Edgar Award-shortlisted author Ashley Weaver returns with A Most Novel Revenge, the charming next instalment in the delightful 1930s Amory Ames mystery series “A pleasant reminder of Golden Age mysteries that keep you guessing until the denouement.” –Kirkus Reviews “Fascinating and stylish characters fill out a finely tuned traditional mystery.” –Publishers Weekly “Well, darling, who do you … mystery.” —Publishers Weekly
“Well, darling, who do you suppose will turn up dead this time?”
With two murder investigations behind them and their marriage at last on steady ground, Amory and Milo Ames intend to winter quietly in Italy. The couple finds their plans derailed, however, when Amory receives an urgent summons to the English countryside from her cousin Laurel. At Lyonsgate, the country house of Laurel’s friend Reginald Lyons, Amory and Milo are surprised to discover an eccentric and distinguished group of guests have also been invited, led by the notorious socialite Isobel Van Allen.
After years of social exile, Isobel has returned to England to write a sequel to her scandalous first book, the thinly fictionalized account of a high society murder at the very country house to which the Ameses have been called. Her second incriminating volume, she warns the house’s occupants–all of whom were present when one of their companions was killed years ago–will tell everything that really happened that fateful night. But some secrets are meant to stay buried, and when a desperate person turns to murder, it’s up to Amory and Milo to sort through a web of scandal and lies to uncover the truth, and the identity of a killer.
Also out now in the Amory Ames mysteries: Murder at the Brightwell and Death Wears a Mask
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This series just keeps getting better and better!
‘Amory and Milo Ames are drawn into the investigation of a years-old murder by a salacious novelist in the English countryside in the latest installment in this “smart and sophisticated” (Library Reads) series from a bright new voice in traditional mysteries.
With two murder investigations behind them and their marriage at last on steady ground, Amory and Milo plan to quietly winter in Italy. The couple find their plans derailed when Amory receives an urgent summons from her cousin Laurel to the English countryside. At Lyonsgate, the country house of Laurel’s friend Redinald Lyons, Amory and Milo are surprised to discover an eccentric and distinguished group of guests have been invited, led by notorious socialite Isobel Van Allen.
Isobel has returned to England after years of social exile to write a sequel to her scandalous first book, the thinly-fictionalized account of a high-society murder at the very country house the Ameses have been called to. Her second incriminating volume, she warns the house’s occupants—all of whom were present when one of their companions was killed years ago—will tell everything that really happened that fateful night. But some bones are meant to stay buried, and when a desperate person turns to murder, it’s up to Amory and Milo to sort through a web of scandal and lies to uncover the truth, and the identity of a killer.’
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A Most Novel Revenge is the third book in Ashley Weaver’s debut series, The Amory Ames Mystery Series and is a historical mystery set in the 1930s.
Cozy mystery house party vibe in this book results in murder, but with a twist. Like the previous book in the series, this book has a definite Clue game vibe, which I will forever have a weakness for.
Despite being largely better behaved, Milo is still being a bit of a turd. Regardless of if Amory feels threatened or not, he needs to respect his wife more and stop making her look bad because no amount of charm can make up for it in my books. I’m still very much hoping for a redemption for him at some point, I’m truly hoping this persona and the absences can be excused by him being some form of secret agent.
It took me a little bit to get into this one, mainly because I found the premise justifying Amory and Milo’s presence at this gathering to be stretching the realms of believablity. It’s a bit strange that the owner of the home would extend the invitation to return to the scene of the worst thing to ever happen to this group solely because Laurel asked. That’s really my only complaint though, because as a whole I enjoyed this addition to the series and I really liked the way the reveal was handled.
Really loving this series so far and recommend it to other who enjoy some cozy style historical mysteries.
Amory and Milo find themselves encountering a murder at a country house party. Can they solve it without causing a scandal? I love these characters and you will, too.