A Deceptive Composition (Lady Darby Mystery, #12)

by Anna Lee Huber

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

A Deceptive Composition is the 12th Lady Darby historical mystery by Anna Lee Huber. Released 18th June 2024 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 384 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Set in the 1830s, with this installment in Cornwall, this is a long running series with distinct and well rendered characters who are believable and established. Although it's the 12th book in the series, the mystery, denouement, and resolution are self contained and it works well enough as a standalone. The author is quite adept (and prolific). This author also pens the Verity Kent mystery/thrillers which are impressively different in style and setting. Both series are worthwhile for historical mystery fans.

Lady Darby and her family, including her irascible and inscrutable father-in-law, are summoned to Cornwall by the matriarch of his long estranged family to investigate if a murder actually has taken place. Nothing ever goes as planned, and they're confounded by the close knit and uncommunicative locals who are unwilling to confide in them (even if they are family). There are other political forces at play, and romantic mentions of lost pirate treasure and shipwrecks, smugglers, and bootleggers complicate what should be a straightforward investigation.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 33 minutes and is capably narrated by series narrator Heather Wilds. She reads the characters distinctly and does a good job of differentiating the accents. Except for the dialogue (which she does competently), her voice is unobtrusive and neutral, in a good way. 

Four stars. More than competently written, engaging, and cleverly constructed. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition or substantial binge read.

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