I love this series, and this was another satisfying installment. The mystery itself was solid, and the battle of wits between the perfectly-matched Milo and Amory was a total delight to read. The Paris setting made for a nice change of pace, too. I'm hopeful this series will continue for many years to come!

Amory Ames and her too-handsome-for-his-own-good husband have been on vacation in Italy but decide to stop in Paris on their way home. Once again, Amory's husband is mysterious. It turns out his former nanny has called him in to help solve the death of her employer, famed perfumier Helios Belanger. As always in the Amory Ames mysteries, there are layers to the story with the Ames' neighbor in Italy being a former fiance of Helios' daughter. She and his two sons all have stories that make each of them suspicious.
Also redundant in the Ames' mysteries are Amory's push-me-pull-me feelings toward her husband and his refusal to tell her anything of use. She's over his partyboy ways and couldn't care less except that they drive her nuts so she really could less. I really hope Ms. Weaver stops hinting around about Milo soon and makes he and Amory true partners.

Three stars
This book comes out September 5

Fun, entertaining book and series, but I would like to see some resolution to Amory and Milo's relationship issues.

The fourth book in the Amory Ames series has an intriguing plot--someone has murdered a famous and wealthy French parfumier, and pretty much all of his relatives are suspects, so Amory and her husband befriend them under the guise of creating a custom scent for Amory. I am here for all the perfume talk, but I am not here for the continual marriage problems between Amory and her husband. For four books she has mistrusted him and he has been keeping dumb secrets. I am tired of them going in circles in every single book. Just leave him and go solve mysteries with your sassy maid! Otherwise, this was entertaining, and I liked the end quite a bit. B+.


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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on September 5th.

I am a great fan of historical mysteries and looked forward to reading this book. I felt that its execution did not live up to its potential. The plot was well conceived, but I didn't like the way the author presented an analysis of each suspect and a potential interpretation of their actions. It didn't leave much room for the imagination.

In this fourth of Weaver's stylish series, we have left England for a brief stay in Lake Como before travelling to 1930s Paris with Amory and Milo who are set to investigate the possible murder of a famous parfumier.

Full of Gallic charm with its excursions into smoky Parisian night-clubs, couture establishments and the intricacies of the high-end perfume business, this book has Milo taking the lead in the investigation, for once, and develops his personality and our insight into the Ames' marriage.

It remains bright and glamorous with Amory's wonderful voice, the comic antics of her maid Winnelda, and the new addition of a monkey! All the same, there are some hints by the end of how this series might develop further with, perhaps a greater role for the divine Milo - yay!

There are a number of 1920s-30s murder mystery series out there now - this is my favourite for the witty writing and touches of emotional depth. Perfect for when you need some switch-off fluff that doesn't compromise on style.

To be posted on Amazon on publication, Goodreads link below.

How I love Amory Ames — stylish, beautiful, persistant, clever, inquisitive to a fault! And author Ashley Weaver does not disappoint in the fourth installment in this delightful series, set in the 1930s.

Internationally famous perfume magnate Helios Belanger dies shortly after a near-fatal plane crash. The nanny in the Belanger mansion in Paris, Madame Nanette, senses foul play, and, having raised Amory’s rakish husband Milo, brings the problem to Amory and Milo. (The pair have developed a reputation as amateur sleuths, much to Milo’s perturbation and Amory’s delight.)

So who could have wanted Helios dead? Any of his three children, his young trophy wife, and quite a few more. While I enjoyed the mystery and clever dialogue (as I always do), it’s really the resilient Amory and her clverness that really draws me to the novels. However, the brilliant surprise ending really added to this exceptional novel. Weaver’s writing remains so faithful to the 1930s, that it’s easy to forget that The Essence of Malice wasn’t written in the Golden Age of British cozies. Here’s to hoping that there will be dozens more of Amory Ames’ adventures.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I received this book free from NetGalley, Thomas Dunne, and Minotaur Books in return for an honest review.

Love the Amory Ames novels! This is the best Mystery series. I can usually figure out who the bad guy is but these keep me guessing until the end. There are so many viable suspects to choose from.
Such wonderful characters and plots, Ashley Weaver is a maestro.

I just realized that I never reviewed the third novel in this series, but it wasn't my favorite.

So The Essence of Malice moves from Lake Como to Paris and involves perfumery (do you scent the hint in the title?), Milo's old Nanny, and murder.

These novels are reminiscent of the Golden Age of the British Detective Novel and deliberately so. Some of the rules involved during this period included complicated plots, a clever murder and a clever detective, little graphic violence, little emphasis on character development, all clues should be available to the reader, multiple suspects, etc.

Weaver's novels follow the general outlines with, perhaps, a slightly more modern approach, and if you enjoy Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, or Margery Allingham, these novels should fill the bill.

My suspicions about Milo have yet to be confirmed, but hints are included.

NetGalley/St. Martin's Press

Historical Mystery. Sept. 5, 2017. Print length: 320 pages.