As Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, honeymoon in Devon, a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress said to belong to a Victorian lacemaker accused of murder. If genuine, the dress and its puzzling connections to a nineteenth-century Romani family who camped on Dartmoor will be the centerpiece of a new historic crimes exhibit—exactly Kate’s kind of mystery. But matters turn deadly when a shot is fired during a fundraising gala, injuring the man who donated the dress.

The injured donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cybersecurity expert who lives and dresses as a Victorian gentleman, but everyone believes the real target of the attack to be another attendee—a controversial politician intent on rooting out local corruption. This belief is overturned when Gideon is found dead in a pool of blood. But then the politician receives a death threat.

Who was the real target? Who would want to kill both a man with an obsession for history and a tough-on-crime politician? When asked to assist in the investigation, Kate races to discover the truth, as it becomes clear the killer isn’t going to come quietly.

I enjoy this series. Its a mystery rich with history.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

Tom and Kate are on their honeymoon. A museum wants Kate to take on a case. A dress that they are trying to confirm ownership. Tom is called by the local police to help with a murder related to the dress.
Thanks to publisher Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for the ARC.

A COLLECTION OF LIES is a wonderfully written and layered mystery. I loved the research that must have gone into this novel. It brings a richness to the story that would have been missing. The only thing that held me back a little was that I wish I had read the books before this. Not that this couldn't be read as a standalone, I just wanted all the backstory I could get and had a nagging suspicion I was missing.

A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry comes upon Kate Hamilton and her new husband, Tom Mallory. Kate is an expert in antiques and Tom is a policeman. They are on their honeymoon and have just arrived at a village near Dartmoor, where they have been hired to solve a mystery. The person paying the bill is Hugo Hawksworth, the director of a museum in Combe Mallet. The mystery is: did they bloody dress now in the possession of the museum belong to Nancy Thorne, who may or may not have been a murderess in the late 1800’s. The dress had been donated by Gideon Littlejohn, with the proviso they prove or disprove the accusation. They didn’t really know how to go about that, but in their inimitable style they started asking questions, of anyone who might know anything. Kate also did some newspaper research and spent some time with the museum’s fabric and fashion expert. Then, Littlejohn was killed and the local police put Tom to work.

Kate is a middle aged-American woman who has fallen in love with England and with Tom. She is excited about her new life, although she misses her children and her parents. She is having a wonderful time, although she worries about Tom, as does anyone who loves a police officer. Hence this investigation: if Tom is happy doing this, he may quit being a policeman and he would be much safer. Tom loves Kate, as well, and would like to make her happy, but he loves being with the police. Do they solve the mystery? Yes, but through some very odd means and they also learn a great deal about the woman to whom the dress belonged. This is a fabulous series and this may be the best book yet. Thanks Connie Berry, for creating these wonderful characters and this most interesting situation.

I was invited to read A Collection of Lies by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #ConnieBerry #ACollectionOfLies

Each book in this series gets better! I love how Connie Berry manages to combine a traditional mystery with historical investigation. This entry not only ends with a satisfying conclusion, but also opens a pathway for Kate and Tom to continue their joint investigations as they embark on their married life. I’m very much looking forward to the next in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fun read with two mysteries. One current day and one historical intertwined in one enjoyable read. I really like this series, it’s one of my top cozy series and a must read asap when a new one releases. This latest installment has several suspects and several good twists. Looking forward to Kate and Tom’s next adventure!

In this book Tom and Kate are away from their familiar places and in Devon on their honeymoon. The days leading up to their wedding were eventful to say the least and so they plan on having a relaxing time - while investigating the origin of a dress that could be tied to a historic murder. But as they begin to investigate things quickly spiral a bit out of control with a shooting, a death, and all kinds of hidden agendas.

One of the reasons I really enjoy this series is the history that is usually entwined in the plot. I feltthat this book really leaned into the history aspect as Kate's primary investigation is into the history of several items with a focus on the dress. If you aren't interested in the history I feel like the first half especially will feel like the plot has gone into the weeds a bit. While there are several major events that happen in the first half it doesn't feel like things really get moving into the second half of the book. I enjoyed it but it might not be for everyone.

This is a interesting British mystery series with likable main characters who have a lots of interesting life experience and both bring different perspectives to the investigation. Despite a bit of a slower start I enjoyed this one from beginning to end and look forward to reading more by this author.

While USA Bestselling author Connie Berry’s A Collection of Lies is the fifth of her Kate Hamilton Mystery series, the story, the characters, the case to be solved works so perfectly as a standalone but with enough tease to the back-story that you’ll want to read the entire series. So much so that I have already ordered two of the earlier four installments.

In A Collection of Lies, we find American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, on their honeymoon in Devon, in southwest England. As a favor to a colleague of Tom’s, Kate agrees to put her antique textile expertise to the test exploring whether an old, bloodstained, lace dress could possibly be linked to a long-cold-case murder.

With the discovery of long-held secrets, a shooting at a local history museum gala and a very warm murder of a Victorian You-Tuber, to which Tom assists the local constabulary to solve, and the newlyweds are soon hot on the trail of a mystery with plot turns that keep you guessing.

My new favorite crime-solving duo, I love Kate and Tom’s rapport not to mention their abilities to follow clues and their senses to solve a satisfying caper. I can’t wait to go back and read their origin story in A Dream of Death.

I highly recommend A Collection of Lies to fans of traditional cozy mysteries, British mysteries, and partners in crime-solving duos.

I received this advanced reader copy of A Collection of Lies from Crooked Lane Books, courtesy of NetGalley.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last!

If you follow my reviews at all, you know I have this thing about reading books out of order. When books are touted as stand-alone books, which is usually true, you miss out on the developing personal storylines. I think that might be the case here as well, but I honestly didn't feel like I missed out on much between Tom and Kate. Maybe their relationship before they were married, but the author does a splendid job of filling in the gaps or making it seem like we haven't missed out on a courtship or more.

The premise of the story captured my attention. Was this historic dress covered in blood worn by a murderess? It is up to Kate to help establish the provenance of the dress. There are roadblocks in her way, including the person who found it in the items he purchased from an estate sale. Gideon is an interesting character, and his murder just added another kink to the story.

I enjoyed watching Tom and Kate pull clues together to solve the murder and the history of the dress. There were so many involved in assisting them, but ultimately, it was the sleuthing skills of these two that pulled it together in the end.

The setting of Devon was enjoyable, and I felt like I was in the village with the descriptions provided. So many unique characters rounded out the cast, with several to suspect based on their actions.

I look forward to reading more of this author's works in the future. We give this 5 paws up.

I really enjoyed this read! It's the first in the series I've read despite it being the fifth instalment of the series, and I found it really accessible to pick up without knowing any previous context. The mystery, setting and characters really grabbed me and I was instantly immersed in the museum and small town culture. I was left guessing until the very end as to who the murderer was. I loved the combination of the mystery in the present as well as the one in the past and how the two intertwined. I'll definitely be looking for the other books in the series now!

Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, are on their honeymoon in Devon, but they’ve been asked to see if they can prove the providence of a dress that has been recently donated to a local museum. The dress is supposed to belong to a woman who was suspected of murder back in 1885, but nothing was ever proved. They’ve hardly started when someone shoots a gun at a fundraiser for the museum. A couple days later, a dead body turns up. Are these events related?

This book is a tale of two halves. The first half is uneven, with too much time spent on antiques and history for my tastes. However, the second half really picks up, with a nail-biting scene and plenty of twists. The solution is logical, although it felt a bit rushed to me. I did miss the rest of the regulars, but I enjoyed seeing more of Tom, and the new characters are good. Fans will be happy to hear it appears we’ve found a solution for an ongoing storyline as well. If you are new to the series, I recommend starting with an earlier book. Fans will find their patience rewarded with this one.

Of course Kate and Tom find themselves working on a murder during their honeymoon! This latest addition to the series (which is also fine as a standalone) sees the couple in Devon, where Kate's meant to be looking into a blood stained lace, which leads her into an interesting quest for answers about a murder than happened generations ago. But then there's a murder and Tom finds himself working with the police, Will the two cases fit together? This has enough twists and interesting information to keep even veterans of the genre turning the pages eager for answers, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read,

This is one of my favorite series and I was so excited to get an ARC from NetGalley! Berry does it again with a fabulous mystery, great characters. and an atmospheric setting. Kate Hamilton and her new husband, Tom are on their honeymoon in Devon to solve a mystery about a Victorian dress. When murder soon follows, the two mysteries become intertwined. I love the way that Berry plots her stories, drawing the reader along as Kate and Tom solve the murder and mystery of the Victorian dress. I'm looking forward to more adventures with Kate!

I am kicking myself for not discovering this series sooner, and plan to rectify that shortly by devouring books one through four. Even though this is book five in an established series, I had no trouble settling in with Berry’s characters, setting, or story. The heroine, Kate Hamilton, is an antiques expert, and she’s on her honeymoon in Devon with her police detective husband, Tom Mallory. While they are on their honeymoon, Tom and Kate have also taken on a private job. They’ve been asked to verify the provenance of a blood covered dress from the 1880’s, which supposedly belonged to a murderess.

They are staying in a small Devon town, Combe Mallett, where a museum of Devon history is looking to feature the dress as an attraction. And while Kate and Tom are just looking to verify the provenance of the dress, they are also interested in the crime. The dress has been donated to the museum by an eccentric man who lives, as closely as possible, as a Victorian gentleman. He wears the clothes, he’s restoring his home to the period, and he even employs a housekeeper dressed in apron and mobcap. When Kate and Tom go to meet him he is cagey, only mentioning that he bought the dress as part of a lot he purchased.

Berry does a lovely job at drawing in the historical details of the area, of the dress and of the possible life of the woman who wore it. The textile expert at the museum, who is meticulously restoring the garment, provides Kate with many clues and her work is fascinating. The area was famous, for example, for Honiton lace. The women who made it were often sent to lace making schools at very young ages. The bloody dress, while obviously belonging to a working-class woman, is never the less adorned with a lace collar.

I very much appreciate an amateur sleuth uses his or her actual skill to solve the crime. While Kate isn’t strictly an amateur as she’s working with her husband on a specific job, she’s mainly an antiques appraiser and expert in her day-to-day life. Other series that have done this well include Joanne Dobson’s Karen Pelletier books, Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Sweeney St. George novels, and more recently, Elly Griffiths’ wonderful Ruth Galloway series. All the women in these books are experts in their fields and it’s that expertise that lends validity to their investigations.

As Tom works with the police after the inevitable death, Kate is working a parallel case, discovering what she can about the dress while at the same time reporting back and consulting with Tom and the Devon police in charge of the murder investigation. The suspect pool is small but rich, and the characters in the story, whether involved with the museum or local politics, are interestingly complex.

This is not a cozy exactly, but it’s cozy adjacent. Kate and her husband seem to be very happy and the Devon setting (and the food) add a layer of coziness to the story. Kate and Tom aren’t there to upset the apple cart, they’re the calm center of the storm around them. There’s really no more cozy element than that, in my opinion. The fascinating mystery Berry weaves is icing on this delicious mysterious cake.

Tom Mallory and Kate Hamilton are on their honeymoon in Devon when a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress that they want to use as the centerpiece of a Crimes in Devon exhibit.

This investigation seems to be just what they are looking for. Tom is contemplating changing careers from the police to private investigation and Kate has had success in unraveling other historical puzzles. And Kate is pleased that the investigation won't put them in danger since they are both still bruised after their last adventure.

But a gunshot at a museum fundraising gathering and the murder of the man who donated the dress to the exhibit put both of them back in the middle of a danger-filled mystery. The first mystery is just who the supposed victim of the shooting was supposed to be. The donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cybersecurity expert who is determined to live as a Victorian gentleman and is busy making his home into what was typical for the time period. But standing next to him was Teddy Pearce who is a newly elected member of Parliament who comes from a troubled past.

While Tom is drafted into working for the local police, Kate finds herself investigating the bloodstained dress and its supposed owner Nancy Thorne who was a lacemaker. With no documentation but a forged note saying the dress belonged to Nancy who was also accused as a murderer, Kate begins research with the help of a local librarian who is a great researcher and intrigued by the mystery.

While it seems that the two investigations are separate, it soon begins to come clear that the investigations are related and finding out the provenance of the dress could lead to the contemporary murder. This was an interesting mystery with lots of local history in the story. From a drowned town to Romani culture, there are all sorts of interesting details.

Fans of the series will enjoy this latest episode.

A Collection of Lies, book 5 in the “A Kate Hamilton Mystery” series by Connie Berry which releases June 18th.

I loved visiting the village of Coombe Mallet, in Devon, and hanging out with Kate, and Tom on their working honeymoon. I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in over a couple of days.

Kate's inquiry into the mysterious past leads her to uncover the fascinating stories of two skilled working-class women, Nancy Thorne, a talented lacemaker, and her sister Sally Tucker, a proficient seamstress. However, it is a local researcher and librarian who proves instrumental in providing crucial insights into the sisters' lives, the Romani community present in the area at the time, and even potential suspects connected to the ongoing murder investigation.

I did not suspect the killer right away, there were lots of twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good traditional British cozy mystery with a historical background.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Really enjoyable and accessible jumping on point for this series that does cozy mysteries well. Can't wait to catch up on the rest of the series after gobbling this one up in a couple of sittings.

A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry is the newest installment in the fantastic Kate Hamilton Mysteries series. Kate is an antiques dealer and appraiser and her new husband Tom is a Detective Inspector with the Suffolk Constabulary. They are on their honeymoon in Devon and team up to solve interconnected mysteries, namely a Victorian era bloodstained dress and murder. The past meets the present in this delicious twisty story and there are secrets galore.

I really enjoyed learning more about the history of textiles including conservation, Honiton lace, lace schools and horrendous lacework conditions young girls endured, Romanichals and the Rational Dress Movement. Talk about fascinating! The mystery itself is clever, the setting lovely, food descriptions delectable and the main characters are worth caring about. The secondary characters are quirky and add a pleasing layer. But what stands out for me most are the breathtaking textile and lace details, tricks, hiding places and imagery.

Craving a refreshing series with a unique premise? This could be your wheelhouse.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel. I'm eagerly anticipating the next in this wonderful series!

murder, investigations, historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, cloth-and-clothing, attempted-murder, families, family-drama, family-dynamics, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, local-politics, museum, suspense, suspicion, small-town, antiques, lacemaking, genealogy, census-records, newlyweds, amateur-sleuth

I geek historical information, so first I will say that I learned about Lost Villages, Honiton Lace (I had tried pillow lace some years ago and it was REALLY hard), the National Park in Devon, Romanichal people/culture also known as the GRTs (Gypsy/Roma/Travellers), Swansea teapots, and the incredible due diligence required to document historical provenance of some items.
The mystery and investigation are equally detailed and diabolical, the characters interesting and engaging, and the whole is simply riveting. And then there's that twisty path to the great reveal!
A widowed antique dealer with a shop Ohio who grew up in Wisconsin, Kate is managing the antiquities shop in England with her elder friend Ivor and is very recently married to DI Tom Mallory, of Suffolk constabulary.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 18 Jun 2024 #KateHamiltonBk5 #BritishCozy

American antiques expert Kate Hamilton is on her honeymoon in Devon with her English husband, DI Tom Mallory, looking forward to moving into their new house. But first, they have agreed to investigate the provenance of a bloodstained dress dating back to a Victorian lace maker who, if the note pinned to the dress can be validated, is a murderess. But whose blood is on the dress, was there actually a murder, and--if so--what was the motivation? Kate is busy studying the history and culture of the Dartmoor area and tracking down difficult-to-locate individuals who may be able to provide some valuable information, while Tom is recruited by the local constabulary to assist when things turn deadly.

Connie Berry is a master at creating a credible, well-researched mystery, layer by layer, and incorporating fascinating characters who may be part of the puzzle. One character, for example, has devoted his adult life to transforming his home into a Victorian estate, wearing the era's clothing, and living as a Victorian gentleman, and his housekeeper goes along with the pretense. Another is a brash politician who has a troubled background but more recently has had success passing legislation to improve the lives of his constituents. Then there are the museum staff hoping the dress will be the centerpiece of an exciting new exhibit, the itinerant Romani community who circled back to the area each year, supportive and conniving women, and more. I felt exhausted but happy when the mystery was finally resolved, and I will definitely look for the next (sixth) in the series.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.