Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

This was a great addition to the Amory Ames series, and something light for anyone looking to escape the world today. The mystery had you hooked and the characters were well nuanced.

I look forward to future tales by the author.

Mrs. Amory Ames is 8 months pregnant. Her husband, Milo, is in London, when Grimes, the butler, shows in Imogen, a pretty young blond woman with cornflower blue eyes. Imogen claimed she had met Milo Ames on the beach at Brighton, and they had a whirlwind romance and gotten married. She claims to recognize the man in Amory's wedding photo. When Milo comes home, he denies being in Brighton at all and certainly hadn't married another woman. Then, that afternoon, a man arrives who claims to have recently found out he is Milo's half brother Darien. Milo's mother died when he was a baby, and his half brother was a few years younger. Darien looks very much like Milo, and seems to also have many of his characteristics. Amory begins investigating, in spite of her pregnancy.

At the Springtide Festival, Milo's stable hand Bertie is murdered. It was made to appear that he had fallen off a horse, but police and others didn't think so. The man had been in love with a local girl, Marena, but they had broken up. Marena was now in love with Darien, although that doesn't stop Marina from mourning Bertie's death. Amory begins questioning several people in town, although her pregnancy is making her more tired. And, then, someone else is dead by poison. Amory assumes they were killed by the same person. However, when she finds who has purchased the poison, she is no longer sure of that. There are several possible murderers. Amory keeps looking into the murders, which she ultimately solves just before the baby is born!

This book is well written and has lots of suspense.

I really enjoyed this book. The story flowed nicely and the characters were all well developed. Amory Ames is married to Milo. She is relaxing, preparing for the birth of their first child and helping plan the Springtide Festival while her husband is in London on business. A woman shows up claiming to be Milo's wife. Amory calls Milo home to help resolve the matter. Then a second surprise visitor shows up and disrupts their lives. After the festival, a stable hand is found murdered. Amory likes to solves mysteries. She is good at working through the puzzles and putting the pieces together to solve the murder. This is the seventh book in a series, but the story was easy to follow without reading the previous books. There is not a lot of action in this book, but the intrigue will keep your attention and keep you guessing as to who the murderer is.

There’s a very good chance that this is my favorite Amory Ames mystery. Whether it’s because it’s book 7 of the series and I’m so familiar with the characters, or because Ashley Weaver writes such excellent stories with well-crafted characterizations, it doesn’t matter. This “bottle episode” of a book, only taking place at Thorncrest’s village, is a must read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

The book was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author. I am so glad i was given the ARC version of this.

Another great addition to the Amory Ames series. It's another great historical mystery, and Amory continues to delight. Her relationship with Milo still needs work, but they are two real people having real problems. It's refreshing to read a relationship like that in a mystery novel. I will follow the two of them to the ends of the earth, and I hope this series continues on!

I enjoyed this. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. Too much inner monologue, especially explaining obvious or unnecessary information.

Enjoyable cozy read. Imagine one day opening the door to a woman claiming to be married to your husband?,You are 8 months pregnant and are quite sure this can not be true. This mystery includes mistaken identity, family secrets and a small town with plenty of secrets of its own. And of course a murder with countless suspects. Join in the fun and see if you can puzzle out who did it and why.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read and review this book.
This is another installment in the Amory Ames Mystery series. I read the first one and then I read this one-I plan to go back and read the ones in between. I really like this series. It is set in England in the 1930's. In this story, Amory and Milo are awaiting the birth of their first child. The mystery begins when a stranger shows up at the door claiming to be Mrs. Ames. Who is she and what is she after? Even though Amory is eight months pregnant, her curiosity gets the best of her and she becomes involved in solving a murder and discovering how this stranger is involved. I really enjoyed it and I hope Ashley Weaver continues to add to this series.

This was a light, cozy mystery and one of a series about Amory Ames, a wealthy woman who helps solve murders. In this particular installment, she is at Thornecrest, her husband's family home, and some unexpected visitors show up. She must figure out what several local people are hiding, as well as what the visitors really want.

I found the book to be a fast read. It was enjoyable but not compelling. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read one of the earlier books, in order to understand the main characters better.

I did still enjoy it and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a sweet mystery story with no gore, sex, or language.

I received an ARC as a reader for NetGalley.

There's little I love more than a fun, quick read set in another time period with a smart and strong female lead. I didn't read the first 6 books in this series but that didn't stop me from really enjoying this seventh installment!

If you are looking for a cozy mystery filled with murder, sensible tea spreads and plenty of family drama, you'll love A Deception at Thornecrest.

This book was sent to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the 7th book is the Amory Ames series and I have to admit: I was a bit frustrated with Amory during the first part of the book. There are a lot of twists and surprises in this book, and a surprise with the "whodunit" component towards the end. Amory is nearing the end of her pregnancy when her world with her husband is turned upside down by not one but two surprise visitors to Thorncrest. Couple that with the impending Festival in the village and a shocking death, and it has all the makings of a great story! However, I can recall how I felt at 8 months pregnant and much of what Amory did during this time felt...off. Her energy seems surprisingly high for someone nearly about to give birth and aside from some mid-day naps, she carries on like she has in the other books. The twist and answer to the "whodunit" left me dissatisfied. Although the answer (s) weren't what I had predicted, it still felt thrown together. I felt like the author really wanted to make sure her labor/delivery had the absence of her husband, which plays in to his past since his mother died so soon after giving birth to him. However, such a quick, cinematic-style process felt fake. Maybe I'm biased against my own labor experience, but it felt like the author wanted to rush it so that it d to finish the story. fit into the time frame she had plotted for the end of the story.
Overall, it was a fun, breezy read without too much complication or layers. It was a fun summer read but it didn't leave me wanting to abandon any duties I had to finish the story.

(NOTE: The following review will appear on CriminalElement.com the week of the title's publication.)

Socialite-turned-amateur detective Amory Ames is about to turn into something else: a mother.

Nearing the end of her pregnancy, Amory has left the glitz and glamour of 1930’s London for the peace and quiet of Thornecrest, her husband Milo’s country house in Kent. There, her days are filled with planning the Springtide Festival, the annual village event to be held at the grassy fields of Bedford Priory.

But, as is so often the case for Amory, peace and quiet is short-lived.


It was on a sunny spring morning in the eighth month of my pregnancy that a woman arrived on my doorstep claiming to be married to my husband.


Amory and Milo have had more than their fair share of marital strife over the past six years, but now that they’ve found a steadier footing, this strange woman’s announcement is exceedingly poorly timed. Amory quickly sets to work clearing up the matter but, unfortunately, the truth behind all of the confusion only leaves the Ames with a different problem: a surprise, ne’er-do-well half-brother.

Darien Ames has inherited the same dashing good looks from Milo’s father, as well as Milo’s penchant for romantic entanglements and scandal. In very short order, a love triangle is threatening the Springtide Festival.


Suddenly, without warning, Bertie turned and, lunging forward, punched Darien in the face. Marena screamed, and Jenny jumped farther behind the desk as though she was next in line to be assaulted, her freckles standing out in sharp relief against the sudden whiteness of her face.
To Darien’s credit, he didn’t fall. Instead, he staggered backward, catching himself on the edge of the front desk.
Blood streamed from his nose and lip, staining the cuff of his shirt as he wiped it away and pulled himself upright.
“I’ll kill you for this,” he said coldly. I was surprised at the dignity—and the sincerity—with which he managed to imbue the words with his face streaked with blood.
Bertie was unfazed and unrepentant. “Go ahead and try it,” he said.


When a young man’s body is found the day of the Festival, and evidence begins to mount implicating Darien, Amory sets to work exonerating her brother-in-law, even as Milo announces he’s completely washed his hands of the young man.

The deeper Amory digs, however, more and more long-buried secrets tumble out into the light. The sleepy village of Allingcross isn’t as wholesome as it appears, and with the birth of her baby nearing, Amory will have to tread carefully as the body count rises…

Weaver has once again delivered a thoroughly charming historical whodunit. While previous installments in the Amory Ames series were packed with the glitter of city life and the excitement of foreign travel, A Deception at Thornecrest takes a step back into a pastoral setting that allows our heroine to get her Miss Marple on.

Indeed, this is the most Agatha Christie-ish of Weaver’s books thus far. We’re treated to charming descriptions of the picturesque village and the rustic delights of the Festival. The supporting cast includes the tragic vicar’s wife, confined to a wheelchair after an accident; the local beauty caught between vastly different men; a horse-mad noblewoman; a rakish lothario who leaves heartbroken conquests scattered in his wake; and the bad-tempered beekeeper some in town call a witch.

And the mystery itself isn’t merely about a murder: very nasty things are revealed throughout Amory’s investigation, proving that even seemingly respectable people can hide black hearts and dangerous ambition.

As always, Amory pushes back against the expectations of both society and her husband. This lady investigator isn’t about to let pregnancy slow her search for the truth, and she finds an unexpected ally in Lady Alma:


“…Then it occurred to me that perhaps I should speak to you first. After all, you’re the crime solver in the family, aren’t you? Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t be involved. Never thought a woman should be excluded from doing what they’re good at just because of biology.”


Plenty of time is also devoted to Amory’s private thoughts as she readies herself for motherhood. Family is a running theme here, both those that prove toxic and ones built around sincere love, as Amory pushes Milo to create a relationship with Darien and uncover the lost details of his long-dead mother. The pressure is on and it remains to be seen: will Milo, known around the world as a smooth-talking and cool-tempered playboy, step up and be a better father than his own was to him?

A Deception at Thornecrest is the slowest paced installment of Weaver’s series thus far, but that’s in its favor. After so many whirlwind escapades that took our heroes to France and New York, rubbing elbows with the rich and famous during ritzy parties, it’s nice to pause and have space for both the characters and the audience to reflect. As a result, Deception is the closest Amory’s come to having a “cozy” mystery, though there’s far more substance here than is usually found in that sub-genre.

While it helps to have read the previous six installments in the series, to understand the full context of Amory and Milo’s relationship, A Deception at Thornecrest is self-contained enough that newcomers will still enjoy it thoroughly.

And it’s proof that Weaver still has plenty of mileage left in this high-society pair. Amory is just as capable away from the bright lights and champagne, and shows that a lady can achieve anything she puts her mind to, even when her ankles are swollen and her baby insists on kicking every five minutes. Motherhood promises to make her an even more likable heroine.

I received an ARC of this compelling story. Family, deception and murder combine to provide an intriguing story. I couldn't put it down!

A Deception at Thornecrest by Ashley Weaver is the seventh instalment of the Amory Ames series. I received this book as an ARC from #NetGalley and Minotaur Books in return for my honest review. The main reason I mention this early in the review is because this was the first book in the series that I have read. I was able to jump into the middle of the series and still felt like the characters were well written and that I wasn't lost not knowing the backstory from the previous books. I enjoyed this book enough that I will seek out the previous ones to read.

Amory is at their country home, Thornecrest, awaiting the arrival of their baby while Milo is attending to business in London. A woman arrives at Thornecrest claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames. That needs to be unravelled, but it's also time for the Springtide Festival where a body turns up. So there are two storylines running through this book to keep you turning the pages.

I discovered the Amory Ames series and few months ago and read the previous installments as quickly as I could. I really enjoy this series and was so looking forward to this one in which Amory and Milo welcome their first child.

Amory and her husband Milo's marriage got off to a rocky start and while Amory feels those days are behind them she can't keep herself from doubting that when a strange woman arrives at her home claiming to be Mrs. Milo Ames and identifying Milo from a photo. The matter is quickly resolves when the second Mrs. Ames meets Milo and although there is a strong resemblance realizes he is not the same person. But another mysterious person is soon to land on their doorstep.

Days later, a young man who helped out in their stables is found dead. While it initially appeared that he been thrown from his horse, Milo suspects murder. However, he feels that "even if Bertie was murdered, it doesn't mean we have to be involved" as the birth of their baby is imminent. But that doesn't stop Amory especially when a person with connections to their family is arrested for his murder. While she won't put herself in potential dangerous situations, there's nothing wrong with asking questions.

So, we follow Amory as she asks questions, listens to gossip and relies on an old ally to help clarify her thoughts and provide advice. And finally all the pieces fall into play and the murder is solved. I wouldn't have guessed who it was but it made sense in the retelling.

And then, at the end the added bonus of the baby's birth. Sigh!

This series has grown on me as it goes along. In this one, a heavily pregnant Amory investigates a murder that implicates Milo’s newly discovered half brother. Because the murder happens close to home, Amory rides around the neighborhood gossiping with the suspects until she figures out the murder. The townsfolk are remarkably tolerant of her prying. I liked the coziness of this story and the way that Milo and Amory’s marriage has become closer and more companionable. The solution feels like the author pulls a rabbit out of a hat, but I’m ok with it.

I received this book on Netgalley in return fort honest review.

I liked it. It moved along quickly. I haven’t read any of the previous Avery Ames novels but don’t feel as though I needed to. It worked well as a stand alone story.

The characters were likable and the story was interesting enough to keep my attention. I thought the killer was unexpected but it wasn’t really a “shocking twist” in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for a copy of A Deception at Thornecrest with an expected publication date of September 8th, 2020, in exchange for my honest review.

The story is set in April 1934 at a country house named Thornecrest in Allingcross, Kent. A young woman named Imogen Prescott arrives claiming to be married to Milo Ames. They supposedly met and married after a whirlwind romance in Brighton. Only problem is that Milo is already married to Amory Ames and she just happens to be 8 months pregnant with their first child.

Then a young man appears in town claiming to be Milo's long-lost brother Darien, who he never even knew existed. What follows are a couple of suspicious deaths in the village, many clues and a long list of possible suspects.

While this book is a good standalone, if you have not read the previous 6 books, a lot of the back stories are difficult to follow along, as are the different characters.

I always love the Amory and Milo mysteries. She got to solve things mostly on her own this time. And what an ending! I never saw it coming. I was totally taken in by all the suspects and didn’t know who to accuse of guilt.

I’m also thrilled that Amory and Milo were able to welcome the newest additions to their family. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Ms. Weaver, please keep the mysteries coming. :)