I usually enjoy books in this series but I found it hard to sustain my interest in this latest volume in the Verity Lark series. I thought it was too heavily dependent on knowing what was in previous books in the series and spent a lot of time explaining the plot within the context of earlier books.
However, there was a gripping end and the plot, although intricate was well constructed.

My thanks to Net Galley, Book Whisperer, and the personal invitation i received to review this arc.

I so wanted to like this but i stopped at 41% read. It was such a struggle to read. I think if I read the other books before the content would have been clearer. The book was very well written but the content was too heavy. So much crammed in. Plus I did not know a lot of the terminology and the silly names@ Twaddle Thumb, Flimmer Sham, Turnip, Her Outrageous.

I was so excited to read this. I couldn't wait for Bea and Verity to interact and hopefully finally team up to solve a mystery. Sadly I was a little disappointed. The story opens from Nuneaton's point-of-view and that was a little jarring. Then Bea backs off the mystery and leaves Verity to solve it. The the whodunit was SO obvious I was able to figure out who did it pretty much right away. I wasn't sure but I had my suspicions. Verity is usually so thorough when Twaddling, leaving no stone unturned but in trying to solve this murder, she accepted a suspect's alibi at face value and didn't try to verify it. WHY NOT? Colson could have easily asked around and tried to verify matters and Verity in one of her many disguises could have interrogated someone to verify information. There was a lot going on in this book with the side plot following up on the previous mystery of the child abuse scandal. Verity wants to solve the mystery of the forger which Bea did a few days earlier and is stuck trying to solve the mystery of the gossip columnist instead. I did like knowing about the follow-up to the orphan asylum child abuse case and how she was able to expose the horrific thing a certain board member did. I always enjoy seeing Verity in her many disguises and some of her characters had me in stitches and others had me cringing while laughing at the same time. I especially loved the final scene when Bea returns.

Nuneaton is charming as always. Verity willfully misunderstands and misinterprets the thoughts and actions of Bea and Nuneaton. With Bea, that's understandable because Verity has a history there but Verity is coming to realize they're not so different after all. Both ladies are victims of relatives who didn't love them. Bea's childhood was much nicer than Verity's, but there was always that specter of a threat of the orphan asylum if she didn't behave and so that shaped Bea's character. Verity was abused by the cruel matron and had to will herself to overcome her fears. I admire how strong and brave she is and how she was able to be so tough and overcome The Wraithe. However, I dislike how excessively stubborn she is. She's so prejudiced against the ton just because her parents were horrible pieces of excrement and everything she knows about the ton comes from public outings. She knows nothing of her brother or his wife. She knows now Kesgrave isn't so bad but she doesn't really know him yet. Verity is also exceedingly proud and she is embarrassed by her Twaddle Thumb stories about the Duchess and too proud to admit she was wrong. Verity gleefully skewered someone without getting to know them first. She doesn't WANT to know the Duke and Duchess. She wants to persist on believing their follies and lampooning the absurd investigations of the Duchess because it's comfortable for her. As Robert Lark, she can write about the real news and expose the excesses of the ton and as Twaddle Thumb, she can hold a mirror up to the ton and make them laugh at each other while having a laugh at their expense.

In this book, Verity is discovering she's human after all. She's capable of emotions and feelings. Her relationship with Colson is heating up. She's decided to love him and let him in. He's very sweet. He sees her, gets her and never pushes for more than she's willing to give. While he mentions his father would like to meet her, he can see Verity isn't ready for that yet and doesn't push her. It shows her he's serious about her and has honorable intentions. It's fun to watch Verity really fall in love and accept love from someone else. Delphine is a little annoying. She tells Verity what to do, what is proper in these situations. Verity knows that intellectually and maybe she would have come around on her own without Delphine. Or maybe not. I enjoyed her serial procrastination techniques. I've done a lot of rearranging of bookshelves myself! Good thing she doesn't have electricity, a laptop and wifi!

Bea comes across as a little ditzy and silly from Verity's point-of-view. Bea is lighthearted while Verity is serious. Bea is ridiculously in love with Kesgrave and knows he feels the same about her. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks of her and she has enjoyed the experiences that have come out of Twaddle Thumb's columns. We know Bea is incredibly smart, well-read and also very insecure. She's grown a lot and will continue to do so. I hope Verity gets to know her better and they team up to solve a murder together. Nuneaton is charming as always and shows he can exert himself when necessary. But please don't tell anyone! I enjoyed reading about when he became fascinated by Bea and how his friendship with her made Kesgrave jealous and what Kesgrave thought of Bea.

Mrs. Flimmer-Flam was a truly horrible person- maybe. They took Verity's Twaddle style and used it against her. She made readers trust HER and doubt Twaddle which makes Verity very unhappy. Now the readers are reeled in on the hook, Flimmer-Flam comes out with the most horrendous accusations. Verity seems to care more that Flimmer-Flam insinuated Twaddle is A prattler and not THE prattler and can't be trusted than the Duchess being accused of murder. Flimmer-Flame's accusations are shocking but we know some of her information comes from Lady Bentham who can't believe her husband was a murderer and bested by a mere little Duchess with a magnifying glass! Lady Bentham has a lot of her own baggage. She's a mean, spiteful woman who takes delight in others' misfortune. Yet she's not smart enough to write the columns and she would never stoop to working for a living. We learn Flimmer-Flam was actually a man and someone known to the Duchess. Why one earth would he be so cruel to a one time friend? Did he really love Bea and she was so unaware she broke his heart? Is he angry and spiteful because she managed to marry a Duke? OR did someone pay him to write these horrible columns? If so, who was it? Someone from Bea's past?

The villain wore a disguise so it's up to Bea, Nuneaton, Verity and Colson to figure out his identity. Nuneaton helps without exerting himself! Was it Lord Ripley? He doesn't have much of an alibi and has withdrawn from Society. He's young and silly but I don't think he would murder anyone, especially not after the family was involved in ONE murder scandal. Viscount Penreath is the nephew of the man who murdered Bea's parents. His family has disowned his uncle and his father is a blowhard conservative MP. It doesn't seem like Pentreath is following in his father's footsteps. He doesn't seem to DO anything. Of course he is currently confined to a Bath chair following a fall off his horse, so he can not be the murderer. Pentreath is a pompous bore who writes moral and religious treatises. His wife reads them and adds her two cents and he is patronizing to her. Maybe he is like his father after all. Would a pompous sexist moralist actually murder someone? Doubtful.

Major John Milsam's staff cannot confirm his whereabouts during the time of the murder. He was supposedly home working on his music but no one heard him. He MIGHT have gone out for a walk. As a veteran of the Peninsular War, he would have the guts and the know-how to cut someone's throat. The Honorable Lionel Tavistock doesn't have an alibi either. His father feels Kesgrave "ruthlessly" threw over Miss Tavistock in favor of a nobody spinster. Does the son feel the same? His only alibi would be his mistress but she denies it because LORD Tavistock pays the rent on her home, presumably she's double dipping with father and son. Allen Dunstone owns six ships and lives in Gloucester Square. More importantly, in his youth he was a member of the Black Heaths, a gang that pioneered the smash and grab method of robbing shops. He could be dangerous if he is the killer. He would certainly not have had any compunctions about killing someone so why not kill Bea too and be done with it? And then add Verity? He was far away by the time the landlady found Hiram Winpenny's body. Which one is "Yellow Beard" our murderer? It has to be Allen Dunstone or Major John Milsom, right?

While this wasn't my favorite Verity adventure, I do love this series and look forward to seeing where she Twaddles off to next and whether she has further interactions with her sister-in-law. Bea didn't tell her about the portrait of La Reina! I guess she needs to work up to that and not blurt out "Would you like to come in and see a portrait of your mother?" Probably she wouldn't but it would be nice to tell her it exists so she can avoid it if necessary!

Lark’s adventures continue
This is a fun book that carries on the story of Verity Lark as her life intermingles with that of her half-brother’s wife, Bea the Duchess of Kesgrave. Bea is being slandered by a gossip columnist, who is also slandering Verity’s alter ego Twaddle-Thum. When Verity goes to confront this person, she finds the man on the floor past help, Bea in a chair with an assailant threatening her. After being rescued Verity, with Bea’s input, begin investigating who was behind the columns and attack. An interesting read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

I have been loving both the Beatrice Hyde-Clare and Verity Lark series' and the more crossover between the two the better in my opinion. Another solid mystery with all the witty banter and elaborate disguises you could wish for.

The moment longtime readers have been anticipating for years has arrived: Verity and Bea are together! What a delightful choice to have Nuneaton's POV deliver the first scene with them interacting beyond the prison scenes in the previous book(s). It seems like the two series have completely merged now, but the differing vantage points make this feel interesting and fresh instead of repetitive.

Verity has competition in the press as another gossip columnist starts writing about Her Outrageousness, Beatrice. Both women are seeking to track the columnist down and wind up meeting in his room, where he is our murder victim. There are moments of absurdity, as expected, and the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny as Verity investigates.

The personal developments are where this books shines. The interactions between Verity and Bea are fantastic. Verity and Hardwicke have some wonderful scenes together. Delphine and Freddie are charming as usual. Nuneaton's role isn't just a cameo, too. The only person missing is Damien, who is on a trip with his mother due to the conclusion of the last Bea book.

Note to new readers tempted by the enthusiastic reviews of this one: While you could jump in here, starting from the beginning will make this one so much more rewarding.

I didn't really enjoy this book as much as others I have read in the series. It seemed rather drawn out and a lot of tedious discussions that led nowhere. I did enjoy how the progression of Verity and Hardwick's romantic relationship is moving forward though. I also see some hope that she and the Duchess may sometime may find a more comfortable relationship. Nuneaton is amusing as usual. I love him when he is out of his comfort zone! Will I read the next in the series-of course,

Lark’s Regret is not the kind of book you can skim—and that’s a good thing. Lynn Messina has crafted another clever mystery that pulls you in and makes you pay attention to every little detail.

Verity Lark is as bold and brilliant as ever, with her usual mix of dry wit and razor-sharp observations. The mystery itself is twisty and satisfying—you’re not just along for the ride; you’re working right alongside Verity trying to figure it

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a smart, engaging read that keeps your brain fully engaged from start to finish.

Is Her Outrageousness a murderer as well as an investigator? According to the latest gossip columnist Mrs Flimmer Flam, she is. Having spent two months skewering the Duchess of Kesgrave in her own gossip column, Verity Lark is now faced with the prospect of coming to the Duchess’s rescue. In this latest installment in the Verity Lark Mysteries, Verity has to delve deeply into the lives of a group of disparate suspects to uncover the real identity of Mrs Flimmer Flam and then to show that the accusations against the murder duchess, as Flimmer Flam calls her, are ridiculous. All is made infinitely worse when Verity finds Flimmer Flam murdered.
The Verity Lark Mysteries include a small but diverse group of key characters who support Verity in her investigations. Not to mention the myriad of characters Verity inhabits herself to gain the information and gossip she needs to maintain her alter ego, Mr Twaddle Thum. These all add to the canvas of the story and give depth to the plot as Messina delves into the psychology of murderers and the complexity of family relationships. A Lark’s Regret is yet another excellent adventure in the world of Verity lark and friends

Lynn Messina’s latest instalment in the Verity Lark series, A Lark’s Regret, pulls us right back into the chaotic charm of her Regency universe—one that fans of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries will instantly recognise and appreciate. The two series run concurrently, and in many ways, Verity’s is a spin-off of Beatrice’s. So yes, if you haven’t read the previous books in both series, be prepared to do some catching up. You’ll need that context to fully grasp the tangled web that’s being spun here.

We open with the ever-delightful Viscount Nuneaton—one of my absolute favourites from the Hyde-Clare series—and the drama unfolds from there. Someone is trying to frame Beatrice as a murderess (how very dare they), and Verity might also be in the crosshairs. Naturally, dead bodies start cropping up like daisies, and it all comes to a dramatic head.

Verity herself remains a fascinatingly prickly protagonist. She’s got a self-preservation instinct dialled up to eleven, thanks to her scarred past, but in this book we see wee glimmers—just glimmers!—of self-awareness beginning to develop. She’s a hard character to love, but she’s layered, and I appreciate that. This is very much her book, and while I would have liked to see more collaboration between her and the Duchess of Kesgrave (a team-up I’m still holding out hope for), I understand the need to let Verity stand on her own.

As always, Messina’s writing is sharp and playful—her signature blend of wit, absurdity, and just enough emotional depth to tug at the heartstrings. Colson Hardwicke continues to shine as Verity’s better half: calm, competent, endlessly patient, and deeply grounding. Delphine and Freddie? Still comedic gold. The pacing is brisk, sometimes a little dizzying with the sheer number of characters in play, but never dull.

While I found the previous book in the series a little underwhelming (a rare three-star from me), A Lark’s Regret gets things back on track. It’s not perfect, but it’s thoroughly entertaining. This world, with all its eccentricities and brilliant characters, continues to be a place I’m happy to return to.

Four stars from me—and I’m eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Verity’s very complicated life.

The Duchess and Verity becoming friends? Sounds impossible. But both gals are tied up at the same crime scene. Why is this guy dead? Verity entertains with her cast of characters. Her friends are as delightful as ever. The ending is inventive. I enjoyed reading the book.

Another fantastic installment in the Verity Lark Mysteries! A rival tattler is on the rise and Mrs. Flimmer-Flan seems to have more nefarious plans than just documenting the exploits of Her Ourtrageousness. Hidden identities are revealed, evil plans are uncovered, many secret personas are deployed and as always, a murder has to be solved!

Thank you to the author for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

With each book in the Verity Lark and Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, I just get more and more impressed with how Lynn Messina intertwines the lives of these two characters, both smart, strong, stubborn, determined women who are very skilled at solving murders. The ending of this book creates opportunities for us to see Verity and Beatrice spend a lot more time together, which I think is quite exciting.

As always, the level of detail in the book is phenomenal We live inside Verity's mind as she quickly thinks through a multitude of options for how to respond to a situation, planning out her next steps, and trying to understand the motivations of others.

For this book's mystery, Beatrice finds herself the target of a gossip columnist who first undermines the reporting of Twaddle-Thum and then accuses Beatrice of murder. In response, Beatrice buys the newspaper in order to confront the columnist, which doesn't exactly go according to plan as she walks in on a murder scene. That Verity herself walks into a short time later. Verity must now solve the murder and also prove the Duchess is innocent.

I think for long-time readers of these two series, this book will be a delight as it brings together many characters. It definitely cannot be read as a standalone, and increasingly, I think it is difficult for new readers to jump into this series at any given point. So for new readers, definitely start at book one in the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series, then read the books from both series in the order they were published.

A fun, entertaining read and I'm already looking forward to the next instalment!

We finally get to see Verity and the Beatrice/The Duchess interact and start building a relationship when someone kills a newspaper columnist (Mrs. Flimmer-Flam) who has been making false allegations against the Duchess. Verity finds herself wanting to right her own wrongs and seek out this killer. Verity and Hardwicke also move towards more of a romantic understanding between them. We get to see Nuneaton thrown into the story (against his will) and help out while continuing to maintain his reputation.

I found this book to be a bit too long with more introspection than action for my liking. While I was happy to see progress amongst the relationships, I still feel like we don't really know Verity underneath all of her disguises. I'd love to see her drop them in the next book and just get to be herself.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

I can never find faults in Lynn Messina's books and this one makes no exception: it is funny, well plotted, brilliantly written and more, but what really made me love this book is the prologue seen through Nuneton's eyes, with that the author has struck pure gold.

The way Verity and Hardwicke - another favorite of mine - are progressing their relationship is intriguinging but Nuneton's bit cannot be beaten!

Revelations, mysteries and entertainment: you can never go wrong with this series and Beatrice's!

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Beware, dear (future) reader of this new Verity installment, as you will be in for a rejoicing treat!

To solidify this note of caution, a personal statement upfront: I, personally, am a Bea-fan and not a Verity-stan. I read Verity's adventures mostly with the purpose to find a third-party view on the exploits of Her Outrageousness and her august husband (and to quench my fan thirst, but that's beyond the point).
Also, I found the tone of Verity's books more solemn, the role changes tiering for my attention span and the main character more burdened with several complexes. Not being a disciple of Freud, I do enjoy a more unburdened take on the everyday life in Regency England. That is glittering light of chandeliers coupled with champagne-induced witticisms and cucumber sandwiches accompanying tea time. Honestly, Delph and Freddy deserve a Weekly Hug of Appreciation for dealing with Verity's complexes on the daily basis. Also, Verity seems to have a much too superior pastry supply, while Bea is famously mostly focused on rout cakes. Which I can overread. But I digress.

What an enjoyable and exciting mixer we get in this one! Bea actually talks in longer sentences and more frequently. (Maybe it's only me, but with the amount of indirect speech in the installments, it is a rare find). In this installment we get to "hear" Bea on longer and more frequent occasions. Rejoice!
Speaking of rare occasions: while we get only a few and occasional glimpses into the intimate aspects of Bea’s romantic life, we get some more description for Verity and Handsome Hardwicke interactions. Rejoice! Also, they are progressively making a splendid team of sleuths (Go, Verity! for letting go a bit from your firm wish to control everything).
We also get to know Nuneaton in all his nerdy glory AND acting in loco mariti (strictly in terms of the safeguarding duties, naturally). Rejoice! Alas, it makes my wish for more of Nuneaton's sister in the books expand towards Nerdy Nuneaton himself. He would accept. Probably. Out of obligation, naturally.
Against the backdrop of these gripping character developments, we get the actual mystery in which Bea's past is catching up with her. But I won’t give any spoilers. You’ll have to read for yourself.
A minor spoiler, though: The shooting lesson, a balancing act between reasonably appreciating someone else’s work while debating its failures. Oh, the exquisite art of trash-talking of creators! Nurtured by them all, from masons to academics! Rejoice.
On further reflective note, do not neglect the discussion on journalistic ethics (as a worthy continuation of the topic of museum ethics in the previous books). Rejoice! And the most enticing philosophical discussion on truth and honesty. Rejoice! The theory of opportunistic truth, what an unexpected and extraordinary worthy addition for all the philosophy majors out there to expand upon in their thesis. But no need to hurry, as the "truth will be just as changeable tomorrow". Rejoice!

Lark’s Regret is a riverting, witty, twisty tale that stirs the characters from previous adventures in a coctail of politics, history, philosophy and sociology and friednship with a dash of romance. Serve with an appropriate amount of ice tea and consume immediately.

Thanks netgally for the arc. Opinions are my own.

Another great addition to the Verity Lark/Beatrice Hyde-Clare universe. The best way I can think of to describe the convergence of these two women is that it’s akin to what marvel fans must have felt during the Avenger movies.

I won’t give out many spoilers but I will say this: never thought I’d squeal over a coze….

We also get a lot more of our favorite dandy. Which I loved. Hope to see more of Nuneaton in the next installment in the series.

Now comes the excruciating wait for the next Beatrice book.