*Lies and Deception* by Laraine Stephens is a gripping historical crime novel set in 1925 Melbourne. The story follows Reggie da Costa, a sharp and charismatic crime reporter, as he investigates the murder of a wealthy man, Jasper Fitzalan Howard. With a tarot card, the Ten of Swords, found in Howard’s hand and a trail of lies surrounding him, Reggie uncovers a web of deceit involving blackmail and corruption.

The book does a great job of immersing readers in the 1920s, with Reggie’s investigation taking center stage. While the pacing can be slow at times, the suspense and clever plot twists keep you hooked. The story is a strong pick for fans of historical crime fiction, with a compelling mix of mystery and moral intrigue. If you enjoy stories about deception and justice, *Lies and Deception* is definitely worth checking out.

4 stars
This was a book I had a hard time putting down once I started it! I'm not familiar with 1920's era Australia so it was fun romp through a place I've never been taken before, with an interesting array of characters - medical charlatans, upper crust society ladies, newspaper columnists, gangsters, con artists, and more. The plot was compelling and kept me guessing about the murderer until almost the very end! (I realized my initial suspect was incorrect about halfway through the book. Well played.)

This is the fourth Reggie da Costa mystery, and I have not yet read the first three but I believe they are alluded to casually throughout the story. I enjoyed it and the characters enough that I want to go back and read the other da Costa mysteries, especially the one where he meets his current flame, Ruby Rhodes and her brother, Dusty; that one sounds like a super interesting story too!

Initially I found Reggie to be a little foppish, with his continual emphasis on clothes, his car, and grooming. But after getting into more of the story I started to realize that he has an incredibly smart head on his shoulders. And paying attention to those external things actually helps him win over the upper-class of Melbourne who might not otherwise want to bother associating with a newspaper man. He does make for an interesting protagonist - a well-known crime writer, willing to do what's necessary to uncover all the clues and help the police solve their murders. Honestly, it's not that I disliked him as a character, but he really had to grow on me a bit until I felt like I understood his motivations better.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Laraine Stephens, and Level Best Books for providing a digital ARC for me to read and review. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐
Delightful callback to the golden age of mysteries of Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Dorothy Sayers. Instead of a gentleman detective, Reggie Da Costa is the premier crime reporter in Australia, and a gentleman and a little bit of a dandy. Snake oil salesmen, confidence men and fortune tellers are motivated by greed and unhindered by a conscious. So it's understandable that they might die by violence, but being discovered in a ritzy hotel with multiple stab wounds and the tarot card Ten of Swords by his body is a tad bizarre. Loved the characters, especially Reggie and his girlfriend, but each of the victims and their stories were interesting. Now I have to add the earlier stories to my TBR.

Lies and Deception by Laraine Stephens takes us to Australia where we meet crime reporter supreme, Reggie da Costa. Reggie works for the Argus, a popular newspaper where he is currently reporting to the society editor as his own editor is ill. He is frustrated with the situation. He has an assistant: Dusty Rhodes, the brother of his girlfriend, whom he is grooming to be a copy of himself. He is making progress in all but appearance; Reggie is a clothes horse and chooses each outfit carefully. Dusty isn’t there yet. There have been no hard crime stories recently and Reggie is chomping at the bit. Then, there is a murder, a gory one. Simply the best kind. Reggie rushes to the hotel where he poses as a coroner and talks to maids. He has found they are his best source of information as they are not bound to silence as the front desk clerk is. He and Dusty begin their investigation, which takes them all around the city, conversing with the rich and famous, where they discover lies, adultery, blackmail, and fraud. They also discover links. Then, there is another murder, another hotel, same MO. At the same time the investigation into patent medicine progresses. There is to be a law taking effect in the new years, forcing the manufacturers to list ingredients. It is causing a furor.

Reggie is a unique character. He investigates as he would if he were the police, but with fewer parameters. He has a good nose and is a fair man, not wanting to ruin lives of the gullible and innocent. His girl, Ruby, is quick and bright. She is a match for him in every way, although she does not join him in his investigations. This was an intriguing crime with excellent conspirators, who travelled to all major Australian cities to perpetuate their crimes. The story is a testament to just how trusting silly people can be. Stephens hits the nail on the head. It is an enticing story of an investigation and the many people involved. Give it a try!

I was invited to read Lies and Deception by Level Best Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #LevelBestBooks #LaraineStephens #LiesAndDeception

This is a thriller of a read and has everything you want from a good murder mystery. It is the fourth book in the series of which I have read one other.
This is a story of murder, mystery, lies and many a twist and turn. It is a book that is fairly easy to follow (though reading the prior books may help a little), flowed well and was a great pace to keep you on your toes.

I do feel the need to go back and start from book one though to see what I may have missed. All in all a great read, a thrilling story and some pretty good and quirky characters too. Well worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Lies and Deception by Laraine Stephens
Reggie da Costa Mystery #4

Killer story with conmen, shysters, and snake oil peddlers fleecing innocents of their life savings – no Robin Hood thief in this one but a cold reckoning for more than one.

What I liked:
* Reggie da Costa: crime scene journalist, dapper dresser, image conscious, mentor, truth seeker, loves a good mystery/story, intrepid fact finder, loving son rather taken with Ruby
* Ruby Rhodes: secretary typist, helped raise her brother, inherited from her twin sister, bright, curious, attractive, rather taken with Reggie
* Dusty Rhodes: journalist, Reggie’s assistant and reporter, loving brother, looking forward to watching him develop as the series progresses
* Detective Sergeant Clary Blaine: dedicated police officer, likes his whiskey, relied on by Reggie for latest cases, good at what his job
* The writing that felt “of the era” and described in a way that I felt I was watching a movie if not actually there
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* How the mystery of the murders was solved
* Thinking about how different life must have been almost 100 years ago – and being glad I live now – although there is a bit of “romance” to this era of the past in the costumes, cars, and art deco feel
* The status of Reggie and Ruby’s relationship at the end of the book
* Looking forward to reading the next book in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about people willing to divest gullible people from all they have and their ability to do so without a qualm
* Realizing that there are still crooks out there bent on harming others for their own gain

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and

4-5 Stars

*Lies and Deception*, the fourth installment in the Reggie da Costa Mysteries, plunges readers into a labyrinth of intrigue and deceit set against the glamorous backdrop of 1925 Melbourne. This latest entry in the series by acclaimed author [Author's Name] offers a tantalizing mix of murder, mystery, and societal corruption that is sure to captivate fans of historical crime fiction.

The story begins with the shocking murder of Jasper Fitzalan Howard, a wealthy investor and cousin of the Duke of Norfolk, found dead in his luxurious room at The Hotel Windsor. The unsettling detail of Howard clutching a tarot card—the Ten of Swords—adds an eerie and symbolic twist to the case. Initially, the police are faced with a straightforward investigation into the death of a prominent figure, but Reggie da Costa, The Argus’s renowned crime reporter, quickly realizes that Howard’s life was far from transparent.

As Reggie delves into Howard’s background, he uncovers a disturbing pattern of deceit and manipulation. Howard, it turns out, was deeply involved in a scheme that swindled wealthy businessmen and blackmailed their wives, creating a broad and colorful array of suspects. Each potential perpetrator is enmeshed in a web of lies that complicates the investigation and raises questions about Howard’s true nature.

Reggie’s quest to solve the murder takes him through Melbourne’s underbelly, where he confronts the city’s confidence men and charlatans. His pursuit of justice becomes a crusade against those who exploit the unsuspecting and deceive the public. With sharp wit and relentless determination, Reggie navigates a series of twists and turns, piecing together the clues to uncover the truth behind Howard’s murder.

*Lies and Deception* excels in its portrayal of 1920s Melbourne, capturing the era’s opulence and moral ambiguity. The novel’s richly developed characters, intricate plotting, and evocative setting make for a gripping read. The interplay between Reggie’s personal convictions and his professional endeavors adds depth to his character, as he grapples with the ethical implications of his discoveries.

This latest addition to the Reggie da Costa Mysteries not only continues the series' tradition of compelling storytelling but also elevates it with its intricate exploration of deception and betrayal. Fans of historical mysteries will find much to enjoy in this novel’s blend of suspense, rich historical detail, and clever detective work. *Lies and Deception* is a must-read for anyone eager to immerse themselves in a world where every lie could be a key to solving a murder.

This is book 3 in a series which I didn't realise and haven't read the others. This did mean I felt confused about who was who and why a series of events happened that tied in with a previous book so might be best read in order. However it was well written and did get better as I got further into the mystery itself. Overall and enjoyable read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A new death for Reggie to research. Why did the death occur in a fancy hotel? And why is there a second death in another fancy hotel? That is not good for the hotel business. I like Reggie and Ruby. They are good characters. And what about the dead folks? My goodness Reggie is uncovering all sorts of unfavorable details about them. I like all the details. Why aren't the police more interested in finding answer. Dusty is helping Reggie as his assistant. The small details are adding up to a good mystery. The guilty one is unexpected. A good story.

I don't normally read books like this so please bare with what is my opinion may not be yours. I will start out by saying that it's a good read, it's well written and the level of detail (such as characters clothing, the rooms l, the buildings etc) is maintained throughout the book. It was nice to see that as there's nothing more disappointing than when the details dwindle as the story goes on.

I understand where there was so many characters and why so many of them were named but sometimes (especially if I'd been reading for a while) I couldn't remember who was who, I remembered the name but no their part of the story.

I feel the end was rather rushed, we'd got to the conclusion about 95% of the way in give or take, the final 5% was the killer being discovered, telling their side and the epilogue. I have questions some of the other characters that were mentioned, what happened to them, what was the outcome. Especially the main character and his fiancée.

However as I say it is a good read, it made a nice change and if you're someone who is into crime, mysteries and 'who done it's I'd recommend this book.

So...I didn't realize that this was part of a series 😅 thankfully that wasn't a problem. I was able to read without feeling confused about who was who and why a series of events happened that tied in with a previous book. I really enjoyed the experience with all the twists. I would definitely recommend