Thanks, NetGalley and Kensington Books for the advanced copy of A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber! As the newest book in the Verity Kent series, I was ready to get my hands on it. I’ve been more or less on the fence about Verity but, after this book, have decided that I want to keep reading. I really liked this novel and think you will, too – although, Verity is following an ongoing case from the first novel amidst this present one so, you might want to start with the first book and work your way up to save yourself some confusion. I comfortably give this novel four out of five stars.

Verity and Sidney are summoned to France to hear evidence that could unlock their ongoing case from one of Sidney’s contacts during the war. However, not long after they speak to her, she’s murdered, and the only clues they have to where her evidence is located are the ones she dropped during their short and veiled conversation. Sidney and Verity must follow tenuous clues to find their evidence while being tracked by new and old acquaintances, enemies, and bosses. All in all, another typical Kent case.

You may know Anna Lee Huber from the Lady Darby mystery series, and her writing style carries over to Verity Kent, although that’s where the similarities end. You wouldn’t know they were related otherwise. I think sometimes Verity is a little gushy, and her understanding and sympathy towards Sidney and Max Ryde don’t always need to be explicitly stated. A little more inferencing could be good for us readers.

The other slight flaw I have with this series is that WWI is central to the series, but Verity’s and Sidney’s flashbacks and descriptions aren’t… heart-wrenching enough? They’re thorough and I’m sure they’re accurate, but when I read them my heart doesn’t lurch like it does when I read about DI Ian Rutledge (author Charles Todd). I don’t know if it’s because it’s dulled with Verity’s sensitive receptiveness or if words are just too little to describe the horrors of the war. I want to feel what Sidney and Verity feeling – I don’t want to forget how atrocious war was and still is.

The above things are minor; I just don’t connect emotionally with Verity as much as I did with Lady Darby. I’m still trying to work out why that is and can’t put my finger on it quite yet. All that aside, however; A Certain Darkness was an excellent installment in this series. I have a little bit of an issue following such a long-running plot with Lord Ardmore, which is due to all of the traveling the Kents do, not to mention the year between books that we have to wait! Of course, it’s always worth the wait for a novel by Huber, but it’s just enough time to forget what the Kents did last.

There is a lot of traveling in this novel as well, and I found that complex due to not knowing a lot of European geography – but if you’re more familiar, you’ll probably be fine. I think I could have used a map at the beginning of the book! The plot was complex and the scavenger hunt-like nature of Verity and Sidney’s mission was really entertaining to read. I’d started to guess who the culprit was, but wasn’t sure until the end of the novel. Verity and Sidney work well together to solve their case and try and collect more information against Ardmore.

The complexities of the Kent’s high-stakes game against Lord Ardmore are many, and make for a tense series. With each book, I feel as though we’re getting close to a resolution, but then find the Kents taking one step forward and two steps back in their quest. Ardmore is wily, so I’m not surprised, but I’m still hopeful that the Kents will prevail in the end. I would like the series to continue if they do, though! With that being said, there were some promising revelations in this novel that might bring us closer to a resolution – but if Huber has Ardmore and the Kents playing the long game, then I can wait it out right along with them. I look forward to meeting Verity and Sidney in their next adventure.

In A Certain Darkness, Anna Lee Huber takes us back into the world of Verity Kent and her husband Sidney. It's just after WWI, yet things in Europe are far from calm. As a former British intelligence agent, Verity is called upon to look into claims about a sunken ship and the gold it carried. The assignment turns into something much more sinister and dangerous. Verity and Sidney travel throughout parts of war torn Europe to investigate a murder that is seemingly related to the case.

I always enjoy reading Anna Lee Huber's historical fiction books, and I loved A Certain Darkness. I learn so much more than I'd ever learned from a history textbook. No, it's not a comprehensive overview of WWI, but these fictional stories bring such a personal aspect to history. Though they're fiction, the horrors experienced in the war are not. As a mother of a young man, I understand the fear that mothers and wives must have felt as their sons and husbands served their countries during this horrific war. As I read, I feel like I'm right there. Huber's descriptive writing brings her books to life, and I find it hard to stop turning the pages! Just one more chapter....

As with Huber's other books, I highly recommend A Certain Darkness!

A CERTAIN DARKNESS, the sixth Verity Kent mystery, is the best yet in the series. Taking place in 1920, the ramifications of the Great War are still strongly felt. When Former British Intelligence agent Verity Kent is called to look into a murder and missing compromising documents and her war hero husband Sydney is called to France at the behest of a suspect claiming information of treason, they soon find the cases are potentially connected. What follows shakes the pair to their bones as they work through a tangle of espionage, secrets, loyalties, murder, and power.

Author Anna Lee Huber can always be counted on to provide readers with a complex, well researched story with layered characters that make one think while also being entertained. A CERTAIN DARKNESS is no exception, and I know this book will stay with me for quite some time. I adore Verity – she is intelligent, observant, level-headed, and stylish to boot. She is the star of the series. Her renewed relationship with her husband Sydney is bumpy, but they make a wonderful sleuthing pair. I confess that I do miss Max playing a bigger role. There are many returning characters, and, at times, it is a bit difficult to remember who is who and to whom they pledge allegiance. However, this allegiance and patriotism is at the heart of the story. I cannot wait to read the next book to see how everything continues to play out.

A CERTAIN DARKNESS is not always an easy read but definitely worth it. I highly recommend it and the entire Verity Kent series.

I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here. #NetGalley #ACertainDarkness

Anna Lee Huber is one of my most favorite historical mystery writers! I have read all of her books and called in love with her different characters and series. I cannot tell you how comforting it is to pick up a book and know that you are going to enjoy it. Perhaps some books more than others but overall, each of the books she has written have been entertaining, engaging and I have no problem escaping into them each time a new Huber book is released.

The Verity Kent series has been an interesting series for me. It’s a bit of a break in her usual style of heroine and historical setting. Her Lady Darby books are set in a different time period with the heroine being strong and independent but she still fits the traditional gender norms of the period that the book is set in. Her other series is a Gothic mystery series, also set in a similar period as the Lady Darby books. So reading the Verity Kent books takes us to a new time period, again with a heroine who fits the gender norms of the period but also stands out as brave and complex.

When series’ are in their early stages, it’s easier for readers to jump in without having to read the other books. But eventually, you reach a certain point where new readers miss larger parts of the story. For me, this is the book where this happened. This book opens with a back story already established from an earlier book and I would say if you are a new to the series, I would pause and go back to read the others first and then enjoy this one! If you are interested in the series, be sure to check my Instagram later today for a chance to win the entire set of this series!

Summary

Set in Downton Abbey-era post-World War I England, this action-packed series from the USA Todaybestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries is a treat for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Ella MacNeal.

March 1920: Life has turned unsettlingly quiet for former British Intelligence agent Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney. But even that false calm is about to end. As threats remain, the French authorities soon request Sidney’s help with a suspect who claims to have proof of treason—shortly before she is assassinated. And Verity, too, is called to investigate a mystery.

The murder of a Belgian lawyer aboard a train seems at first to be a simple case of revenge. But the victim was connected to British Intelligence, and possessed papers detailing the sinking of a gold-laden German ship during the war.

As Verity and Sidney dig deeper, they discover their cases are intertwined—and a lethal adversary persists. Officially, the Great War may be over, but this is a battle of nerves and wits they cannot afford to lose… (summary from Goodreads)

Review

Throughout the series, I personally have not warmed up to Sidney. Ever since the first book and his disappearance, I just can’t get past it and I kept hoping that throughout the series I would warm up to him but I just can’t. Even still with this book, where the author does a great job giving us more to think about and unpack when it comes to his character, I just can’t get past Sidney’s deception from book one. But at least with this book, I feel like I have more insight into his character and even if I cannot get past his backstory, I feel like I understand him a bit better as a character and I love how the author gives the characters space to explore their feelings, hurt, and pasts without crowding them or forcing it.

I really appreciated the history in this book. There was a lot of history about various countries coming out of Post WWI and how that massive event shaped the countries in many ways. This book focuses a lot on the Dutch and Belgian experience and I thought that was an interesting angle to take as it wasn’t an experience that I knew much about. While the historian in me loved reading about the historical impact and significance of the Dutch and Belgian people, other readers who might not be as interested in the history parts might find it a little heavy handed. Generally, I think historical fiction readers don’t mind the history parts—-I mean you have to know you are going to get history when you read a history book!

This book really pulled in some of the other characters from previous books which I found fun and exciting. I loved the mystery in this one and that Verity and Sidney’s arch-nemesis, Lord Ardmore, continues to be an ominous presence. I just love murder mysteries that also have a spy element to it and I did get my fix with this book. I love this series and it just continues to keep me entertained and engaged. I have loved watching the characters grow in this one and I am eager too see where Verity and Sidney end up next. Even if I don’t care for Sidney, I am invested enough in the series and them as a couple that I continue to keep reading and hope that eventually someday I will warm up to him. I know that for many readers of this series, you are either Team Sidney or Team Max—-I am fully Team Max!

Book Info and Rating

Format: 346 pages, paperback

Publication: August 30th 2022 by Kensington

ISBN: 9781496728517

Free review copy provided by publisher, Kensington, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: historical fiction, cozy mystery

There is a very dark secret at the heart of this novel, the 6th in the Verity Kent series. Huber lays out a complicated path to its revelation, with characters coming from previous books in the series to inform Verity and Sidney's search for the truth.

This is not a standalone. I think it has to be read in context to appreciate its depth and power. That being said, it is a wonderful addition to the series, and the cliffhanging ending has me yearning for the next in the lineup.

“A certain darkness is needed to see the stars.” Osho

Darkness surrounds Verity and Sidney. Glimmers of hope are hard to see. The question is who will shine through?
Verity is once again swept up into the games Intelligent Agency plays. The war is over but the jockeying amongst the International Powers continue. Lord Ardmore continues to be a thorn in their side. He’s ruthless and in his pursuit of his goals the bodies are mounting up. The world is changing and Ardmore wants control over the various Intelligence Agencies.
Sidney takes a call from the Provost Gendarmerie. They have detained a Miss Adele Baverel for looting. She.will only talk to him. Sidney and Verity sense somethings wrong with her arrest and their search will take them to France, Belgium and Holland. What began as something simple becomes more complex. There’s rumours of a report is in the wind that if ever released holds upsetting news for the British forces and public in general. It certainly brings Verity and Sidney to their knees.
The politics are complex and trying to keep the various organisations straight in my head, who worked for which agency, who’s a threat, who’s aligned with their cause is challenging. Still this is an intriguing read, getting to the heart of Post Traumatic Stress as seen in Verity and Sidney, the sacrifices made during World War 1, the conditions in the trenches, all come alive for me. The secrecy, never knowing who to trust pulled at me. On top of that, there’s the post war wrangling about who does what where. Nations are in post war upheaval and certain people are pulling strings.
And let’s not forget Ireland! Verity and Sidney can’t.
A very insightful read.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “A Certain Darkness.” All opinions and comments are my own.

A very emotional outing for Verity and Sidney Kent awaits readers of “A Certain Darkness,” the sixth book in the post-WWI historical series by Anna Lee Huber. They are still after their arch-nemesis Lord Ardmore, and it’s not getting any easier.

In this entry they travel to the continent, following a long and convoluted trail of signs, signals and evidence involving spies and double agents from the war. Who’s an enemy, and who’s a friend? Verity and Sidney aren’t themselves sure anymore, and they involve us all in their misgivings. This book demands your attention on every page.

Along the way we get Verity’s thoughts and opinions, and she’s having to do a lot of it. Emotions are still high; Sidney’s disappearance rankles, even after the passage of time. And what Verity did doing the war plays its part; she’s still trying to clear her name and bring the real perpetrators to justice. Which will help to bring Ardmore down and solve everyone’s problems at the same time, because he’s about to cause some terrible trouble in Ireland, if they don’t get to him and his minions soon.

Just to be clear, there’s a strong anti-war message in this book. We gain more insight into Sidney and his struggles. The writer has given us a whole lot to think about, with quite the scenario (history is a harsh mistress; good to do your own research, too.)

But “A Certain Darkness” does call for a lot of tooing and froing, and once again, we’re almost back to where we started with Ardmore, the ending meaning yet another road trip. Am I on that path with the Kents? Of course; I’ve got to see this journey to its end.

A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber (Verity Kent #6) 4 stars

It is 1920 and Verity Kent still has an unsettled life. She and her husband Sidney are still trying to find a lost shipment of poison gas appropriated by their nemesis Lord Ardmore. Their hunt gets interrupted by a request from the French authorities to aid in an interrogation of a criminal. After their visit. things get really complicated when the criminal is found dead in her cell; an apparent suicide. When they get an urgent request from British intelligence to find some documents, Verity and Sidney can’t help but wonder if the cases are connected. What follows is a hunt that has them traveling by train and into danger. Will they finally find the proof they need to bring Ardmore down?

This book is the latest entry in the Verity Kent series and after reading it, the reader is still down the rabbit hole with a cliffhanger. But in between bouts of danger, there are examples of the loving relationship between Sidney and Verity, which makes the aggravation worthwhile. A thoroughly engrossing read. I look forward to the next book in this series where our intrepid couple will brave the cities of Ireland.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.

The murder of a Belgian lawyer who was working for British Intelligence brings Verity and Sidney Kent on a hunt for his killer and the papers he was carrying. Sidney received a summons to Amiens, where Adele Bavarel was being held by the gendarmes. During WWI she had been involved in espionage and now offers to reveal who her contacts were if he will help her. By the next day she had been murdered, but not before hinting that she knew something about the stolen papers. Verity was originally told that the papers concerned the sinking of a German ship that had been torpedoed in 1917 while carrying German gold. As they search for the papers and a murderer, they learn that the papers contained information that could be damaging to the British government.

Once again Verity and Sidney are up against Lord Ardmore, who is seeking to take over Intelligence and will do whatever he sees fit to obtain that goal. Lieutenant Smith, who Verity blamed for an explosion during the war, has been working for Ardmore. He was also in love with Bavarel and is desperate to find who killed her. Gabriel Charlaix, an agent for France’s Counterintelligence, was present when Verity and Sidney interviewed Bavarel. He continues to appear throughout their investigation and Verity does not completely trust him. Verity was an undercover agent during the war while Sidney was serving. She has had to trust her superiors to survive. Now she is in a position that challenges the trust that she developed. Sidney also begins to question whether they should continue when several attempts are made on their lives.

Anna Lee Huber’s A Certain Darkness can be read alone, however reading her previous books in the series give the reader a clearer understanding of the people and situations in the past that have brought them to where they are now. WWI still haunts the thoughts of her characters. In a moving passage, Sidney relives the horrors of Paschendaele that are all brought back by what they find. This is a suspenseful and emotional story that was difficult to put down. Huber ends with a hint of Verity’s next mission and I, for one, can not wait. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this book for my review.

This isn't a typical mystery. Yes, there's a dead body and Verity and Sidney do figure out who killed him but the murder isn't nearly as important as the information that the dead man was carrying. The focus of this book and this series in general is more on dealing with the aftermath of World War I. While the war is over there are still secrets lurking in the shadows and emotions are still running high.

I really like how much this series focuses on World War I which is not something I know a huge amount about. Spending time with Verity and Sidney as they searched through Belgium and viewed the aftermath of the war as well as dealing with their own memories was really interesting. I feel like Verity and Sidney are both growing quite a lot as characters and a couple which is really good to see.

This is not a series that you can jump in at whatever book. While the basic mystery is standalone the story arc that has been running through the bulk of the series connects to most aspects of the mystery and the characters involved.

I really enjoy this series and Verity and Sidney. There is some setup for the next book at the end of this book and I'm so excited for it.

March 1920: Life has turned unsettlingly quiet for former British Intelligence agent Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney. As threats remain, the French authorities soon request Sidney’s help with a suspect who claims to have proof of treason shortly before she is assassinated. The murder of a Belgian lawyer aboard a train seems at first to be a simple case of revenge. But the victim was connected to British Intelligence, and possessed papers detailing the sinking of a gold-laden German ship during the war. As Verity and Sidney dig deeper, they discover their cases are intertwined—and a lethal adversary persists. Officially, the Great War may be over, but this is a battle of nerves and wits they cannot afford to lose
The sixth book in this lovely series & another well written page turner. I love Verity, now recovered from being shot & Sidney & have revelled in how their relationship has changed & grown throughout the series. An engrossing read, which once again I found very hard to put down & devoured it in two sittings. There's spies, suspects & intrigue a plenty & now I’m looking forward to more
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another well done entry into the continuing story of Verity, her husband Sidney, and the impact of WWI on them and others. Sidney, who Verity believed was dead for a peri0d, has been asked to meet in France with the woman who posed as his wife- but there's a problem. A big problem. Verity has been enlisted on a quest that will take her to Belgium. There's a lot going on, it's complex, and it's informative. Fans of the series will note that Verity and Sidney seem fully committed to one another again. My quibble is that this might be difficult as a standalone because their back story is so important. That said if you like me have read them all (or many of them). you'll be pleased with the growth. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

The Great War might be over, but English spy Verity Kent and her husband Sidney are still hot on the trail of a traitor in their own government who might be funneling weapons to Irish Republicans. The Kents have a long and storied past with their prime suspect, Lord Ardmore, who seems to take great delight in antagonizing Verity especially. Before they can close in on him further, however, they’re drawn off to the continent following an urgent summons for Sidney from a French gendarmerie.

Back during his own investigations into the treachery that left him for dead during the chaos of the German offensive of 1918, Sidney had come across a Mademoiselle Adele Bavarel, who had been the local French contact of the traitor in his own battalion. Now Adele has been arrested in Amiens, and is refusing to speak to anyone but Sidney, claiming that she still has information that could lead to the capture of the rest of the spy network she’d once been a part of.

With the Kents at an impasse with Ardmore, they decide to risk leaving the home investigations in the hands of their trusted friend and colleague Max Westfield, the Earl of Ryde, while they go to interview Adele together. But Adele is surprisingly cagey, making more demands than offering information. The Kents leave her in disgust but fully intend to make another run at her the next day. Alas, she’s dead before they have a chance to return, in an apparent suicide that inflames the local gendarmerie’s antipathy to Verity’s involvement in the case.

This isn’t, of course, the first time that Verity has been blamed for something outside of her control.Their own case against Ardmore seems to have stalled due to how easily her own testimony against him has been swept aside, as she discovers to her dismay when interviewing a clandestine source:

QUOTE
Based on the fact he couldn’t look me in the eye it was clear he knew who [I] was despite [my boss] C’s maneuvering to try to keep my identity concealed. What wasn’t clear was whether the Scot had figured this out on his own or if his commanding officers had discussed my involvement while reviewing the issue. After all, I had a number of detractors among the heads of the intelligence community—two in particular—and they and the officers in the War Office, in general, tended to believe women were overall unreliable agents, despite ample proof to the contrary.
END QUOTE

Verity, however, has both smarts and spirits enough to recognize that Adele did not kill herself but was silenced before she could say more to the Kents. The question now is who would have gone to such great lengths to keep Adele from speaking further. More promisingly for their combined aims, had she perhaps let on more to the Kents than they’d realized during their initial interview?

As the Kents travel around Europe in search of the incriminating documents Adele had cryptically alluded to, they find themselves in surprising amounts of danger, even coming under fire while leaving one of Adele’s prior residences. This leads to Sidney having a crisis of confidence, as he begins to question how much he’s willing to continue to risk for his country, saying to Verity:

QUOTE
“I understand that recovering these documents is important. I understand that you find purpose and meaning in continuing this intelligence work. I do, as well. I just… I’m not sure it’s worth our lives anymore.” His face paled, making his features stand out in stark relief. “I lost <i>enough</i> friends to the war, watched <i>enough</i> men die. “ He inhaled sharply through his nostrils. “I don’t owe my country anything more. I definitely don’t owe them my <i>wife</i>.”

I could hardly argue with that. I didn’t <i>want</i> to argue with it. But a part of me still balked at the idea of abandoning this investigation when it felt as if we were close to solving it [in addition to] my heightened awareness of how drastically the events of the past could affect the future.
END QUOTE

Sidney’s own PTSD plays a large role in the proceedings, as Verity must help her husband exorcize the demons of his war experience in order to head off more violent conflict. But what will Verity do when she discovers a terrible secret about the war itself, one grave enough to shake even her previously ironclad belief in her superiors in the espionage chain of command?

A Certain Darkness realistically depicts the thrills, heartaches and ennui of spycraft in the early 20th century. The Kents spend a large part of the narrative feeling wet and miserable while crisscrossing a rainy France, Holland and Belgium in pursuit of the truth, while also working to strengthen their marriage. This book isn’t necessarily the best place for newcomers to the series to begin: while it’s easy to pick up on the information on offer in order to follow the plot, the tonal shifts can be confusing for anyone who isn’t already invested in the Kents’ story. If you’re an existing series fan, however, you likely won’t want to miss the further developments of this dashing spy couple as they continue to untangle treachery at home and abroad.

Verity and Sidney against the world! That’s what the tone of this book felt like to me, and I loved it. I loved the growth and depth of their relationship, and the innate trust they have in each other. And I can only imagine the charts, graphs, and diagrams the author uses to keep track of the good guys/bad guys and who is spying for whom. A tangled web is right! The whole story is so engrossing, it may be my favorite of the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

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

Verity and Sidney Kent are back in the newest installment of the Verity Kent mystery series. They continue to track down information to bring about the downfall of their nemesis, Ardmore. Well worth the read and it sets up nicely for the next book. Can't wait!

A Certain Darkness is the most recent novel in the Verity Kent series by Anna Lee Huber. In many of the recent novels there is an over-arching plot to uncover a truth. In A Certain Darkness, Verity and Sidney are still working to uncover the truth but are called away to France to interview a prisoner asking for Sidney. This book could work as a stand alone but I think readers would benefit from reading the series.

I'm a big fan of Huber's but find the Kent series to be hit or miss. I love how Huber captures 1920, the aftermath of the war and mental health in this novel. There is so much reviewing of the past characters that pop up that the book moved very slowly. I wanted to put it down but am very invested in Verity and Sidney from reading the whole series. I didn't feel hooked into the mystery until over halfway through the book. I noticed other reviews mentioning that the book ends in a cliffhanger, but for me it was just a preview of what is yet to come in the next book. That is a style I have come to expect from Huber and her other works.

Thank you to Netgalley for the early read. All opinions are my own.

This series just gets better with each book. A gripping mystery with lots of twists and turn and well plotted story as always. Well written character's and a vivid historical background only add to the story. What more could you want. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a very interesting historical mystery series as it's one of the few that talks about aftermath and intrigue e not only about the Bright Young Thing.
A gripping, twisty and well plotted story featuring fleshed out characters and a vivid historical background.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It's 1920. The Great War is over...or is it?

A woman is captured. She was a spy for Germany, even though she is French. She will only speak to Sidney, although Verity comes along. They are a fabulous sleuthing team. Now the story begins to run...

There is SO MUCH GOING ON! Confessions. Murder. Treasure. It is perfect. We see some characters from previous books right in the thick of things. Whew...I thought it was great.

Ms. Huber is such a descriptive writer. All of her thoughts of the country, the fashions the people, just everything, is well researched. If this is your first foray into this series, you should probably read the first 5 books before jumping into this one. It is excellent, but, in my opinion, you need some of the backstory.

A bit of a cliff hanger that I'm usually not fond of, but this time is worked so well. I can't wait for the next book.

Oh, wow! I won't spoil it, but this story really ripped at my heart and my gut. Obviously thoroughly researched, it opens a window to the horrors of World War I and the experiences of those who lived it--those who lived, loved, and lost--and to the spies who ran things behind the scenes. A word of advice: read this series in order, because this installation especially needs context to understand what is going on.

Verity and her husband, Sydney, are in a good place in their marriage. She is healing from her injuries and things are quiet. Then Sidney receives a summons from the French authorities--they have arrested a woman for treason and need Sidney's help since she refuses to talk to anyone else. Shortly after their arrival the prisoner is assassinated, and the couple is tasked with investigating another murder. But are the two cases connected?

As always, Anna Lee Huber's writing is fantastic. I'm a huge Verity Kent fan, so I was so excited to receive my copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in return for this honest opinion. I was not disappointed. Verity has an unnatural ability to read everyone's mind and motivations and is never wrong (something she has in common with Lady Darby), which would be more distracting and annoying if she weren't a trained spy who is supposed to be able to do that. It just makes sense. I also appreciated that this book brought together many threads from previous books in the series (which did make it hard to remember everything that had happened before, especially for the earlier ones). I loved the historical detail, which gave me a small window into the hell that was the Great War. The story even had me diving into the internet to research key plot reveals to see what was real and what was fiction.