A Deception at Thornecrest is 7th in Ashley Weaver's engaging mystery series, set (mainly) in 1930s England.

The episode opens in April 1934 at Milo's country house in Kent, where a very pregnant Amory awaits the birth of their child. A young woman (Imogen) shows up, claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames. Murders follow.

Naturally, Amory is impelled to investigate, despite her condition, and closes the case just as her labor begins.

This is the first Amory Ames book I've read, but I found that there was enough information about the characters and their histories that I didn't feel lost. Each seems to be a standalone mystery with the same heroine plus her husband, Milo. There was enough background about their marriage and home, too. I'm not sure if I had read the others if I would have needed all that information, but it worked well for someone coming into the series at this point.

I liked the setting of a small village where everyone knows everyone and is in each others' business. It was a light mystery (not quite considered a "cozy" I wouldn't think, but close), and I read it pretty quickly. I was a bit dissatisfied with the culprit, but it was someone I was not expecting, which made it interesting.

Mrs. Ames is also going about trying to solve the mystery while eight months pregnant, so I thought the author stayed true to that with the naps and resting of feet, etc. It was entertaining but perhaps not enough to make me want to go back and read the other books. However, if you like mysteries set in the early-mid 1900s (this one takes place in 1934) with female heroines, you will most likely enjoy this.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I missed that this was part of a series so this was the first book I read. I found the characters Amory and Miles to be quite intriguing. They have decided to stay home for awhile to live a quiet life as they await the arrival of their baby. However, a woman comes to town and states she has met Miles before and after a series of events there is a murder. Who was this person that was murdered and why? Who did it? This is a face paced novel with plenty of plot twists throughout as they try to solve the mystery. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5★

A Deception at Thornecrest is the seventh novel in the Amory Ames series and is a highly enjoyable addition.

Amory is nearing the arrival of her first child and is sequested at Thornecrest, the family home, awaiting the childs birth. Her quiet solitude is broken, however, when a woman arrives proclaiming she is married to Amory's husband Milo!

In addition, long lost relatives have begun to emerge and soon after, a young man is mudered!
Despite being heavily pregnant, Amory is soon on the case, determined to find the killer.

This is a delightful addition to the series and was easy to follow, despite having only read the first novel beforehand.

A charming cost mystery!

i really enjoyed reading this book, the mystery worked really well and I enjoyed the time period that was used. I look forward to more from the author and this series.

As I started reading this story I discovered that this is a series. I wish when you pick a book to read they will tell you so,I hate reading a book and it's a continuing story of the one your reading now. Sometimes you can read the book and it catches you up and you don't miss a thing then sometimes no. This book threw me some but it caught me up enough to be able to read and know what's going on. The story and the main characters in this story makes you want to go back to the beginning and read all.. Exciting story,excellent characters that you feel as by the time you are finished reading you want to know better than just this story. Follow the story to find out what this husband has been up to and which marriage is legal and not and what about the baby? Funny, drama,mystery you find in this one story and you really want to find out what's going on in the lives of them all!! Received from Net Gallery and like me I think when you finish this book or decide to start from book one it's well worth the series from Ashley Weaver!!

I had never heard of this author or this series. I enjoyed the boo, even though it is the 7th book in the series. Now I'm curious about the characters and want to go back and read earlier books in the series. It was a decent mystery, well-written with some good red herrings, secrets, ets. It upset me that we get to know and like one of the victims before they are killed off. I enjoyed watching Amory investigate and uncover the secrets even though her conclusion comes a bit too fast.

Cheating or not cheating. It gets really old. That's is what these two characters always fall back too over and over. It gets very repetitive.

When I began reading this book I thought it sounded so familiar and maybe I had read a similar book. Then I discovered this was one of a series featuring these same characters. It seems Milo is up to his old tricks cheating on his wife Amory or is he? This book sounded too much like the one of the other books in the series and I did not enjoy it.

A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver was fun mystery romp. The characters were well flushed out and I appreciated all the Red Herrings. The mystery was engaging and I found myself not able to stop reading even though it was well past my bedtime.
I confess I had never read an Amory Ames mystery and while this may have been the first it won't be my last.
I am a fan of the Downton Abbey series and somehow I imagined Michelle Dockery in the Amory role. I guess that proper early 20th century upper class upbringing was on display here and it was all very enjoyable. I also enjoyed how Amory had complete faith in her husband despite a varnished past and I admit I was not as convinced as she was. How odd though that they both had the same last name, very unusual in novels.

All in all a very lovely mystery which did not require a knowledge of the previous novels in the series. I will be looking into getting and reading the other novels in this series and will be searching for others by this very pleasing author. Bravo!

While only having read this book in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed it enough to CRAVE THE ENTIRE SERIES. What let up to this? Why does this family have so much misfortune? I was hooked by the first chapter and it held me to the very end.
Easy read and fast paced, this book will have you finishing it in one sitting!! I highly recommend this book and the whole series!

This is a wonderfully written historical mystery! Filled with interesting, quirky and complex characters, it has lots of twists and turns. The story keep you guessing to the end. A Must Read!

While Milo, Amory’s husband, is in London on business. Amory Ames is ready to settle in a quiet and peaceful pace of her life, and getting prepared for the arrival of her first baby.
Then, there is a female visitor, who has caught her by surprise, introduces herself as Mrs. Ames, Milo’s wife!
While Amory trying to wrap her head around this, Bertie, Milo’s stable hand turns up dead at the stable during Springtide Festival! The investigation of his death has then lead to even more profound findings!
A Deception at Thornecrest is the 7th book of Amory Ames mystery series, but is my first read of this series, and I love it! It can be read as a standalone, and it doesn’t diminish the suspense and mystery of the story.
Ashley Weaver has brilliantly spun this well-paced and smooth-flowing cozy historical mystery that will keep one in suspense!
I would like to thank Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this eARC which I enjoyed greatly!
#ADeceptionAtThornecrest
#NetGalley

This is the first book I’ve read in the Amory Ames series. But while part of a series, you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone. I do think it would help the reader to have some background about the Milo and Amory. There are twists and turns that makes for a good mystery. And I love it when a book allows you to be surprised. A great summer read and one that enjoyed during a time when we were having to stay at home because of the coronavirus. I may go back and read the previous books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This is a fun, smart mystery with a strong female protagonist. While I had not previously read any books in the Amory Ames series, A Deception at Thornecrest has converted me to a fan. I found the English countryside setting very cozy and enjoyed the cast of eccentric characters and the banter between Amory and her husband Milo (about who the mystery revolves). There are plenty of plot twists to keep a mystery lover entertained!

This was a pleasant read and a good study of the dark side of village life. The protagonist is a pregnant woman who does not have any hesitation about asking the difficult questions around two murders and finds the answers very efficiently.

Book 7 in the Amory Ames series.
Amory and Milo have come a long way since the first book in the series, when they were estranged. As the book opens Amory is 8 months pregnant with their first baby. Milo insists it is a girl. Amory isn't so sure. They are enjoying the anticipation of birth and picking out names. One night while Milo is in London on business, a woman arrives and says she is Mrs. Ames and has recently married Milo in Brighton. Amory is confused. She is sure Milo's hasn't been lying about his business trips, what could be going on.

I will give an spoilers, but fans of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, Granchester and Father Brown will thoroughly enjoy this series. It is my favorite mystery series. I would love to see it made into a TV series.

Scandals are happening at Thornecrest and these scandals involve mystery. I love Armory’s humor, even in the face of upheaval. Milo’s character has evolved over the series and he is more settled. This was an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Deception At Thorncrest is the latest book in the Amory Ames mystery series. In this installment, a heavily pregnant Amory is visited by a woman claiming to be married to Amory's husband! If that isn 't enough, relatives are coming out of the woodwork, and a local young man is shockingly murdered. Even though the baby's arrival is imminent, Amory is on the case, determined to find the killer.

Amory's wry sense of humor, even while thinking her husband might be a bigamist, is a delight. The mystery takes many twists and turns, and the true culprit is a surprise. Although this is book seven in a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, it may contain spoilers for the previous books.

Anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries with lots of humor and a strong cast of characters will enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.