It's 1920. The Great War is over...or is it?

A woman is captured. She was a spy for Germany, even though she is French. She will only speak to Sidney, although Verity comes along. They are a fabulous sleuthing team. Now the story begins to run...

There is SO MUCH GOING ON! Confessions. Murder. Treasure. It is perfect. We see some characters from previous books right in the thick of things. Whew...I thought it was great.

Ms. Huber is such a descriptive writer. All of her thoughts of the country, the fashions the people, just everything, is well researched. If this is your first foray into this series, you should probably read the first 5 books before jumping into this one. It is excellent, but, in my opinion, you need some of the backstory.

A bit of a cliff hanger that I'm usually not fond of, but this time is worked so well. I can't wait for the next book.

Oh, wow! I won't spoil it, but this story really ripped at my heart and my gut. Obviously thoroughly researched, it opens a window to the horrors of World War I and the experiences of those who lived it--those who lived, loved, and lost--and to the spies who ran things behind the scenes. A word of advice: read this series in order, because this installation especially needs context to understand what is going on.

Verity and her husband, Sydney, are in a good place in their marriage. She is healing from her injuries and things are quiet. Then Sidney receives a summons from the French authorities--they have arrested a woman for treason and need Sidney's help since she refuses to talk to anyone else. Shortly after their arrival the prisoner is assassinated, and the couple is tasked with investigating another murder. But are the two cases connected?

As always, Anna Lee Huber's writing is fantastic. I'm a huge Verity Kent fan, so I was so excited to receive my copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in return for this honest opinion. I was not disappointed. Verity has an unnatural ability to read everyone's mind and motivations and is never wrong (something she has in common with Lady Darby), which would be more distracting and annoying if she weren't a trained spy who is supposed to be able to do that. It just makes sense. I also appreciated that this book brought together many threads from previous books in the series (which did make it hard to remember everything that had happened before, especially for the earlier ones). I loved the historical detail, which gave me a small window into the hell that was the Great War. The story even had me diving into the internet to research key plot reveals to see what was real and what was fiction.

Verity and Sidney are off on another dangerous adventure.  While World War 1 is over, not everything is over! There are still hang overs from that time in more ways than one. One of those left overs has the pair travelling to France and Belgium.

The journey is fraught with danger and a few murders along the way that they have to figure out who and why. It's hard for them to know who to trust and even those they may have trusted in the past - they too are in question.

What they eventually discover will send Sidney spiralling and have Verity thinking things she hasn't considered before. It brings into question too those in political power and how genuine they were in seeking peace rather than war.

It's only historical fiction I kept reminding myself. But... it could have some kernels of truth. As we well know in this age the power of being misinformed.

It is action packed and ends with another assignment in the future that will likely take this pair right into the heart of their ongoing quest.  I'd advise starting with the first book in this series to fully understand what is at stake.

Goodness! What an exciting, page-flipping, suspenseful read this was! Verity and Sidney are, as always, dynamic, engaging, flawed, and troubled by the events each of them suffered through during the war. As we know (from reading the other books in the series), the war may be over, but the repercussions and espionage are not. Then, when we add the arch-villain Ardmore to that volatile mix – well goodness – be still my palpating heart.

As you probably know, Verity sustained a bullet wound at the end of the previous book, Murder Most Fair. She and Sidney have been leading a quiet life for five months since then in order to allow her to heal properly. That all ends when Sidney receives a request from the French authorities. They want him to come to France and help with a prisoner they have in custody – this prisoner claims to have proof of treason by a number of people during the war, and she won’t speak to anyone other than Sidney. Sidney has no idea who this woman is – he’s never heard of her – and still doesn’t have any idea who she is after he meets her. She is arrogant, but begs for Sidney’s help, even though he is inclined to refuse. However, she’s very enigmatic during their interview and is quickly found hanging in her cell after Sidney and Verity leave. That, of course, almost guarantees Sidney will get involved.

As they begin their investigation, Verity gets a message that she should check in with the English spymaster stationed in France – ‘T’. He needs Verity to solve the murder of a Belgian lawyer who worked for them during the war. The lawyer was murdered on a train as he was carrying important secret documents. The documents were missing and there are few clues to follow. Those papers are supposed to contain clues to a sunken German ship carrying a fortune in gold. T (and his boss ‘C’) need her to retrieve the papers and, if possible, solve the murder.

As the investigations proceed, Verity and Sidney come to realize that all is not what it seems and their two investigations are actually intertwined. The pieces of the puzzles begin to fit together in a way that will make Verity and Sidney question the very foundations of their belief in their government and all world leaders. Some of what they find are particularly troubling to Sidney who fought in some of the worst battles of the war.

As always with this author, I highly recommend this book and this series. You absolutely cannot go wrong with it. I have absolutely loved watching Verity and Sidney find their love again and rebuild their relationship as well as their firm determination to thwart the archvillain Ardmore. Their steadfast support of their friends is awe-inspiring.

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

Another great edition to the Verity Kent mystery series. I continue to enjoy the overarching plot with Lord Ardmore. It provides a good explanation in story as to why the characters are traveling to solve these cases.

I also appreciated the author including information about the historical murder case this book was based on. It was fun looking up the real case.

The consistent villain throughout the series makes these books fresh compared to other historical mysteries set during the same period! A highly enjoyable mystery that reveals new twists and turns in Verity and Sidney's battle against a shady and devious enemy.

The Great War might be over, but Verity and Sidney Kent are still trying to tie up some loose ends and hunt down a very well-connected and concealed traitor. Their investigation is sidetracked when Sidney is asked to travel to France to interrogate an informant who has information that she won't share with anyone else.

Verity's former boss C is also interested in what this young woman has to tell and since Verity is still an off-the-books agent of his, she goes along. Adele Baverel might have some information but before she can share it, she's found dead in her cell and the French are shouting suicide while one look tells Verity it was murder.

Mlle. Baverel did give some possible hints that might lead Verity and Sidney to her hidden information, but the British Intelligence head there in France wants them to look into the murder of a lawyer who worked for the British during the war and who might also have information that needs to be found.

As Verity and Sidney try to track down people who might know something about either of these cases, they begin to believe that the two are related and that the secrets they might uncover could have a devastating effect on Britain's relationships in Europe. And they are not the only ones on the hunt for this information. Lord Ardmore has a couple of his men there too both helping and hindering the Kents at seemingly random times.

This was a very complex story the brings in people and events from earlier books in the series. I've read them, but not recently, and found that the background that brings up earlier events was more confusing than helpful. I would guess someone not familiar with the earlier books would have been even more baffled.

The strength of the story was the depiction of the political atmosphere with all its complexities as people try to adjust to the new post-Great War scene. I also enjoyed the random bits of culture and fashion that were dropped into the story.

Fans of the series will enjoy this entry and be looking forward to the next.

I highly recommend this series to any fan of historical mysteries. Verity and Sidney set out to look to into a case , then find themselves ensnarled in two seemingly different investigations. As they start to untangle the web of intrigue they find a very unsettling connection between the two. Ms. Huber sets a high bar of excellence with her research, bringing to light events that many readers may not have been aware. The affect these have on Verity and Sidney reflect those of the very real people that faced decisions that would impact many.
Ms. Huber pens real authentic characters that keep me invested in their stories. As Murder Most Fair revealed Verity at her most vulnerable, I believe A Certain Darkness gives us Sidney at his. As Sidney discovers secrets that shadowed the end of WWI, the raw emotion that he shared with Verity revealed a fragility that is hidden behind his courageous, stalwart and trustworthy exterior. I love this couple! As always, Ms. Huber skillfully gives readers a preview of what will come next. Cannot wait to read more of Verity and Sidney's adventures.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am a huge fan of this series and have read all of them in order. I definitely enjoy some installments more than others. The book before this one was my favorite of the series. Unfortunately, this one was not one of my favorites. While I loved getting another peak into Verity’s world, I found the plot confusing and hard to follow. I personally do not care for the increasingly intricate Lord Ardmore plot… even reading all of the books in order I can’t keep up with the backstory of that plot line or what is going on. I felt like the book before this one was light on Ardmore and more character driven, and I loved it.

This is definitely not a standalone. In fact, you probably need to reread the last three books before reading this one in order to know what is going on. I also wanted the downstairs characters to have more page time! However, the richly detailed accuracy of the time period is great and I love verity and Sydney’s backstories and relationship.

I will definitely continue on with the series. I just wish we were done with lord Ardmore and could have each book solve a more standalone mystery, like the previous book in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber is the sixth in the Verity Kent series, historical mysteries. Set in London after World War I, Verity Kent and her husband , Sydney, are still trying to adjust to life after the war and are determined to find evidence that the deadly Ardmore is involved in espionage and terrorism.
This installment is a bit difficult to understand as the Kent’s struggle to dig through layers of deceit and politics of WW I and the possibility that England and America could have worked with Germany to end the war.
The characters are multifaceted and recovering from their past in compelling ways, but the plot does get bogged down with their search for important documents that could prove Germany’s desire to have peace. It was worth sticking with this book to reach the conclusion, but more questions arise and point to future unrest in Ireland.
#netgalley

I love Anna Lee Huber’s books. Her heroine, Verity Kent uses her instincts and skills gained working as an intelligence agent during WWI plus the support of her sexy husband. They make a great detective couple.

This novel is part detective mystery, part thriller as the Kents try to figure out why a Belgian man was killed on a train and what dangerous information he had been carrying. Not only did the book keep me guessing as the Kents traverse post-War Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, but the author’s comments at the end indicated that this was based on real events. I was so intrigued by the story that I then went down a rabbit hole reading about the actual events this story was based on.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

A well-researched mystery set in the aftermath of World War 1. Nothing is as it seems in a plot that weaves together murder, espionage, and nationalism with a touch of romance and glamour. I did find it challenging to get into the story at the start because it seems almost as if this is part 2 of a much longer novel -- we catch up with many characters, and there are a lot of references to what's happened before in the series. Even so, this is a well-written and intriguing novel.

A Certain Darkness takes readers on a journey to France, Belgium, and Holland as we follow Verity and 'Miles while they look into the murder of a man who was supplying England with intel. C wants the documents he was carrying back. Once again, nothing is as straightforward as it seems and there's a lot to unpack with their pasts and how they tie to the present.
The post WWI setting continues to provide a rich historical setting, and I learn more and more about what happened to everyday citizens each time. There is no one to trust as they make their way through the evidence trail. Huber neatly maintains a tense and fraught mystery, and historical mystery readers will want to add this one to their end of summer reading.

I will follow Verity Kent anywhere she goes. This is one of my favorite series. Anna Lee Huber ‘s writing and plots are brilliant.
In this installment, we go with Sidney and Verity to France. An old acquaintance of Sidney asks for him to be present at her confession. Both Sidney and Verity are at the beginning confused by this desire. There are indications of lost gold, a murder on a train, and double dealing spies.
This leads Verity to places in Holland and Belgium. Even more than normal, Verity, as an old spy, does not know who to trust on either side of the English Channel. The title eludes a bit to the underlying theme of the book. I do believe it is darker in tone than the previous installments.
I highly recommend this novel. While you perhaps do not need to have read all of the books in the series, I would not go into this series at this point. I gave this novel 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the free Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this installment in the Verity Kent series, but felt like it jumped into the middle of the story. I think a majority of the books flow from one to the next and if you read one every year, you tend to forget what happened previously. I felt like that was an issue here and it took about 1/4 way through the book to feel like I was settled. A new case comes up that Verity and her husband rush off to investigate as they continued to deal with their past cases. I wished there were more of an overarching theme to this one, but it just felt jumbled to me. I did like Verity and her husband and felt the author did a great job of continuing to evolve their relationship. While this wasn't my favorite, I look forward to the next one!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts expressed are my own. Ms. Huber's Verity Kent series is one of my favorites that I feel keeps getting better as it goes on as the reader gets to know Verity better. This title features Verity and her husband Sidney traveling to France when they receive a call from French officials stating that their prisoner will only speak to Sidney. The woman in custody was a former informant of his during the war, but it is suspected that she may have been cooperating with the German and people in post-war France take a dim view of collaborators. Verity and Sidney agree to travel and meet with her; it appears she is willing to share information, but before she can, she is killed. Verity and Sidney attempt to unravel clues she left them and figure out who exactly is responsible for her death as well as who she may have been working with. Hoping that it will help them make their case against Lord Ardmore, the couple races across France and Belgium visiting devastated towns and villages while battling foes both old and new.

As always, the mystery is well written and crafted. Equally strong, is the description of post-WWI Europe in the immediate aftermath of the war. After reading books in this series, it is easy to understand the roaring 20's and Bright Young Things era where so many young people are trying to forget the horrors they experienced during the war. I'm curious to see what happens next in the Kent's ongoing war with Lord Ardmore as well as how their relationship continues to evolve. I always look forward to titles in this series and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

The Great War has been over for a year-and-a-half, and but it is still very much affecting the lives of Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney. In the process of bringing down their nemesis, Lord Ardmore, Verity and Sidney find themselves investigating crimes that took place in France and Belgium. Sidney is brought in by the French authorities to interview a woman who has already been accused of committing treason. After the woman is assassinated—and the French try to blame Verity—they travel to Belgium to look into the murder of a lawyer. The lawyer worked for British Intelligence, and he was carrying papers that could prove damning to the Allies. While searching for the papers before they fall into the wrong hands, Verity and Sidney learn that their cases are intertwined. The situation becomes dangerous—and their lives are in peril—but Verity and Sidney must find the papers before they are delivered to Lord Ardmore or the contents made public.



A CERTAIN DARKNESS is another thrilling addition to the Verity Kent series. I would not recommend reading this novel as a standalone. Storylines from the previous novels are mentioned, and the reader needs to know what has happened before to full understand the plot. That being said, it is an interesting but complicated read. I learned a lot more about the Great War and life in Europe during and immediately after the war. Huber clearly did her research. The plot was engaging, and there were a number of viable suspects. At times, there seemed to be too much going on and that made it hard to follow.

I’m always super excited to receive an ALH arc for review as she authors not one but two of my favorite historical mystery series. This is sixth in her Verity Kent series (centered around the Great War), and it doesn’t disappoint.

Verity and her husband Sidney are called on to investigate two separate incidents (both involving spy activities, murders and very sensitive info from the war) and realize that the cases are both actually connected.

While traveling through France, Belgium and the Netherlands, dodging danger and sussing out who they can trust and what clues are important, the Kents are also setting themselves up for their next dangerous assignment in volatile Ireland (looking forward to that one!).

What makes Huber’s writing so great (other than the characters and exciting adventures) is her meticulous research of the period and her attention to detail. She loves history, and it shows. I never fail to learn lots more about the historical background in her books, and it’s always fascinating stuff.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Wonderfully engrossing A Certain Darkness is set in the early 1920s as war hero Sidney is called to France to investigate possible treason. His wife Verity is an ex British agent with Intelligence and oodles of mystery solving experience. The two make a superb sleuthing team and we also see snippets into their new marriage with continued bantering and growing appreciation and respect.

The Great War has taken a toll and has dramatically changed the world, especially in Europe and historical descriptions are heart wrenching but beautiful and very real. At times I felt as if I alongside the couple. Not only is the story enlivened by a confession, espionage, murder, documents and hidden gold, Sidney's PTSD is explored a bit more. Lord Ardmore from the past makes an appearance, a welcomed twist. Verity is independent and confident yet approachable. But I do miss Max.

My favourite aspect is aftermath of WWI and what it meant for the past, present and future. Descriptions such as the social mores and fashion of the times are intriguing, as always. The ending is fantastic...the juicy carrot is dangling which leaves me hankering for more.

If you have yet to read books by Anna Lee Huber, now is the time! Her writing style is lovely, descriptive, witty, creative and thoughtful. It is obvious does her research and puts a great amount of care into crafting the impact of her words.

My sincere thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this immersive and refreshingly clean book, perfect for getting utterly and completely lost in.

It’s 1920, and Verity and Sidney are summoned to the continent, where a prisoner says she will only confess to them. Her confession is expected to reveal war secrets and traitorous behavior. There is a possibility that there was hidden gold spirited away during the Great War, and some documents that people would literally kill for. This is definitely not a stand-alone read. I’ve read all of the books in this series, and I still had difficulty with following all of the intrigue and keeping track of the multitude of characters. I was also surprised and disappointed that it had a cliffhanger ending. I received an advance copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.