Anna Lee Huber takes us back to England just after the First World War where Verity Kent continues to pursue potential traitors, including Lord Ardmore. Meanwhile her family involves her in local murders at her aunt's estate. Then the two affairs start to intertwine. Twisty period cozy mystery. Excellent series.

Another great book by Anna Lee Huber. Continuing after the last book Verity Kent and her husband are summoned to her Aunt's estate. During the war, the Royal Air Force used the home as a base and left it in shambles. In addition, several items are missing as is a house maid. Verity's aunt hopes that Sidney's connections in the war office may help resolve the issues. Of course nothing goes as planned and before too long Verity and Sidney are wrapped up in another plot that has Ardmore's hands all over it.

This 4th novel in the series really gets going, there's a lot of action and almost at times it seemed like two completely separate plots. Anna Huber pulls it together beautifully and it all makes sense in the end. I would love to know more about Verity's roll in the war and I hope the next few novels detail that further. It was fun to get a glimpse into her work during the war.

Delightful, relaxing, charming, and well written are a couple of adjectives used to describe the cozy when I recommended it to friends and family. It was an easy read which let me escape the real world irritations for a couple of hours.

I love Anna Lee Huber! Her mysteries are intelligent with
well drawn characters. She is an automatic purchase.

A lot of good men were injured in the First World War in any number of ways. Verity Kent has her own issues that she is dealing with from being part of a spy network but she feels like she has it better than a lot of other people, including her own cousin. Reggie was blinded in the war and now his mother treats him like an invalid. Yes, he is a lord but that doesn’t mean that he was left any money. And the estate is (according to his mother) falling down around the family’s ears. So Verity’s parents send her out to see what, exactly, is going on.
Several mysteries overlap including the history of the estate, a modern day murder, and a matter that dates back to Verity’s time in the war.
Another story, well-woven and well-written. I don’t think regular Verity Kent readers will be disappointed.

Three and a half stars
Follows Penny for Your Secrets
This book came out October 6th
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

The fourth book in Anna Lee Huber’s Verity Kent series follows closely on the heels of the end of the previous novel, Penny for Your Secrets, where some mysteries were solved and some were left for another day. When A Pretty Deceit begins, Verity and her husband Sidney are off to visit Verity’s aunt to help her resolve some issues regarding the destruction of her manor by the airmen that billeted there from the airbase next to her aunt’s property in Wiltshire.

Verity has a great deal of sympathy for her aunt who, like almost everyone, has had her fair share of loss from the Great War, but she also believes that the drama surrounding her aunt’s complaints is largely self-inflicted. When Verity and Sidney arrive, however, they find that there is more going on than they anticipated - items of value disappearing, talk of ghosts in the west garden, and a maid that has all but vanished. Verity is not convinced that anything nefarious is going on though, until the body of the groundskeeper shows up in the same area the ghosts are said to frequent. Strangely the body appears unharmed and is surrounded by recently dug holes in the garden. Was the groundskeeper trying to bury something or find something? Or was the murderer?

In the meantime, Verity and Sidney are still trying to find something on Lord Ardmore (the blackguard from the previous novel) to convict him of wrongdoing. Lord Ardmore is a powerful man and Verity and Sidney suspect he is the villainous mastermind behind some of the crimes they’ve investigated, but it remains unclear what exactly he is involved in and what it means for Britain. Having discovered, in the previous book that his father was somehow involved with Ardmore, Max, the Earl of Ryde, is searching his deceased father’s correspondence for some clue about Lord Ardmore’s agenda. Now they are all starting to suspect that Max’s father’s demise was not a natural death and when Max receives a letter confirming this and giving them a clue as to where to find the information to bring down Ardmore, Max, Verity, and Sidney begin a wild goose chase across Great Britain to find that information. When the goose chase leads back to Wiltshire and the airbase next to Verity’s aunt, it becomes clear that the cases are intimately linked.

A Pretty Deceit is a whirlwind of a mystery, and the reader must keep their wits about them in order to follow all the threads that Ms. Huber so masterfully weaves together. At the same moment, the mystery involves a man who tried to kill Verity in the war, the airbase next to her aunt, Lord Ardmore and his cronies, Max’s murdered father, and Verity’s aunt’s groundskeeper. And of course, some red herrings thrown in along the way.

The relationship between Verity and Sidney continues to be explored.  A mere four months previously, Sidney was thought to be a casualty of the war. Since being reunited, Verity has had to grapple with her feelings of betrayal over a brief sexual liaison she had with a fellow agent when she believed Sydney was dead, and she had started to develop feelings for Max as well. Sidney knows this and is understanding of the situation but this novel brings not only Max into the picture again but also Verity’s former lover. It’s a great deal for a young couple to handle. It’s clear that parts of their relationship are strong and other parts are more fragile. I enjoyed getting to know both characters a little better in A Pretty Deceit.  My fingers are crossed but I have a feeling a reckoning is coming!

When I picked up this book for review, I had read Ms. Huber’s A Lady Darby Mystery series (also excellent) but not this one, so I decided to read the previous Verity Kent books and I’m so glad I did. Ms. Huber is very strong at writing atmospheric mysteries. The reader feels completely drawn not only into the lives of the characters but also into the time and place. I loved reading about life after the Great War - particularly about Verity and Sidney’s friends. There is a frenzy to the way they are indulging in life after the war that Ms. Huber makes palpable.

Mystery readers who need everything cozily tied up at the end of a book will be frustrated by the ending of A Pretty Deceit; I believe there is even more confusion about Lord Ardmore at the end of this story than at the beginning. I enjoy the build-up of an epic mystery (and the chance to look for clues and hypothesize on what comes next). There are some interesting clues sprinkled into A Pretty Deceit and a few threads left hanging. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next installment of the series.

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Verity Kent is still in the thick of mystery solving, four books into the series. She's been called to her aunt's estate to investigate the mysterious disappearances of possessions and learns that pictures and snuffboxes aren't the only items to be missing, but that a maid has gone missing as well. Just when Verity thinks she's discovered what's going on, a dead body turns up on the estate. She and Sidney - joined by Max - are also still playing cat-and-mouse with the dangerous Lord Ardmore, as each side tries to gain an upper hand to neutralize the others.

This book carried forth a lot of the elements I've enjoyed in this series. I think it was a smart decision to set up a "big bad" in Lord Ardmore, and I've enjoyed following that mystery through the last two books. Anna Lee Huber does a nice job plotting out her mysteries - they are intricate and with a trail of red herrings - and this installment is no exception. I particularly enjoyed that she kept the pace up in this one - the addition of the Lord Ardmore plot helps with that - with discoveries coming at a good clip and keeping the action moving.

I love cozies but have never been a big fan of protagonists who don't actually investigate, but rather bumble their way into a solution (of course, accompanied by a constant refrain that they are brilliant investigators). Since the beginning of this series, I've liked that Verity has actual skills and experience and gets to use them. In addition, we've also been shown that she is fallible - and sometimes her intuition doesn't have the answers, but instead she has to follow a trail of deductions to the end. That keeps things engaging in terms of following along with the mystery.

I do wish that the darker elements that had been brought forth in earlier books had been developed a bit more and with some more complexity. I feel like the plotlines of Verity struggling with her reliance on alcohol and genuinely being pulled between Max and Sidney have been resolved to be no more than footnotes in her character development (perhaps to make her more conventionally "likable"?), when I thought that they could have really set this series apart from the other post-WWI series out there. A messier, more flawed Verity is more interesting! Using Max and Xavier's feelings for Verity in these later books as proof of her desirability is tiring - I'd rather see these elements fade away or actually be genuine temptations for her.

All in all, I'm glad I decided to stick with this series and this was an enjoyable read.

This fourth mystery in the series continues to show the reader the strength and ingenuity of the female main character, Verity Kent. Summoned to her aunt’s estate to look into some thefts and a missing maid, Verity and her husband, Sydney, become involved in a much bigger plot. Events from WWI have a part in the bigger picture. Well written, and recommended; thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am so enjoying this series. It is chronicling so many post Great War issues and giving the reader insight into the generation that experienced this tragedy. Such an intriguing time.

Verity, who works undercover with the Secret Service, teams up with her husband (who she thought was killed but was not), to work on a case. She soon is tasked with helping her Aunt Ernestine with issues at Ardmore after soldiers were stationed there. Missing treasures, a murder, a sinister villain, so much to take in! The pace gets more frantic as the story evolves. The continuing thread about Lord Ardmore is perfect.

I love the books that Ms. Huber writes. She does her homework about the time period and you can tell she’s taken lots of time to work out the mystery, leading all of her readers on a satisfying adventure!

This is book 4 in the series and although it can be read as a standalone, I’d suggest reading the series in order.

In the aftermath of WWI, former Secret Service agent Verity Kent and her husband, Sydney, are facing intrigue at every corner. As a favor to her father, Verity agrees to visit her aunt in Wiltshire. Her aunt says officers who stayed at her manor home during the war damaged it. There are also strange things happening, including a missing maid, heirloom forgeries, and suspicious rumors—all leading to the discovery of a dead body on the grounds.

While Verity and her husband, Sidney, investigate this new mystery, they are also on the trail of an old adversary—the shadowy and lethal Lord Ardmore. At every turn, the suspected traitor seems to be one step ahead of them. And even when their dear friend Max, the Earl of Ryde, stumbles upon a code hidden among his late father’s effects that may reveal the truth about Ardmore, Verity wonders if they are really the hunters—or the hunted.
This book had a very gothic feel to it. Missing servants, possible ghosts, hidden codes, aunts who faint. Since I love gothic tales, I really enjoyed this. There was a lot going on in the book, and Anna Lee Huber manages to keep it all going, and keep her readers interested in each plot point. There was not a lag in the plot, which made this a page turner.
It is interesting to see how people reacted to the end of WWI, and how it changed their lives. The author creates their emotions perfectly.
I look forward to a new book in this series every year, and the moment I finished this one I wanted the next one to be on my shelf. Write faster, Anna Lee Huber!
I read a digital copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

1919 October. Verify and her husband Sidney are asked by her father to visit her Aunt Ernestine and her cousin Baronet Reginald Popham, who was blinded in the war. Their home, Littlemote House, was requisitioned by the RAF during the war and was badly treated and she believes that they deserve compensation. Also Lady Lionel is convinced that some of the heirlooms have been stolen, and some forgeries replacing others. But then a body is discovered.
But the Kents have other problems as Lord Ardmore and his schemes continue. As this story is the series arc, I would recommend reading the others in the series first.
Another enjoyable mystery, a well-written story with its very likeable characters. A good addition to the series.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber is the third in the Verity Kent mystery series. Verity lived through World War I as a spy behind the German lines. She was nearly killed on more than one occasion and lost her husband, who after fifteen months turned up alive after all. It was a terrible time but now she and Sidney have the lives they were meant to have: wealthy, party-going socialites. Of course, there is the whole solving crime thing as well. In this book they are working on two things: the elusive Lord Ardmore and the misbegotten deeds he is up to as well as the murder of Mr. Green, her aunt's man-of-all-work. Her aunt's home was requisitioned during the war to house officers and pilots for the nearby airfield and to say they abused the place is putting it mildly. He aunt calls for assistance; assistance she doesn't really need as much as she needs the attention. Verity and Sidney get pulled into it all and eventually discover it is all related.

My first thought is that this book could have used some editing. I felt like it was too long. What I would have left out, I'm not sure. Many emotions rose to the top in the tome. PTSD is not only for soldiers, but also for spies and for those left at home. It manifests in many ways, as Verity was to learn during this time. She was also to learn what a small country England was and how easy it was to come across people one never expected to see again. Verity is a strong and intelligent character. She is beautiful and somewhat patient, but extremely curious about things, both her business and not. She is totally in love with her husband and happy in her life. What could be left wanting? Sidney is a good wingman and partner, having his own issues with which to deal. This is a charming Post-WWI, husband and wife mystery series. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of A Pretty Deceit by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #aprettydeceit

Verity and her husband Sidney are still trying to discover why the previous Lord Hyde was murdered, presumably on Lord Ardmore's orders and the connection to the smuggling of opium on the Zebrina during the war, with the help of the new Lord Hyde and Verity's old war secret service colleague Alec. However, Verity's father insists they visit his sister in Wiltshire to investigate various issues, including a missing maid.

At first I found the split focus of this novel a bit distracting, one minute Verity is in Wiltshire comforting her very annoying aunt and her cousin Reg who was blinded in the war, the next minute she's careering around the countryside following a series of cryptic clues around Roman ruins. I am not a fan of the overarching Lord Ardmore plot, although I have a secret hope that he turns out to be a good guy working deep undercover to unmask traitors, and the treasure hunt that leads Verity and her gang around the country seemed a bit overblown - does anyone in real life go to the trouble of burying a series of cryptic clues all over the country? I also have issues with the way that all of Verity's investigations seem to be linked - is Lord Ardmore a one-man crimewave. And don't even get me started on Verity's use of slang, most of which seems to be either anachronistic and/or wrong for an uppercrust woman to use, or the use of the word 'elite' when it should be aristocracy.

Okay, so that's a whole bunch of niggles but overall I really enjoy these amateur detective mysteries. I didn't guess the identity of the murderer, but the clues were there, which I really like - I am definitely not a fan of the detective story where no-one knows the clues. I also appreciate that this mystery did not get solved by Sidney talking to one of his acquaintances in order to get the clue that unlocks the mystery. And, despite myself, I am getting enthralled in the Ardmore mystery and the secret Verity uncovers about her war service. Now I can't wait for the next book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

When we last left Verity Kent, she was convinced that a prominent public official had set up her friend for murder, and had arranged for more deaths to cover up other misdeeds. In this novel, we see her pursuing her investigation into Lord Ardmore to try and bring him to justice for his crimes. Before she can get very far, though, she’s summoned to her aunt’s estate to investigate thefts, damage to her property by occupying airmen during the war, and a disappearing maid.
The visit to her childhood playground is difficult for Verity, as facing her family and the loss of its various members during the war is challenging. However, she also realizes that it’s time to begin facing some of her fears and grief as it’s almost been a year since the war has ended. With her dramatic aunt who belittles her son Reggie, blind as a result of his war injuries, Verity finds enough challenges outside of the mystery she’s supposed to be solving. It only adds more complications when the gardener turns up dead, as well.
Verity does a fair amount of traveling in this novel as she’s caught between investigating at her aunt’s and assisting Max, Earl of Ryde in pursuing the Ardmore investigation. I felt pretty sympathetic towards the end of the book as Verity looked and seemed so exhausted. Her relationship with Sidney, however, seems to be as good as ever. It was good to see him supporting her in her endeavors to both sort out her aunt’s troubles and to investigate Ardmore. This book brought out Sidney’s protectiveness of Verity, which was great to see as they were finally working as a team instead of against each other. I think this was the most cohesive they’ve been in the series, which was uplifting.
A Pretty Deceit was a great installment in the Verity Kent series. I always enjoy Anna Lee Huber’s writing, and this was no exception. It was probably the most complex plot in this series yet, with lots of pieces that didn’t seem to fit together and that I couldn’t make any sense of until the solution was presented to me. Readers may find it helpful to reread the third book in the series, Penny for Your Secrets, before starting this one as it will familiarize them with the Ardmore case. Although we discover a lot more about Ardmore’s reach in this novel, Verity and her team come only a few steps closer to finding a solution - so I am left eagerly awaiting the next novel for further developments!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Kensington Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “A Pretty Deceit.” All opinions are my own.

As “A Pretty Deceit” begins, we are in 1918 France with Verity Kent, who is still reeling from the loss of her husband, Sidney. Luckily this is only a prologue (and the fourth book in the series). She is engaged in her work with the Secret Service – and this little bit of undercover work almost sees the end of Verity. Will the traitor she’s was told of come back to haunt her later? We shall see.

The present starts up. Verity and a very alive Sidney, both back from the war, have come to Wiltshire to help her aunt with some trouble at her home, recovered from the RAF, who’d taken it over. Readers are reminded of the ongoing investigation from previous books, one that Sidney will work on while Verity tries to make her aunt happy. Immediately we find out there’s a missing maid, missing items from the house, and missing artwork. And some mystery about the door to the aunt’s bedroom. It’s all quite vexing.

Verity’s almost ready to leave, and then there’s a murder, and she can’t. And unfortunately, we come up against the trope of the “local police inspector who doesn’t want the female society woman helping.” I realize it’s probably very true to the circumstances, but wish it wasn’t used so blatantly frequently.

Their nemesis Lord Ardmore is mentioned, too. Sidney is still fighting against him, trying to find the proof needed to bring him to justice. And slowly, but surely, our stories being to intersect. Coded messages set them off on a treasure hunt through Roman ruins; you’ll get a bit of crash course on those rather interesting locations.

Ms. Huber juggles all this with observations on the price that Verity and the others of her generation paid for the war. The author does a good job of establishing a sense of time and place, of how England was still so full of emptiness and sorrow. She and her husband may be back from the war, but the horrors run deep, and the scars are still there. In between the Kents have a murderer to track down and a traitor to uncover. All in a day’s work.

The book quickly takes on the aspect of a thriller. The pages start turning faster, believe me. The past determines the present, of course. More pieces of the Ardmore puzzle are found, but more remain – fodder for future books. Ties to the forthcoming Irish Rebellion, anyone?

The author is to be commended for her ability to keep this all straight – and to keep it intriguing at the same time. Historical mystery readers will once again enjoy following along as Verity and Sidney Kent take danger on and find their way back from a terrible war, in “A Pretty Deceit.”

A Pretty Deceit by Anna Lee Huber (Verity Kent #4) 4.5 stars

This historical mystery set between the World Wars was a wonderful and action packed book. A straight sequel of last years "Penny For Your Secrets", we find Sidney and Verity still trying to find evidence of Lord Ardmore's mysterious plot. Lord Ardmore might be this series Moriarty - a nemesis with vast resources and a high position to protect him. However, this book doesn't just focus on Lord Ardmore and his cohorts; there is a separate mystery presented by Verity's aunt. Verity's aunt complains to her parents that she need Verity and Sidney to help her because valuables have been stolen and Verity's aunt thinks that it is the RAF's personnel that is at fault. During the course of investigation two bodies turn up. Who killed the estate manager and the maid... you will need to finish the book to find out. All the characters were well drawn and engaging. The only reason for the loss of 1/2 star is the aunt who was exceedingly annoying. I look forward to Lord Ardmore getting his just desserts, but it may take a few books to get to that point.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

This is easily one of the best books in the Verity Kent series (a very close tie with the first book, This Side of Murder). Unlike the last few entries, which I felt lagged a bit, A Pretty Deceit had tons of action, adventure, and drama -- including the ongoing romantic drama between Verity and her various past/present/future love interests. It starts off with a bang with a flashback to Verity's undercover work during World War I, then hits the ground running with Verity and Sydney trying to solve what appears to be a minor domestic mystery for Verity's aunt while simultaneously continuing their hunt for clues as to Lord Ardmore's treasonous activities. Verity enlists the help of her former spy colleague, Captain Alec Xavier, and my personal favorite, Max, as they follow Max's late father's scavenger hunt across England to unearth evidence of Ardmore's deceit. Ardmore, in turn, continues to stay one step ahead of Verity in their cat and mouse game, taunting her with cryptic comments that foreshadow what promise to be major revelations in upcoming books.

This book fixes the biggest issues I've had with books 2 and 3 by allowing Verity to run the show throughout the book and showcase her impressive spy skills while also facing the love triangle (or square perhaps?) head on instead of relegating poor Max to a brief scene or two. I'm hoping the next books in the series will keep up that trend. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Verity's adventures!

Thank you to Kensington for providing an ARC for review!

An historical mystery that leans more on the characters than the history, so it's a good thing the characters are so enjoyable. Verity Kent and her husband Sidney travel to her Aunt's estate to verify her claim of missing items. The house was used to billet soldiers during WWI and now she thinks items are missing. Verity's investigation leads to the discovery of a dead body and espionage that's left over from the war.

Anna Lee Huber is known for her entertaining mysteries that give readers plenty of clues but still keep us guessing until the final chapter.

In the latest installment of the Verity Kent series, Verity and her husband, Sidney, are asked by her parents to go help her aunt. Her aunt's manor house in Wiltshire was used by the British Air Force during WWI for billeting soldiers. Her aunt is convinced that several objects are missing from the house due to the soldiers who were lodged there. There is also the matter of missing housemaid.

Verity Kent spent WWI in espionage. Even now as a member of high society in England, she continues to do a bit. She is also followed by a nemesis, Lord Ardmore. This part of the plot makes this series more exciting than a simple mystery. There is a couple of chase scenes in the book.

I would have liked to learn more about Sadie, their housekeeper and Nimble, Sidney's valet but that will have to wait until the next book! I highly recommend this series to lovers of historical mysteries. I do think that you should read at least one of the previous books in the series before starting here. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the free Advanced Reader's Copy.

Fast paced Interbellum years British mystery!

An anxious call from her parents has ex British Secret Agent Verity Kent and her husband Sidney motoring down to her aunt's home in northeastern Wiltshire (well her cousin Reg's really!) to solve the problem of missing valuables and paintings, and well--ghosts! Not that Verity wanted to, but her mother can be quite persistent and Verity seems to be always trying to please her parents. The relationship with the parentals is more than a tad fraught.
Of course this will give Sidney a chance to drive full throttle in his new Pierce-Arrow, replacing the one lost in a previous investigation.
What Verity and Sidney are confronted with is a missing maid, a murdered man, and moreover, as they start to thread their way through things, a suspected link to their arch enemy Lord Ardmore. Matters escalate. Sidney and Verity are in danger along with their friend Max, the Earl of Ryde.
Chief Inspector Thoreau of Scotland Yard makes an appearance as things move forward. Verity's inner group enlarges (with an unexpected addition) thanks to her former Secret Service chief--C. They're left not only endeavoring to solve the initial problems at Verity's aunt's place but with more hazardous connections yawning before them.
I did like the way Verity interacted with her cousin Reg, blinded in action, and her empathetic sympathies and understandings of why Mrs Green had taken to drink during the war years. This from personal experience!
Another fast moving who dunnit thriller from Anna Lee Huber set in the Interbellum year of 1919, post World War I.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)