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.

Thornecrest

Allingcross, Kent

April 1934

It was on a sunny spring morning in the eighth month of Amory's pregnancy that Imogen arrived on her doorstep claiming to be married to Amory's husband. Amory's husband, Milo, was in London for the weekend tending to some business with their solicitor, and she was taking advantage of the solitude to catch up on her letter writing. They were expecting their first child in a month. Imogen had supposedly met Milo in Brighton Beach during one of his "business" trips. They spent a great deal of time together over the next week, and neither one of them wanted to say goodbye, so they decided that they would be married. They spent one more day together. One more night, their wedding night, was what she meant. Then she had to return to her job, and he told her that he would follow her to London shortly. But he didn't. She's been waiting for so long, and she began to wonder if something terrible had happened to him, so she thought she'd better see if she could locate him herself. She found his name in the London Directory. There was a listing for a flat and a big house in Grosvenor Square. She thought it must be some mistake, for he had told her he didn't have a place to live in London. But he had mentioned that his people came from Kent. And then she found out that he had that property, so she decided to come there. She didn't know about the other Mrs. Ames. The simplest way to deal with things would be to have Milo come home directly. Amory shows Imogen a picture of Milo, and she claims that's the man she met. Amory thinks that there's a possibility that Imogen was operating some sort of scheme. Perhaps she had seen their picture in the gossip columns, read of their past marriage troubles, and assumed that Amory would pay her off to end the matter. It seemed the only possible solution. But Amory looked at her, and she could not bring herself to believe that there was something sinister in her motivations. She offers to let Imogen stay at Thornecrest. She declines, and Amory tells her about an inn in the village called the Primrose Inn. She also tells her about Mrs. Cotton, who lives in a blue house next to the apothecary shop. She offers short-term room and board. Imogen says until things are resolved, she'll register under her own name: Prescott. Amory offers to have her driver take Imogen there. She declines saying she'll walk. Amory rings for Milo and tells him to come home as soon as possible. The Springtide Festival was to be held next weekend, and Amory was a member of the committee of ladies who were overseeing the preparations. The annual village event was held on the grounds of Bedford Priory, the home of Lady Alma Bedford, one of their local eccentrics. The youngest child of the Earl of Endsley, she had purchased and restored the Priory, the property of which abutted Thornecrest, nearly thirty years ago, after her father's death. She was nearing fifty and spent all her time and a good deal of her fortune on her stables. If there was anyone in Kent who was as enthusiastic about horses as Milo, it was Lady Alma. She had never married but referred to her horses as her children. She seldom wore anything other than riding clothes and was often seen galloping about the countryside in all manner of inclement weather. The first festival, a small gathering to celebrate the beginning of warmer weather with friends, food, and horse racing, had been her idea. With the initial backing of her wealth and her forceful personality, it had occurred annually ever since, growing in size and significance. They now had a fully formed committee with an allotment of local charitable funds to support the enterprise. Milo arrives home. Amory comes right out with it and asks her husband if he happened to marry another woman in January. She tells him a very pretty young woman named Imogen Prescott came there today and said she married him three months ago in Brighton. He of course denies everything, but she had the uneasy sensation that there was trouble on the horizon. Bertie is in Amory's husband's stables. He was riding Hades who threw him. He went over a hedge when he wasn't expecting it. Bertie also spent a good deal of time at Lady Alma's stables. Lady Alma often gave him odd jobs to do, just as Milo did. It had been a dream of Bertie's to own a horse of his own, and he had saved every penny he could toward that end. Only recently, he had accomplished his goal and purchased a horse he called Molly. Milo had told Amory Bertie was very much looking forward to riding Molly in the Springtide Festival race. She sees her husband who is worried about her being around the horses. She and her husband go home. Grimes says there is a gentleman asking to see Mr. Ames. He refused to give his name. This man was waiting in the morning room; he declined to leave until he had spoken with Milo. This new gentleman resembles Milo almost exactly. It is Darien Ames. He's Milo's long-lost brother. Milo tells him he doesn't have a brother. They're half-brothers. He says their father had a relationship with his mother until he grew tired of her, leaving her with a baby to care for. Amory comes to the conclusion that this is the man who had married Imogen, the man that Mrs. Busby had seen in the village when Milo had been in London. Darien left Thornecrest, but he's coming back. Half an hour later, Amory arrives at the Primrose Inn. She asks Markham, their driver, to wait for her as she made her way inside. She approaches the girl at the desk. She asks her where Imogen Prescott is staying. The girl tells Amory she doesn't know the name. Amory asks her to check the register. She says there is no one staying there under that name. Darien shows up at the inn, and Marena Hodges seems to know him. Amory suspects they are more than just acquaintances. Amory tells Darien she came to the inn to speak to him. She wanted to determine what his motives were. He has lunch plans with Marena. Bertie Phipps, Marena's beau shows up. He had come to see if Marena would go walking with him. He'd brought sandwiches and apples that they could have for lunch. She declines. Darien tells Bertie he'd made Marena his business. Marena tells Bertie to leave. Darien tells Bertie that he and Marena had become very well acquainted over the past few days. Bertie punched Darien in the face. Darien tells Bertie he'll kill him for that, and Bertie tells him to go ahead and try. Marena tells Bertie to get out before she calls the police. Marena tells Darien she wants to help him get cleaned up. As Amory's traveling back home, she passed the festival grounds on the border of Bedford Priory. The local workmen had been there, putting up the tents, and everything was looking quite cheerful and festive. She spots Mrs. Busby in her wheelchair sitting by herself in the middle of the field. She asked her driver to pull over. She tells the vicar she's looking forward to the Springtide Festival when she's really not. She tells them that Bertie Phipps is looking forward to riding his new horse in the races. Amory tells them she believes he and Marena have parted ways. She tells Mrs. Busby Bertie had a rival and struck him in a confrontation. Amory calls Imogen at Mrs. Cotton's. She tells her that Mr. Ames has returned, and asks her if it would be convenient for her to come and see them. Amory is going to send the car to pick Imogen up. Amory tells her husband that Darien has taken up with Marena Hodges. She tells her husband she sent Markham to pick up Imogen, that someone needs to break the news to her what sort of man Darien is. Milo tells Amory he's going to take the evening train to London and stay at the flat that night. Imogen arrives at Thornecrest. She is able to say that Milo was not the man she met in Brighton. They tell her everything they know about Darien. Darien told her or rather she thought they were going to marry in London. Imogen is visibly upset thinking Amory thinks badly of her. Amory tells her that Darien deceived her, and none of it is her fault. Amory asks her if she's pregnant. She says no. Imogen is going to take the week to figure things out, and then, she will return to London. She lives with her sister. Her sister doesn't know she's at Thornecrest. Amory asks Winnelda, her maid, if she has heard any of the village gossip about Marena Hodges and Bertie Phipps. She says May who does the cleaning at the vicarage said she wasn't surprised that Marena broke things off with Bertie, that she'd always been the sort to prefer a sophisticated gentleman. Winnelda says May's a bit of a snob. Mays agrees that Marena ought to have a toff. Winnelda thinks Bertie Phipps is a very nice man, but Marena broke things off with Bertie a fortnight ago. May says they were arguing a good bit leading up to it. They didn't argue in the vicarage, but she would see them through the windows, walking along the lanes. May said she could tell they were rowing, though she never heard the cause. Darien made himself scarce in the remaining days leading up to the festival. Amory didn't know whether to be relieved or alarmed that she and her husband had heard nothing from him. She supposed he was busy wooing Marena Hodges, and she only hoped the village was large enough to keep him from encountering Imogen. It was also possible he had decided to leave town. Amory suspected Milo was considering making some sort of settlement for his brother, though she was sure Mr. Ludlow had assured him he was under no obligation to do so. The bond of blood was proving difficult for Milo to ignore or perhaps Milo just thought that giving Darien enough money would get rid of him. The vicar gave an envelope to Bertie at the Springtide Festival. Bertie asked Milo what he would do if he knew a secret, and someone would get hurt no matter what you did with it. He tells him he'd have to consider the options and choose to protect what mattered most. Amory runs into Marena, and they talk about Darien and Imogen. Amory tries to warn Marena to be careful, but she doesn't take the hint. Milo is going to make sure his brother leaves Allingcross. Amory thinks that it would be best for all of them if Darien left Allingcross. Milo had told him not to come to the festival. Imogen is at the festival. She had hoped that, after learning Darien had used a false identity to woo her, she would go back to London and forget all about him. Bertie misses the horse race. Bertie falls off his horse and dies. Milos wants Amory to send for the police. Bertie was not riding his horse, Molly. He was riding Medusa, Lady Alma's horse, when she threw him. Milo doesn't think it was an accident. He thinks it was murder. Bertie was lying with a bloody rock near his head. Milo is fairly certain it must have been the murder weapon. If it was done in the heat of the moment, it might not have been intended to kill. When it did, however, the killer was forced to cover his tracks and decided to use Medusa to do it. Inspector Wilson was already thinking along the same lives. The doctor also thought there was something strange about the wound. The doctor said he didn't see how he could have hit his head at that angle if the rock was lying on the ground and he'd fallen on it. He's going to examine the body more closely, and there'll be an inquest. Amory tells Milo that when Bertie hit Darien at the inn, Darien threatened to kill him. She tells him she saw the vicar giving him an envelope. They think Bertie's death is due to a secret he may have been considering revealing. It may have been possible that Lady Alma had had something to do with Bertie's death. Lady Alma had arrived at the enclosure late and out of breath. That would have been about the time Bertie was killed. Lady Alma and Bertie had had a close relationship, almost a friendship, though neither of them probably would have couched it in such terms. Lady Alma's feelings may have taken a turn in a more romantic direction. Supposedly, Bertie hit his head on a sharp stone from the wall, but Amory's husband and Lady Alma always kept the wall in excellent repair. Amory doesn't know how the stone might have come loose. Amory tells the doctor that her husband has reason to believe that Bertie Phipps was murdered. Lady Alma was sorry Bertie was dead, but she was distraught about the horse. As soon as the doctor was gone, she went directly to Bedford Priory. She wanted to have a word with Lady Alma. She was disappointed when she was told she had gone out riding and was not expected for the better part of the morning. Next, she goes to the vicarage to check on Marena and offer her condolences. She also wanted to see what Mr. and Mrs. Busby might have to say about the matter of Bertie's death. Some items had gone missing from the vicarage and that Bertie was suspected. Mr. Busby found Bertie in his study one day. Later he noticed some things had gone missing. Inspector Wilson had come around asking questions about when Marena had last seen Bertie at the festival. He hadn't realized that there had been a falling-out between them. He thought they had been enjoying the festival together and assumed Bertie might have told her that he meant to ride Lady Alma's horse. Mrs. Busby didn't know that Bertie had been murdered. The inquest was the next day, so it would only be a matter of time before word spread across the village. Lady Alma is waiting for Amory when she gets home. She's there to see Milo, but he's in London for the day. Amory offers her condolences to Lady Alma. She wondered when he wasn't at the race. Lady Alma knows that Bertie's death wasn't an accident. She's convinced that Marena's mother killed him. Bertie had told Lady Alma a week or so ago he had a secret that concerned Mrs. Jane Hodges. He wondered if he should tell someone. Lady Alma saw Mrs. Hodges walking from the direction of the field after the races. She had been at her booth, selling honey, before the races started. She would've had no reason to be in that field. Mrs. Hodges changed clothes during the festival possibly because she had blood on her clothes. She tells her husband about Lady Alma's visit. At the inquest, they determine that Bertie Phipps was murdered. The doctor says he was hit with the rock several times. The first blow likely knocked him unconscious, and the rest were administered as he lay on the ground. His skull was crushed. A chain was missing from around his neck. Marena Hodges said that he always wore it. It wasn't found anywhere near the body. Mr. Darien Ames arrives at Thornecrest. She tells him that Marena will need to have some time before she sees him again. She tells him he should tell Imogen he didn't want to be with her. Darien hints that Imogen has a less than savory reputation. Inspector Wilson arrives at Thornecrest. He's requested to see Milo at once. It's most urgent. He came to talk to him about the death of Bertie Phipps. That afternoon a witness came forward, someone who could place a suspect at the scene of the crime. Inspector Wilson brings up the argument between Darien and Bertie at the inn. Darien was not at the festival, yet he was seen crossing the field where Bertie Phipps's body was found around the time when he must have been murdered. A search of his room at the inn revealed a pair of boots with blood on them, an envelope of money with Albert Phipps's name on it, and a chain worn by Mr. Phipps that was missing from the body. Inspector Wilson arrests Darien Ames for the murder of Albert Phipps. Mr. Ludlow, the Ames's solicitor discovered something about Darien. Darien was involved in another situation like the one with Imogen. He was using his mother's surname then, Archer. There was a young married woman. She had a much older husband who, after she began her affair with Darien, died by falling from his horse, leaving her with a good deal of money. The accident aroused suspicion, but then the woman in question threw herself in front of a train. Amory was furious for Milo's refusal to at least consider the possibility that Darien was innocent, furious for the tone he had taken with her, and furious that he hadn't followed her when he knew she was hurt. Amory thinks someone planted evidence in Darien's room. She didn't believe he was guilty. She runs into Imogen on her evening walk. Imogen was coming to see Amory. She was the one who told the police that she saw Darien leaving the scene of the murder. She saw him walking across the field where they found the body later. He didn't see her, and she didn't want to talk to him. And then she heard that a body had been found and that it was murder. And she knew she had to tell the police what she had seen. She didn't mean to hurt Darien. But she had to tell the truth. Milo tells her to stay out of Darien's case. Mrs. Hodges had never approved of her daughter's young man. There was, the question of whether he might have learned something about her, some secret she wished to keep hidden. Marena was a suspect because of a lover's quarrel of some sort. She was still angry at him for having struck Darien. She might have confronted him and hit him in a fit of passion. Amory thought it unlikely, given how distraught Marena was at his death. But, guilt and grief had many of the same symptoms. As for Lady Alma, it was possible Bertie knew something about her and she had killed him to hide it and then tried to lay the blame elsewhere, claiming Bertie had learned a secret about Mrs. Hodges. Imogen hadn't known Bertie. But she had implicated Darien in his murder. It was possible she had committed the crime in order to frame the man who had scorned her. It was a bit farfetched, but not impossible. Bertie had allegedly broken into the vicar's desk drawer. Perhaps he had discovered something that one of them thought it necessary to kill to conceal. Amory goes to talk to Mrs. Hodges. Marena tells Amory that Darien didn't do it. Marena thinks Imogen killed Bertie and tried to frame Darien for it. Amory tells Marena she came to see her mother. Marena tells Amory her mother isn't feeling well. Marena tells Amory her mother is well enough to see her. She tells her she purchased some honey from her at the festival and forgot to pick it up. She tells Marena to go back to the vicarage. She tells her to try not to worry so much, that everything's going to be fine. Amory tells Mrs. Hodges she would like to collect her jar of honey. She asks her why she was in the field near the Priory during the races. She tells Amory she's clever, but she's not the one she needs to be questioning. She tells her she was wearing a different dress after the races than before. Mrs. Hodges tells Amory she broke a jar of honey and walked home to change her dress. Mrs. Hodges tells Amory she wouldn't have gone out of her way to harm him to keep him from Marena. Mrs. Hodges asks what Imogen was doing that day talking to Bertie Phipps in the field where he died. Amory arrives home and there's a message that her mother intended to arrive in a week. She wanted to speak to Imogen about what Mrs. Hodges had told her. She found it suspicious that she had left out the fact that she knew Bertie Phipps. Amory wanted to know what the relationship was between them, and what she had been doing in the field shortly before he died. Imogen had told both the Inspector and her that she had seen Darien there but no one had thought to question her about why she had been in that spot to see him. That afternoon Inspector Wilson shows up to see Mr. Ames. She tells her butler she'd like to speak with Inspector Wilson. She asks him what he's come to see them about. He came to talk to her about the murder and Darien's arrest. She asks him if he's considered anyone else. Inspector Wilson says that there were strained relationships in Bertie's life. She knows he was dating Marena Hodges and that things didn't end entirely well between them. She broke it off with him and took up with Darien. The doctor was of the opinion that either a man or a woman might have done it. Her husband was at the inquest and told her all about it. Inspector Wilson said physical violence is often done by a man. Poison is more a woman's weapon. Though, in the heat of passion, a woman might as soon pick up a rock to do harm with it as a man. She requests to see Darien in prison. Amory asks him what happened with the other woman, the one whose husband supposedly died in a fall from a horse. He asks her how she heard about that. He tells her that man's death was an accident. There was a lot of nasty gossip about it because of his involvement with the wife. He said in the end, it got to be too much for her. She asks him what he was doing in the field. He tells her he was just walking having a look at Thornecrest. She asks him to explain the blood on his boots and Bertie's money and chain in his room. He tells her they aren't his boots. He tells her he didn't take the chain or money. He tells her he wouldn't kill for a woman when there are so many to be had. He tells her he went to see Marena in the field. Marena never arrived. She asks him if he saw Bertie. Darien never bothered locking the door to his room. Anyone might have gone upstairs and put those things there. She thought about going to see Imogen next. She was curious about Mrs. Hodges's assertion that Imogen and Bertie had been seen speaking to each other. When she stopped at Mrs. Cotton's rooming house, she was told she was out. Then, she goes to the vicarage. She wanted to see Marena, to ask her where she had been when she was supposed to have been meeting Darien. She turns to go back to the car, but turns back to talk to the vicar. She tells him she's not at all convinced that the police have the right man. She tells him she heard that Bertie seemed to have broken into his desk. He assumes he was looking for trinkets to sell. Bertie denied it all. She tells him she noticed at the festival that he gave him an envelope. He denies it. She tells him that she heard that Bertie had a secret, one that he felt burdened to tell. She thought that perhaps it might hold a clue as to his death. She tells him she'll be back the next day to speak to Marena. Winnelda tells Amory the next day that Marena Hodges is dead. She was poisoned. Darien shows up to speak to Amory. Inspector Wilson let him go that morning because he believes the murders are connected, and he couldn't have murdered Marena when he was in prison. He came to ask if he could stay at Thornecrest. She asks Markham to drive her to the Priory. Imogen had showed up to the tea party looking for Marena. Both Imogen and Marena had taken a liking to Darien. They exchanged some terse words with each other. At first Mrs. Busby thought Marena had fainted, then she called for the vicar and he tried to revive Marena. Lady Alma rang Dr. Jordan, but she was already dead. The doctor realized it was poison right away. He told them not to touch anything and called the police. The vicar went to see Mrs. Hodges. Someone killed Marena Hodges. Someone that they know. Amory had Markham drive her to the village. She thought it was too early to visit the vicarage, so she goes to speak to Imogen. It seemed perfectly plain that Darien had neither the desire nor the intention to continue their brief romance, so why was she still in town? Imogen met Bertie working as a barmaid at a tavern. She lied to Darien about her job. Imogen wasn't there when Marena died. She didn't know that Darien had been released from prison. The police believe, given Marena's death, that he is not the murderer of Bertie Phipps. Amory has an idea and goes into the apothecary shop. She slips behind the counter and pulls out the poison register. Elaine Busby had purchased cyanide salts three weeks ago. Milo comes back from London and asks Amory what Darien's doing there in his house. She tells him that Inspector Wilson had released Darien into their charge. She tells him he couldn't have committed the second murder, so Inspector Wilson had begun to believe he didn't kill Bertie, as it seemed likely one killer committed both murders. Milo tells Amory just because his brother didn't kill Marena didn't mean he didn't kill Bertie. Darien hasn't given Amory reason enough to distrust him in the time she's known him. He tells her she's putting their child in danger. He thinks it's perfectly reasonable not to want an accused killer in his house. If Milo wanted Darien out of the house, he would have to get rid of him himself. Darien comes into the drawing room. He asks Amory where his brother is. She tells him he went out riding. He flirts with her and she kicks him out of the room. There had been two deaths in the village, and the killer needed to be stopped before he killed again. Bertie's manner of death spoke of passion, not of planning. But there was premeditated malice behind what had happened to Marena. Imogen was the most likely suspect. Despite what she had told Amory about her innocent meeting with Bertie, there was the possibility that their relationship had been more involved than she had let on. Perhaps she had killed him, worried he would stand in the way of her winning Darien back. And then she might have killed Marena to clear the rest of the path. The vicar and Mrs. Busby had both been displeased with Bertie and close to Marena. Bertie may have discovered a secret and shared it with Marena, and either Mr. or Mrs. Busby had decided that they both had to be silenced. Lady Alma had also been there at the time of Marena's death. Perhaps she thought Bertie had shared something with Marena and she, too needed to be silenced. She thought about calling her friend Detective Inspector Jones of Scotland Yard to talk things through with. She tells him she's afraid the murderer may strike again before he's caught. He tells her he could stop in on his way back that evening and they could discuss things in more detail. She decides to visit the vicarage. Marena's mother was not among the mourners. Lady Alma had been wondering what Bertie might have discovered when he broke into the vicar's desk. She went in to have a look. She saw the vicar's journal. She found a banking notice in it. His account balance was quite high. He'd made several large deposits. The money must be coming from somewhere. She wonders where it's coming from. There might be another untapped source of information nearby: the proprietress of the rooming house where Imogen was staying, Mrs. Ursula Cotton. She knows Amory is there to talk about the murders. She'd heard that Milo's brother was suspected of Bertie's death. Amory tells her the police had let him go and that he would be proven innocent in no time. Amory tells her that Darien was in prison when Marena was killed, and it stood to reason that both murders were committed by the same person. Mrs. Cotton tells her Lady Alma had a temper in her younger days. She wasn't above coming to blows with those she disagreed with. She once beat a stable boy for causing harm to one of her horses. In the end, she had to pay for doctor's bills and a bit extra to hush things up. Perhaps Bertie had been working with Medusa, and perhaps he, and not the killer, had been responsible for the cut on her leg. Lady Alma might have discovered it and flown into a rage and then been forced to try to cover what she had done. Jane Hodges had always been a dour, unpleasant woman. Even before her husband had been sent away. He had died in prison. He killed a man in a pub brawl. He got in an altercation and waited for the man outside and beat him to death. Mrs. Cotton had always wondered about the accident that killed Sara Busby. Mrs. Busby was driving and went off the road. Sara was killed and Mrs. Busby paralyzed. Amory asks Mrs. Cotton if she had been to the vicarage. Amory tells her husband that Inspector Jones is coming there that evening to talk things over with her. Darien tells Amory that he and his brother are discussing the murders. He tells her they've theories on who might have done it. Darien thinks the vicar did it, that perhaps he was secretly in love with Marena, that he killed Phipps to get him out of the way and then killed Marena when she wouldn't give in to his advances. Amory tells Inspector Jones that the vicar and his wife were at odds with Bertie Phipps. He had been seen going through the vicar's private correspondence, and it had come to her attention that the vicar had been receiving and then withdrawing large amounts of money from his accounts. Milo asks her how she knew that. She tells him Lady Alma was the one who had a look at the drawer with the broken lock. She tells Inspector Jones that Mrs. Busby couldn't have killed Bertie. At least, she didn't see any way it would have been possible with her wheelchair. But she did buy poison at the apothecary shop. She asks if they might have committed the murders together. Perhaps the vicar killed Bertie because of something he knew, something he might have shared with Marena. Perhaps it was necessary that Marena be killed too. Amory recalled suddenly that she had mentioned to the vicar the possibility Marena might know something, shortly before Marena had been killed. Inspector Jones asks her when the poison was purchased. She tells him it was purchased a few weeks ago, realizing with relief it could not have been bought for the express purpose of silencing Marena before she could ask questions. She asks if it wouldn't have been easier for the vicar to be the one to purchase it. She says nothing is easy for Mrs. Busby in her chair. Inspector Jones askes her about Lady Alma. She tells him that she has a temper and cares for nothing but her horses. Medusa, the pride of her stables, was injured, and she did wonder if Bertie might have had a hand in it. Lady Alma may have killed him in anger. He asked her why she might have wanted to kill Miss Hodges. She tells him Marena was in the field the day that Bertie died. She might have seen something. He asks if she wouldn't have gone directly to the police. She tells him she didn't know. She would think so, but there is always the possibility that she might have been uncertain or only suspected it. Perhaps she even mentioned as much to Lady Alma, hoping to be proven wrong. And then Lady Alma felt that she had to be disposed of. She brings up Marena's mother. She tells Inspector Jones there was something off in their relationship. She tells him that Bertie apparently told Lady Alma that he knew something about Mrs. Hodges, a secret he seemed troubled about. She might have killed him to silence him. She then tells him about Imogen Prescott. She tells him she's in love with Darien, so that would account for her killing Marena, her rival. But she also knew Bertie from London and wanted to hide the fact that her past wasn't exactly what she claimed it was. Milo says there's always the possibility that Darien might have done it. Amory says that he isn't exactly trustworthy. But that doesn't mean that he's a killer. Inspector Jones says it seems important to discover how the poison was administered and what type of poison it was. If it was the cyanide salts she discovered Mrs. Busby purchased, she may have an added reason for suspicion, and it occurs to him that she may want to speak to the mother. Inspector Jones thinks she may know more than she lets on about who might have wanted to kill her daughter. She asks him what if Mrs. Hodges did it. Inspector Jones says if she did kill Marena, why would she have killed Bertie Phipps. He tells her to start at the end and work back to the beginning, that it may give her fresh ideas. She needs to speak to Mrs. Hodges; she felt certain that she would be able to provide insight into Marena's death. Perhaps if she looked at it from that perspective, she might be able to find out why she and Bertie had died. It would not be unusual for her to call and pay her respects. Amory tells her she's come to offer her condolences. Amory asks if she thinks the same person that killed Marena was the same person that killed Bertie Phipps. Mrs. Hodges had been thinking it over. That there are people who wanted Bertie dead and people wanted to kill Marena. But who wanted to harm them both? Amory asks her what she knows about the death of Sara Busby. Mrs. Hodges says it's interesting that she would bring it up when discussing motives for Marena's death because it was Marena who was driving when the car went off the road and killed Sara Busby. Inspector Wilson shows up to speak to Mrs. Hodges. He tells her he's come to speak to her about a private matter. She tells him he may say what he likes in front of Mrs. Ames. They've had some results from their chemist. Her daughter was poisoned with cyanide salts. The poison wasn't in the tea. It was in the jar of honey that she had brought to the vicarage. Amory suggests that they all go to the vicarage. She thinks it would be beneficial if they could speak to the Busbys about a few things. Inspector Wilson asks if Marena prepared her tea herself. Mrs. Busby fixed her tea. He asked her if she put the rosemary honey in the tea. She did, but she didn't wish to harm her. Mrs. Busby bought the poison to kill rats. Marena told her there were a great many of them in the garden shed and asked if she would purchase it. Inspector Wilson asked why Miss Hodges didn't buy the poison herself. Mrs. Busby says she was on the way to the shop and asked if there was anything she needed. The vicar says he often helps her get to a place and then leaves her to manage. She gave the poison to the gardener. She said she hadn't seen it since. He wonders how it was that cyanide salts came to be in the honey. Lady Alma and Milo and Darien show up at the vicarage next. Imogen was not pleased. Imogen tries to escape, but Inspector WIlson holds her back. Darien said he'd never seen her before in his life. Imogen Prescott was her sister. They both work at the pub near the racecourse. That's where they met Bertie. They were friendly. When Darien didn't ever arrive in London, Imogen was heartbroken. She stayed in London. Imogen's sister decided to come to Thornecrest and confront Darien for her. Amory asked why Imogen's sister didn't tell her the truth. She and Milo could have helped her and her sister. At first, she didn't know Darien wasn't really Milo. It caught her by surprise, when she arrived at Thornecrest and found Amory married to Milo and expecting a baby. That's why she cried when she found out. She felt bad for Imogen. Inspector asks her what her name is. She said it was Eloise. She thought Amory and Milo might be in a position to help her, and by extension, her sister. When she saw Bertie at the festival, she was afraid that he was going to mention to someone that she was Eloise and not Imogen. She had to avoid Darien as well. Darien asked why Imogen didn't come herself. She was too proud. She'd never run after him no matter how much he hurt her. He tells her it was only a lark that Imogen knew that. Eloise says Darien compromised Imogen for his own amusement. He says it wasn't like that. She asked what was it like. He seduced her, had his fun, and abandoned her. If she hadn't come looking for him, Imogen never would have heard anything about him again. Amory asks Eloise if that's why she told the police she saw him in the field. She really did see him there. She didn't kill Bertie or Miss Hodges. Darien said he didn't either. Eloise was going to tell Marena the truth about Darien. The vicar was missing his garden boots. Amory tells the inspector she has an idea. It was clear from the beginning that Bertie knew a secret. He said as much to Milo and her shortly before he died. She knew that whatever it was must weigh against his conscience, his sense of duty. Inspector Wilson asks her if she knew whose secret it might be. Amory asks the vicar why he gave Bertie money. He says he told Amory the truth when he said he didn't give Bertie any money. Inspector Wilson tells the vicar he'd better explain. There was an envelope of money found in Darien Ames's room with Darien's things. The vicar says Bertie was trying to give him money. The vicar says Bertie took the money from his pocket, but he refused it, and Bertie put it back. The vicar didn't want to be seen taking it at the festival, though he could see how Amory might have assumed the opposite. Mrs. Busby asks her husband why Bertie was giving him money. The vicar had been giving money to Bertie to place bets for him at Alexandra Park Racecourse. He's afraid once he'd won a time or two, it became rather a habit. He'd been making a good deal of money. Then she thought the secret had to do with Lady Alma. That Bertie had perhaps discovered something working for her that she didn't want anyone to know. Like the fact that Medusa wasn't really sired by Damocles, Milo said. When Milo went to London, he stopped by his club and saw an old friend in the racing game and asked him about Damocles's foal. He said he'd heard something about it from a friend but couldn't remember what. He telephoned him that morning. He informed him that the foal had been sold a year ago and then broke her leg in a fall. She had to be put down. Lady Alma says that Bertie knew from the beginning. It was he who told her the original Medusa had died. He met one of the grooms from the stable of her owner. She gave him a bit of money for helping her with the money. It's how he bought Molly. She didn't kill Bertie, but she thinks she knows who did. No one else could have known that Marena specifically would be killed by the poisoned honey. Mrs. Hodges's husband died in prison for killing a man. Amory recently discovered that it was not Mrs. Busby who was driving the car that killed her daughter. It was Marena. Mrs. Hodges tells Mrs. Busby she's told Amory all about the accident. Amory realizes there isn't a murderer to be arrested there after all. She says Marena wasn't murdered. She killed herself. Amory says Marena gave herself the poison, but she didn't mean to do it. It was all an unfortunate accident. Marena put the poison in her tea, but she didn't know she did. Marena had been hoping to poison her mother. Mrs. Hodges said her daughter always thought herself destined for something more. If Marena killed her mother, she would have an inheritance and then she would be free to live the life she wanted with whoever she chose. Marena was to meet Darien in the field, but somehow she encountered Bertie instead. Perhaps he followed her there to speak with her. He must have told Marena that he couldn't allow her to go through with it, that he was planning to spoil her scheme by revealing the truth to her mother. They quarreled. She picked up a rock and hit him over the head with it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. I almost DNFed this book at 75%, not caring much about what was happening or the characters. It seemed to take a long time to get to the real mystery of the book. And, once I did, I didn't care at that point.

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.