I recently read A Peculiar Combination, the first entry in this author’s new series. That left me wanting to go back to read earlier novels of hers. The Essence of Malice is one of these. It is the fourth entry in her 1930s set series featuring Amory Ames and her husband Milo. It will undoubtedly delight her many fans and create some new ones for this popular writer.

This time around Milo hears from his old nanny who needs his and his wife’s help. The perfumer for whom she works has been murdered. The investigation takes Amory and Milo to Paris.

What follows is a fairly traditional mystery with a variety of suspects. There are also a dangerous situation or two facing our intrepid protagonists. Readers know that all will be resolved. Once it is , they will then want to go on to read all of the other titles in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

I was slow to read and review the earlier Ashley Weaver's Amory Ames novels and I thoroughly regret this! It was generous of the publisher and NetGalley to grant me advanced reader's copies of The Essence of Malice (#4 out of 7) and A Dangerous Engagement (#6 out of 7).

I recently read the first and the latest (7th out of 7) books in the Amory Ames series and am completely hooked. I've since been reading the "backlist" catching up with each of the adventures and loving them.

The Essence of Malice - #4 out of 7
We are with Amory and Milo as they are traveling the Continent and receive a missive from Madame Nanette, Milo's nanny living in Paris. Madame Nanette asks them to visit and shares her old friendship with Berange, one of the richest self-made men in France and her belief that he had been murdered. Berange rose to become the premier perfumer in France and died suddenly in a plane crash. His young second wife and three adult children do not get along and are in competition for the international company.

Milo and Amory agree to help investigate. With their wealth, connections, taste and sheer luck, Milo and Amory are able to wrangle an introduction to the family and it is the work of a moment for them to establish a social relationship that grants them access. Amory proceeds to investigate with her blend of charm, openness and the quality that has men and women opening up to her. Milo's sleuthing is hidden but they work in tandem .

Amory's subtle conversation and investigation is always entertaining and I can't help but sympathize with her as she suffers through the many women who throw themselves at her gorgeous Milo. The Essence of Malice takes us to the heights of Parisian luxury and fashion as we follow the Ames' as they hunt down the latest killer.

A Dangerous Engagement - #6 out of 7
By the 6th in the series, Amory and Milo have come to a better place in their marriage. Miles has become more considerate and more attentive to Amory. There have been fewer mentions and photos of Milo with glamorous women in the society pages. A Dangerous Engagement takes Amory and Milo to New York City to attend the wedding of Tabitha Alden, one of Amory's childhood friends.

Tabitha's letter asking Amory to serve as a bride's maid hinted at something off and just as Amory settles into the Alden's glamorous townhouse she hears about the mysterious situation. Tabitha asks Amory to help find out why her father has been acting "strange" lately. Amory's investigations aren't particularly fruitful until Grant, a member of the wedding party, is shot dead.

Amory undertakes to learn more about Grant's background and who might benefit from his death. Part of her investigation takes her to the glamorous speakeasy of a famous gangster, DL. Amory disguises herself approaches the infamous DL. While she pretends to be a journalist as a beard for her sleuthing, Amory somehow finds herself in grave danger.

Milo, Amory and their new friends prove to be full of adventure and a shared code. A Dangerous Engagement delivers the fun dialogue, fluid writing and humor that makes the Amory Ames series a delight!

This is a fun cozy series set in the 1930's in Paris. This is the fourth in series of the Amory Ames series. I loved the location, the sleuth and the unique characters. I enjoy this series because it is a departure from the usual cozy and is set in a interesting time period. It is a delight from beginning to end. The sleuth is well crafted and kept this avid mystery reader guessing. This next in series is set in the world of perfumers in Paris which is interesting and fun to read about. Thank you for the advance reading copy which did not influence my review.

THE ESSENCE OF MALICE is the fourth full-length novel in Ashley Weaver's utterly delicious Amory Ames mystery series. Milo and Amory are pulled into another mystery when Milo's former nanny asks for help. For Amory, and the reader, this is a great opportunity to find out more about Milo's past. The death of a parfumier has Amory and Milo entering a world of perfume makers, artists, and brothels. Once again, the eccentric and shady characters Ashley Weaver expertly creates make this a book too good to put down.

This is a multilayered mystery, with many believable suspects. The circumstances surrounding Helios Belanger's death do not immediately point to murder, so that is one of many things that Amory and Milo must figure out. Andre Duveau is a charming acquaintance who keeps bobbing about on the periphery of the mystery and his involvement, if any, in Belanger's death is another piece of a very complicated puzzle. Belanger's children all make for convincing suspects, along with his young widow. Thrown into this eclectic group of people suspected of murder, and possibly theft, are a German sculptor and an intriguing model and muse. Late night assignations and mismatched lovers make this mystery even murkier yet more enjoyable.

In previous Amory Ames books, it is usually Amory who does most of the detective work, while her charming yet infuriatingly enigmatic husband Milo helps out occasionally. Also, in past books, Amory and Milo have gone through some rocky times in their marriage. While things have definitely taken a turn for the better, Amory's trust in her husband is put to the test in THE ESSENCE OF MALICE. In the past, Amory thought she had reasonable suspicions when it came to Milo and other women, but in THE ESSENCE OF MALICE, Amory suspects Milo of something much worse - sleuthing on his own. Amory is quick-witted and I like her on her own, but I prefer when she and Milo work together like in A MOST NOVEL REVENGE. Happily, for readers, Ashley Weaver draws the couple together at the end so they can reveal all and clear up loose ends.

THE ESSENCE OF MALICE is a thrilling mystery with beguiling characters and to-die-for wardrobe changes. Ashley Weaver does a fantastic job of conveying the time and place in THE ESSENCE OF MALICE. The gaudy and dingy dives, as well as the amazing and out-of-this-world fabulous outfits, play a huge part in the reader's overall enjoyment of this story. Whether Amory is trading witty retorts with her husband, providing a sympathetic ear for a possible murderer, or dancing the night away while hunting down clues, this is a book that immediately pulls you in. I look forward to Ashley Weaver's next Amory Ames mystery.

Here I am, yet another late comer to a new mystery series and I find myself wondering how in fact I missed this series in the first place!

Picking up a book mid series is always a risk, but I have found that more often than not, the author tries to fill in the missing links for new readers so they don’t feel like they need to start at the beginning. However sometimes it’s just not possible to go back and try to recap everything that a new reader might have missed.

While this book was well written and fun to read, I did feel like I needed the other books to stay up to par with everything that was going on.

1930s England.

When Milo Ames receives a troubling letter from his childhood nanny, Madame Nanette, he and Amory travel to Paris where they are soon embroiled in a mystery surrounding the death of a famous parfumier. Helios Belanger died suddenly, shortly before the release of his newest, highly-anticipated perfume, and Madame Nanette, who works for the family, is convinced that her employer’s death was not due to natural causes.

The more Amory and Milo look into the motives of industry rivals and the Belanger heirs who are vying for control of his perfume empire, the more they are convinced that Nanette may be right. When secrets unfold and things take a dangerous turn, Amory and Milo must work quickly to uncover the essence of the matter and catch a killer before the scent goes cold (summary from Goodreads).

The relationship between Milo and Amory was tedious and complicated in my opinion. I wasn’t quite sure the nature of their relationship–even though they were married–I felt like I needed the other books to sort out the nuances of their relationship. It just seemed unconventional and not the typical kind of relationship that one finds in these types of mystery novels. There was a lot about Milo that I felt needed explaining and I don’t know that we even scratched the surface of it in this book. At times I wasn’t even sure that I liked Milo so I struggled with their relationship which is why I felt like I needed the other books to help explain and justify or ratify my feelings toward him.

I did love the setting and time period though. The 1920’s and 1930’s are such a trendy period in literature right now and while I have been reluctant to get on board that trend, I still don’t mind the occasional venture into that time period when the mood strikes–as in this case. Paris was the perfect setting for this time period and I loved exploring the Parisian night life as well as the perfume industry. The perfume industry is fascinating and I thought it brought a lot of interest to this novel and what better place to explore perfume than in Paris. I also thought that Weaver did a great job showcasing the ‘lifestyles of the rich and famous’ in Paris at that time. She clearly researched the era and worked to bring it to life for her readers.

The mystery itself was satisfying and ended up going in a direction that I didn’t see coming.I enjoyed the twists and turns and ultimately the resolution of the mystery. While there were things to enjoy and like in this book, there were also too many things the I felt like I was missing. It was an ok read on its own but I really feel that going back and gather the larger picture in the other books would be a huge benefit to new readers in this series. I hate to give this one a 3 star rating based on the fact that I haven’t read the other books, but because I didn’t have all the pieces from earlier books, I felt like I couldn’t enjoy it to the degree that I wanted to.

Book: The Essence of Malice (Amory Ames #4) by Ashley Weaver

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published September 5th 2017 by Minotaur Books (first published September 2017)
ASIN B06WRR3YPN
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 3 out of 5

Genre: Mystery, detective novel

Memorable lines/quotes:

When one of France's leading parfumier dies after a plane crash and before the unveiling of his newest perfume, Amory and Milo Ames decide to investigate. There are plenty of suspects including his three children, his new wife and a sculptor involved in the bottle design. But there are dangerous connections that Amory and Milo uncover.

The Essence of Malice is the fourth Amory Ames mystery. Amory is an amateur sleuth and as a lady of leisure she has the time to devote to various mysteries that she encounters. At this point in the series Amory's marriage to Milo seems to be more stable; however, there are still instances where Amory feels frustrated by her husband and his secretive nature. I am more convinced than ever that Milo is a spy and I was kind of disappointed that there wasn't much more development in this area. As much as I have enjoyed this series, I feel like it has reached a bit of a plateau. At the start of the series, the conflict between Amory and Milo propelled each book forward, but at this point I feel like there wasn't much new with their dynamic. In my opinion something needs to change with the main characters or the series may become stale. I like the mystery aspect, but I am reading the series because I like Amory, which is why I think the characters need to be shaken up a bit.

What I did like about their relationship in this book, is how the Paris setting allowed Amory and Milo to reflect on their honeymoon and the early days of their marriage. There was one moment where Milo even offers his thoughts on their relationship and it was so lovely, added some much needed depth to Amory's mysterious husband. As this series is written in Amory's point of view, I find Milo to be an unknowable character, so this sentimental moment was a really great way to develop his character and I would really like to see more of these in future books since it strengthens both his character as well as Amory's through her reactions to them.

Aside from the subdued nature of Amory and Milo's relationship in The Essence of Malice, this latest instalment offers the same hallmarks that have made the previous books so enjoyable. There is great attention to period detail and the setting is always opulent. The mystery, like those previous, are relatively tame and makes this a rather comforting read for all that it centres around a murder. If you enjoy Miss Fisher's Mysteries this is an excellent series to follow-up with. Amory might not be as independently minded, but she has her own unique style, and Amory's fashion sense is sure to draw parallels to the intrepid Miss Fisher.

Dashing couple Milo and Amory Ames are back in another investigation. Milo's beloved childhood nanny is troubled by the sudden death of her employer, Helios Belanger, who also happens to be an old lover. Milo and Amory begin looking into the family situation of the Belangers, whose wealth and prestige is rooted in the perfume industry. There are plenty of suspects: his very young widow, Beryl, who is hiding a secret; ambitious and power-hungry son Anton; strong-willed daughter Cecile, and hot-tempered playboy youngest son Michel. Or was it the disgruntled sculptor who designed the latest perfume bottle, or rival perfumier Andre?

While the mystery is interesting and very well-paced, the compelling interest in this series is the relationship between Milo and Amory. The author manages to weave an exotic and alluring tension into the narrative that makes these books real page turners. I look forward to each new entry.

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC in return for my honest review.

Another good effort in this series, however I didn't enjoy this as much as the first and third books (I haven't read the second yet). The plot seems to be heading in one direction only to blindside me in the last few pages with an ending that didn't sit well with me. Also I got a bit perturbed with Milo's attitude and Amory's response to it. I know theirs is an up and down, shaky relationship at times, but there was a lot of secrecy (on the part of Milo) and passive whining (on the part of Amory) that I could have done without. Overall I recommend, just not as strongly as others in series. Looking forward to backtracking to read #2! 4/5 🌟
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Ashley Weaver distills The Essence of Malice into this period murder between the two World Wars. Amory and Milo Ames most deploy their sophisticated skills to find out who murdered a distinguished perfumier and what happened to the company's highly valuable new perfume formula. High and low society in Paris mingle in this delicious mystery.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC.

Ashley Weaver has outdone herself with this new book in the series. The intrigue, mystery, and disturbing quality of the clues almost implodes our heroine's marriage. We get to the nitty gritty of their love for each other and I can't wait to see how the affects the next book.

The Essence of Malice is the fourth book in the Amory Ames series by Ashley Weaver. This delightful series is set in the 1930s in England. The Essence of Malice takes Amory and husband Milo to France. I have read all the books in this series and found them to all be charming and intriguing. The Essence of Malice can be read as a stand alone though I don't know why you would not want to start at the beginning with Murder at the Brightwell.

The Essence of Malice is a beautifully written period piece. I found the perfume business in Paris to be fascinating. The characters are all interesting and perfect for the era and social class of these tales.

The Essence of Malice is an intriguing mystery. The ending surprised me.

Highly recommend The Essence of Malice. Already lookuing forward to the next book in the series.

The fourth entry in the Amory Ames mystery series begins in Lake Como where Amory and Milo Ames are on holiday. The Ames are awaiting a visit from Madame Nanette, Milo's childhood nanny. They receive a message from her, canceling the visit and asking that they see her in Paris. Milo was raised by Madam Nanette, rather than his neglectful father, and he is very fond of her. Her message indicates, at least to Milo, that the nanny is worried about something. They take advantage of an offer from a new friend, Andre Duveau, to fly with him in his plane to Paris. Upon their arrival, they find that Madame Nanette's employer, the wealthy and famous perfumer, Helios Belanger, has died after a plane crash that he was piloting.The death was declared a heart attack as Belanger walked away from the crash but died in his sleep the same night. Madame Nanette and Belanger had a romantic liaison in their youth, and she feels that his death might not have been a heart attack. The heirs of Helios Belanger have more than enough motive to go around with an unsettled line of inheritance. Milo and Amory must try to infiltrate the family to get the answers.

There are many things that I enjoy about the series. Weaver paints a vivid picture of the era and the lives of the idle rich. I have always loved the Hollywood movies of the time with their portrayal of the fashions and carefree lifestyles, at least the lifestyles of those who still had money in The Great Depression. It is interesting to read about the perfume industry and the lengths to which some might go to gain ascendancy. However, I find myself losing patience with the marital difficulties of Milo and Amory. I have never trusted Milo with his untruthfulness and cavalier attitude towards the marriage. The Essence of Malice gives more insight into his character and at least his untruthfulness this time was in the service of protecting Amory. There is just too much going on with Milo that needs to be explained. Hopefully, as the series moves into the unsettled times in Europe of the 1930's, that explanation will come.

Thanks to St. Martin's Minotaur for an advance digital copy. The opinions above are my own.

RATING- 3 Stars

1933 Italy, Amory and Milo Ames are on holiday when he receives a letter from Madame Nanette, his childhood nanny. They travel on to Paris only to find that Madame's employer, Helios Belanger, is dead and she suspects that he has been killed. Amory and Milo decide to investiage, though Amory as times seemed to be hindered by Milo's behaviour.
An enjoyable, well-written likeable mystery, which can easily be read as a stand-alone book in the series.

Due to school starting and the arrival of Hurricane Harvey, I am a bit behind on my reviews. Today, I sat down to knock out the six that I need to do and realized I have been on a huge mystery kick. Five of the six reviews are for mysteries, including The Essence of Malice. While I generally think that is beneficial for comparison purposes to have read a lot of the same genre close in time, I feel that doing so in this case was a disservice for The Essence of Malice. I read the first book in the series, Murder at the Brightwell, when it was published in 2014. I missed the next two and picked up the series with The Essence of Malice. Sadly, I feel like I missed a lot by not reading books 2 and 3, and I had trouble following certain threads of the story and especially felt I was missing a basic understanding of Amory and Miles’ relationship. Having read two other mysteries recently where I had also not read the entire series but had no trouble leaping into the books without feeling like I was missing fundamental facts, this was a disappointment to me. Moreover, Milo is a cad, and half the time I wanted to shake Amory and tell her to have more self-respect and be less dithering. Those concerns aside, I enjoyed the setting, Europe in the mid-1930’s, and the plot was entertaining. I love perfume, and the main focus of the plot was the death of a famous parfumier. The details related to creating perfumes and layering them (a favorite thing of mine to do) were fascinating. I had figured out the “bad guy” midway through the story, but I still enjoyed the resolution and felt the mystery was wrapped up nicely. Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun period piece that I thoroughly enjoyed. That husband would not have survived long in my house, tho!

I did not realize until I was a few chapters in that this was #4 in a series. I was a bit lost and feel like I could have gained a lot more from the story if I had known the players a little better. That was all my fault not the fault of the author.

My thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers copy.

My favorite in the series so far, although I missed the third, and now have to go back and read it. This series is a very comfortable read. Recommended to anyone who likes mysteries, golden age mysteries, and / or British cozies.

With a hint of the Thin Man series, Ashley Weaver creates a couple of sleuths with style. This vintage mystery will also appeal to Agatha Christie & Downton Abbey enthusiasts.