I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of "A Pretty Deceit" by Anna Lee Huber, fourth book in the Verity Kent Mystery series, and my first one to read and enjoy. Located in post WWI England, Verity Kent is a former wartime Secret Service agent. With her newly returned military veteran husband, they are thrown into a mystery to solve, as well as dealing with old adversaries. I was so impressed with the descriptive detail of this era and the evident research involved in writing this historical novel.

A Pretty Deceit, the latest in Anna Lee Huber's post-WWI mystery series, is sure to please those who have already read and enjoyed the previous books starring Verity Kent, wartime spy turned peacetime detective. This fourth volume sees Verity and her war hero husband Sidney, along with an ensemble of characters established over the last few books, pursuing their ongoing investigation of the devious Lord Ardmore's treachery and murders. Along the way, they're entangled in another mystery or two - murder does seem to dog Verity's footsteps - as first some thefts and disappearances, and then corpses, cause her long-suffering aunt to demand Verity's assistance. Naturally, this being a solidly plotted mystery novel, these seemingly disparate mysteries have their connection with Verity's continuing investigations, all of which provides for both a satisfying conclusion (to the single-story mystery) and a strong lead-in to a future Book #5.

Verity remains an engaging heroine, surrounded by an ensemble of more or less interesting characters (some rather more than others; I find Alec Xavier intriguing, but servants Nimble and Sadie feel wasted so far), and the plot moves at a smooth pace, sprinkling clues here and there at just the right times. I wouldn't say the solution has the rich inevitability of an Agatha Christie puzzle, but it's more than adequate, and the historical setting, just post-war and rife with comments on demobbed soldiers' PTSD, secrets & treason that have continued into peacetime, and the hardship faced by those on the home front while despairing over their loved ones in the trenches, is successful at going far deeper than just set decoration.

All in all, it's a solid, enjoyable, and quick read for fans of historical mystery series, and I look forward to it continuing for several more books to come!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advance review copy!

Another great book from Anna Lee Huber in the Verity Kent series!! I really love this series and really look forward to each new one; I just wish she could write faster!! :-)

This outing finds Verity and Sydney, along with Max and Alec, still hunting for Lord Ardmore and his henchmen. On their way to meet Max, Verity and Sydney are asked to look in on her aunt [who's house was used during the war and she is upset at the damage left and thinks that Sydney can help persuade the higher-ups to repair all the damage AND she has had things stolen from her as well, so she is in a state] and cousin and while they are there, a maid disappears and a man is murdered. Verity leaves that in the hands of the local constabulary, until it becomes very clear that the dreaded Lord Ardmore is more involved than they realized and they have to fight against time and some serious bad guys to solve everything with their lives still intact. <--I am not sure I took a breathe in those last few chapters [as everything unfolded], even though I was pretty sure I knew who was behind some of the things happening. Even with that knowledge, the reveal was sad and devastating and WHOOSH, wowsers.

And now all that love these books have to wait...again, I think she should write faster! ;-)

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Pretty Deceit is an excellent addition to the series by Anna Lee Huber.

Verity Kent is once more embroiled in a new mystery and also still pursuing an old one from Book 3, the two threads merging together expertly to give an engrossing and deliciously complicated narrative, that ensures all the old favourites make an appearance at some point throughout the book.

Thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my review copy.

'I was drawn to this book because Booklist called it "Downton Abbey -era fiction". That's all I needed to start reading it. It is set primarily in quaint villages and elaborate English country estates ;I would give it 5 stars for a beautifully written sense of time and place, as well as the cast of colorful, and sometimes eccentric characters. The Protagonist is Verity Kent, a former WWI Undercover Agent . Along with her husband, Sidney, a recent Veteran, she has traveled to the country estate of her aunt at the request of her Father. Some valuable artifacts have gone missing and Verity and Sidney have come to Investigate. Once there, the mysteries multiply. There are missing staff, forgeries and even murders. The proximity of the estate to a military base and the potential involvement of the RAF (who have billeted the manor during the war) further complicate matters. All of the suspense and compounding of crimes keep this a page-turner. My only complaint with the novel is that it is number 4 of a Verity Kent Series, and I have not read the first three in the series! While some may argue this book could stand on its own, I think having read the previous books in the series would have enhanced my reading enjoyment, especially because one of the foes was apparently someone with whom Verity had long term issues. My curiosity was piqued enough that I now look forward to reading the previous books.. Thank you for the opportunity to read this advance copy of A Pretty Deceit..
#APrettyDeceit #NetGalley












#APrettyDeceit #NetGalley

Post WWI sees in the Jazz Age and Flappers, a generation of brittle survivors who will never see the world the same way again. Former spy, Verity, and her army veteran husband, Sydney, know this as much as anyone. Not all war casualties were left on the field. As they strive to pick up the pieces, Verity and Sydney end up in the crosshairs of a powerful enemy with a hidden agenda and family obligation takes them into Wiltshire at her autocratic aunt’s request. Missing family heirlooms, counterfeit art, a missing maid, a ghost in the West part, and the murder of an estate worker challenge them as much as Lord Ryde’s coded missive to his son that might reveal just what they need to catch Lord Ardmore.

A Pretty Deceit is the fourth of the Verity Kent series and works best when read in order because of the strong series and character development going on from book to book.

I love how the author paints this exciting post-war time with the dreary and painful results of war, but also the survivor stories. The setting is strongly depicted as were the way the characters were true to the period. Each book faces a different aspect of this time like the emotional hardships on the home front. Verity and Sydney have been through a lot, separated by war, and Verity, in particular, must face her demons here, though Sydney isn’t miraculously healed from his post-war issues. When she thought Sydney was dead, she went a bit off the rails between becoming an adrenaline junkie out on her assignments behind enemy lines and also nearly a drunk on gin when the war ended. She encounters a woman in the village who did become a drunk and unlike others, Verity has a tender spot for her especially since she knows this could have been her so easily.

There is a solid development in the characters and their relationship, too. The author didn’t make a reconciliation easy for Verity and Sydney and she didn’t make them perfect. They have fears, flaws, and the ability to grow as people and a couple. They are feeling their way since they were newlyweds before the war, had the separation and then the reunion after when they are all but different people. Because of circumstances- Sydney assumed dead, Verity had been in relationships with two other men which complicates matters now especially since they are right there involved in their case against Lord Ardmore.

I love how Verity and Sydney work hard to communicate and understand through each conflict and difficulty. Sydney tries very hard to not interfere when Verity jumps into danger and puts herself forward in investigations and she tries hard to not hare off and not include Sydney or take offence when he asks her to sensibly take precautions.

The mystery was two-fold. The situation at her aunt and cousin’s home and their hunt for proof that the powerful Lord Ardmore is a villain. I’m not sure why, but I had the estate mystery figured out swiftly when it came to the who, the how, and part of the why. I even saw where it was going to tie into something else. This didn’t deter me from eagerly reading on. I find it just as exciting to see how they figured it all out and arrived at the end. I will say that the late Lord Ryde’s cryptic message thing did get me impatient after a bit. The end has the mystery at the estate solved and things left at an interesting place with the Ardmore investigation.

All in all, I found it an emotional, thoughtful, and clever suspense with an engaging pair of detectives. Those who enjoy historical mysteries that have a strong emphasis on character should give this series a chance.

A Pretty Deceit is the fourth book in Anna Lee Huber's Verity Kent series, which takes place shortly after The Great War. I read the previous book, Penny For Your Secrets, and it was marvelous. I was instantly a fan of Ms. Huber. I wasn't lost reading that one, even though I hadn't read the first two. I must admit, however, that I was a bit lost here, not having read those, because I believe I missed some plot points that would have helped in this story. In no way, though, did that hinder my enjoyment of this cracking good historical mystery!

Verity Kent, a former Secret Service Agent for England, and her veteran husband Sidney visit Verity's aunt in Wiltshire at the behest of her father. During the war pilots were billeted at her estate, leaving damage. Expensive items were also missing, original paintings had been replaced with forgeries, and one of the maids has disappeared. Verity and Sidney investigate the strange goings-on...and then a body is discovered on the estate. As if that wasn't enough, they are also pursuing shady Lord Ardmore, an old adversary and suspected traitor. Their friend Max's father left coded messages that may be related to the truth of Lord Ardmore. Are the two cases in any way connected to each other? And more importantly, will Verity, Sidney and their friends survive?

This was a fun and exciting mystery that never slowed down. As previously stated, I was a bit confused, and that was with the Lord Ardmore storyline; it would have helped knowing that background. But the mystery at the aunt and blind cousin Reg's estate did not rely on previous storylines. That mystery had me totally stumped! It's Ms. Huber's characters, however, that shine and draw me to these stories. Both Verity and Sidney deal with what we know now is PTSD. Also, they are still dealing with the aftershocks of when Verity discovered that Sidney wasn't dead as reported. They are getting past that, despite there being two other men, Max and Alec, who appear in this story that Verity was drawn to when she thought she was widowed. Sidney is the love of her life, however, and I love their history and current relationship. I hope there are many more adventures and intrigues for this awesome couple!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Enjoyable book, but recommend reading others in the series first.

I have previously read of a couple of books in the Verity Kent series, so it was enjoyable to see where Verity had picked up. However, I don’t recommend reading this as the first book in the series. There’s a lot going on between the characters that are addressed in previous book that are hinted out in this one. Without some of that background information, I think readers might be lost.
Overall, recommended!

It started out so well, I was really excited by the first few chapters, despite not having read the previous books in the series., it was very easy to pick up and move forward.

However, I struggled with the dynamic of the four key characters, had hypothesised the likely outcome of the clues they were following and also found the storyline around the murderer just a little implausible. The result was that I came away feeling a little disgruntled. Sadly, I have no inclination to carry on reading the series to see where the larger story arch leads..

I noted that those who are following this series seem to really enjoy it, so perhaps just not my cup of tea.

I am grateful to #netgallley #Kensingtonbooks and the author for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Verity Kent Mystery #4

The Great War has ended. Former Secret Service agent Verity Kent has her husband, Sydney back by her side.

They both are suffering the effects of the war. They made some nasty enemies and now those enemies are ready to take them on again.

When her father calls asking them to check in on his sister in Wiltshire, they leave at once. Expecting to find the large country house in shambles at their feet. But once again her aunt is exaggerating. While her cousin lost his sight in the war, he is still sharp as a tack, and no matter how hard his mother tries to keep everything from him, he knows more than he is saying.

When a young maid disappears, they fear the worst. When another man is found dead on the estate, things start to heat up. Odd sightings in the fields next to the RAF runway. Suspicious characters up to no good or ghosts?

And why in the world are there holes dug all over the field? Their friend Max meets up with them as they have word of a secret letter in code from his father that may have something to do with their old adversary Lord Ardmore. Information he doesn’t want out. And just like that, they become the hunted.

This is such a good series. Verity is a powerful character and has an attitude I love. Can’t wait to see what she gets in to next!

NetGalley/ September 29th, 2020 by Kensington

Verity's parents ask her to visit an aunt, who is complaining about heirloom forgeries and damages to her estate after the war, and when a body is discovered on the grounds, Verity and her husband Simon must investigate.

A dangerous foe comes into play, Lord Ardmore, who always seems to be one step ahead of them, and Verity will have to rely on her friends to help go against him.

Another Thrilling Verity Kent book!

The fourth book in the Verity Kent series finds Verity and her husband Sidney off to visit Verity’s aunt in Wiltshire. Aunt Ernestine’s manor borders an airfield and was used by the RAF during the war. She hopes that Sidney’s military contacts can get her swiftly compensated for damages done to the estate. But there is more to this task than meets the eye when Verity discovers that artwork, figurines, and other valuable items have gone missing. When first a housemaid goes missing and then the handyman's body turns up in the west park, Verity realizes the situation is far more complex than her elderly aunt’s complaints might suggest. Meanwhile, the Kents’ close friend Max, Earl of Ryde, receives a coded message on his 29th birthday from his late father that promises to provide information as to his father’s sudden death and his unsavory associations with the evil Lord Ardmore. As Verity and Sidney dig deeper at the Wiltshire estate and assist Max in decrypting the trail of messages, they realize they are the ones under constant surveillance. They must sift through events and find the connections between everything before they find themselves within the cross hairs.

This is a complex investigation that ties disparate threads together, but the multi-layered depictions of the main characters is what makes this series really shine. Highly recommended.

Another solid entry in the Verity Kent series. Verity and her husband team up with Ryde and Verity's old spy partner/one night stand, on the track of the villainous and maddeningly elusive Lord Ardmore. We get a little more of Verity's family connections, in the form of a dithering aunt and a cousin who lost his sight in WWI, who have their own mystery at their manor. The story is a nice set up for forcing Verity to start to deal with her family, with whom she has had little contact since the loss of her brother in the war. As usual, the descriptions - of characters, of surroundings, of clothes - are terrific and engaging. I look forward to continuing on to the next book.

This excellent series takes a swerve into mysterious codes and riddles this time. I’m not enthralled with this type of suspense writing, but I acknowledge that there are many who do like it. I find fictional riddles and codes to be tiresome and unbelievable, especially in this case. Those who enjoy these devices will find a good read. I’m disappointed with this entry but still intrigued with Verity and her husband, the period setting, and the smooth writing. I look forward to more stories.

Really like this series about Verity and her husband they are still trying to solve a mystery but come across 2 other mysteries to solve on a family trip.
Good drama,intrigue,suspense . Like the love of Verity and her husband.
Good complex characters.
Enjoyed reading.
Voluntarily recviewed.

A fan of Anna lee hubers previous outings I love Verity Kent and her adventures.
I found the last installment a little difficult to get through but this one really pulled me in. Looking forward to the next installment!!

Mayhem At The Manor....
The fourth in the Verity Kent Mystery series. A new ordeal for Verity as she visits a relative in the country. Amidst much mayhem at the manor, Verity finds herself with two mysteries to solve. An engaging tale with a likeable protagonist in Verity and a colourful cast of supporting characters as well as a good sense of time and place. An enjoyable read and a worthy addition to the series.

A Pretty Deceit is my favourite so far in the Verity Kent series. This instalment includes more about Verity's family as well as some of her work in the war and you can see the effects of it.

It begins with Verity going to her aunt's house to help out with some missing items. Her aunt is insisting they were stolen by RAF troops who lived in their home during the war, and other items were switched out for fakes. Her son, Reginald (Verity's cousin) has returned from the war without his sight and reminds Verity strongly of her brother Rob, who didn't come back.

Some of the mysteries at her aunt's house are straightforward to solve, and the murder of Mr.Green and the missing housemaid are left for the locals to solve as Verity returns to helping Sidney and Max with another mystery. Max's father left clues for his son and they're hoping it will give them actual evidence to use against Ardmore. It’s a steady game of cat and mouse, but is the role changing? Or is Ardmore the cat this entire time? He's going to keep our heroine and readers on their toes.

It's really striking that Verity celebrates her 23rd birthday in the book. She's very young, and has done so much in the past five years, and seen so much more than most would have at their age if not for World War I. I'm curious to see if the next book includes a visit with her parents and siblings who will provide further contrast to the changes. Her family knows what they expect of her, but they don't know her. One of the contrasts in this series that we've seen since the second book is the behaviour of older generations in comparison to Verity and Sidney's. They have all faced devastating loss and have different methods of coping; the younger generation seems more open to what can be built out of the ashes instead of returning things to as they were.

The mysteries in A Pretty Deceit were very well balanced and really show the contrast of now not being able to trust those around you on home soil. How much harm is coming from inside the house when everyone is struggling to find their new normal? I read it in one sitting and keep reflecting on parts of it. Ms.Huber’s writing is fantastic.

(NOTE: The following review will appear on CriminalElement.com the week of the title's publication.)

The first anniversary of the Armistice is fast approaching. Erstwhile spy Verity Kent and her war hero husband Sidney are determined to honor the occasion quietly, with a small group of trusted friends. Still recovering from the horrors of the War, neither of them wants to stand in front of flashing lights or give meaningful speeches.

But before they can make good their escape, Verity’s parents beg them to call upon Aunt Ernestine, who has kicked up a ruckus regarding the military’s roughshod treatment of her estate and is demanding compensation from the government. Furthermore, she’s discovered that several valuable art pieces are missing, some replaced by forgeries.

Verity is sure the “stolen” pieces were actually sold off by her uncle prior to his death, in an attempt to recoup some of his lost fortune. But she’s willing to humor Ernestine for the sake of familial peace.

Peace, unfortunately, is not on the agenda. Within hours of arriving to investigate Aunt Ernestine’s claims, the body of a servant is found on the grounds. Another servant, a young maid, is missing. And there are rumors of something supernatural afoot…


“Has anyone else seen this… ghost?” I asked skeptically.
Mr. Plank sat back, suddenly sobering. “Not that’ll admit to it.”
…I thought of the other veterans I’d met, men like my husband, who struggled to leave the war behind. Men who sometimes saw shades of their fallen comrades when the man walking toward them on the pavement or standing in front of them in the queue resembled them, or when the angle of the sunlight was just right and their eyes were tired from yet another night spent tossing and turning from bad dreams. Had Mr. Green seen things in the west garden? Had he feared it was his mind playing tricks on him—conjuring the friends and fellow soldiers he’d lost?


As Verity and Sidney dig deeper into the strange happenings, they uncover disquieting connections to Lord Ardmore: the Kents’ nemesis and a spider at the center of a vast web of nefarious plots.

Assisted by allies Max and Alec, Verity faces down old nightmares turned present threats, her espionage skills honed during the War once again coming in handy. With her own life on the line, can she unmask a killer and a conspiracy?

The fourth installment in Anna Lee Huber’s Verity Kent series, A Pretty Deceit is, at its heart, a story about trauma. In each book, Huber has sprinkled flashbacks to WWI, but the stories themselves are set firmly in the post-war period of slow rebuilding and even slower healing. The battles and wholesale bloodshed are in the past, yet their presence permeates everything.

And it’s not just veterans struggling in the aftermath. Huber does a phenomenal job shining a spotlight on how the War took its toll on noncombatants, too, making us deeply sympathize with these unsung survivors. The wives, mothers, and daughters left at home may not have suffered physically the way the soldiers did, but the psychological and emotional toll was equally devastating.


…I couldn’t help but feel empathy for Mrs. Green. Men often dismissed how hard the war had also been for the women. Waiting, wondering, dreading—every hour of every day, for four long years. Trying to carry on with life, shouldering the burden of both husband and wife, mother and father, and pretend it all couldn’t end in an instant. Scouring the Rolls of Honor listed in the newspapers every morning for the names of loved ones. Fearing the sight of the messenger boys on their red bicycles pedaling up the drive to deliver a telegram from the War Office. It strained the nerves past endurance.
If you were one of the lucky ones and your husband did come home, this wasn’t an end to it. For once you’d lived with such fear, such horror, for so long, it could never be forgotten. Nor could the emotions and resentments and frustrations that had been festering be brushed aside. In most cases, the returning soldiers and their wives were both the walking wounded…


Deceit is also the most suspenseful and action-packed entry thus far; Huber builds up a serious threat for the heroine until we’re twitching with suspicion. Every passerby and location becomes ominous, the tension culminating in some real humdinger, edge-of-your-seat moments.

This is a mystery series that now stretches beyond mere murder investigations—Huber is steadily crafting a compelling conspiracy to underpin the individual novels. The villainous Ardmore is Moriarty-esque with his scope, intelligence, and power, and his insidious presence allows Huber to steer the characters firmly into spy thriller territory.

Verity herself remains a clever, capable heroine you love to root for. She has a strong, sympathetic voice and a nuanced inner life. Her dynamic with husband Sidney provides plenty of saucy fun and a vibrant emotional heart; their relationship is a passionate one but hardly perfect, thank goodness. Huber navigates a delicate balance for them, giving them enough flaws to be realistic while still delivering moments worthy of a historical romance.

The colorful supporting cast—night club singers and charming spies, wounded cousins and noble lords—and atmospheric English settings are as engaging as the serpentine plot, and the period details and commentary are as sharp as ever.

Huber proves she’s an author with staying power, as each novel further develops a winning bunch of characters and makes us more and more invested in their search for the truth—and personal peace. A Pretty Deceit will more than satisfy established fans, and is a riveting introduction for newcomers.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Peacetime has brought little respite for Verity Kent. Intrigue still abounds, even within her own family. As a favor to her father, Verity agrees to visit his sister in Wiltshire. Her once prosperous aunt has fallen on difficult times and is considering selling their estate. But there are strange goings-on at the manor, including missing servants, possible 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 . . .

My notes: A well crafted mystery. The characters are likable, especially cousin Reg. There are a lot of twists and turns in the story. This is NOT a light cozy mystery. There is some violence in the story. I received a free digital Advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.