Another solid addition to the Verity and Sydney series. It’s been a while since I read the previous book, so it was a little hard to follow the Ardmore storyline at first, but they caught me up quickly. I loved how this became not just a murder mystery, but also a treasure hunt! I also loved how the two storylines intersected. I really thought they were totally separate, but while the killer didn’t know how the Ardmore story was influencing events, it still worked to make a more complicated mystery. Both confusing at times, and completely obvious at the same time. I love it when the protagonists have to take a step back to see what’s going on, and that not everything is about one case. Even if they intersect and influence each other.

Loved it.

I have read many of Anna Hunter’s mysteries and they are usually a delight! They are fun cozy mysteries! This one is pretty solid! The mystery is predictable but it still was fun to revisit the characters! Thus, Anna Huber is an excellent mystery writer that will appeals to fans of Jacqueline Winspear!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

As a fan of the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear I was so excited to be introduced to Verity Kent. Along the same veins we have a young lady who works for the government gathering and delivering intelligence. The main difference is that this series takes place after WW1. Think Downton Abbey meets Maisie Dobbs. I am here for it! What I really appreciate is the recurring characters and an overall arch-nemesis that returns, in some form, in each novel. This is definitely a great series to start if you are looking for a murder mystery that isn't too graphic. If you are starting it is best to read them in order.

This is book 4 of the Verity Kent mystery series. Verity wants nothing more than to have a little peace, but a visit to her sister brings even more mystery to her life. Also thrown onto her plate is the mysterious happenings at her Aunt's estate. Can she and her husband solve the mysteries and help her family?

I’ve been reading Anne Lee Huber’s mystery books for years now. I find them so, so easy to read (even back to back). I find comfort in the formula of Huber’s murder mysteries, and I like the tension of the plot. I’m happy to dive into this series every time, though my opinion of the series took a bit of a hit with the previous book "Penny For Your Secrets".

What really works about this book is, as usual the mystery. I liked guessing who did it, and seeing how it was more complicated than I originally thought. But the way this book is crafted, the murder mystery gets so little page time that it felt like I kept waiting for the story to actually begin. It felt so out of character for Verity to be near a murder and not intervene until the very end when the overarching mystery of the series intersected with it. Had the murder mystery taken centre stage, I feel like this book would’ve been much stronger. As it stands, the book felt a flat.

The one thing I still can’t get over – yes, I know I need to move on but I simply CAN’T – is the romance. I don’t know how else to say this except to say that the one man Verity is supposed to have chemistry with, her husband, she absolutely has no chemistry with. Since book one, I’ve shipped her with Max. They have such a strong connection, and that’s killed when Sydney is like TA DA, I’M ALIVE. Huber keeps Max around with each new instalment in the series to add tension. And probably because she knows readers love him. (Seriously, everyone ships Verity with Max instead of her husband). Now, in this book, we meet Alec. VERITY EVEN HAS MORE CHEMISTRY WITH ALEC THAN WITH SIDNEY. SIDNEY, HER ACTUAL HUSBAND. If even Verity is like “just because you revealed you didn’t actually die, Sidney, doesn’t mean my feelings for other men have gone away”, why should I be invested in the relationship the book clearly wants to be endgame? It’s frustrating.

I mentioned this in my review of "Penny For Your Secrets", but the author has once again decided to use a UK slang word for cigarettes that is also a derogatory term for the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s making me mad at this point. Huber also uses the word “cigarette” so why wasn’t it just used all the time instead of only sometimes? There’s no need to use the other word when it can be harmful. One other thing that gave me pause is the way a blind character is handled. I’m not really the right person to be calling attention to this, but it felt almost ableist at times. And that was quite jarring in a series that’s supposed to be caring and informative about PTSD and war. I don’t know I don’t know. It just didn’t feel quite right, sometimes. A lot of cases of “I nodded but forgot he couldn’t see cause he’s blind” and other passages that were more overt. Not to mention that for Verity of all people, acting like that felt so incredibly out of character.

I’m really not sure what to think here. I struggled so much with this book in terms of plot, writing, and romance. If you add those up, that’s a lot. I can’t say I’d personally recommend this book, but if you liked the others in the series you’ll probably like this one. Maybe it’s just me? But I’m not sure it is. The series is quite popular in the murder mystery book world, so don’t let my review stop you if you like the series and want to read this one. I hope my thoughts have been helpful, however, if you weren’t sure whether to pick this one up.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my copy of A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber in exchange for an honest review. It published October 6, 2020.
This is just what the doctor ordered. A strong, smart, sensible lead in a historical murder mystery, I had no clue who the killer was going to be, and was pleased as punch. I really enjoyed the writing and the character development, I definitely plan to read the rest of the books in the series, and have more than a few loved-ones that I'm going to have read these as well!

While this series is still funny and witty, it has started to suffer with repetitiveness - Sidney is still jealous and broody, Verity's guys (Alec and Max, with whom she has been somehow involved before) are still around and her nemesis lord ArdMoriarty - ehm, Ardmore - is still messing with her. Ahem. How about upping the game?
The mystery itself is not bad, luckily, and it still grabbed my attention. I have enjoyed the history and coding bits.

A Pretty Deceit

by Anna Lee Huber

In the aftermath of The Great War, there are many “walking wounded.” This category refers to soldiers with physical wounds, of course. Also included are those psychologically affected, unable to relate to others, even those they love most. Waking or sleeping, the horrors of the war remain with them. Their families have suffered as well. Many have lost sons, fathers, brothers, and husbands either through death or trauma. Women are living in limbo or trying to raise children on their own. All of these injured are touched on as we witness the struggles of the characters in A Pretty Deceit. The protagonist, Verity Kent, is a high society woman married to a war hero. You would think the couple would be happily “living the life” after the war. They harbor secrets, however, as each individually worked for intelligence services, and their past efforts continue to disrupt their current lives.

Verity has a penchant for solving mysteries, and in this historical novel by Anna Lee Huber, Verity is called on by her family to investigate her aunt’s missing possessions as well as the disappearance of a maid. Her husband’s influence is solicited to encourage the government to provide reparations to Verity’s aunt for damages that occurred when Air Force officers were billeted in her home. As the couple tries to help, a murder is discovered on the estate, and Verity is called on to clear the murder victim’s wife. In the middle of these investigations, the couple is asked, unofficially, to investigate a wealthy businessman with connections that rise high in the government. He rarely dirties his own hands but has many minions willing to do his bidding.

I have read two more books in this series, and A Pretty Deceit is my favorite so far. Well written, as all of the books in this series are, this novel is outstanding in background, pace, and character development. We meet Reg, Verity’s cousin who was blinded in the war. We also see her current interactions with two men who had a romantic interest in Verity during the war. Verity is well aware of her attractiveness and is not afraid to subtly use it to achieve her ends. The position and influence of a woman in this time period is well demonstrated by the reactions of characters to women in accordance with class status and race. This historical fiction is a piece worth reading.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Notes: #4 in the Verity Kent Series, but works well as a standalone

Publication: September 29, 2020—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

For all that Aunt Ernestine would be horrified at such conduct in others, she was remarkably oblivious to the fault in herself.

Compassion need not be a restricted commodity, especially not during a time when everyone was still struggling to right themselves after the topsy-turvy years of the war.

He was a cunning manipulator, making people question even those things they knew beyond a shadow of a doubt to be true, and exploiting people’s best and worst natures to convince them to do things they would never have dreamed themselves capable of.

This was an emotionally challenging book to read. However, no matter how heavy and trauma-absorbed the story, the author does a great job of addressing the difficult aspects of rape in a sensitive manner. The two thread of the two cases are woven together and ultimately affects the trial and the lives of the individuals involved. Twists and a great ending make for an interesting read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Verity Kent continues to intrigue me in this good series taking place between the wars. In this one, she goes to visit an aunt, fallen on hard times. Although her aunt is thinking of selling her formerly prosperous estate, the mysterious goings on make Verity think twice for her. Nice historical mystery once again.

This is a series however I hadn't read any of the previous books and didn't matter too much and I quickly caught up.

This wasn't quite how I imagined as a lot of the plot didn't focus on the actual murder but on previous events which all seemed a bit far fetched.

I liked all the characters and found it hilarious the trope of every male character liking the main lead.

A cosy romantic mystery if you're into that genre.

Thank you for the arc.

I made a mistake in not realizing this book was part of a series. I however pushed through and read the book anyway without going and reading the series. I have to say I was disappointed. While I felt like I missed some things by jumping in on book 4 I still loved the book. I loved this book so much that I 've decided I'll go back and read the series through properly. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a classic mystery book.

I adored this entry into the Verity Kent Mystery series. The mystery is captivating and the characters fascinating and likeable even with their flaws. Outstanding setting that transported me back in time to England after WWI. Well done!

Thank you Netgalley. An interesting instalment in the Kent series. I liked the direction taken and the development of the characters. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series.

I am a sucker for Sidney and Verity: for the layers of their relationship that mends and yields under each subsequent adventure. The strength of this novel lay largely in their ability to get out of London and into a rural countryside manor whose ambience will appeal to readers of Ashley Weaver and Deanna Raybourn.

The mystery was well-plotted and, as per Huber's norm, one that digs into the nuanced depth of humanity rippled with the aftermath of a great war.

A fantastic addition to a series I cannot get enough of.

Also shared on FB, Twitter and Instagram and did a FB live interview with Anna Lee

This series is an exciting blend of historical fiction, mystery and espionage set in post World War I England.
Each book gets better as we learn more about the characters and relationships are developed. Highly recommend.

What I understand this is a series,the 4th book but I read anyway and you can read this without reading the other but I will look up the others as I really enjoyed this story by Anna Lee Huber. This is a really a enjoyable mystery crime story dating way back in England during or after the great war. Going to see her aunt strange things are happening and bound to find out why. Strong characters that shine out where you fall and believe they are real people. I followed the clues and I couldn't figure it out! Maybe you can. A very great read it you like England,estates and that time of period. I do.Received from Net Gallery.

I was so thrilled to get the chance to read this trilling novel with this lovely sleuthing couple.

As always a great storyline, you get more glimpses of the past and a gruesome murder.

Great as always, superbly written.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book.

I'm really enjoying this series; the heroine, Verity Kent, is smart, savvy, and has an enviable wardrobe - all plusses for me! I also enjoy how each book's individual mystery connects to a larger series-wide one, and I look forward to future installments that continue to flesh that out. An excellent mystery series!

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber. Verity Kent Mystery #4.
The fourth installment of the Verity Kent spy mystery series does not disappoint the reader. Verity is always determined to find the truth. After all isn’t that what her name means? We also find out that she has the middle name of Alice which means “from nobility.”
This story takes place in the aftermath of WWI, but opens with the reader experiencing an important episode that took place during the war. It takes the reader through almost the entire book before the incident and its reference to the rest of the story are clearly explained.
As in the other books in this series the feeling of WWI and its aftermath is portrayed very clearly. Here is a memorable quote from the book: “It was painful, yet also somehow comforting to talk about old times, like using a muscle that’s grown weak from disuse”
Anna Lee Huber has researched the time frame well and intersperses tidbits of information including some terminology, customs and the flavor of post WWI Britain.