Another fun story in the series. Can seem a bit formulaic at times, but I enjoy the cozy English mystery.

RATING: 4 STARS
2018; Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press

"So you've gotten yourself involved with another murder, have you?"
(An Act of Villainy)

Amory and Milo are back in London, and run into friends after a night out at the theatre. Wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway, and his wife Georgina are old friends of theirs, and invite them to a dress rehearsal of his newest play. Amory is happy to accept, but is surprised to learn that Holloway's mistress, Flora is the lead role. Turns out, Holloway's invitation had some ulterior motive behind it. Flora has been receiving threatening letters, and needs their help in finding out who is sending them. Turn between her friendship with Georgina, and her curiosity of the mystery, Amory ends up accepting the case. Everyone in the cast seem to have a reason to kill Flora, and this sets up another murder.

Another great instalment in the series. Milo and Amory are starting to remind me of Nick and Nora with less cocktails. I love their banter, and Amory's curiosity in knowing everything. I enjoyed the setting of this one in West End London, in the theatre world. This series is definitely on my must read list, and I am going to continue my binge read as I get the audiobooks.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

I really enjoy the Amory and Milo mysteries. They are such a great couple and work so well together. I loved this mystery. Lots of twists and turns. The ending was totally unexpected! I can't wait for the next in this series.

I am a huge fan of the Amory Ames series; Weaver's spot-on portrayal of this golden era is a joy to behold - the glittering parties, high-coutre fashion, and revolving cast of high-society ladies and gentlemen never fail to dazzle the reader. An Act of Villainy is full of thrills and chills as Amory and Milo's witty banter tap-dance us through yet another intriguing whirlwind of a mystery. Amory's mother pays a visit, and yet more uncertainty vexes the marriage of our favorite couple. This year's mystery is centered around the world of the theater, with a kooky cast of actors and actresses (aka suspects) to boot. As usual, Weaver does not fail in her task to entertain, stump, and surprise - can't wait to see what she brings next!

Much thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this advanced copy for review.

A great addition to the other four books written by the former librarian. :-) I look forward to another one every year! One of my favorite authors.

An Act of Villainy is the 5th book in the Amory Ames mystery series by Ashley Weaver. Released 4th Sept 2018 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's press imprint, it's 309 pages and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.

I've been a fan of this series from the first book. My favorite genre is classic mystery especially in the interwar period. This one ticked all the boxes for me. Amory and her bounder(ish) husband Milo are drawn into the theatre world via a couple with whom the Ames' are social friends. There is drama on and off stage and murder soon follows.

This book (and the series) are well written and entertaining. I like Amory's sensibility and grit. She's quite sophisticated and social but there are subtle hidden depths to her strength and intellect. She's nobody's fool.

I liked that the Ames' mostly managed to support one another and cooperate through the book. Their recently strengthened marriage is played out in counterpoint to their friends the Holloway's, and when Gerald Holloway's mistress turns up murdered, Amory turns to detecting to help solve the murder and maybe help her friends at the same time.

The dialogue is well written and though it reads well to modern readers, it's fairly true to the period in which the book is set. In fact the series reminds me a lot of Hammett's Nick and Nora. Weaver isn't Hammett, but these books compare favorably and the author is still alive and still writing, long may she continue to do so!

Four stars, well worth a read.

What a great mystery series! I really liked Amory Ames and am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. Love the 1930s London setting.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ashley Weaver intrigues with another Amory Ames historical mystery An Act of Villainy. An actress receives threatening letters, the playwright and his wife are estranged over his relation with his lead actress, London is enthralled by the new play. Then the actress is murdered and Amory and her husband Milo step in to help the police. London theater in 1933 and high society. Whodunit? A very complex web of deceit and death. Read and figure who is the most likely murderer.

Another lovely installment of the Amory Ames mysteries!

As the title hints, this is the requisite 'Murder in the Theatre" trope done so often in golden age mystery books. Amory holds her own, and has more cooperation from Scotland Yard and her husband, which, I mean, finally!

Amory's Mama makes an appearance, though it is not surprising that she is painted as the cool, proper, class-conscience disapproving Mama left over from Victorian times. She does thaw toward the end, and I wonder if she is another who have been mesmerized by Amory's siren song. Everyone else seems to be coming around, so...

An excellent mystery the takes place in 1930's London, although the time & place are not important to the plot. Husband & wife sleuths Milo & Amory Ames are enlisted by a friend to investigate threatening letters sent to the man's mistress. She's the lead in a play he wrote and is directing.

After the premiere during a charity gala, the actress is found by Amory strangled on stage. Suspects abound, including the director and his wife, the actress' brother, he understudy, and the other two main actors in the play.

The case abounds in suspects but offers few clues. The denouement is exciting and the very twisty solution came as a complete surprise.

An excellent mystery.

Amory and Milo venture into true Golden Age territory in this theater-based mystery - complete with backstage love affairs, jealous understudies, and secret alliances. Ms. Weaver keeps this moving at a fast pace (possibly a little too fast, in places) and I do think the author is progressing in leaps and bounds in her ability to set the stage (wink, wink) for the reader. As always, I'm glad to see Amory and Milo taking equally active roles in the investigation (perhaps with Amory's mother playing a part in the future?) and, if I had my druthers, I'd like to see Amory investigate with the Inspector sans Milo just to really see what she can do. In all, probably the best entry so far, which bodes well for the future of the series!

I always look forward to the next Ashley Weaver book and this series. Amory is the spunky female amateur sleuth and this is her fifth adventure. Her mysterious and drop-dead gorgeous husband, adds air of charm and mystery to their sometimes troubled marriage. The British setting of the 1930's adds a backdrop of between the wars with World War II looming in the background yet WWI provides content for the stories as well. It is hard to believe the author is not a Brit! Great for fans of Jacqueline Winspear or Anna Huber.

I selected this book because I loved the cover and I noted that the author was an Edgar Award nominee for best first novel. The first books I fell in love with when I was young, were Agatha Christie novels. They really set the bar for me for the detective led British mystery novel. I was intrigued by the premise of a wealthy, young woman solving crimes alongside the police. The author perfectly captures the tone of the times of Great Britain in the 1930s. The book flows well, in perfect whodunit fashion. Each character has a reason to be found guilty, as well as a reason why they couldn't have done it. Amory Ames' amateur sleuth is a wonderfully, endearing character. I found myself quickly pulled into the London theater world and trying to unravel the identity of the murderer alongside Amory. I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to going back to read the first four books in this series. This can easily be read as a stand alone story. I would highly recommend this story to any reader who gravitates to the cozy murder mystery, that leans towards the old fashioned rather than the shock and gore of more contemporary murder mysteries.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Amory Ames has always thought that Gerard and Georgina Holloway were the epitome of romance. They have always seemed to be in love with each other. Which is why she's surprised that Gerard is cheating on his wife with the young actress in his latest play. And that Gerard is asking her and Milo for help with the young woman, Flora Bell, who is receiving threatening letters. Amory is not really interested but she meets with the actress who brushes off the threats. But opening night, Amory is the one to discover a body. She and Milo will have to work fast to figure out who the murderer is.
I liked this book. The ending wasn't my favorite but it was interesting and that's sometimes better.

Four stars
This book came out September 4
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

If you are a fan of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford and Nick and Nora Charles, this is a mystery series you will enjoy. The period is the 1930's and the settings are European. This is London, full of glitter and glamour, it's theater and a murder wound together in a very satisfying mystery. Add a dash of humor here and there, mostly from scenes with Amory's mother - it's perfect.
Milo, Amory's husband, usually tries to stop his wife from becoming involved in murder investigations as do the police. Not this time, however. On their way to dinner after seeing a play, they encounter a friend of Milo's, Mr. Holloway. who is married to an old friend of Amory's.. As the conversation progresses, he invites them to see his new play. And so it all begins - Holloway is having a dalliance with the young leading lady, Flora Bell and she has been getting threatening letters. She brushes them off. After opening night, everyone goes to a charity Gala held in the restaurant next door and a good time is had by all. After midnight, people start to depart and Amory goes in search of their hostess, Georgina, wife of Mr. Holloway. Thinking that she may have gone back into the theater, Amory finds herself on stage, on her way to the dressing room area. Unfortunately, before she crosses the stage, she discovers the strangled body of poor Flora Bell.
Being a fan of the Golden Age of mysteries, this series is a favorite of mine. I'm already looking forward to the next mystery with Amory and Milo.

This was generally good, but I didn't care for the conclusion - it wasn't what I expect from this type of mystery. I was glad Amory and Milo's relationship was a bit improved in this book.

AN ACT OF VILLAINY is the fifth book in Ashley Weaver's Amory Ames historical mystery series. This series is normally packed full of assorted personal dramas both large and small, so having a murder set in the world of the theater makes perfect sense. Amory and Milo Ames are pulled into the somewhat sordid marital melodrama of their friends Gerard and Georgina Holloway. Gerard has a new play he's putting together and a young ingenue mistress to star in it. The circumstances make things a little uncomfortable for Amory since the Holloway's marriage is drawing unwelcome parallels to her own occasionally tumultuous marriage. When Flora Bell meets a gruesome end on stage, Amory and Milo work together to figure out why Flora was murdered and who done it.

Each book in this Amory Ames series is like a delicacy for mystery fans who adore a divine melding of murder, mystery, and history. "The Price of Victory" is the play that draws these suspects, investigators, and the victim together. As with previous books in this series, Ashley Weaver draws readers in and makes an appealing story-within-a-story. The various theatrical types in AN ACT OF VILLAINY make natural suspects and ferreting out the truth, amid all the lies and half-truths, proves difficult for Amory. It's good seeing Milo and the lead inspector let Amory have free reign to verify alibis and hunt down clues. Amory is a clever female amateur sleuth and the men in her life know better than to underestimate her and her intuition. What I love most about AN ACT OF VILLAINY is the way Ashley Weaver gives voice to the victim and paints a portrait of a woman who was flawed but who, as Amory slowly discovers, was more complex than most people gave her credit for. The destruction of the murder victim is truly tragic, and this story is one that lingers in your mind long after finishing.

AN ACT OF VILLAINY is a masterpiece of misdirection, evil intentions, and terrifically twisted characters. Amory Ames is a tenacious and ingenious sleuth, with a handsome rogue by her side. Ashley Weaver injects just the right amount of intriguing and provocative domestic drama without taking anything away from the mystery and mayhem. I crave Ashley Weaver's next Amory Ames mystery.

This is part of a series and is set in the 1930s. The attention to detail when writing about this time period allowed me to picture the scene perfectly! The character and plot were well developed. Definitely recommend!

Set in the year of 1933, An Act of Villainy is a charming piece of mystery. The characters in the story are marvelous. Amory and Milo’s relationship is finally stable after a series of ups in downs. (which, probably is mentioned in the first four books in the series. This is the first book in the series that I have read) Gerard and Georgina’s love story – from childhood sweethearts to husband and wife – their relationship has finally taken its toll.

Landon plays the role of a dejected lover while Lebeau plays that of a playboy. Dahlia, Flora’s understudy has something vicious and dark air around her while Flora is a cheery little birdie. The ‘strained’ relationship between Amory’s mother and Milo portrays the typical relationship of a mother with her son-in-law.

I absolutely loved everything about this book, be it the characters or the story. Amory and Milo are definitely the new Tommy-Tuppence in town. Though Amory uses the power of gossip and ‘a woman’s instincts’ to solve the case, her detective skills are praise-worthy.

The ending, or should I call it “The denouement?”, is like the icing on a delicious cake. Just when Amory reveals the identity of the killer… After an unexpected twist, in the end, Amory proves to be not only a good detective but an even better actress.

The story is theatrical and has a British air to it, making it one of the best stories that I have read so far. And it goes without saying that I am definitely going to read the first four books in this series. An Act of Villainy keeps you hooked on the book till the end. It is gripping, mysterious and charming. The cutest part of the story is the cheeky-monkey named Emile – The Ames’ pet monkey.



If you like British mysteries and if you are a fan of detective series, then I highly recommend you to read An Act of Villainy.

Amory and Milo in a dramatic mystery filled with ingénues, leading men and a killer on the loose. Leaving the theatre one night, Milo and Amory run into wealthy investor Gerard Holloway. He invites them to a dress rehearsal of his upcoming play. Amory readily accepts. Little do they know Amory’s about to star in a murder and when the curtain falls, she could very well be the next victim.

Move over Nick and Nora Charles, Amory and Milo have taken your place. In classic 1930’s chic style, An Act of Villainy reads like a Thin Man comedy with smart dialogue, a trope of cagy suspects, sophisticated amateur detectives and instead of a fluffy dog, the Ames have a cuddly monkey. Cloak and dagger false clues kept me riveted and when the murderer was unveiled, shock erupted from my lips.

Highly recommend, especially if you love Agatha Christie and screwball mysteries set in the 1930’s. I can’t wait to read more from this series!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press (Minotaur Books) via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.

My Rating: 5+ stars