I received this book for free from Netgalley. This did not influence my review.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting book 7 in Anna Lee Huber’s The Lady Darby Mysteries series: An Artless Demise. This is a superb series with complex plotting, well-rounded sympathetic characters, vivid historical setting, and a lovely romance.

Lady Kiera Darby is a talented portrait painter whose first marriage was a nightmare. Wed to an older man, a prominent anatomist, she was brutally abused physically and psychologically as he forced her to view his cadaver dissections and sketch them for an anatomy book he was writing. Cadavers were hard to come by legally, so her husband purchased them from “resurrectionists” (grave robbers). When even these were difficult to find, the body snatchers sometimes resorted to murder.

Lady Darby’s husband was caught up in one of these murder scandals. Although she was innocent, she found herself ostracized by polite society. Traumatized and, thankfully, widowed, she retreated to her sister and brother-in-law’s country estate.

In book one, she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and there she meets inquiry agent Sebastian Gage. Handsome, charming, intelligent and open-minded, Gage is the perfect match for Kiera, though it takes them a while to figure that out. They embark on a crime-solving partnership, falling in love and wedding over the course of the next few books.

Now back in London, Kiera is pregnant, rediscovered as a popular portraitist, and finding friends in the ton. This newfound calm cannot last. First, there is significant political upheaval as Tories and Whigs argue over the Reform Act, and then another “burking” incident occurs. A young boy is murdered so that his corpse can be sold for dissection. The purchasers notice that the body is too fresh and send for the law.

The boy is one of the “Italian Boys,” poor young immigrants who labor in the poorest areas as virtual slaves. His murder draws attention to the plight of child poverty and enslavement. It also refocuses the spotlight on resurrectionists and reawakens the scandal surrounding Kiera.

If this weren’t enough, young lords--sons of influential men--are also starting to be murdered in fashionable parts of the city. Fear mounts that these men were targeted for burking as well. London is about to erupt in panic.

Kiera and Gage race to solve the crimes while dealing with a boatload of emotional issues of their own. Once again, their levelheaded detecting carries the plot while the ongoing development and deepening of their relationship provides an emotionally satisfying read.

Start the series with book one, The Anatomist’s Wife. The books are addictive!

Another excellent installment in the Lady Darby series.

Kiera and Gage return to London to find respite neither in their personal nor their professional lives. It appears that resurrectionists again are murdering (“burking”) people to provide cadavers for medical dissections. Polite society quickly recalls Kiera’s alleged involvement in her deceased ex-husband’s procurement of such corpses for writing his anatomy text and are quick to ostracize her and whisper of possible new association with the latest killings. On top of this, a loathsome heir is murdered in upper class Mayfair, and the killer is trying to link it to the “burker” slayings. Gage and Kiera must juggle a commission to find that killer while trying to navigate the shark-infested waters of the ton.

While I early on suspected the identity of the murderer (though I was wrong about the motive), I enjoyed reading about how Kiera and Gage, along with their loyal retainers, investigated the case and dealt with the nastier elements of high society. But the most satisfying aspects of the story were the more personal ones. Kiera and Gage are relatively newly-wed and Kiera is in the early stages of pregnancy. I really enjoyed how their love and respect for each other shone and grew through some very trying circumstances. One of my favorite scenes involved the usually polite and stoic Kiera giving a pointed, though still fairly polite, set-down to one of her nasty tormenters. By the end of the book, she has gained a surprising, if not a bit alarming, new supporter.

I look forward to Kiera and Gage’s next adventure.

It’s a personal rule of mine to never start a book series in the middle. The last time I did so was over ten years ago, when I picked up a library copy of Jasper Fforde’s Lost in a Good Book, the second in his Thursday Next series, which is now one of my favorite series of all time. I didn’t realize it was a sequel, and I was vaguely confused the entire time I was reading it.

But I made an exception in this case, beginning with book seven of Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby Mysteries, An Artless Demise. Had I not known this was a series, I would have never known this was a series, if that makes sense. While what I’m assuming were events from earlier books were alluded to, they weren’t crucial to the plot of this book; it works well as a stand-alone.

It did take a little bit of time to warm up to Keira, the Lady Darby mentioned above. I was expecting a lady sleuth heroine in the vein of Tasha Alexander’s Emily Ashton or Deanna Raybourne’s Lady Julia Grey, and at first I wasn’t sure Keira lived up to them. I realized that part of this issue was that I’d read the other two series from the beginning, so I’d seen their characters develop over several books. But as I “got to know” Keira, I came to appreciate her character more.

The mystery (random street killings) and the historical setting (pre-Victorian London) are nothing groundbreaking, but they’re well-done here. I guessed the solution to the mystery about 10 pages before it was revealed, which I think is the perfect spot; and there’s a reason why so many books are set in 19th century London: readers will never get tired of it.

All in all a solid read. I would recommend reading the entire series first, just because that’s my personal rule, but you wouldn’t need to.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This well-crafted book is a wonderful blend of mystery and history and a romance between one of my favorite couples. The series just keeps getting better and better with each new addition to it. While this is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, I highly recommend that you read the series in order – from the beginning – in order to learn more of Kiera’s history and see how far she’s come and to watch the romance between Kiera and Gage blossom.

This book was so suspenseful that my heart was in my throat the whole time I was reading – and yet I couldn’t put it down. There is murder, resurrectionists, blackmail, social unrest and – well – a tad of fatigue and queasiness while dealing with the early days of pregnancy. As with all of the Lady Darby books, there are multiple things happening for Kiera and Gage to unravel. The ‘things’ in this book are only loosely related and each would be a good mystery on its own – but when you put all of them in one book – well – WOW!

Kiera fled London a little over two years ago thanks to her first husband’s perfidy. Everyone thought Kiera was as guilty as her husband – just by association. After Kiera’s formal charges were dismissed, her brother and brother-in-law just barely managed to get her out of London before the incensed mobs attacked her. Now, she and Gage have returned for a visit and what raises its ugly head again? Resurrectionists! Everybody in society looks at Kiera and wonders – even outright accuses – her of being involved with them. Then, a body turns up in Mayfair – the heir to one of England’s oldest and most venerable titles. The murder was committed in a manner reminiscent of the resurrectionist murders that happened in Edinburgh a few years earlier. Then a second and third murder committed in the same manner.

In the midst of the murder investigations and trying to assist with the resurrectionists trial, someone is blackmailing Kiera. The blackmailers are threatening to go to the papers and accuse Kiera of helping them and her husband. Kiera can’t let that happen because it wouldn’t be just her that it would ruin – Gage, Kiera’s sister, brother, brother-in-law, and unborn child would also suffer.

When all is wrapped up, you will be surprised to find who the murderer is and the reasons for the murders.

This is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

'I'd learned long ago that just because someone was likeable did not mean they weren't capable of terrible things.'

When I read Anna Lee Huber's first novel in the Lady Darby series, 'The Anatomist's Wife', I was hooked. I still feel the same way. I eagerly anticipate each new book in the series. In this offering, Kiera, who is still called Lady Darby, even though she has shed that unfortunate husband, is still a newlywed, married to the charming Sebastian Gage. Her past is coming back to haunt her now, because she has been targeted by a blackmailer. It is November 1831 and she and Gage are back in London after escaping two years prior under very distressing circumstances indeed. Now, a gang of bodysnatchers is at work and have been arrested and once again, Kiera's past, rises up to haunt her. Even though she is not guilty of anything, many in society believe badly of her.

London is horrified by these 'burkers' at work in their city. Then the young heir of a noble family is murdered and Kiera and Gage are hired as the inquiry agents to find the culprit. Is this murder the result of the burkers' attempt at procuring another body or is it another sinister monster on the loose?

Kiera is now expecting her and Gage's first child, but both of them are determined to solve this crime and indeed clear her name once and for all of the hateful Lord Darby's evil machinations.

I love Huber's work, her impeccable research: these bodysnatching events actually happened. And the 'Italian Boy' did also happen. Her ability to weave a fascinating story while also giving us every detail into the lives of the Gages is indeed compelling. I recommend this series. Now I long for the next one.

*My thanks to the publishers for making a copy of this book available to me through Net Galley. I was not pressured to leave a review and all the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I received this arc from Netgalley in exchange of an unbiased review.

Although this isn't the first book in the series, the reader does not feel lost as this book can be read as a stand alone novel.

Kiera and her husband are in search of the missing Italian boy while three city is running rampant with killing for medical examiners.

I am a huge fan of historical novels and was excited to dive in to this gem, but I found the authors descriptions too wordy and page fluffy. The story does have an interesting premise, but unfortunately this novel didn't suck me in as I expected it to.

Enjoy

While this can be read as a stand-alone, die-hard Lady Darby fans will applaud as Kiera faces the shadows of her past that haunt her with strength and fortitude.

In An Artless Demise, the seventh book in this series, we find Lady Darby and her husband, Gage, residing at their home in London. Their newly married domestic bliss is disturbed by several events. The city of London is experiencing civil unrest due to political conflict over reform. Add to this the fact that evidence of "burking", the practice of body snatchers killing people from the streets and selling their bodies to medical schools, is at work in the city. Kiera and her husband must discover if these volatile situations are related to the murder of the heir to a nobleman. Can they keep her reputation from suffering additional damage as they navigate the snubs of society in their newest inquiry?

As always, Anna Lee Huber can be counted on for her attention to historical detail, weaving true events into her mysteries. I find her stories to be well-plotted with a fabulous cast of characters. She is a master at penning a character arc that will resonate with her readers. The evolution of Kiera's character throughout the series is heart-warming. As always, Gage can be relied upon to be a swoon-worthy hero who allows his own vulnerability to appear occasionally. It is refreshing for Huber to continue to tell a couple's story after they have married. So many stories end with marriage, not sharing the adventurous journey that follows. I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series, my interest already peaked by the hint at the end of the story.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Lady Darby and her husband Gage are about to be drawn into another investigation, and this one threatens more than just a tangled web of deceit. Lady Darby herself is cast into suspicious light when her past comes back to haunt her.

When young aristocratic noblemen are murdered, there are questions as to why these men are being killed. With another killer on the loose, one who is taking unnamed victims from the street, and selling their bodies to those who dissect them for medical research, the noblemen don't seem to fit into the picture. But as the mystery deepens, so too does the idea that there might be an underlying cause, and only one of the noblemen is the real target.

Catch up with Lady Darby and Lord Gage as they work through the facts and try to figure out what is going on.

Oh my goodness! I could not put this book down! I had to stop myself from inserting spoilers into the review! This is one book that has to be read and enjoyed. I will say, there is one major bombshell in the book, that I did NOT see coming! Took me aback, and I had to re-read the section to be sure I was understanding!
Grab this book as soon as it becomes available! Perfect for those Spring Break trips or a quiet weekend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced copy for a free and unbiased review.

I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley. Another great addition to the Lady Darby series! As someone who has been reading this series since the beginning, I both loved--and hated--to see how Kiera was forced to once again deal with her past (really, I just want to engage in fisticuffs with anyone who turned up their noses at her.) And now the only problem with getting the newest Lady Darby early is that I have to wait that much longer for the next!

Love the Lady Darby series. This is an excellent mystery with a dash of romance! I love Lady Darby and her husband! I recommend this for fans of Deanna Raybourne, Tessa Arlen, and Tessa Harris.

I'm so glad that this isn't the last book in the series. This weaves so many characters from previous books plus solves some personal problems with our main characters. The book feels like it's letting Kira finally overcoming her horrible previous marriage and her past as an anatomy illustrator (which doesn't sound so horrible to us but her society thinks the worse).

The mystery is masterfully weaved with a real life murder case of two men murdering and selling the bodies as cadavers to doctor schools. Even though our main couple doesn't personally have to deal with that case, it does cause enough of a distraction for the reader and them.

As much as I enjoyed reading it I was sad that this might be the end until I read the last paragraph which ends with promise of more mysteries.

The Lady Darby mysteries get better with every book. I also enjoy the Verity Kent mystery series. Both series have strong female protagonists and wonderful plotting.

I was given a ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Lady Darby is in a right pickle in this one. Love in way this couple tackle their problems together. This series is one of the best historical mystery series of all time.

In this seventh case in the Lady Darby mysteries, Gage and Keira are in London. London is quite unsettled. The Reform Bill which would readjust districts for the House of Commons and give votes to more men has failed twice. When a body is discovered at one of the medical schools and is clearly a victim of murder, fears that have only just subsided after the Burke and Hare case are reignited. It also brings Keira's past back into the foreground. She's the widow of a noted anatomist who forced her to draw his dissections. But when he died of an apoplexy, a jealous rival painted Keira as complicit in her husband's work and his hiring of ressurectionists to supply the bodies he dissected. Keira's reputation was ruined and she is only just rebuilding her reputation.

Gage and his valet Anderley become deeply involved in trying to identify the most recent victim of these "burkers." It is pretty clear that the victim is one of the Italian Boys - a group of young men who are beggars in London and other large English cities. In the course of trying to identify the young man, it becomes clear that there are many missing persons in London. Men, women and children have been disappearing for quite a while. This raises the public's fears that they are disappearing to provide cadavers for the medical schools.

Things come quite a bit closer to home when Keira and Gage discover the body of Lord Feckenham, the heir of one of their recent hosts. Gage is hired to find out who killed him. In the course of their investigation, it becomes clear that the list of possible murders is quite large. Feckenham was a brute, a bully, and a complete reprobate. His parents even have to keep his sisters out of his orbit. His brother Penrose looks like a good suspect except for his alibi. Penrose is a much better person than his brother and was his brother's victim on many occasions. He also has secrets to protect.

The investigation gets more complicated when a second victim is found. David Newbury is also from the upper class. His sister is being courted by Keira's brother. He is also completely different than Lord Feckenham. He's honorable, pleasant and charitable. Keira and Gage spend a lot of time trying to find some connection between the two men.

Their investigation is interrupted when Keira receives a blackmail threat which says that the blackmailers will indicate to the newspapers that she was deeply involved with the resurrectionists along with her first husband. Keira is frightened that this lie will hurt the ones the she loves including her new husband and her unborn baby.

Adding to the threat is news that the man who inherited her first husband's papers is getting ready to publish them which will expose the years of abuse she suffered and make it so that the scandal will never die down.

This was an excellent addition to this well-written and intriguing historical mystery series. I liked watching the relationship between Gage and Keira grow. I liked the way Keira is growing too and becoming more assertive when she faces Society.

The mystery was interesting and had a number of red herrings taking the reader and Keira and Gage off on tangents before the true murderer was found. I love the way the details of the time period were woven into, and essential to, the plot of this story.

It's 1831, and Lady Darby and her husband, Sebastian Gage are in London, when a new case finds them. Someone is killing sons of the nobles, and people are wondering if it's the same notorious body snatchers who were recently tried for murdering to obtain bodies for medical use. Kiera's memory of her life with the sadistic Sir Anthony is coming back to haunt her, aided by judgmental people in the so-called upper echelons of society. I enjoyed this historical mystery with a strong female protagonist who continues to aid Gage in his investigation throughout her pregnancy.

Ah the joy of reading a Lady Darby novel!

In An Artless Demise Lady Darby's past comes to the forefront. While in London in 1831, the London Burkers (body snatchers selling bodies to anatomists) were creating havoc. Due to Lady Darby's past as an anatomist's wife, rumors and truths about her rose to the surface.

The author does a fabulous job of painting the environment. The way the upper class snubbed each other was at once entertaining and obnoxious.

There is a nice blend of historical fact in the novel. The London Burkers did exist back in 1831.

Now the question is how long must I wait for the next Lady Darby novel? I love that the ending of the novel sets up where the next one will take place.

The cover seems a bit dark to me. The pages inside though did nothing but brighten my days while reading them.

Seven books in, the Lady Darby series continues to engage. This is the best instalment in several books, and features both a satisfying mystery and a great deal of personal growth for the titular character. Huber’s fans will love this.

This was a quick read with an interesting premise. I knew nothing about the "burkers" prior to reading this book and am interested in finding out more. I look forward to reading more books in these series as they are released.

The seventh in Huber’s enjoyable Lady Darby series, this novel finds the lovely and talented Kiera happily married to investigator Sebastian Gage and pregnant with her first child. At this point, the talented Huber is a nice cross between the romance of Tasha Alexander and the social commentary that Anne Perry focuses on in her novels. In 1830’s London, there’s plenty of social injustice to go around, though that is far from Huber’s main theme.

I’ve always loved the premise of these novels. Kiera is a painter who was forced, under her first husband’s tutelage, to create precise anatomical drawings from corpses he obtained probably through illegal means. At the time, the idea of an autopsy or of learning from a human body was considered something of a scandal. When Kiera’s first husband dies, she’s forced to retreat to her sister’s home in Scotland because her work for her husband has made her notorious.

It gives Kiera a fabulous backstory – her first husband’s treatment of her is always at the back of her mind, and her lack of acceptance by conventional members of the “ton” make every social occasion a minefield. Luckily, her present husband, Gage, is a model of kindness and they are a wonderful detecting pair.

In this novel, Huber draws on the actual Burke and Hare, notorious for murdering people and selling the corpses to medical schools or doctors. The term “Burking” comes from this nefarious Edinburgh criminal, and when a young boy is discovered dead not long before the discovery of an Earl’s son, both of them appearing to be “burked,” the entire city is on edge and Kiera’s past is raked up once again. She works as a portrait painter, and her commissions begin to be cancelled.

Nicely balancing the details of Kiera’s and Gage’s solidly upper middle-class life as well as their respective relationships with their maid and manservant, the story follows the pair as they try and solve an unfortunate string of murders of young men. They are desperate to figure out the connection between them, though it’s ultimately clear they have not actually been “burked”.

Surrounding the story – I think the Victorians would have called it a “miasma” – are the squalid conditions of the London poor and the many, many children who are put to work on the streets, begging, stealing or much worse. The dead boy is one of these sad tales and the discovery of the details of his life leads Kiera to some personal insights regarding those closest to her, by dint of affection or relation.

There’s a real heart to these books and a true sense of humanity that lights up Huber’s well told stories. While Lady Darby may feel at the end of this novel that some of her emotional issues have been resolved, Huber lays the ground for her next adventure and I for one cannot wait to read it.

4.5/5

Number 7 in the Lady Darby series and another winner from Huber! Rich in historical details and fact, this one revolves around the deaths of 3 noble heirs while also mixing in the resurrectionist trade and Keira’s frightening history with it. I continue to ♥️ the development of Keira’s and Sebastian’s love story...Huber does this especially well. The reader doesn’t feel as if they are being presented with a full-blown romance but rather that they are watching a careful wooing unfold of what promises to be an epic love match.

Keira, as a heroine, is not perfect but rather heartbreakingly human, and that’s what makes her so compelling to me. Yes, she’s intelligent, yes she’s strong, but there are nightmares and monsters in her past that can also render her afraid and guilt-ridden. And that’s where Sebastian becomes her rock and her helpmate. They, both separately and as a couple, are fascinating to watch as they grow.

I will never tire of reading anything by Huber...period. 😊👏👏👏

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Berkley for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own. Out 4/2.