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.