Disclaimer:

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and I will try my best to write an objective review.

However, I do have to admit that getting an early copy of a book from one of my favorite series was one of 2-3 good things that happened to me in the absolute disaster that was the year 2020. So the possibility does exist that I am, in fact, a little biased.

This is apparently the last book in the series (for a while anyway, per the author). So it’s especially fitting that the story brings the main characters full circle. The series began with Amory leaving her country home- and her husband- for a seaside holiday with another man. After numerous adventures in various interesting locales, Amory and Milo are now back at Thornecrest awaiting the birth of their first child.

The complex relationship between the main characters has always been one of my favorite part of the series, and it was satisfying to get a deeper look into their marriage. I appreciate the fact that while they are obviously in a much better place, Milo and Amory still struggle in certain aspects of their marriage.

This book also provides a lot of insight into Milo, as we learn more about his background. While I generally don’t subscribe to the “reformed rake” idea, Milo’s evolution over the course of the series has been done pretty well, yet remains believable. There is still a vague sense of inscrutability around the character, and there are still things about him that you don’t like.

My only complaint is that the story at times felt melodramatic- long lost siblings, secret marriages, stolen identities, sudden childbirth. It was a bit over the top for a series that has always felt sophisticated and thoughtfully written.

While this book can technically be read as a “standalone,” I think it would be of little interest to someone who has not read the previous books in the series. For one thing, the characters and their relationships were the focus of the story; the mystery- while perfectly serviceable- almost seemed secondary.

Furthermore, this particular installment of the series is not as evocative of its time period as its predecessors. (After all, one of the greatest appeals of the English country village is its timelessness.) That being said, there ARE a few (very subtle) historical inaccuracies that in no way impact the story.

A final note: I listened to this book on audio as well as reading my advance copy and I can enthusiastically recommend the audiobook. Alison Larkin narrated books 2-7 and she is fantastic. I am hoping she can someday re-record “Murder at the Brightwell” to complete the set.

Loved this one!!! Amory Ames is at home one afternoon and she receives a visitor who says her name is also Mrs. Ames and she is married to Amory's husband, Milo. This is more excitement than she needs as she is in the last month of her pregnancy. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. The characters were lovely with a outstanding storyline.

Did not lovey this story. Was hard to get through. Characters were interesting however. Will try another book by Ashley Weaver in the future.

I am becoming a huge fan of the mystery genre due to books like this. You can read this as an escape from the everyday in a weekend. A really good mystery.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2021 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2021/02/2021-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Set in the 1930s, A Deception at Thornecrest is a mystery set in a quaint little English village. There are deaths, but unlike many crime novels set in modern day, they are not graphic, and while everyone in town has their dirty little secrets, thankfully they aren't in the same category as many of the dirty little secrets of those modern day novels. I appreciated that very much. I also appreciated that it was a quick read and I did not guess the big reveal.

I did not realize this was book 7 in an established series, but I think you can read this as a standalone without missing much, if anything. My main quibble is the repetition. It felt as though Weaver had a minimum page count she had to reach, but not enough plot to fill it, so she spent a great deal of time in the first third of the book emphasizing the fact that our main character, Amory Ames, and her husband, Milo, had experienced a great deal of strife in the early years of their marriage, and only in the last 2 years had they come to develop a much better, stable relationship. If she had mentioned that fact one more time, I may have thrown my Kindle across the room and DNF'd the book. I am also now keenly aware of the fact that Milo is skilled in hiding his thoughts and emotions behind the world's best poker face. Amory also repeats the clues she's discovered and seems to have the same internal monologue multiple times. For such a short novel, the repetition was...vexing, and because of the writing in this 7th book, I do not think I will be trying any other book in the series.

The story was lighthearted and fun. This was my first book in the lengthy series. But it did not matter. An easy read that allowed the reader to escape to a time and place in history, with a novel of escape and humor

This is my first Amory Adams book, and now I have to go back and read the rest of the series! I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the mystery. Amory is just a delight. She's got several mysteries to tackle in this novel, and I was pulled in from the first page. Great cozy mystery.

So enjoyed this 7th entry in the Amory Ames series. It's the perfect escape and I did not see the conclusion coming at all! Loved the addition of baby Ames as well.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I found it quite enjoyable. I had not realized that this was the 7th book in the series when I started it and it did not pose any problem for me to jump right into this book. I look forward to reading the other books in this series now.

I did not read, or review, this book.. I never requested it, never downloaded it, never read it. I have no idea who did, but it wasn't me, and I can't make this request for a review go away without writing something, so here it is.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver in exchange for an honest review. Upon receiving the ARC, I realized that this was #7 in a series of cozy mystery novels so I went back and read the entire series this Spring/Summer as I don't like to read series out of order. I'm so glad that I did as these novels have been the perfect comfort reads during these weird times. While I think this, or any of the other novels in the series, could be read as a standalone, the way that Amory and MIlo's relationship grows is more rewarding if the books are read in order. At first, I didn't know if I would like Amory and MIlo but they, along with the other cast of regular characters, have all grown to be characters I love.

While the novels are all formulaic, and include a large cast of characters, the stories are all easy to separate from the others because the locations change, as do most of the characters. At times, I felt like each novel was a version of a Clue game with a crime and several suspects.

This installment finds Amory and Milo at their country home Thornecrest awaiting the arrival of their first child. While I did get tired of hearing of all of the limitations on Amory because of her "condition," I assume this might have been par for the course in the 1930s in England, especially among those of higher society. I did appreciate that she didn't let those limitations slow her down too much and carried on with her investigating, even when Milo was not supportive. I enjoyed the mystery in this story and the author does keep you guessing until the end. Just when you think you have it figured out, she adds a twist. I will definitely look for the next in this series as I'm curious to see how the additional family members that we meet in this installment add to story.

A Deception At Thornecrest
By Ashley Weaver

A Deception At Thornecrest is the seventh installment in the fantastic Amory Ames Cozy Mystery Series. Amory is enjoying some down time in their Thornecrest country home, and we all know what that means. No rest for the weary and in fact several issues come along with some unwelcomed guests and a murder in their country house, of their stable hand Bernie. This series just keeps getting better and better. I always enjoy this fantastic series for amazing story line, twists and turns, and a murder mystery to solve.

I really enjoyed this and the series.

Great read, love the writing and the story. I haven’t read the others and now plan to this year. This story is full of deceptions and 2 murders. There are puzzles to figure out and that really makes it a good read. And it takes place in a quaint British village, what more could you want?

I have come to love the Ames family and am thrilled to see it grow even bigger. I was honestly surprised how everything was wrapped up but I still found it a pleasant read. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy which I received in return for an honest review.

Amory Ames is plunged into another murder at the village near her country estate, Thornecrest, in A Deception at Thornecrest.. Ashley Weaver has a pregnant Amory and her husband Milo meet Milo's bastard half brother Darien for the first time ; also Darien's fake marriage to Imogen, a young girl who has turned up at Thornecrest claiming to be married to Milo causes complications!!! In this 1934 village cozy there are lots or red herrings, but Amory is sure Darien the despicable bounder did not commit murder. Read and figure it out yourself.

Loved reading this book! Absolutely delightful and charming and such a fun read. I will definitely be picking up the previous books in this series and more from the author in the future.

I found this to be utterly charming and exactly what I was looking for in a good mystery. Although this is the seventh book in the series, this is the first one I have read. This series has been on my radar for quite some time. I will now have to rectify the situation and read the backlist of books. While this can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone, I am sure the character arc would be best appreciated by reading the series in order.

This had everything I look for in a good mystery, expert plot pacing, clues parceled out slowly, many possibilities for the whodunit that kept me guessing from beginning to end. And tucked into the pages is a subtle story of family and how those ties form us for better or worse.

I loved the dynamics between Amory and her husband Milo. They definitely are joining the ranks of some of my favorite sleuthing couples. I can't wait to see how they develop in their new role as parents.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ashley Weaver’s Amory Ames mysteries are always a joy to read and this one is no exception. Only this time, the murder takes place in her English village of Allingcross while Amory is very much pregnant with her first child. (I still don’t like her husband Milo but each book where he behaves makes me dislike him a teeny bit less.) There are plenty of deceptions, red herrings, and misunderstandings to keep you guessing until the end. And for the record, my guess was wrong! Looking forward to Amory’s next adventure!

Another solid whodunnit from Ashley Weaver and Amory Ames. This was absolutely as enjoyable as the previous books in the serious, and I continue to be impressed with how well Weaver captures the Agatha Christie model. The plot in Deception was not at all predictable, although I enjoyed trying to unravel it along the way. As always, the continued character developments in the Ames family were just meaty enough to keep us invested without devolving into the focus of the story, and Darrien was an intriguing addition.

Especially right now, circa election chaos and pandemic madness of 2020, these novels are the perfect escape - well placed in the past, enough glitz and glamour to make them sufficiently uppercrust, and a clever murder or two that are never superfluous or overly gory. Thank you Ms Weaver and NetGalley for the ARC. I loved reading this and continue to be a fan of Weaver's writing.