ARC Review: A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber

A Certain Darkness
Author: Anna Lee Huber
Series: A Verity Kent Mystery (Book 6)
Publication: Kensington (August 30, 2022)

Description: Set in Downton Abbey-era post-war England, and featuring indomitable heroine Verity Kent, this action-packed series from Anna Lee Huber, USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries, is a treat for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Ella MacNeal. Historical mystery fans will “savor the intricate plotting and captivating details of the era.” (Library Journal)

The 1920s are off to an intriguing start, but even as a new decade dawns, the shadow of The Great War persists…

March 1920: Life has turned unsettlingly quiet for former British Intelligence agent Verity Kent and her husband, Sidney. But even that false calm is about to end. As threats remain, the French authorities soon request Sidney’s help with a suspect who claims to have proof of treason—shortly before she is assassinated. And Verity, too, is called to investigate a mystery.

The murder of a Belgian lawyer aboard a train seems at first to be a simple case of revenge. But the victim was connected to British Intelligence, and possessed papers detailing the sinking of a gold-laden German ship during the war.

As Verity and Sidney dig deeper, they discover their cases are intertwined—and a lethal adversary persists. Officially, the Great War may be over, but this is a battle of nerves and wits they cannot afford to lose…

My Thoughts: The Great War might be over, but Verity and Sidney Kent are still trying to tie up some loose ends and hunt down a very well-connected and concealed traitor. Their investigation is sidetracked when Sidney is asked to travel to France to interrogate an informant who has information that she won't share with anyone else.

Verity's former boss C is also interested in what this young woman has to tell and since Verity is still an off-the-books agent of his, she goes along. Adele Baverel might have some information but before she can share it, she's found dead in her cell and the French are shouting suicide while one look tells Verity it was murder. 

Mlle. Baverel did give some possible hints that might lead Verity and Sidney to her hidden information, but the British Intelligence head there in France wants them to look into the murder of a lawyer who worked for the British during the war and who might also have information that needs to be found. 

As Verity and Sidney try to track down people who might know something about either of these cases, they begin to believe that the two are related and that the secrets they might uncover could have a devastating effect on Britain's relationships in Europe. And they are not the only ones on the hunt for this information. Lord Ardmore has a couple of his men there too both helping and hindering the Kents at seemingly random times.

This was a very complex story the brings in people and events from earlier books in the series. I've read them, but not recently, and found that the background that brings up earlier events was more confusing than helpful. I would guess someone not familiar with the earlier books would have been even more baffled. 

The strength of the story was the depiction of the political atmosphere with all its complexities as people try to adjust to the new post-Great War scene. I also enjoyed the random bits of culture and fashion that were dropped into the story. 

Fans of the series will enjoy this entry and be looking forward to the next.

Favorite Quote:

I needed to know why they'd lied to us. Sidney needed to know. We'd both sacrificed nearly all, including each other, for our country. We needed to know what C and T were so intent on hiding from us. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.