A Bitter Cut

A Bitter Cut (2026) Anna Lee Huber (Lady Darby #14)

Set in Warwickshire, England in 1833

Kiera has decided that they best way to meet the family of the woman her brother Trevor hopes to marry is to invite them to a house party.

Hosted by Lord Gage.

For his political friends.

“What was he prattling on about?”

“The Slavery Abolition Act. He thought he was here chiefly to strategize and discuss its passage with some of the lords who are on the fence. But Birnam and this murder have rather impeded his efforts.”

That goes as well as one would expect, and gets worse when Mr. Birnam’s secretary is murdered in an acid attack.

Otherwise, (they) might have lived in constant agony for days or even weeks before expiring. For as severe as the burns were, the likelihood of (their) recovering from them was minuscule. Even then, (they) would have been severely impaired and continuously at risk of deadly infection. It would only have ever been a matter of time.

I think it was in Sherlock Holmes that I first read of Vitriol attacks, but I was young enough I didn’t actually think about what that entailed–and how death was in fact likely to be a consequence in severe cases.

The story revolved not just around the murder, but how horrible Mr Birnam was, and what it might mean for Trevor to marry into that family.

“Surely, you must see that the establishment of a proficient Factory Inspectorate is beneficial for all. Why, if you’re already following the laws, as you assure me you are, then they’ll protect you as much as the laborers in your mills.” He swirled the Bordeaux in his glass before taking a drink.

“O’ course, I’m followin’ the laws,” Mr. Birnam insisted.

Which only made my suspicion that he wasn’t all the greater.

One thing she does in this series is to not sugar coat many of the horrors of the times, especially for those not born wealthy.

“…then ye should pay the workers ye do have more, so that they’re no’ reliant on sellin’ their weens oot as slaves!” Such was his anger that the Scots brogue he strangled in order to speak like an Etonian-educated nobleman broke through.

Birnam retorted with a few insults of his own. Ones so vile that even I was shocked.

I hadn’t particularly noticed it previously, but Kiera is presented in this book with the coded language of neurodivergence.

I knew that there were times when I did not react as expected.
…
social cues that everyone else seemed to read so easily eluded me.

I think I need perhaps to reread this series, because I remember reading her awkwardness as a result of her late husband’s actions in involving her in what became a tremendous scandal.

Cover art by Larry Rostant

Characters: Kiera Gage, Sebastian Gage, Emma Gage, Bree McEvoy, Anderley, Mrs. Mackay, Jeffers, Philip Count of Cromarty, Alana Countess of Cromarty, Malcolm, Lord Gage, Trevor St. Mawr, Miss Matilda Birnam, Mrs. Birnam, Mr. Birnam, Mr. Jeremiah “Jemmy” Birnam, Lorna, Alfie, Viscountess of Tavistock, Sherry, Rory, Bowcott, Lembus, Miss Portia Whitlock, Mr. Thorndike, Baron Foley, Lord Melbourne, Earl of Strathblane, Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Milngavie, Baron Brougham and Vaux, Lady Lyndhurst, Lady Brougham, Paget, Lord Wixford, Ann McClintock, Henry Kerr, Aunt Cait, Uncle Duncan, cousin Morven, Rye, Lady Bearsden, Charlotte, Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Cooper, Jenny, Mr. Simpkins

Publisher: Berkley Mystery

Rating: 8/10

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