Absolutely delighted to be given an advanced reader copy of A DECEPTION AT THORNECREST by Ashley Weaver, thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books. Ms. Weaver's series about Milo and Amory Ames has quickly become one of my true favorites these past few years. When I first discovered them, there were three in the series and I read them as fast as I could. Each one is different in its own way, just enough that you don't feel like you're reading the same story, as some series books do. In each book, I feel like we've seen the relationship between Milo and Amory grow as they are faced with new challenges. A DECEPTION AT THORNECREST was no different. In this episode, Milo and Amory are home in Allingcross, Kent eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. It is April 1934 and the book starts off with a bang--a strange woman comes to call and claims she is also married to Milo. I'm always impressed by how truly unflappable Amory is! What follows is a mystery involving real and imagined new relations to the Ames, as well as several murders in their hometown. I LOVED the introduction of two new characters in their lives, who I hope will be a frequent presence in future books. Ms. Weaver has a great rhythm writing about this lovely couple. I feel like every one I pick up, I'm getting reacquainted with old friends. Highly recommend!!!!

Another delicious mystery with Milo and Amory. Though it held its own as a standalone mystery, The relationship between Milo and Amory is far more exciting when you know their history.

Excellent author, excellent mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

More like 3 1/2 stars - I can say that, having read all previous books in this series, this one is a great improvement over the last one. I still love the characters but miss the atmosphere of the earlier novels. This one lacked the details that would firmly place it in that historical time period. Where I used to get lost in the world of ‘30s glamour, now we get details of what color the dress is and whether it covered her pregnancy. There was still a bit of a taboo at that time about showing, but the author/Amory’s approach was more about acknowledging that it existed rather than living with that reality. In other words, it felt thrown in with an eye roll rather than a natural part of the story. Show, don’t tell.

Having said all that, I actually did enjoy the book. It is still closer to my beloved golden age mysteries than any other current authors I’ve read in this genre. I just wish she could recapture the feel of the earlier books. I still enjoy the strong relationship between Amory and Milo, and have enjoyed watching them learn to appreciate and respect each other more. While I missed seeing more of Winnelda throughout the book, she clearly comes through when it counts. It will be interesting to see where Weaver goes with these family additions and how it will play out.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in return for a fair review.

Amory Ames is at her country house, eagerly awaiting the upcoming birth of her first child while her husband Milo is away on business. She is shocked when she receives a visit from a woman who says she is also Mrs. Milo Ames. While Amory doesn't really believe this tale, she is concerned enough to listen to this woman's story. Amory sends for Milo to return from London, hoping he can shed some light on the situation.
And eventually she does. Then the book drags a bit finally picking up speed again at the end. I thought this was good but not great. It's possible I am just tired of Amory and Milo and their very dysfunctional relationship. I am almost saddened these two are going to raise a child together....they don't even seem to like each other.
There are quite a few unimportant details and vague red herrings before the author seems to tighten the plot up more and writes a pretty decent finish. I will probably read the next in the series but I'm hoping something changes in this relationship. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

I received A Deception at Thornecrest through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A Deception at Thornecrest is the seventh installment of the Amory Ames mystery series, but the first of the series I have read. The synopsis intrigued me so I wanted to give this book and the series a shot and I am so glad that I did. I was hooked from the very first pages when a women shows up on Amory’s doorstep claiming to be married to her husband. A claim of marriage, a long lost brother, a baby coming any day and a murder or two all rolled together to keep me hooked through this fast paced mystery.

This book was very well written, with a great plot and mystery that kept me wanting to read on. I found Amory to be an extremely likable character and loved how she went about putting the pieces together in this mystery. I am very glad I gave this book a chance even though I haven’t read any others in this series. I will definitely be going back and reading the first six installments that I have missed!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

I haven't read the other books in the series but I was intrigued when I saw this available on NetGalley. I have to admit that I was a little worried that I wouldn't like it when I started reading. There were so many references to the main character Amory's husband Milo and his bad behavior, their formerly troubled marriage and Milo's lack of emotion. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I really enjoyed the story and grew to love the characters. The setting of a quaint village in the English countryside in the 1930s really added a cozy element to a murder mystery. It was so easy to picture this small town where everyone knows one another and they stop to visit, chat and drink some tea. The mystery was interesting with twists and turns and a constantly changing list of suspects. Ultimately, though, the setting and characters are the stars of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed spending the last day in the British countryside with some fascinating people. A Deception at Thornecrest is the perfect cozy mystery to intrigue you and keep you entertained.

Plot Synopsis:
Amory Ames is at her country house, eagerly awaiting the upcoming birth of her first child while her husband Milo is away on business. She is shocked when she receives a visit from a woman who says she is also Mrs. Milo Ames. While Amory doesn't really believe this tale, she is concerned enough to listen to this woman's story. Amory sends for Milo to return from London, hoping he can shed some light on the situation.

Soon, a second unexpected visitor arrives and things get even more complicated. As Amory deals with these two surprise visitors, a murder upsets their quiet town. Amory cannot resist the pull of the investigation and is soon following leads and interviewing neighbors. Milo worried about her health and doesn't want her to be involved or put their child in any danger. However, he is well aware that nothing will stop Amory from pursuing this case. It seems that everyone they know so well is hiding their own secrets. Which secret is important enough to kill someone? And can Amory solve the case before she has her baby?

If you are an Agatha Christie fan, this mystery will be right up your alley. It is the quintessential village murder mystery, full of suspects and secrets. Very pregnant Amory Ames is taking it easy at Milo's family home in the country. Until a woman claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames shows up. Her announcement sets off a chain of events culminating in murder. Amory must investigate and get answers before the baby comes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have read every Ashley Weaver book and I love the characters of Amory and Milo Ames. It irritates me how he acts so nonchalance, but yet you know he adores his wife.

This book takes place back home in Thorncrest, the family seat of Milo in Kent. Everything goes awry when a woman appears saying she is Mrs. Ames and we learn that Milio has a half brother he has never known about. The fireworks start from here. Murders, fairs, horses and mayhem. Milo's brother Darrien is arrested for the murder of his rival for the affections of a young lady in town. It's up to Amory, who is just ready to give birth to help the solve the murder, with Milo doing some snoopy on the back end.

In true Amory and Milo fashion, the mystery(ie) are solved and we are blessed with the birth of the newest Ames. I won't ruin the fun by saying the sex.

As always this was a fun read, it's short enough that I read it on Friday night and finished Saturday around noon.

If you are a follower of this great series, you will love this new escapade. If you have never read any of her books, yes it can be read as a stand alone, but it's better if you read the first book to at least understand their relationship

Amory Ames is quietly awaiting the birth of her first child when her world turns upside down. A woman arrives claiming to be married to Amory's husband, an unknown brother-in-law makes himself known and a young man is found dead at the annual spring festival. This is the second book I have read in this series and I am hooked.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I haven't read any of this series since the first instalment, but I would say this stands alone very well. The opening scene, where a woman claims to be married to Amory's husband, was a compelling start, although that conundrum did get sorted out surprisingly quickly. I enjoyed the writing and characterization, but found the plot slowed down a lot in the middle. The final few chapters were much more focussed and exciting.

A fun read.

“A Deception At Thorncrest” is a very enjoyable mystery. I do love when a mystery has all the clues present so you can try to solve it yourself. The author does an excellent job of creating characters that are interesting and fit the time period that they are in. In this book, Amory is presented with a local murder of a stable boy who is well liked by her, her husband and several of the villagers. At first, it seems clear that her new half brother in law, Darien, may be to blame. When that happens, Amory feels that she needs to try to solve the mystery - even though she is almost nine months pregnant. This is an English village murder that is a lot of fun to read. The characters are well drawn, the story is interesting and the solution is surprising. I enjoyed it very much!

This is the seventh book in a series, but the first one I've had a chance to read, so my review reflects that. The author provides enough of a backstory that I believe it can easily be read as a standalone, although I'm sure the main characters, Amory and Milo Ames, would have more depth if you'd read at least some of the other books.

I found it to be an enjoyable enough mystery, but I can't say that I'm dying to read the other books in the series. The setting is in and around a village in Kent, England in 1934. Amory and Milo live in a huge manor home outside the village, and are quite wealthy, so there are a lot of servants all over the place (including an ever-available chauffeur to take Amory anywhere she wants to go, and she goes to a lot of places in the village, which became a bit tedious to read about) and lots of tea and coffee drinking (which also became a bit tedious to read about). Due to the time and place, there is a rigid class structure evident, as well as old-fashioned notions about what a pregnant woman should or should not do that made me want to roll my eyes. Amory and Milo are amateur sleuths who seem to have a track record of solving other murders. They have an interesting relationship, one that isn't always smooth, like many real-life marriages. But for most of the book, I wasn't convinced they even liked each other very much!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars.
NetGalley was offered this book as a download now, and I was drawn in by the cover art and description. I was a little leery of jumping into a series on the seventh book, but was pleasantly surprised by its ability as a standalone (and enough gems from the previous books were dropped that make me want to read earlier novels). A DECEPTION AT THORNECREST is an easy read, a nice escape from a lot of the grittier mysteries that I usually read. But I did enjoy putting the pieces together along with Amory, even if there was a bit of suspension of disbelief needed for some of the characters' actions. Lovely historical fiction mystery for those who are fans of grand estates, family drama, and period settings.

I didn’t realize this was part of a longer running series when I requested this book, but found that I didn’t absolutely need to read the previous novels to enjoy this one. Ripe with murder, deception, and the testing of relationships, this is a delightful historical mystery. I also found it to be a fast read, perfect for summer outdoor reading. I highly enjoyed it and plan to go back and read the rest of the series as well.

The book "A deception at Thornecrest" belongs to a series. We keep learning that the central characters, a married couple from the upper classes, had their problems of trust in the past. One part of the plot is devoted to testing their trust, and another part is devoted to solving crimes, but the lady is all doing it by herself. the least you can say is that her husband is not cooperative, belonging to another world (London, appararently gamblings) and not cherful in the company of a Detective from Scotland Yard. I can't see, to be honest the interest of the relationship between the characters nor the interest of the whodunit. I must admit too, that I thought to be near Chicago and not in the English countryside. The cups of tea are an element of Englishness, but endless cups of tea and cakes do not suffice. The whole book is written from Amory 's point of view, questionnings and inner monologues, with a lot of repeats, and since she is pregnant, we have to endure a lot of pre made views of how people of that time would have reacted. Same about the characters, they all seem almost like caricatures, with very simple traits, repeated all along the story, lest we ought to have forgotten. In a few words, the book didn't work for me, I'm sorry.
I received a copy from NetGalley, all opinions are mine.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.
Amory and Milo are expecting their first child and happy, when a girl comes to their home saying she was married to Milo. They find out Milo has a half-brother he never knew he had. Several murders (or are they?) occur during all this upset.
This was a nice story, with lots of good characters and the ending was a bit of a surprise. It was a welcome change from the usual hardcore mysteries I read, with a relaxing feel to it, just what I needed during these tough times. Recommended
for readers who like a cozy historical mystery.

When a woman shows up at Amory's house claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames, Amory is once again dragged into a mystery she cannot resist. I'm not going to spoil anymore about this because I found that I was most intrigued by the mystery at the beginning of the book rather than the main murder mystery solved at the end. I found this a slightly disappointing entry in the Amory Ames series; it felt extremely rushed and very short. In addition, Amory just felt like a busy body in this book, questioning friends and neighbors who had just lost loved ones.
Anyway, still an enjoyable read but not my favorite in the series.

I just finished reading A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver and it was wonderful! Amory Ames is the expecting her first baby with her husband Milo, when a visitor claiming to be Milo's wife shows up at the front door. Not long after another stranger also shows up and shortly after a local friend is found dead and secrets in the village start to unravel. Amory is an amateur detective who sets about trying to find the secrets and solve the mystery of who committed the murder.

Although the author has written more than one murder mystery featuring Amory Ames, this is the first time I have read one of her books and wasn't aware that this was the most recent in a series. I don't think that made one bit of difference!
I am a fan of historical fiction and murder mysteries and this easy enjoyable read was perfect. I really enjoyed the development of the characters, ALL of them, not just the main characters. The plot was engaging and page turning. I completely enjoyed reading this book and will now go back and look for Ashley Weaver's other books.

I received this book as an ARC and I am so glad I got the opportunity to review the book. There was one small thing that I think should be looked into as an edit. In chapter 27, everyone is gathered with Inspector Wilson, but all of a sudden in one paragraph it references Inspector Jones, who is not present at the time.

This is a perfect historical fiction mystery to settle in with if you are feeling like reading something more relaxing than a heart-pounding thriller, yet still full of delicious and unexpected twists as clues are revealed and the plot unfolds. This takes place in a small town in Kent while the main character, Amory, and her husband, Milo, are staying at their country estate while awaiting the arrival of their first child. Wouldn’t you know, not only do some unexpected visitors show up making troubling claims, but murder follows.

Although this is the latest book in a series, I enjoyed it tremendously as a stand-alone. I loved Amory, who seems to have had a track record of being a amateur sleuth at solving murders. I liked that she seemed to be a fairly typical woman, other than the fact that she has encountered so many murders that she has become adept at solving them and she belongs to the upper class. I found her relatable. I also liked the relationship between Amory and Milo.

This had a full cast of secondary characters who added to the charm of the village as well as the plot of the mystery. Along with the storyline, the thing that I most enjoyed was the author’s ability to capture the first person narrative in a way that seemed completely authentic to the character and time period while also being natural and comfortable to read. Grab this one if you enjoy intriguing mysteries that make you think about having tea in the English countryside.

A good cozy mystery, it stands alone well but is part of a series. There is a murder but there are other deceptions at work as well in this book. I enjoyed it, because I like cozy mysteries, they are a great way to spend an afternoon especially with all the craziness of our current world.
I received this from NetGalley.