Treacherous Is the Night (A Verity Kent Mystery, #2)

by Anna Lee Huber

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Treacherous Is the Night is the second book in the Verity Kent mystery series by Anna Lee Huber. Released 25th Sept by Kensington books, it's 304 pages and available in paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.

Although this is the second book in the series, it reads very well as a standalone. I do recommend searching out the first book in the series because it's beautifully written and plotted; a really superlative period mystery; but it's not necessary to have read it first to understand what's going on in this one.

Interwar mysteries are my favorites. I love the period, the style and panache, the sophistication and grit. Though I adore authentic classic golden age authors, there won't be any more produced. This, on the other hand, is a modern author who writes beautifully and cleverly with sophisticated three dimensional characters and dialogue which is never clunky or awkward.

Main character Verity is capable, intelligent, sophisticated and a little bit vulnerable. She worked in the resistance (bad*ss!) in WWI when she thought she was a widow, and even though her husband turned out to be alive, she feels compelled by a debt of honor to try to help a former comrade in arms. Her search for her former contact and fellow agent leads her and her husband into direct danger and she doesn't know whom she can trust.

This book has elements of a mystery espionage novel, but it's the mystery aspects which gave me the most enjoyment. The book's language is very clean with only a few scattered uses of the word 'bloody'. There is not any overt sexual content, although there are a few passing discussions of some of the harder realities of life for women in occupied areas during wartime (rape, etc). These discussions are fleeting and not at all graphic.

I often find unintentional anachronisms in most of the books I review and I have to say, Ms. Huber's period research is impressive. The story is interwoven around real life events and history and I couldn't find any obvious inaccuracies. Well played!

Four and a half stars. I recommend this book (and series) very highly to anyone who loves classic mysteries. I look forward eagerly to read more for these characters (even though her husband's sort of a cad).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.