I haven't read the other books in this series, but I was still able to enjoy this as a stand-alone novel. This book was so charming that it made me want to read the other books in the series. I loved the characters. The mystery kept me guessing. And I love the time period the book was set in.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy. I have not read the previous installments of this series, but this novel can be a stand-alone without much trouble. This tale takes place in the 1930’s, but I can’t say I felt a strong sense of time in the story. Perhaps it was the English country setting that Milo and Amory Ames find themselves in that could have been in several other decades. Amory is about to have a baby when a young lady appears to claim she is also Milo’s wife. All is revealed (not in an overly original fashion) while dead bodies must be contended with. This is very definitely a “cozy”, but not the most compelling I’ve read. Milo is largely distant and useless and Amory endures even more episodes of tea-taking than seem wise. The mystery was fairly neatly set out, but I doubt I read any others in the series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, an easy read that I consumed in one day. I had no idea that this was part of a cozy mystery series (Amory Ames) until the protagonist referred to her previous involvement in murder investigations. Knowing that, however, helped to explain the flow of the story and craftsmanship of the author.

Set in 1930s Great Britain, the book gives a glance at the life of rich country folk in a small village where scoundrels are given a second chance, pretty girls yearn for someone to steal them away, and murder is possible but highly unlikely. Amory Ames, the pregnant wife of a handsome wealthy local with a questionable past of his own, uses her inquisitive mind and unflagging dedication to problem-solving to get to the bottom of things. The result is an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, escapade among a variety of suspects and a satisfying conclusion.

This is the first book I have read in this series, and it does stand alone, but I do need to go back and get to know the characters better.

I thought the start was really good and I got right into the book, but the first issue was resolved really quickly. I was like, okay. . . what's next as the book slowed down, and I got kind of bored, but then it picked up again with a murder. And eventually another murder. And then it was good again, and the ending was fantastic.

This is definitely worth reading!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of A Deception at Thornecrest. Great characters and a very enjoyable read.

First time I have read this author and will look forward to reading additional books by this author.

Ashley Weaver delivers marvelously on the "Who Done It" with a Deception at Thorncrest in the style of Agatha Christie and in the same time period.

I love the characters and hope we get to see Teddy grow up. Amory and Milo are expected for the time period and their station in life.

Thank you for such a great book and capturing my attention from the very beginning. The author kept the pace steady throughout and I loved the twist at the end. I will be looking for more books from this author.

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

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

Excellent author, excellent mystery.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A fun read.

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

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

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

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

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

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