Book Review: This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber

This Side of Murder
Author: Anna Lee Huber
Series: A Verity Kent Mystery (Book 1)
Publication: Kensington (September 26, 2017)

Description: The Great War is over, but in this captivating new mystery from award-winning author Anna Lee Huber, one young widow discovers the real intrigue has only just begun . . .

England, 1919. Verity Kent’s grief over the loss of her husband pierces anew when she receives a cryptic letter, suggesting her beloved Sidney may have committed treason before his untimely death. Determined to dull her pain with revelry, Verity’s first impulse is to dismiss the derogatory claim. But the mystery sender knows too much—including the fact that during the war, Verity worked for the Secret Service, something not even Sidney knew.

Lured to Umbersea Island to attend the engagement party of one of Sidney’s fellow officers, Verity mingles among the men her husband once fought beside, and discovers dark secrets—along with a murder clearly meant to conceal them. Relying on little more than a coded letter, the help of a dashing stranger, and her own sharp instincts, Verity is forced down a path she never imagined—and comes face to face with the shattering possibility that her husband may not have been the man she thought he was. It’s a truth that could set her free—or draw her ever deeper into his deception . . .

My Thoughts: Verity Kent is a young widow. Her husband Sydney was killed in action during World War I. Verity comes from a privileged section of society. She spent her war working secretly for the secret service. Now she has been invited to the engagement party of one of her husband's closest friends at his island castle. She meets Max along the way who is also invited to the party and who was a colleague of her husband's. Both have reasons other than having a good time for attending the party.

Verity has received a letter encouraging her to attend in order to find information about the possibility that her husband was a traitor. Max is also going to find information about an event that happened during the war. When Verity arrives at a tension-filled household, she believes that Max is someone she can trust but a letter given to her telling her to trust no one shakes her belief.

When the bodies start piling up and a storm keeps them from reaching the mainland for help, Verity is plunged into a mystery that has its start in the trenches of World War I and concerns treason. The startling reappearance of her husband who is in dogged pursuit of the traitors in order to clear his own name adds to the mystery.

This was a tense and thrilling mystery. I liked Verity and like that she doesn't just accept the reappearance of her husband. She doesn't know if she can trust him. She also sees evidence that he is willing to put his desire for justice ahead of their marriage and her feelings.

The setting was well done and the historical details about fashion and lifestyle added a lot to this first in a new trilogy.

Favorite Quote:

They say when you believe you're about to die your entire life passes before your eyes in a flurry of poignant images, but all I could think of, rather absurdly, was that I should have worn the blue hat. Well, that and that my sister would never forgive me for proving our mother right.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.