An Artless Demise

An Artless Demise (2019) Anna Lee Huber

Set in London in November 1831

Kiera and Sebastian are in London, trying to settle into married life, but murder and body snatchers are reminding people who Kiera left in the first place, and Lord Gage is reminding Sebastian that his marriage to Kiera would bring this down upon them.

What a delight, that Lord Gage.

The investigation into the murder discovers a young lord who nobody seems to miss.

“Wait.” Redditch glanced between us in startlement. “You think someone deliberately murdered my heir?”

“The evidence does seem to point in that direction,” Gage said.

Redditch sank back into the sofa as if he’d had the wind knocked out of him.

“Does that surprise you?”

He lifted a hand to rub his forehead. “Actually . . . no.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this, even if there were a few things I took issue with.

First, I’m not certain I believe Lord Gage’s softening towards Kiera. I’m not sure that seeing her flinch when he raises his hand would really make him start to see things differently.

Second, I’m still unsure about the rationale for the second murder.

The burking and body snatching bits were fascinating (and true) but they weren’t truly involved in that investigation–the primary mystery was the murder of the young lords, and I have qualms, as I said, about that second murder.

BUT

It was still an enjoyable story and an interesting mystery, and I do recommend this series.

Publisher: Berkley
Rating: 8/10

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