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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Rating : 4 ⭐
This was a fun time, the mystery had the right amount of foreshadowing and I enjoyed meeting more family members.
This was a fun time, the mystery had the right amount of foreshadowing and I enjoyed meeting more family members.
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved dealing with a continuing plot that they were facing off against, and it was such a great read!
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I love, love, love Verity Kent. The relationship between her and Simon still needs some work, but they are really fighting through. You can feel the love between the two characters, and of course there is a murder investigation as well. I loved the historical impacts, and I can never say no to an English countryside mystery. I'm fascinated by the overarching story and how they are going to continue fighting back against all foes while still working through their issues from the war.
I will read anything by Anna Lee Huber, but this book speaks to interpersonal relationships in a way that hasn't been done before.
I will read anything by Anna Lee Huber, but this book speaks to interpersonal relationships in a way that hasn't been done before.
Full review can be found here: https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-pretty-deceit-anna-lee-huber/
I find myself torn by this series. On the one hand, I like the setting, and I find the mysteries interesting, but Verity, in particular, is only plausible when Huber doesn't emphasize her age and how unbelievably amazing she is. Towards the beginning of the story, Sidney and Verity talk about celebrating her birthday, which will be her 23rd. But Verity, as written, comes off as somewhat older (in wisdom and experience): she's mature, an experienced intelligence agent, and has a sophisticated understanding of politics and society. Sure, she grew up faster than expected because of WWI, but the extent of her intelligence experience (especially on the Continent) never made sense given her young age. And her emotional and intellectual development is inconsistent with someone in her very early 20s.
I'm also getting irritated with the "how incredible/wonderful Verity is" theme. In the first novel, she and Max Ryde develop an attraction, when she believes Sidney is dead. So it makes sense that Max and she deal with lingering feelings/a connection months later. But, in this novel, Huber heavily implies that Verity's intelligence colleague, Alex, is also in love with her, even though his introduction (in the second mystery) and subsequent appearances don't suggest a deep emotional connection so much as a rakish male who likes attention from women but isn't looking for a more committed relationship. I hope I'm wrong about where Huber is going with this, but I don't think so. Add to this admiration society Sidney's intense attraction and devotion to her, and Verity is running the risk of becoming a Mary Sue.
This tendency is also accentuated by Verity's superior deductive skills. I'm not keen on Huber's decision to create a nemesis in Lord Ardmore, who is this Moriarty-level villain now being implicated in each mystery Verity and Sidney get involved in. And Ardmore also seems fascinated with Verity. He knows that she, Sidney, and their allies (including leaders in the intelligence community) are seeking confirmation of his treason, but he nonetheless protects her when it makes no sense to do so: One of the reasons that Verity et al. are having such a hard time tying Ardmore to anything nefarious is because he is incredibly careful about covering his tracks. So why does he leave this little band unscathed when he knows that they are on his track (and don't get me started on the ridiculous series of quests they go on to discover what Max's father had on Ardmore--another development that doesn't make any sense unless the late Earl prophesized that his heir, after the Earl's death, would become good friends with several intelligence agents with codebreaking skills).
This series seems on the verge of tipping into melodrama. I'm hopeful that it will course correct, but I'm beginning to have my doubts (it doesn't help that Verity and Sidney seem to average one murder mystery a month).
I'm also getting irritated with the "how incredible/wonderful Verity is" theme. In the first novel, she and Max Ryde develop an attraction, when she believes Sidney is dead. So it makes sense that Max and she deal with lingering feelings/a connection months later. But, in this novel, Huber heavily implies that Verity's intelligence colleague, Alex, is also in love with her, even though his introduction (in the second mystery) and subsequent appearances don't suggest a deep emotional connection so much as a rakish male who likes attention from women but isn't looking for a more committed relationship. I hope I'm wrong about where Huber is going with this, but I don't think so. Add to this admiration society Sidney's intense attraction and devotion to her, and Verity is running the risk of becoming a Mary Sue.
This tendency is also accentuated by Verity's superior deductive skills. I'm not keen on Huber's decision to create a nemesis in Lord Ardmore, who is this Moriarty-level villain now being implicated in each mystery Verity and Sidney get involved in. And Ardmore also seems fascinated with Verity. He knows that she, Sidney, and their allies (including leaders in the intelligence community) are seeking confirmation of his treason, but he nonetheless protects her when it makes no sense to do so:
Spoiler
he is aware that one of his flunkies wants Verity dead and has set up a climactic attack that would very likely end in the deaths of Verity and (likely) Sidney and one or more of their chief allies. This outcome would be to Ardmore's advantage, but he makes sure other flunkies take actions that create a diversion for Verity and her party and then, later, directly saves her life.This series seems on the verge of tipping into melodrama. I'm hopeful that it will course correct, but I'm beginning to have my doubts (it doesn't help that Verity and Sidney seem to average one murder mystery a month).