Murder Most Fair

November 1919 and Verity Kent's Great-Aunt Ilse arrives at Verity's home in Kent with her new maid Frau Bauer in tow. Soon stories of strange men accosting Frau Bauer and fears of what Lord Ardmore might do if he found out that Verity's German aunt had come to the UK lead Verity and Sidney to decide it would be best if they all decamp to Verity's parents' home in Yorkshire two weeks earlier than planned. Verity hasn't been home since her brother's death and she has a fraught relationship with her mother, so this is a big sacrifice on her part. Then Isle's maid is found dead and secrets are revealed. Was she murdered by the mysterious stranger she was seen arguing with? Was it Verity's younger sister Grace's new beau who apparently has a 'Blighty wound' which invalided him out of the war? Is it a villager convinced she was a German spy? And what is Aunt Ilse hiding? Although this is yet another well-crafted mystery for Verity and Sidney, the focus of this book is very much on relationships. We learn a lot more about Verity's relationships with the rest of her family, and how each of them has been affected by the war and the death of her brother Rob. In fact, I would happily have read this with no murder at all just because it advanced everything else so much, all those tantalising glimpses into Verity's marriage and her older brother's disapproval are all brought to the surface and it is very satisfying. Also, a personal thanks that the book does not start with Verity and Sidney estranged as seemed to happen with several of the other books. Overall, a great instalment in one of my favourite series and I can't wait for the next one. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is another exciting mystery in the Verity Kent series. I think a new reader will enjoy reading this novel and feel caught up with the action by how the author includes background information. But, the reader will enjoy it so much more by having read the series in order. This episode finds Verity and Sidney still on the trail of their nemesis while enjoying Verity's German Great Aunt who has come to visit. She and her German maid are not the most welcome people in post-WWI Britain. Some mysteries are laid to rest, others sprout as if from nowhere. This is an exciting book in an exciting series. I can't wait to read the next book. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

post WW-1, historical-fiction, historical-research, England, cosy-mystery, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, murder-investigation, 1919, espionage, suspense, suspicion***** After the War To End All Wars, suspicion and hatred from one nation to another was just as rampant as it had been during the conflict. This made things difficult for many families as well as individuals, such as Verity's beloved aunt. And Verity herself is hampered by close self important relatives who would castigate her even more than usual if they knew that she had been involved in espionage in Europe during the war during the time that it was believed that her husband was dead. A grand mess. Then Aunt's maid is murdered and Verity plus husband must sort out the tangle of problems. The publisher's blurb is a good hook, and this series has my nose stuck to the pages. Loved this one, too! I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy of this book from the Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!