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.

A DECEPTION AT THORNECREST by Ashley Weaver is the seventh book in the “Amory Ames” series set in 1930s England. For me, this book is very Miss Marple-ish. It takes place in a quiet English village where appearances can be deceptive, and a murderer can be your neighbor or local vicar. Yay! However, rather than Agatha Christie’s geriatric sleuth, Miss Marple, it’s expectant mother Amory Ames who makes polite, and not-so-polite inquiries and hunts down suspects and alibis.

Amory and Milo Ames are rusticating at their country estate while Amory is waiting for their baby to be born. All is positively ideal for the couple until Imogen Prescott makes an appearance claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames. Yikes! Thankfully, Amory is not given to hysterics and she reasons it out, chats with Imogen, and bides her time until she can clear things up with her hubby. The crux of the matter involves a doppelganger of Milo who is of a mischievous bent. But is Milo’s doppelganger murderous as well as mischievous? That’s something for Amory to decide when there’s a murder of one of the locals. I love these types of stories because there are plenty of unsuspecting suspects with plenty of opportunity, and surprising and twisted motivations for the amateur sleuth to discover. It’s convenient for Amory that she has a driver to wheel her around the village, since her pregnancy limits her mobility a tad. Ashley Weaver does a good job at creating doubt, suspicion, and the faint air of something sinister when it comes to characters who would otherwise seem likeable and above suspicion. Only one suspect seems obviously guilty so, for mystery fans like me, that character must be the only one who couldn’t possibly be the murderer. The remaining suspects vary by sex, occupation, age, and believability.

A DECEPTION AT THORNECREST is murder mystery chock full of next-door naughtiness and hidden horrors set in a charming English village. I thought I had the mystery figured out and the villain pegged, but I was totally wrong. Although Amory and Milo butt heads occasionally in A DECEPTION AT THORNCREST, I was happy that there were mostly on an even keel. I look forward to seeing if any of these secondary characters show up in another book. I eagerly await the next “Amory Ames” mystery.

'It was on a sunny spring morning in the eighth month of my pregnancy that a woman arrived on my doorstep claiming to be married to my husband'...

This book had me at the opening line. It made me laugh. It made me raise an eyebrow. It made me to read on.

Given that this is 7th installment in Amory and Milo Ames' adventures, I felt a bit lost in places. But only because would have really liked to know how Amory and Milo's relationship developed. It was interesting to read characters who did not live 'happily everafter'. They both had their flaws and weaknesses. And they had to learn to love one another through many adventures and misadventures.

A Deception at Thornecrest turned out to be an interesting suspenseful read. I can honestly say, I did not guess who the culprit was until the very end. In my opinion, who in whodunit turned out to be the most surprising twist of them all.

A pregnant amateur sleught, unexpected relative, love triangle, horse-crazy Lady and honey-mad mother. A small English village fitted a lot of interesting characters and Ashley Weaver weaved them all together to make for an enjoyable read and intersting whodunit.

Amory is the pregnant wife of Milo and is astonished when a young woman appears at her door claiming to be Milo's wife. Imogene even identifies Milo in the wedding photograph that Amory has in the drawing room. However, when Milo returns home, Imogene is shocked to see that this is not the man she married a few months earlier. Shortly after that, a man comes to the house who looks astonishingly like Milo. He is Milo's half brother who Milo never knew existed.

There follows a murder and Amory can't help but ask questions and informally investigate when Milo's brother is accused of the murder. There are half-dozen possibles suspects Amory figures, but that number is reduced when one is also murdered.

The interaction among the various characters seemed true to life. There are many, many secrets in a small village that are revealed as the story goes on.

Because I am used to mysteries set in earlier times, I had a hard time remembering that Thorncrest had a telephone and electric lights and was always a bit surprised when someone took a car or made a phone call.

I have not read any of the earlier books in this series so am unaware how many of the characters were also featured in earlier ones. Does this writer do that with people from the village? I can hardly wait to read Amory Ames #8 and find out!

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

A Deception At Thornecrest, by Ashley Weaver, is available at booksellers on 9-8-2020. Deception is book 7 in An Amory Ames Mystery series. I've so enjoyed this story that I'm now going looking for the previous books. I'm very interested in Amory and Milo and their strange relationship. I thought the plot was good and the writing style reminded me of an episode of Downton Abbey. The prose is very Darling and My Love, proper all the same. It's very English and I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

#ADeceptionAtThornecrest #AmoryAmesMystery #AshleyWeaver #Netgalley #MinotaurBooks #StMartin'sPress

This was my first Amory Ames novel although there are seven other books in the series.
Amory is heavily pregnant and Milo her husband is away on business when a young woman comes to her house claiming to be Mrs Milo Ames. Soon there’s another visitor, a murder and mayhem ensues and Amory is determined to solve the case.
Maybe because I started the series in the middle, I didn’t really connect to Amory . The mystery was a good one but I failed to form any attachments to any of the characters and it led to me skim reading to figure out the mystery.
If you are a fan of Amory Ames mysteries or cozy mysteries, then definitely give it a try. But for me this one fell flat
Rating 2.5

It's hard for me to believe that there are already seven books in this series. I keep thinking we're only at three or something. Regardless, the Amory Ames mysteries are a more recent historical mystery fave.

Set in 1930s England, Amory is a wealthy socialite who married the ultimate playboy Milo Ames. The first few years of their marriage were not good with Milo still playing the gadabout, and with his indiscretions sowing seeds of distrust. Way back in book one, we meet them as they begin to reconcile.

Here in book seven they're happily spending time at their country house Thornecrest in preparation for a little one on the way. And so, with Amory pregnant the mystery comes to them.

Mistaken identities, long lost relatives, unearthed family secrets, and a very tangled web of lies are the hallmarks in this book. While not my favorite in the series, it still managed to throw up a red herring or two.

I've found that mystery series where children are born to the MCs usually aren't quite as adventurous (a.k.a. fun to read) as pre-kid so we'll see how the next one adjusts to this new dynamic.

This is the 7th book of a series and I have not read any of the other books. While I found this book enjoyable, I think I would have liked it more had I read the others. The plot works without prior knowledge but the character development is something that clearly happened over the previous books. I really enjoyed Armory and Milo as characters - they are delightful. I really liked the setting in the village with the intrigue around all the eccentric villagers. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending but that didn't sully my overall impression of the book. I will definitely be checking out the previous books.

A Deception at Thornecrest is the seventh (well, number 7.5 if you consider a digital short) in the Amory Ames cozy mystery series and so much about it is different from the previous books.

Husband and wife pair Milo and Amory Ames are, for once, AT HOME! The glamorous pair always seem to be traveling and encountering mysteries that need solving far from their country estate. But now that Amory is heavily pregnant with their first child, they decide to stay put at Thornecrest. They expect a quiet couple of months before the baby is due, but mysteries are as attracted to them as they are to each other, and when not one, but two scandals break out in the normally peaceful nearby village, Amory makes it her mission to investigate, as always.

I obviously can't reveal the ending, but it was quite different from any other I've experienced so far in this series. I found it intriguing, but I haven't quite been able to figure out how I feel about it. It seems clear that Weaver was looking to shake things up this far into the series, giving Amory and Milo some new challenges and trying a different style of mystery. I love these two characters and I'd happily read any book with them in it, so while the mystery wasn't quite as exciting, I still very much enjoyed this book.

This was a really enjoyable book with an intriguing mystery. The story is told by the main character who is apparently an amateur detective and is 8 months pregnant. There are several murders in her village and although her husband discourages her from getting involved in her "delicate condition", she pushes ahead. Add to that an unknown sibling who shows up and you have the makings of a great mystery story. Lots of suspects and a surprise ending keep you turning pages until she solves the mystery (and delivers the baby!). Would definitely recommend this book.

I haven't read any of the previous books in the series but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this novel. There were plenty of twists and intrigue to have me flipping the pages until I was done. A stranger shows up at Amory's house claiming to the wife to her new husband. At first I wasn't sure if this was a case of mistaken identity or if the claims had merit as I didn't know what how Milo's character was. So it was nice to see the mystery unfold. I highly recommend!

The seventh book in the Amory Ames series, and by far the best. Amory and Milo are at home awaiting the birth of their first child and getting ready for the town’s spring festival when a young woman shows up claiming to be Milo’s wife. Murder and shenanigans ensue with mistaken identities, new found siblings and a new baby. The characters, as always, are likeable and believable. The mystery is entertaining, with some fascinating twists and turns. A great book. I can’t recommend it enough.

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.

A Deception at Thornecrest is the 7th Amory Ames mystery by Ashley Weaver. Released 8th Sept 2020 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 288 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
This is a nicely wrought English murder mystery very much in the classic golden age manner. Amory and Milo are awaiting the birth of their first child when they're drawn into investigating another murder in the village complicated by the sudden appearance of a hitherto unknown brother for Milo and a young woman claiming to be Milo's wife (much to the dismay of Amory, Milo's actual wife). Add in village gossip, undercurrents of love and hate, and seething resentment and the well written result is a worthy successor to Christie, Allingham, Freeman, Brand, Iles and the rest of that cadre of worthies.

Whilst this book does work quite well as a standalone and the author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without spoon-feeding the reader, I strongly recommend reading the books in order as there is a lot of history behind the main characters.

The story arc is well plotted, with a plethora of possible suspects and motives. The disparate plot threads (Milo's brother, the surprise visit from his supposed other wife, the murder mystery, the impending birth) interweave well and culminate in a satisfying and well written denouement. I've been reading the series since the beginning and always look forward to each new entry with anticipation.

A lovely and entertaining mystery. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Waver is the seventh installment in her Amory Ames series.

In this book Amory is heavily pregnant and enjoying the last days of peace before she gives birth to her first child. Milo is away on business when one day a young woman come to the Thornecrest claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames. Since Milo and Amory have come a long way with their relationship, she simply can't believe that Milo would cheat on her.
Before she can even confirm with Milo what is happening another visitor arrives. This one claims to be Milo's half brother.
Soon there is a murder followed by more problems and mayhem making things even more complicated and dangerous.

I have to admit that I didn't enjoy this book like I have others. Somehow main characters seemed too detached both from each other and what was happening. He was very cold to Amory and not acting as a loving husband who has repaired his relationship with his wife. On the other hand, at times Amory behaved somewhat recklessly considering her state.
I don't like when I get to know and like the character before he or she gets murdered, I feel cheated and disappointed.
The mystery was well written, enough twists and turns and red herring to keep reader guessing.
This is not my favorite book in the series but the good mystery nonetheless.

In this book, we catch up with Amory and Milo as Amory prepares to give birth at Milo's ancestral home in a small village in Kent. While other books in this series have the glamorous couple in more cosmopolitan locales, this is a classic English country village, cozy mystery. Perfect for fans of Miss Marple and the like, but anyone who has grown to love Amory and Milo will not be disappointed.

The book starts with some Ames family revelations and then villagers start getting murdered. As usual, Amory can't help but stick her nose in and try to figure out what happened, though Milo is largely absent because he's dealing with some personal issues and doesn't approve of Amory investigating a murder while 8 months pregnant. I don't know that I would have been particularly thrilled by the plot had I not already been in love with these characters, but as always it was lovely to spend time with these two again, and the cast of characters in the village were interesting as will. There were also some developments that I'm curious to see which direction the author goes with in future books.

A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver is the epitome of an English gentry mystery, although written by a woman from Louisiana. It is April of 1934 and Amory Ames is in her last month of pregnancy, so not in the best of humors, when the butler, Grimes, announces the arrival of a woman named Mrs. Milo Ames. Odd, since that is Amory's title as well. When the woman enters and they discuss the situation, she identifies a photo of Amory's Milo as her husband. Needless to say, Amory has Grimes track down Milo and London and request that he return home immediately. The next day, when the pseudo Mrs. Ames arrives, she sees immediately that Milo is not that man she married, despite the fact he looks very much the same. Next on this very odd agenda is the arrival of a young man who claims to be Milo's half-brother, Darien, and is a slightly younger, almost identical version of him. After verifying his details, Milo offers him some money, by way of his inheritance, which Darien refuses, leaving the question: What does he want? Of course, the next item on the agenda is a murder, in which somehow both strangers play a part. Complicated? Yes, indeed.

This is a delightful novel, which makes me ask: Where have I been? I have not heard of this series, nor read any of the previous books. The mystery is an interesting one, taking place in a small town, where the only two strangers are Darien and Imogen, the ersatz wife. How can they possibly be involved? Amory is itching to investigate but Milo, not only doesn't care, but is concerned for his wife and unborn child. He has no feelings for this man who is his brother and believes that law enforcement will sort it all out. Amory can't leave it alone and forges straight into the mystery. She is a delightful character, elegant and curious, not afraid to dive in headfirst. She appears to have the respect, not only of her staff, but of the townsfolk as well. Milo is a little more standoffish and is still recovering from the reputation her earned in his misspent youth, so he is not quite as popular. There are some entertaining peripheral characters in this lovely English village, which make this entirely English novel too delectable for words. I adored it. You will, too.

I was invited to read a free ARC of A Deception at Thornecrest by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #adeceptionatthornecrest

This is the 7th book in the Amory Ames series. I had didn’t know this was a series when I decided to read it. I enjoyed it very much and may have to go back and read the series from the beginning. This book stands alone very well. The characters are interesting and developed nicely. The author did a good job of creating realistic tension between the characters. I liked the setting of 1930s England. I have been reading more British mysteries and I find the small towns appealing. This book was engaging and moved along steadily. I recommend this book.

Welcome back to 1930s Britain! I love everything about this series. The atmosphere, the setting and Amory and Milo. I always feel like I'm enjoying an old black and white movie. Add in a top notch murder mystery and it's a perfect read for someone who enjoys a good historical mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fun entry in this charming series. Clever mystery with memorable characters. Looking forward to the next installment.

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want it to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from this wonderful author.