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 … 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 favorite new mystery series!”
– Alyssa Maxwell, USA Today bestselling author
“Sure to please fans of classic whodunits and lovers of historical fiction alike.”
–Jessie Crockett, author of Whispers Beyond the Veil
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A glimpse into life after WWI.
good writing and good story; however, I don’t like the paranormal portion, albeit small as it is. When I checked about the next in the series there was an indication of more of the same and I’m not up for it. If it were not for that I would put Huber on my favorite list.
Verity is invited to an engagement party set on an island just off the English coast. It is being held by her deceased husband’s commander and his bride to be. She was not going to attend the weekend party until she receives a mysterious letter accusing her husband of treason. She was determined to find out the truth. What she did not count on was the guest list, the secrets, the danger and the murder.
This is the first book of the Verity Kent Mystery Series and is set just post WWII. The characters are masterfully created with distinct and interesting personalities complete with strengths and weakness. Verity is an amazing strong, intelligent woman who seems to pop off the pages and engage you in her adventure. The narrative is extremely well done giving detailed information on the scenery, the dresses, the entertainment and political climate allowing you to imagine the time period in which the story takes place. I really liked that the war was not glorified but rather hinted at the atrocities the fighting men and those at home struggled with. The mystery was captivating, full of danger, misdirection, unexpected twists, surprising turns, great suspects and an intense build up of suspense. I was glued to the story’s to the end. I highly recommend this amazing mystery written by a very talented author.
The plot was interesting. However, there were times where the story lagged, especially in the beginning of the story. I almost stopped reading. Glad I gave it a few more chapters.
Verity is a wonderful protagonist. Huber is witty, has a wonderful turn of phrase with interesting descriptions that makes you simply sink into her delightful plot. It makes you want to grab a cup of tea and stay up all night so you can finish. Loved it.
Anna Lee Huber writes excellent historical novels that make you feel you are right there in the time period she sets her books. “This Side of Murder” is set just following WWI and tells the story of the gathering of British soldiers who survived the war. But at this gathering, one by one the surviving solders are being murdered. This is a suspenseful tale that also focuses on the effects of the war on the soldiers and their spouses, as well as a spouse whose husband didn’t return. I highly recommend this book and any book by Anna Lee Huber.
I like historical romances and mysteries, and I liked the time period this mystery took place in–just after World War I. This had the feel of Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. People are stranded on an island for an engagement party, and they soon learn that every man there had known each other and served together in the war. And then men started dying, one by one. A nice set-up. The characters were well-done. I wish there had been more details about the horrors of the trenches instead of just alluding to the horrible conditions the men had to endure. The details would have added a deeper layer to the story. Verity Kent made a great protagonist since she served in the Secret Service during the war, but little specific is said about that either, and I would have enjoyed more. As it was, I still really enjoyed the mix of people at the party and the mystery. I’m not a fan of a triangle in romances, so that was a downer for me, but overall, the story and atmosphere were enough to keep me happily turning pages.
Roll over Agatha, there’s a new mystery writer vying for your crown.
Picture this: the WWI peace treaty is about to be signed, soldiers have flooded home to England’s shores and you, a female British Secret Service agent, have been released back to your upper-class life of leisure. The drinking and dancing leave a sour taste in your mouth though, because your young husband was killed in the trenches, and the emotional knife wound in your breast still aches with his loss.
A gilded invitation to attend a weekend engagement fest with your husband’s fellow officers at first doesn’t sound appealing. But when a secretive letter threatens to reveal your departed sweetheart as a traitor unless you attend, you decide to drive his Pierce Arrow down to the pier where the party yacht awaits.
Now you find yourself on an isolated island, inside a dark, rain-soaked castle, trying to enjoy yourself while you figure out who sent that annoying missive. It could even be a harmless prank. But then one dead body shows up, and soon, another. Why have the victims been killed? Could your husband have been a traitor after all? Will you be the next prey? And, in spite of your growing attraction to him, could the handsome Lord Ryde be the mastermind behind it all?
In the spirit of the old grande dames of Mystery, Huber delivers a rich and intriguing whodunit, with many familiar elements, but a style all her own. I particularly enjoyed the wind-whipped atmosphere of the castle, the deceitful twists, and the historical tidbits related to the war. My favorite though, was imagining, for a time, that I was an aristocratic spy, trying to track down a killer and clear my husband’s good name.
I loved this book! Painted a vivid picture of life after the First World War. Great characters in interesting situations!
Very good read.
This story draws you into the events after the 1st world war. The characters are well written and well rounded. You can feel the life altering drama that occurred in that period of time.
Different ending
This is a clearly presented taste of the realities of post WWI, lost family members, wounded returning soldiers, etc.
All this in the framework of a tantalizing murder mystery.
Hardly anyone is what they seem and who can be trusted?
Multiple surprises and a rip-snorting resolution.
This was a great book. I cannot wait to get her next one. Just plain good.
After reading a few pages I was so pulled into the story that I found it difficult to put down my e-reader because it was time to get of the train or time to go to sleep. The story-line is good with a few nice twists and turns. The descriptions from the surroundings and clothes were included in such a way that they complemented to the story. I look forward to read the next Verity Kent mystery.
If you enjoy books by Susan Macneal you will like this book.
This Side of Murder is an exciting start to the new Verity Kent series. With interesting and believable characters, surprising plot twists, and suspense building, I could not put it down! The yawns at work the next day were totally worth it.
It appears the surviving members of the suspiciously disastrous Thirtieth are being killed off during the weekend.
Verity starts out rather reserved and too timid but finally finds her spunk and voice amid the social pariahs of the engagement party. Max Westfield, Earl of Ryde, was briefly Sidney’s commanding officer and takes a shine to Verity. But can she trust him to help her with the growing questions surrounding Sidney’s death and the growing question of the unit having a traitor? Sidney or his memory, ever present as Verity mingles with his fellow officers and her grieving is just below the surface, seems rather bland and lacked much fire in their relationship before he shipped off to war. Walter Ponsonby and Beatrice are the engaged couple throwing the party. Walter wants to please Beatrice and is absent-minded and put out by the murders while Beatrice seems to want to throw a successful society party to show she can. The rest of the guests range between prickly and blatantly hostile. Thus the suspects are plentiful.
The island setting and time period are faithfully recreated and provide a delicious backdrop for a weekend of murder and mayhem. The plot grows more twisted as the story progresses and there are only a few slow moments (the beginning seems slow, but warms up after a little while). The climax was a mixture of daring action and tense moments. The wrap-up answered all the questions and left a new beginning for Verity so readers want to read the next book.
There is a significant twist towards the end that I honestly wasn’t happy with. Now that may just be me, so take that with a grain of salt. It was a whooper, but changed the story in a way I didn’t appreciate. I can’t say more without spoilers. I have to say that there were a few instances that Verity as the main character lost my interest, but was regained after a few pages. I hope the romantic direction will be corrected in the next book (Treacherous is the Night due Sept 25th). .
Rating: Excellent – a solid mystery with suspense
Especially well done research of historical information. Realistic characters and places. Love this exciting new series A Verity Kent Mystery by Anna Lee Huber sei in 1919.
A good mystery set after WW I with rich descriptions of fashion and lifestyle.