historical look at the shift of human nature in the years following a war that changed the world and its habitants forever. Like so many, Verity and Sidney married in the whirlwind of potential valour and glory as Sidney prepared to return to the front to lead his men to glory. As we know from the first instalment (This Side of Murder), Sidney's decision to fake his own death at the Somme has massive ramifications on himself, his marriage and his status in society.

In the first book we balanced Verity's believable and conflicting attraction to Max Ryde ( omg I miss him so much before he inevitably shows up in each book) with the sudden and shocking return of Sidney after 15 months presumed dead. In book two (Treacherous in the Night), Verity and Sidney cross through Brussels and some of Verity's wartime zones working along La Dame Blanche in pursuit of leftover treason and traitorous activity. Here, Verity and Sidney reconcile their time apart and Sidney's acceptance of the part of his wife's wartime life he a.) knew nothing about b.) is shocked at. Indeed, they seem to get to know each other for the first time--- married, but strangers, finding unequal footing and a charge toward equilibrium as they sort out how to fall in love again with a spouse they hardly know.


Here, we find them back in London ---mostly at home in their fashionable Berkeley Square flat. And while there are clubs and gorgeous clothes, gin rickeys, makeup and dancing ---as well as a shocking murder that might be tied to solicitous love affairs---there is the deep psychology of Sidney's finally settling into his post war world. Home and not traipsing through Brussels. Home and accepting of the decision he made to fake his death. Home and confronted with his life while so many of them men under his command and colleagues and friends are dead.


It is an inimitable gift to let your characters seep into the psyche of your readers and take a winning and memorable place and Huber as it in spades-- in this series and in Lady Darby. There was a stark realism in the psychology of Sidney's post-war struggle that I felt stark and haunting and that really punched me in the gut. To add, Verity's grace of forgiveness and gift of empathy countered with her usual spunk and intelligence--add another layer to an already nuanced and dimensional character.


This is skyrocketing to be one of my favourite mystery series ever--- chock full of verisimilitude, dripping with atmosphere and pitch-perfect research on every ambient page and full of characters who dazzle and confound but also spread wings from the page. Down to the last: Nimble, the re-hired valet, the maid of all work who sneaks to a home away from the flat at night, the widowed mother of two children who are trying to forge a life after the war...

This is genre fiction, yes, but it is also just historical genius.
Huber is a master and this era (like so many) is her personal sandbox.


So, yes, I am dying for the next instalment. My life was enriched reading this---and yours will be, too.


(shared on twitter, instagram and facebook as well)

Being the wife of a Vietnam vet for 48 yrs, I found Anne Lee Huber depiction of PTSD, or shellshock as it was once know, is so close to the bone.
This book is a real journey into history, of the changes after the war, both to the world as it was before to the growth of women in their own values. The story is a not to be put down read, of people, times and murder, I very much enjoyed the turns and roundabouts. A great story

Thank you Net Galley. An entertaining and interesting read in the Verity Kent series. Very relaxing. Perfect for the weekend. I would like to see some further development of the characters. They seem to be stuck at the same point in their relationships.

Penny for Your Secrets by Anna Lee Huber is the third book in the Verity Kent Mystery series.

I have to admit this is my first entry into this young series and I am so glad that I stumbled upon it.

I am a huge fan of this genre (historical fiction/mystery), and of this time period (The Great War/post GW) as this book is a part of.

The main female character ( Kent) is trying to find herself again as a private investigator and a “normal” citizen in England in 1919 (she was a secret service agent during the GW).
I enjoyed the plot, the murder/mystery concept, and I love Verity. She is smart, resourceful, and a fighter. She is not perfect, but that is what makes her endearing. I cant wait to see where this series goes.

One does not have to read the previous two books to follow along on this novel quite nicely. However, I am now so drawn to this series, I have already ordered the previous two books to read. I am so excited to find a new series that I truly enjoy.

Hats off to Ms Huber for this awesome read.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This is posted to my GR account immediately and will be posted to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

5/5 stars enthusiastically

My Review
Amateur sleuth Verity Kent attends a fancy soiree with her recently returned-from-the-dead husband, Sidney, and is faced with the murder of her best friend’s husband the next morning- and she’s the chief suspect.

Another friend loses her half-sister to a supposed robbery, but nothing is taken. Verity and Sidney investigate the murders and soon begin to think they are somehow related and even worse, were used to cover other crimes committed during the great war.

There are many twists and turns in this novel that kept me guessing, but it was Verity and Sidney’s relationship that kept me turning pages.


The couple have been through a traumatic event and it’s had a profound effect on both of them. The author does a superb job of delving into their innermost thoughts and fears for their marriage. Sidney’s survivor’s guilt leads to PTSD and creates friction between the newlyweds- not helped by the villain who wants them to stop their investigation.

I give Penny For Your Secrets 4 lovely kisses- Love this cover!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Penny for Your Secrets is the sort of post-World War I murder-mystery that you're looking for.

While this is Book 3, and I haven't read the previous 2 books, it was an easy book to get into and the characters are well-rounded and developed, and the mystery, or rather, mysteries are intriguing as well.

The main character, Verity Kent, is a firm 'voice' for the novel and it is told entirely from her point of view, which I always appreciate. While there is entirely too much dancing at the beginning of the novel, (even I was exhausted at the thought of having to go out every night), the action moves along quite swiftly, and in the end, my only real complaint is that while this is a standalone novel, there is an underlying element that still needs resolving in future books. This meant that by the time the 'big reveal' came, it wasn't really a 'big reveal' because I was more focused on this other mystery. I know it's a good writing technique to employ, but I would always sooner have a real 'ending' even if I know a series will continue.

A firm 4/5, and thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

Verity and Sidney are married.This is the third book in the series.Their camaraderie makes me want to read the past few books. This book does good as a stand-alone with details from the past books filled in.
The couple are investigating a murder.The main suspect is Veritys best friend.Just when you think you’ve figured out the rest of the story along comes a different angle.
A well written historical mystery.
Thankyou Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC

post-WW1, historical-fiction, historical-research, cosy-mystery, PTSD, survivor's guilt, war-is-hell, murder-investigation, England

The first thing to know is that the author has done an excellent job of filling the reader in on the relevant past, so you never feel like you've missed something important (but it did make me hunt up the earlier books because I really liked the characters!).
Sidney and Verity have been married for five years but spent most of the time apart because of the war, so those problems are a large part of the plot. Included in that aspect is, (1919, eleven months after the Armistice) that Verity spent much of that time working in the Intelligence Division. Enhanced her detective ability but made for some problems in home life considering the time as well as Sidney's expected post war issues.
At a party, a rather dramatic friend is beyond tipsy and makes some peculiar statements about her husband while brandishing a pistol. But in the morning, said husband is found shot to death in his home office and Verity's friend is the chief suspect. Let the sleuthing begin! Plot twists, red herrings, and misdirection follow including negative involvement by someone in Naval Intelligence.
Excellent read with good insights into PTSD and survivor's guilt as well as good research into social problems of the day.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was third in a series; it was good as a stand alone book but it made me want to read her back catalogue. That's a good thing if you read as much as I do. It was engaging, fast paced, and fun. I learned something new about WW1 that fascinated me and may cause me to dig deeper into the subject. My only complaint is the ending was somewhat satisfactory but at the same time left me feeling like there was more to explore. I'd recommend this to those who like clean, cozy mysteries.

I was drawn right into Penny for Your Secrets this is third in the series first for me.I had no trouble figuring out what was going on .Enjoyed reading about Verity and her husband Sidney .Verity was a secret service agent during the war now a Detective recently estranged they are adjusting to married life again their marriage struggles are very realistic very interesting to read about.When her dear friend is accused of murdering her husband a marriage that was not happy Verity investigates to prove her innocence.I really enjoyed this well written entertaining mystery looking forward to reading more by this author.#netgalley#kennsingtonbooks

Verity and Sidney are back for the third installment in the series to investigate the murder of a friend's husband who had a less than idealistic marriage. The whodunit was pretty easy to guess early on but it was still a really good read for me mostly because I enjoy books with relatable characters and I particularly enjoyed that Verity and Sidney didn't get an instant "happy ever after" but have continued to work toward their relationship and are now in a much better place. I thought the historical details were realistic and the writing style flowed nicely and this was an overall excellent addition to the series.

Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney, are back in the third installment of the Verity Kent series. The Kents are working as unofficial private detectives, and they’ve been asked by Verity’s friend to find out who murdered her husband following a large house party. Verity’s friend, Ada, isn’t exactly helping her cause, and she is giving Verity and Scotland Yard more and more reasons to suspect that she might have had something to do with her husband’s death. Verity and Sidney are also looking into the murder of a young woman – something that Ada does not appreciate because it takes them away from helping prove her innocence. But, as the Kents delve deeper into the young woman’s murder, they find conclusive evidence that the two murders are linked and that they were committed to cover up a number of crimes that took place during the Great War.

I am a big fan of the first two novels in the Verity Kent series, and I am thoroughly pleased with the latest novel. PENNY FOR YOUR SECRETS picks up not long after where TREACHEROUS IS THE NIGHT left off – Verity and Sidney are working at reestablishing their relationship and coming to terms with their new celebrity status. As a former Secret Service agent, Verity’s recent past is full of surprises. With each book, we learn a little more about her involvement during the Great War. While I would love to know more about her wartime contributions, it is equally compelling to follow Verity along in the months following the Armistice as she finds her new place in the world. PENNY FOR YOUR SECRETS is full of plot twists and suspense, and it will keep the reader turning the page to see what happens next. The multiple plot lines in the novel worked well together, and the two murders turn out to be connected. A villain is also introduced that will most likely prove to be a hinderance in upcoming novels. I can’t wait to read the fourth novel in the series is released so that I can see what happens next to Verity and Sidney.