A Pretty Deceit
By Anna Lee Huber

A Pretty Deceit is book four in the Verity Kent series and just like the others, I continue to enjoy this amazing cozy mystery series. This one does not fall short of suspects when a dead body is found on the grounds of her family's manor in Wiltshire. I love visiting Sydney and Verity once more and the twists in this mystery will have you guessing and scratching your head and keep you engaged to look for clues. I loved this fun and witty cozy mystery that deals with art forgeries and amazing historically accurate details of the time. I really enjoyed this one.

A PRETTY DECEIT (A Verity Kent Murder Mystery) - `While Verity and her husband, Sidney, investigate [a] new mystery, they are also on the trail of an old adversary—the shadowy and lethal Lord Ardmore.’

It has been a while since I read PENNY FOR YOUR SECRETS, so I decided to reread it before delving into book four, as I had forgotten the ending.

I don’t want to enter into spoiler territory, but I will say that in part, the narrative was predictable, and at times suspension of disbelief is required.

Did that hinder my enjoyment?

No, because Huber has created characters that I care about, and I can’t wait to read how their journey began in books one and two, THIS SIDE OF MURDER and TREACHEROUS IS THE NIGHT.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction and murder mysteries as I am, I think you will like this series. Huber provides enough backstory in book three for the reader to follow the life of the Kent’s Post-World War I, as they both struggle with PTSD whilst trying to solve a murder—or two.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, for loaning me an eBook of A PRETTY DECEIT in exchange for an honest review.

This series keeps getting better. I love that beyond the individual mysteries in each book there's a story arc that extends over multiple books--although I do find myself struggling to remember what happened last time given that the books come out a year apart, but I'm already looking forward to finding out what happens next! I think fans of the series will enjoy this one a lot, but I would recommend to anyone who hasn't read any of these books before to start with the first one--a lot has happened since then that is background for this story. The series has a bit of a cozy mystery feel but more action/espionage than your typical cozy.

I love this series and this installment was a great addition. The mystery was very intriguing and I enjoyed visiting with all of the characters again.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A PRETTY DECEIT is the fourth book in a series by Anna Lee Huber featuring character Verity Kent who served as a British secret agent during WWI. Now that the war has ended and the husband she thought was dead has returned, Verity is caught up in a cat and mouse game against an adversary known as Ardmore. When she must make a trip to her aunt's country estate to appease the family, Verity discovers that there has been some thefts, a disappearance, and soon after she arrives a murder. Then a dear old friend needs help deciphering a strange coded message his father left before his death. When these separate mysteries both lead to a military airfield, Verity thinks Ardmore may be involved. While I liked this book, especially Verity's character and her husband Sydney, this is not a series that you can jump into the middle of and make sense of it all. That is what I tried to do, starting out at first with an audio version, but finding I needed to abandon that and settle on reading the book. That allowed me to put the ever changing cast of characters in some perspective. I've been finding more books set in WWI and think this would be a great series for someone liking that time period. But be smart, start with the first book and read them all. I received an ecopy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are mine.

I decided to give this series another chance after reading the first one. Verity and her husband, Sidney are diverted to an aunts house under the guise of strange doings after the RAF leave the house at the end of WW
I, Investigating, ex British Secret Service agent Verity finds connections to a neighboring airfield as well as links to some dangerous people trying to cover up their criminal acts. As Verity works to uncover the mysteries at her aunts, her husband leaves to continue their investigation of Lord Ardmore, the nemesis of previous books.
I thought that this mystery was mush more engrossing and the book was more well written that my first foray into this series. The narrative flowed and the pacing was breakneck speed at times, but that made the book more enjoyable. I will go back and read the other two installments to earn what I missed, but most importantly, I wil continue to read the next instalment of this enjoyable series. Though this book can be read as a stand alone, I think it would be best to read the series in order to get the most enjoyment out of the character as they continue their development of each other and the horrors of war that they have faced and survived.

I thank Net Galley for a copy of the eARC in return for an unbiased and honest review.

Great but unremarkable

I would like to thank Anna Lee Huber, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not much to say. This was a great book, but not exactly noteworthy. Quickly but steadily paced, the story moved along from one thing to the next with no dinking around, which was really nice. Verity remains a likable, relatable, and admirable protagonist, and her husband Sydney continues to grow on me, though his behavior at the beginning of the series is a stain on his character in my eyes. The mystery/plot was rather mundane and a tad predictable. I would have liked more been done with the Ancient Roman aspects. Huber weaved the one-off mystery and the overarching mystery together well, but I was more interested in the Ardmore business. I gave zero craps about the whiny, self-interested aunt almost the moment I met her, and I kept waiting for more to happen with Reg, but he served his purpose, I suppose. It was nice to see Max, though part of me wants to put him behind us; if you’re going with Sydney, then go with Sydney and cut the crap. At that, tossing Alec into the fray stretched my patience. It doesn’t help Verity as a character to have all the guys want her. Take a biiiiiiig step back from that, Huber. Overall, I still don’t like this series as much as I like the Lady Darby series, but that’s not this book’s fault, and that’s not to say it isn’t a good series. It is; I just like Lady Darby more. (And I’d like the Gothic Myths series even more than Lady Darby, I suspect, if Huber would ever write them like she’s promised. But, you know, life.)

The period after World War One was unsettling. Verity Kent just returned after an arduous stint across Europe and happily reunited with her husband is finally at peace that he is safe. This is short lived however. The intrigue and machinations of the War does not seem to want to let go and she is unwittingly drawn first into a family intrigue involving her aunt, and then on to a wider scope of murder and intrigue.

As in the past Verity has to face many obstacles, many people who do not know how clever she is at the same game and dismiss her as a fashionable piece of fluff. Her value is immense and her powers of observation and skill in deduction is huge and she leaves the opposition far behind. With her husband by her side they sort out the mess left by several seemingly natural deaths and deal with the aftermath.

Set in beautiful countryside which is equally enticing to read about and a lifestyle which is fashionable and almost aristocratic, this was another excellent story from this author.

Another excellent historical mystery by Anna Lee Huber.
Well researched and well written, it's a story that kept me hooked and guessing till the end.
I liked the well thought characters and the tightly knitter plot. The mystery is solid, full of twists and turns.
It's an engrossing and highly entertaining read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Ms. Huber does a wonderful job of historical research. When reading a book she authored, you get a well constructed mystery as well as learn a great deal of what was truly going on at the time and in this series, the aftermath and destruction of lives from WWI.

Verity Kent and her husband Sidney have been asked to visit her aunt's estate to deal with issues related to missing heirlooms and minor destruction to the estate as a result of its being used by the RAF but when they get there they discover so much more.

I highly recommend Ms. Huber and the Verity Kent series. They are both autobuys for me.

I received an ARC via NetGalley but the opinion expressed is my own.

Anna Lee Huber’s Verity Kent Mystery series never ceases to impress me, and the fourth installment A PRETTY DECEIT is fabulous!

It is October 1919, and Verity and her husband Sydney are called to her aunt’s home, where the RAF has left the manor in disrepair. Even worse, Aunt Ernestine believes some heirlooms have been stolen and/or replaced by forgeries. Verity finds more than she bargained for when a missing maid and estate handyman are murdered. Feeling a kinship with Mr. Green’s wife, the prime suspect, Verity, along with Sydney and their friends Max and Alec, seek to get to the bottom of things. They are also chasing Lord Ardmore, who, despite their best efforts, always manages to be one step ahead of them, with hopes of revealing his traitorous nature and deeds.

Huber is well known for her attention to historical detail, and she does a wonderful job portraying the hardships of soldiers and the ramifications of loss immediately following WWI. These characters are exceptionally well developed and leap off the page. Verity, a former spy, is made of tough mettle, and she and Sydney, a veteran, have flaws and issues that make them all the more appealing. Verity’s tangled history with both Max and Alec bring added tension to the tale, and I love them for it (I admit that I have been Team Max from the very beginning of the series). I particularly enjoy the addition of Verity’s cousin Reggie here and hope he appears in future books.

The mystery is complex and cleverly executed with a consistently exciting pace. There are plenty of plot twists, travel, cat and mouse pursuit, and intrigue to keep readers on their toes. A PRETTY DECEIT may be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series in order for maximum enjoyment and understanding of the series long story arc.

A PRETTY DECEIT is one of my best reads of the year, and I impatiently wait for the next adventure featuring Verity and crew.

I received an ARC of this title from the author and Kensington Publishers and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Anna Lee Huber began the Verity Kent series with This Side or Murder. A Pretty Deceit is the fourth novel to feature her. The books are best read in order as otherwise readers will be exposed to some spoilers.

These historical mysteries take place in the WWI time period and its aftermath. Both Verity and her husband served in the war and continue to serve as they sleuth.

In this latest entry a lot is going on. Sidney and Verity visit Verity’s aunt where they learn about the disappearance of a maid and the death of an estate worker. They are also involved with the activities of a nefarious enemy from earlier entries. How will these plots connect? What will happen?

As all this unfolds there are friendships, the aftermath of war (especially for Verity’s cousin who is now blind), artwork forgeries, letters in code and more. Regular readers of the series will enjoy following what happens. They will also enjoy Verity and Sidney’s relationship.

I love the way that the covers of the Verity Kent mysteries draw readers in. The artwork showcases the period and the characters. Good cover art does matter.

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

Verity Kent is on the case again! She and husband, Sidney. make a detour to her aunt's estate to deal with a matter of (maybe) missing heirlooms. A murder makes things much more serious. Friend Max is on a treasure hunt left by his dead father. Verity and Sydney are assisting him when it becomes apparent that the two cases are connected. Dynamite conclusion. Can't wait for the next installment.

Intrepid Verity Kent and her husband Sydney are still suffering from the trauma of the First World War, and trying to recover. Verity doesn't like her aunt much, but feels obliged to help when she wants to sell her property in the country. She and Sydney start investigating the missing servants, ghosts from the former airplane field and the murder of the gardener. They are also dealing with the evil Lord Ardmore and his 'heavies'.

I was a bit confused, especially about Lord Ardmore, because this is the fourth book of the series, but Verity and her husband Sydney are attractive characters, and the historical setting is vividly described. I liked the writing style, so I will read the other three.

Five Fascinating Historical Facts Behind A Pretty Deceit

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Great War has ended and left the survivors picking up the pieces. Thus enter former spy Verity Kent and her husband Sidney, driving to her aunt and cousin's estate in Wiltshire. The home was taken over in the war by the RAF and her aunt is convinced that valuables are missing. At first it seems this will be a simple domestic mystery, but then one of the suspects is murdered. While trying to help solve this matter, Verity and her husband are also trying to catch a possible traitor who is highly placed in the military world. This all takes place in a world of contrasts: the glittery world of flappers and luxe cars, juxta positioned against the sad reality of the damage the war has wrought on some of the survivors.

I enjoyed the very detailed setting of place and time described by the author in this book. The story was fast paced, the characters were interesting, and the writing was good. This was the fourth book in the series and the first I had read. Often jumping into the middle of a series doesn't matter, but here I felt somewhat handicapped. There were a lot of references to events covered in the earlier books, and characters from the past entered the story with only some insight as to the big part they played in previous books. However, it is not the authors fault that I started at the end of the series rather than the beginning. Because of the reasons just given I would rate this a 3.5 read for me personally, but because I'm very confident that if I had read the entire series I would have rated it higher, I am rating it a 4.

Anyone who is intrigued by British mysteries, WWI stories, spies, and the glamorous early 1900s would probably find this a very enjoyable read. Thanks to the author and publisher for giving me a chance to read this ARC.

4.5 stars

Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney are called to visit her aunt in Wiltshire on order from her father. The family doesn't know about her involvement with the secret service. So, they go and check things out while keeping an eye on their original mission: Lord Ardmore.

The section with the aunt was infuriating and surprising. The condition of the house was eye-raising along with the strand holes over all of the property. The sections between Verity and her cousin were heart warming. Due to his blindness and the time of this setting, the cousin couldn't keep up with maintaining the house and property and her aunt hadn't picked up the slack. The discovery of the reproductions of their former valuable paintings made the aunt's situation even more dire.

The parts concerning Lord Ardmore were rather vague. I assume this is a theme that runs from book to book. Since I haven't read another book in this series, I was a bit confused regarding these sections. I personally needed a bit more backstory.

Overall, I thought this was an intriguing book that really captured my interest. I definitely want to read more to keep up with the exploits of Verity and Sidney.

I received this as an ARC for an honest review from NetGalley. TY.

The Verity Kent series continues to be a hit for me! Set in England, Post WWI, it’s a fascinating time where the country is trying to recover from the devastations Great War inflicted. It’s best to read the series in order to appreciate the relationships, connections, and the continuing story arc of Lord Ardmore and his conspiracy during the war.

Verity and Sidney were married right before the war, and it took a toll on their marriage, and even though they are deeply, and passionately in love there’s still lingering hurts over what happened. I love them together and appreciate the realistic way the author is presenting their relationship.

There’s a double mystery here that somehow comes together in the end. Verity and Sidney continue to pursue evidence against Lord Ardmore for crimes he’s committed during the war, but he seems to be one step ahead of them at every turn. Still, they are getting closer to the truth which puts them as well as Max, and Xavier in danger. There were a couple of close calls for Verity here! Verity and Sidney are also dragged into her aunt’s troubles: thefts of artwork and other valuable as well as damage to her aunt’s home when the Air Force took over the estate as a base for their flyboys during the war.

I alternately listened to the audio version and read an e-copy. Heather Wilds performance is wonderful! Her English accent is perfect for Verity and her male voices are really good, too. Looking forward to the next installment!

A Pretty Deceit picks up where Penny for Your Secrets left off. Verity, Sidney and their friends continue to uncover proof of Lord Ardmore’s treacherous dealings.

However, a stop at her Aunt’s house to investigate some strange goings-on temporarily distracts Verity from the problem of Lord Ardmore. This unrelated venture serves several purposes: 1) adds to the further post-war setting, reminding us further of the aftermath of war, 2) allows Verity to flex her mystery solving skills, and 3) makes the reader wonder what this trip has to do with Lord Ardmore. The dual sets of seemingly unrelated events is becoming a staple of Ms. Huber’s mysteries.

In this exploit, Verity and Sidney find adventure, more mystery, friends, family, danger and romance. The end of the story will answer some questions, but not all. This is how the reader is assured the story continues.

As part of the series, in A Pretty Deceit, I enjoy learning more about the events and aftermath of WWI due to the author’s own interest and research into the era. I also appreciate the ongoing relationship between Verity and Sidney who have struggled since the war ended, but still love each other very much. And finally, the Kent’s travel around the British Isles is veritable travelogue of that region of the world.

You can read the books in this series as a standalones, but the experience is enhanced by starting at the beginning. If you are a fan of historical mysteries, I recommend all four books!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Pretty Deceit is the fourth Verity Kent mystery by Anna Lee Huber. Released 6th Oct 2020 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a tightly written and entertaining British mystery series with a strong espionage element set in the early interwar period. Since the books have an overarching plotline, the individual books don't work very well as standalones in my opinion. It's worth reading them in order, which happily isn't an onerous job; the author is adept at her craft.

In this installment the multi-book espionage plot threads are counterbalanced by thefts and forgeries at the estate and manor house of Verity's Aunt Ernestine. The murder of a local handyman soon results in the arrest of his alcoholic wife, but Verity and Sidney are unconvinced of her guilt and set about investigating the crimes with the distinct disapproval of the local constabulary.

There's quite a lot of scenery changing and traveling in this book - they come and go at a breakneck pace charging around (in Sidney's Pierce Arrow) trying to solve a dizzying array of crimes and skullduggery. The characterizations are well done and I liked that the dialogue is urbane and witty (despite Aunt Ernestine being a rampaging pain in the backside - I spent most of the book wanting to throw a shoe at her).

Entertaining and well written with a satisfying denouement. I recommend it to readers of historical mystery, classic golden age British mystery, and period espionage. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

If you haven’t read the earlier books in the Verity Kent series (this is number 4), stop reading this review right now and go do it! This series deserves to be read in order to really appreciate where the characters are in their lives.

Verity Kent joins the ranks of the very popular setting of England between the two world wars. The heroine has served her country in intelligence, and is using her contacts and experience to root out crimes with deep roots in the previous conflict.