Lady Darby Mysteries, book seven
Published April 2019 by Berkley
Format Read: print ARC received from publisher for review
Modified Description from Goodreads:
November 1831. After fleeing London in infamy more than two years prior, Lady Kiera Darby’s return to the city is anything but mundane. A gang of body snatchers is arrested on suspicion of killing people from the streets and selling their bodies to medical schools. Then Kiera’s past—a past she thought she’d finally made peace with—rises up to haunt her.
All of London is horrified by the evidence that “burkers” are, indeed, at work in their city. The terrified populace hovers on a knife’s edge, ready to take their enmity out on any likely suspect. And when Kiera receives a letter of blackmail, threatening to divulge details about her late anatomist husband’s involvement with the body snatchers and wrongfully implicate her, she begins to apprehend just how precarious her situation is. Not only for herself, but also her new husband and investigative partner, Sebastian Gage, and their unborn child.
My Review:
While this series has been on my radar for a couple of years, this is honestly the first Lady Darby book I've read. I was somewhat worried that it would be difficult to pick things up seven books into the series, but Huber was skillful at inserting all the backstory I needed to be able to follow along without a problem.
Lady Kiera (Darby) Gage is a very strong-minded likable heroine. She knows her mind and is quick at matching wits with others when needed. She's also artistic and very much a lady of her time. I loved the realistic blend of historical accuracy and chutzpah in the sense that while Kiera acts as an investigative partner to her husband, she still maintains her role in society and the author was careful to find the perfect balance between the two roles. She carries a gun, but doesn't chase down criminals herself. She attends grand soirees and also sketches criminals when needed for the police.
I also really loved the relationship between Kiera and her husband Sebastian. I need to go back and read the earlier books to experience their falling in love and getting married! It's always amazing when you read about a man who really values his wife for her intelligence and personality. Admiring her as she is and not as he's expecting her to be... and they have what seems to be a perfectly mutually respectful partnership... with a side of passion. This particular book was a great introduction to their relationship, as well, because it forces both of them to really explore the abuses Kiera suffered in her first marriage and how they feel about each other and their marriage in general. Kiera receives a lot of beautiful support from friends and family in this book.
The mystery was built around an interesting historical phenomenon, as well. I had heard vaguely about people digging up bodies illegally for cadaver autopsies, but I'd never actually heard of "burking." It made for both an interesting history lesson and a great cover for the murderer's motives... I won't say more for fear of spoiling things.
I'll just end with a hearty recommendation to readers who love historical mysteries and the comment that I will be going back at some point to start this series from the beginning!!
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