A Wicked Conceit
4 Stars

A new book and theatrical adaptation focusing on the life of Scottish crime lord Bonnie Brock Kincaid is all the rage in Edinburgh. But when the publisher is found bludgeoned to death, Kincaid, as well as Kiera and Gage, is amongst the suspects. To clear their name, the Gages begin their investigation to uncover the truth behind the book and unmask a killer.

Series note: While the mysteries in this series are standalone, there is ongoing characterization and allusions to events in previous books. In this particular installment, Huber also makes reference to events that take place in a novella published in [b:The Deadly Hours|48768157|The Deadly Hours|Susanna Kearsley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1577256964l/48768157._SX50_.jpg|74149610]. That said, the circumstances are outlined within the narrative, and there is no need to read the novella.

As always, the historical background is fascinating and the inclusion of the beliefs and customs surrounding the Cholera outbreaks of the early 1830s is particularly compelling in light of our own pandemic. It is always interesting to see just how far medicine and innovation have come.

The mystery itself is quite straightforward and it is possible to guess both the culprit and the motive from the clues provided. Nevertheless, there are some exciting moments and the climax and resolution are particularly fraught and satisfying.

In terms of character development, the secret Kiera is keeping from Gage plays out well. The keeping secrets trope is not one that I enjoy, so I appreciate the fact that it does not overshadow either the narrative no their romance.

Overall, an engaging addition to the series, and the developments revolving around some of the secondary characters were very entertaining. ( )

This is yet another wonderful addition to the Lady Darby mystery series. It is spring in Edinburgh, 1832 and Kiera and Gage are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first born child. They are affronted by the nefarious Bonnie Brock. Brock accuses them of having divulged the secrets of his life as manifested in the hot new book about the life of roguish Bonnie Brock, replete with salacious details inferring that Brock fathered the awaited child. And to top off the book's infamy, stage productions of the story are popping up all over town and causing endless consternation to the expectant couple as well as Bonnie Brock. With the recent rash of crimes, Brock is presumed to be the culprit, especially as the book's publisher was just found murdered. Can Gage and Kiera get to the bottom of Brock's troubles and salvage their own reputations in the process while keeping themselves out of harm's way. That will certainly be a challenge to which they gladly rise.

I have loved this series from the start with its smart writing and well-researched historical detail. This installment shares the challenges of Kiera being an active inquiry agent and balancing that with the soon to be birth of her first child. Memories of her own mother, whose life was cut far too short, weigh heavy on Kiera's mind and she longs for that maternal encouragement. Her older sister had assumed the maternal role but owing to recent activities their relationship has become somewhat strained. The book also pokes fun at the social mores and frustrations of that time. If you enjoy an historical mystery with a small touch of chaste romance, then this may well be the series for you. ( )

Now, this one was much more interesting for me. Kiera and Gage are back in Edinburgh awaiting the birth of their first born. And Bonnie Brock Kincaid is back too, which always ratchets up my enjoyment factor; I like a dark horse, especially when the author makes a place for him without creating any triangles.

There’s been a tell-all book written about gang-leader Bonnie Brock and his Robin-Hood-esque adventures under the nose of the Scottish authorities, and Keira and Gage are in it too. This causes a lot of tension between all the characters, as nobody is all that keen to be in the pubic eye, so the race is on to find the man behind the poison pen.

The book also allows a massive tension to ignite between Kiera and her sister, one that started in the previous book but really blows up in this one. So does the issue of paternity that was also introduced previously. In the former, I think the author could have created a better dynamic behind Alana’s motivation, but as the story is being told from Kiera’s POV, I suppose I understand the logic. The latter was handled better, I think. There was a blow up when the truth was discovered, but it wasn’t drawn out and beaten into the ground, and resolution was quick but reasonable.

In general, a story I enjoyed quite a bit more than I did the previous book, but that’s likely down to personal tastes. As Kiera has had the blessed child, I’m looking forward to their next adventure, hopefully after they’ve hired a nursemaid. ( )

I wasn't riveted, but I was interested. Huber tells a pretty good tale, and I usually end them feeling pleased. The relationships between the characters are stronger than the mysteries for me, but I don't mind that. The characters are believably flawed, but they love each other anyway and always seem to grow a bit more. ( )

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