What do you think?
Rate this book
Kate Hamilton Mysteries #5
A Collection of Lies
In USA Today bestselling author Connie Berry’s fifth Kate Hamilton mystery, American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton follows blood-stained clues to discover the truth about the murder of a modern-day Victorian gentleman.
As Kate Hamilton and her new husband DI Tom Mallory honeymoon in Devon, a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a blood-stained dress said to belong to a Victorian lacemaker accused of murder. If genuine, the dress and its puzzling connections to a nineteenth-century Romani family who camped on Dartmoor will be the centerpiece of a new historic crimes exhibit—exactly Kate’s kind of mystery. But matters turn deadly when a shot is fired during a fundraising gala, injuring the man who donated the dress.
The injured donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cyber-security expert who lives and dresses as a Victorian gentleman, but everyone believes the real target of the attack to be another attendee—a controversial politician intent on rooting out local corruption. This belief is overturned when Gideon is found dead in a pool of blood. But then the politician receives a death threat.
Who was the real target? Who would want to kill both a man with an obsession for history and a tough-on-crime politician? When asked to assist in the investigation, Kate races to discover the truth as it becomes clear the killer isn’t going to come quietly.
As Kate Hamilton and her new husband DI Tom Mallory honeymoon in Devon, a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a blood-stained dress said to belong to a Victorian lacemaker accused of murder. If genuine, the dress and its puzzling connections to a nineteenth-century Romani family who camped on Dartmoor will be the centerpiece of a new historic crimes exhibit—exactly Kate’s kind of mystery. But matters turn deadly when a shot is fired during a fundraising gala, injuring the man who donated the dress.
The injured donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cyber-security expert who lives and dresses as a Victorian gentleman, but everyone believes the real target of the attack to be another attendee—a controversial politician intent on rooting out local corruption. This belief is overturned when Gideon is found dead in a pool of blood. But then the politician receives a death threat.
Who was the real target? Who would want to kill both a man with an obsession for history and a tough-on-crime politician? When asked to assist in the investigation, Kate races to discover the truth as it becomes clear the killer isn’t going to come quietly.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2024
51 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Connie Berry
8 books149 followersConnie Berry is the author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries, set in the UK and featuring an American antiques dealer with a gift for solving crimes. Like her protagonist, Connie was raised by antiques dealers who instilled in her a passion for history, fine art, and travel. During college she studied at the University of Freiburg in Germany and St. Clare’s College, Oxford, where she fell under the spell of the British Isles. Besides reading and writing mysteries, Connie loves history, foreign travel, cute animals, and all things British. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable Shih Tzu, Emmie.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 16, 2024
A Collection of Lies, book 5 in the “A Kate Hamilton Mystery” series by Connie Berry which releases June 18th.
I loved visiting the village of Coombe Mallet, in Devon, and hanging out with Kate, and Tom on their working honeymoon. I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in over a couple of days.
Kate's inquiry into the mysterious past leads her to uncover the fascinating stories of two skilled working-class women, Nancy Thorne, a talented lacemaker, and her sister Sally Tucker, a proficient seamstress. However, it is a local researcher and librarian who proves instrumental in providing crucial insights into the sisters' lives, the Romani community present in the area at the time, and even potential suspects connected to the ongoing murder investigation.
I did not suspect the killer right away, there were lots of twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good traditional British cozy mystery with a historical background.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved visiting the village of Coombe Mallet, in Devon, and hanging out with Kate, and Tom on their working honeymoon. I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in over a couple of days.
Kate's inquiry into the mysterious past leads her to uncover the fascinating stories of two skilled working-class women, Nancy Thorne, a talented lacemaker, and her sister Sally Tucker, a proficient seamstress. However, it is a local researcher and librarian who proves instrumental in providing crucial insights into the sisters' lives, the Romani community present in the area at the time, and even potential suspects connected to the ongoing murder investigation.
I did not suspect the killer right away, there were lots of twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good traditional British cozy mystery with a historical background.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 16, 2024
Tom and Kate are on their honeymoon but that doesn’t mean they won’t find a murder that they can’t solve.
Tom is considering taking early retirement from policing to join a private investigation firm based in Toronto. They have chosen Devon as their honeymoon destination because they are looking into the mystery of a blood-stained dress that supposedly was worn by a lacemaker accused of murder while deciding which direction Tom will take professionally.
Oh, the tangled webs we weave! I was kept on my toes reading this one, there were so many twists and turns, characters not telling the whole truth, just parts, I was kept impatiently waiting to find out who killed Nancy Thorne and did she murdered anyone, and was anyone telling the truth, or was it just a collection of lies! The cast of characters was engaging and rich; the history of the area of Devon is peat moss deep!
I wholeheartedly recommend this latest installment of Kate Hamilton mysteries. It was exactly the kind of mystery I need to read right now. It kept me glued to the pages and I would’ve read in one reading but I have to work and sleep!
My gratitude to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.
Tom is considering taking early retirement from policing to join a private investigation firm based in Toronto. They have chosen Devon as their honeymoon destination because they are looking into the mystery of a blood-stained dress that supposedly was worn by a lacemaker accused of murder while deciding which direction Tom will take professionally.
Oh, the tangled webs we weave! I was kept on my toes reading this one, there were so many twists and turns, characters not telling the whole truth, just parts, I was kept impatiently waiting to find out who killed Nancy Thorne and did she murdered anyone, and was anyone telling the truth, or was it just a collection of lies! The cast of characters was engaging and rich; the history of the area of Devon is peat moss deep!
I wholeheartedly recommend this latest installment of Kate Hamilton mysteries. It was exactly the kind of mystery I need to read right now. It kept me glued to the pages and I would’ve read in one reading but I have to work and sleep!
My gratitude to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are honest and mine.
July 10, 2024
Public library copy
Picked this one up in the new books section of my library; it didn't matter all that much that I hadn't read the first four, although I'm sure it would have been even better if I had. I got caught up to speed quickly with Kate, an antiques dealer/appraiser, and her new husband, Tom, a police detective, who were on their honeymoon in a remote are of Devon, England. There was an interesting mystery from the 1800s involving a bloodstained dress that had survived, but also a murder of the man who had it in his possession. The plot threads were woven together nicely, and what I appreciated most (as someone who normally reads 95% middle grade fiction) was that the murders weren't gorey, there wasn't foul language, and the adults didn't get up to any graphic hanky panky. The ending was a little deus ex machina, but not finding out the mystery of the dress until the very end of the book certainly kept me turning the pages. This is a series that I would gladly go back and pick up if I had the time. It didn't hurt that the author is from Ohio.
Picked this one up in the new books section of my library; it didn't matter all that much that I hadn't read the first four, although I'm sure it would have been even better if I had. I got caught up to speed quickly with Kate, an antiques dealer/appraiser, and her new husband, Tom, a police detective, who were on their honeymoon in a remote are of Devon, England. There was an interesting mystery from the 1800s involving a bloodstained dress that had survived, but also a murder of the man who had it in his possession. The plot threads were woven together nicely, and what I appreciated most (as someone who normally reads 95% middle grade fiction) was that the murders weren't gorey, there wasn't foul language, and the adults didn't get up to any graphic hanky panky. The ending was a little deus ex machina, but not finding out the mystery of the dress until the very end of the book certainly kept me turning the pages. This is a series that I would gladly go back and pick up if I had the time. It didn't hurt that the author is from Ohio.
June 14, 2024
A honeymoon that is riddled with murder, conspiracy and corruption. Tom Mallory and his wife Kate have been staying in a small Devon town called Combe Mallett. The museum is hoping to attract backers and a museum of Devon history is hoping to highlight a specific dress and investigating the crime that fosters the mystery of the owner of the dress and more. Kate and Tom have been asked to look into the provenance of the dress and if course the attempted murder and eventual murder of the man who donated it to the museum. The man is quite caught up in the time period namely Victorian and even dresses as those did back then. His housekeeper adhered to that dress code too or was fired. Kate and Tom meet the man and wonder why he bought the clothes and the things in a trunk which includes the dress. The dress was said to be stained in blood and belonged to Nancy Thorne said to be a murderess. As we see the dress and learn about lacemaking and the time period 1885l
Kate begins to help readers with the investigation by writing down important facts that will help her and us solve the murder and more. Clive and Donna Nixon would they profit from the death of Gideon as we meet them and get a cold chill about Clive and what he’s hiding. Why was he in Combe Mallet the night before the murder ? Was Gideon the target at the gala, had he uncovered dirt on someone other than Quinns father and his colleagues? Is the breast 3 months ago related to his murder? Who is the man who died in Exeter? Why did Gideon refuse to give the trunk to the museum and who forged the note in the dress? Was Nancy really a killer? Whose blood was in the dress? How is it linked to the murder of Littlejohn? Romani period: link to the dress and items in trunk? Where is his ex-wife and who are the other historical creators can they enlighten about anything?
A trip to the library and the librarian uncovers information about the night of September 7, 1885, and how she returned to where she lived with her sister, but she was incoherent, why? Then the librarian accessed the accessed the census for the years of the Thorne family and on pages 123-126 you’ll have to find out more for yourself. Then Julia Kelly explains the mystery of the dress and the odd facts about the calico one worn by Nancy they think, and another that shows the style of the time. But the most revealing information is about an article bought by Hugo and the two words in it that were forgeries which the librarian brought to his attention and the end result you can imagine.
Lies unfold and Kate and Tom question the housekeeper and her husband and learn about their scam to get his disability and how she came to be on bad circumstances with Littlejohn who accused her of fraud, stealing and her husband’s medical benefits claiming he was sick and could not work. Arrested needs to pay back the money or do jail time then it shifts to the past and the videos that Littlejohn made and who was the person that was seen in the morning of his murder? lies, betrayals and more deceptions and new articles from the 1885 time period that might unlock the hidden truths but who owned the bloodstained dress? Who did the doctor in the past treat? In the present who tried to kill Teddy Pearce and why was his wife appearing concern? Who tried to kill him and how will that lead back to the forged note about the authenticity of the dress?
A tour that reveals information but not what she expected and now back to the housekeeper who worked for Gideon did she really steal, hide things and more? Then the origin of the items from the auction did not include what was in the trunk that Gideon bought, what used to be fact and what used to be fiction? Then the author takes us back to 1885 and we enter the world of the Gypsies and meet Queenie herself who was ill and her life span and why she died and not sent to the hospital. But August 31,1885 says it all added by October of that year which explains how Queenie kept her family together and the question Kate has is who died? But the truth behind the trunk and other items were still unknown and then a surprise revelation. How will it all unfold and who killed Gideon, why and who had the most to gain you won’t believe what is right in front of you.
Events change and two people are injured and the truth behind who killed Littlejohn is revealed that goes back to over 30 years ago and someone in the present lied openly about his past and the death of someone dear to Littlejohn but how will it play out as each person within this group involved in the history of the museum, the dress, the trunk and the truths that Gideon was about to reveal plus his housekeeper round out almost everyone who created as the title states more than a small but larger than life Collection of Lies. DCI Okoje is a great character and his
methods unorthodox and Varma O’Brien equally good.
As the truths are revealed, whose lies would come back and haunt them, and a harsh reality from the past in 1885 will set the investigation in a new direction, the lies that someone in power told, the lies that someone did to protect this person and in the end who will win if anyone as the author reveals through a special flash drive, the hidden truth about Nancy Thorne, William and her love for Heron, what happened in the past was tragic and was moved into the present and caused one man to seek retribution for the death of a friend, and another who wanted him silenced. Read pages 318-320 and admire and understand the hidden truths that lied beneath the bloodstained dress. A mystery that will keep you wondering until the last page and Kate and Tom in it all the way. What is next for them? Will he accept the DCI position? Only you will know when you read the final page. Author Connie Berry’s research into the Victorian period and other time periods makes the past come to life. A must read.
Fran Lewis just reviews
Kate begins to help readers with the investigation by writing down important facts that will help her and us solve the murder and more. Clive and Donna Nixon would they profit from the death of Gideon as we meet them and get a cold chill about Clive and what he’s hiding. Why was he in Combe Mallet the night before the murder ? Was Gideon the target at the gala, had he uncovered dirt on someone other than Quinns father and his colleagues? Is the breast 3 months ago related to his murder? Who is the man who died in Exeter? Why did Gideon refuse to give the trunk to the museum and who forged the note in the dress? Was Nancy really a killer? Whose blood was in the dress? How is it linked to the murder of Littlejohn? Romani period: link to the dress and items in trunk? Where is his ex-wife and who are the other historical creators can they enlighten about anything?
A trip to the library and the librarian uncovers information about the night of September 7, 1885, and how she returned to where she lived with her sister, but she was incoherent, why? Then the librarian accessed the accessed the census for the years of the Thorne family and on pages 123-126 you’ll have to find out more for yourself. Then Julia Kelly explains the mystery of the dress and the odd facts about the calico one worn by Nancy they think, and another that shows the style of the time. But the most revealing information is about an article bought by Hugo and the two words in it that were forgeries which the librarian brought to his attention and the end result you can imagine.
Lies unfold and Kate and Tom question the housekeeper and her husband and learn about their scam to get his disability and how she came to be on bad circumstances with Littlejohn who accused her of fraud, stealing and her husband’s medical benefits claiming he was sick and could not work. Arrested needs to pay back the money or do jail time then it shifts to the past and the videos that Littlejohn made and who was the person that was seen in the morning of his murder? lies, betrayals and more deceptions and new articles from the 1885 time period that might unlock the hidden truths but who owned the bloodstained dress? Who did the doctor in the past treat? In the present who tried to kill Teddy Pearce and why was his wife appearing concern? Who tried to kill him and how will that lead back to the forged note about the authenticity of the dress?
A tour that reveals information but not what she expected and now back to the housekeeper who worked for Gideon did she really steal, hide things and more? Then the origin of the items from the auction did not include what was in the trunk that Gideon bought, what used to be fact and what used to be fiction? Then the author takes us back to 1885 and we enter the world of the Gypsies and meet Queenie herself who was ill and her life span and why she died and not sent to the hospital. But August 31,1885 says it all added by October of that year which explains how Queenie kept her family together and the question Kate has is who died? But the truth behind the trunk and other items were still unknown and then a surprise revelation. How will it all unfold and who killed Gideon, why and who had the most to gain you won’t believe what is right in front of you.
Events change and two people are injured and the truth behind who killed Littlejohn is revealed that goes back to over 30 years ago and someone in the present lied openly about his past and the death of someone dear to Littlejohn but how will it play out as each person within this group involved in the history of the museum, the dress, the trunk and the truths that Gideon was about to reveal plus his housekeeper round out almost everyone who created as the title states more than a small but larger than life Collection of Lies. DCI Okoje is a great character and his
methods unorthodox and Varma O’Brien equally good.
As the truths are revealed, whose lies would come back and haunt them, and a harsh reality from the past in 1885 will set the investigation in a new direction, the lies that someone in power told, the lies that someone did to protect this person and in the end who will win if anyone as the author reveals through a special flash drive, the hidden truth about Nancy Thorne, William and her love for Heron, what happened in the past was tragic and was moved into the present and caused one man to seek retribution for the death of a friend, and another who wanted him silenced. Read pages 318-320 and admire and understand the hidden truths that lied beneath the bloodstained dress. A mystery that will keep you wondering until the last page and Kate and Tom in it all the way. What is next for them? Will he accept the DCI position? Only you will know when you read the final page. Author Connie Berry’s research into the Victorian period and other time periods makes the past come to life. A must read.
Fran Lewis just reviews
March 27, 2024
American antiques expert Kate Hamilton is on her honeymoon in Devon with her English husband, DI Tom Mallory, looking forward to moving into their new house. But first, they have agreed to investigate the provenance of a bloodstained dress dating back to a Victorian lace maker who, if the note pinned to the dress can be validated, is a murderess. But whose blood is on the dress, was there actually a murder, and--if so--what was the motivation? Kate is busy studying the history and culture of the Dartmoor area and tracking down difficult-to-locate individuals who may be able to provide some valuable information, while Tom is recruited by the local constabulary to assist when things turn deadly.
Connie Berry is a master at creating a credible, well-researched mystery, layer by layer, and incorporating fascinating characters who may be part of the puzzle. One character, for example, has devoted his adult life to transforming his home into a Victorian estate, wearing the era's clothing, and living as a Victorian man, and his housekeeper goes along with the pretense. Another is a brash politician who has a troubled background but more recently has had success passing legislation to improve the lives of his constituents. Then there are the museum staff hoping the dress will be the centerpiece of an exciting new exhibit, the itinerant Romani community who circled back to the area each year, supportive and conniving women, and more. I felt exhausted but happy when the mystery was finally resolved, and I will definitely look for the next (sixth) in the series.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
Connie Berry is a master at creating a credible, well-researched mystery, layer by layer, and incorporating fascinating characters who may be part of the puzzle. One character, for example, has devoted his adult life to transforming his home into a Victorian estate, wearing the era's clothing, and living as a Victorian man, and his housekeeper goes along with the pretense. Another is a brash politician who has a troubled background but more recently has had success passing legislation to improve the lives of his constituents. Then there are the museum staff hoping the dress will be the centerpiece of an exciting new exhibit, the itinerant Romani community who circled back to the area each year, supportive and conniving women, and more. I felt exhausted but happy when the mystery was finally resolved, and I will definitely look for the next (sixth) in the series.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
May 8, 2025
American antiques dealer Kate has finally married police detective Tom, but their honeymoon involves authenticating an antique dress for a small historical museum in Devon, where Tom spent happy childhood summers. The dress, badly bloodstained, was donated to the museum by a local collector. It is said to have belonged to a local woman who was found wearing it but with no memory of what happened to her. When the donor is found murdered, there's a surfeit of suspects, from his housekeeper to the newly elected Member of Parliament. Kate senses that his death is tied up with the dress, and the dead man's insistence that she was a murderess, though no body was ever found at the time.
May 18, 2024
Tom Mallory and Kate Hamilton are on their honeymoon in Devon when a local history museum asks them to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress that they want to use as the centerpiece of a Crimes in Devon exhibit.
This investigation seems to be just what they are looking for. Tom is contemplating changing careers from the police to private investigation and Kate has had success in unraveling other historical puzzles. And Kate is pleased that the investigation won't put them in danger since they are both still bruised after their last adventure.
But a gunshot at a museum fundraising gathering and the murder of the man who donated the dress to the exhibit put both of them back in the middle of a danger-filled mystery. The first mystery is just who the supposed victim of the shooting was supposed to be. The donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cybersecurity expert who is determined to live as a Victorian gentleman and is busy making his home into what was typical for the time period. But standing next to him was Teddy Pearce who is a newly elected member of Parliament who comes from a troubled past.
While Tom is drafted into working for the local police, Kate finds herself investigating the bloodstained dress and its supposed owner Nancy Thorne who was a lacemaker. With no documentation but a forged note saying the dress belonged to Nancy who was also accused as a murderer, Kate begins research with the help of a local librarian who is a great researcher and intrigued by the mystery.
While it seems that the two investigations are separate, it soon begins to come clear that the investigations are related and finding out the provenance of the dress could lead to the contemporary murder. This was an interesting mystery with lots of local history in the story. From a drowned town to Romani culture, there are all sorts of interesting details.
Fans of the series will enjoy this latest episode.
This investigation seems to be just what they are looking for. Tom is contemplating changing careers from the police to private investigation and Kate has had success in unraveling other historical puzzles. And Kate is pleased that the investigation won't put them in danger since they are both still bruised after their last adventure.
But a gunshot at a museum fundraising gathering and the murder of the man who donated the dress to the exhibit put both of them back in the middle of a danger-filled mystery. The first mystery is just who the supposed victim of the shooting was supposed to be. The donor, Gideon Littlejohn, is a cybersecurity expert who is determined to live as a Victorian gentleman and is busy making his home into what was typical for the time period. But standing next to him was Teddy Pearce who is a newly elected member of Parliament who comes from a troubled past.
While Tom is drafted into working for the local police, Kate finds herself investigating the bloodstained dress and its supposed owner Nancy Thorne who was a lacemaker. With no documentation but a forged note saying the dress belonged to Nancy who was also accused as a murderer, Kate begins research with the help of a local librarian who is a great researcher and intrigued by the mystery.
While it seems that the two investigations are separate, it soon begins to come clear that the investigations are related and finding out the provenance of the dress could lead to the contemporary murder. This was an interesting mystery with lots of local history in the story. From a drowned town to Romani culture, there are all sorts of interesting details.
Fans of the series will enjoy this latest episode.
May 29, 2024
This is one of my favorite series and I was so excited to get an ARC from NetGalley! Berry does it again with a fabulous mystery, great characters. and an atmospheric setting. Kate Hamilton and her new husband, Tom are on their honeymoon in Devon to solve a mystery about a Victorian dress. When murder soon follows, the two mysteries become intertwined. I love the way that Berry plots her stories, drawing the reader along as Kate and Tom solve the murder and mystery of the Victorian dress. I'm looking forward to more adventures with Kate!
April 22, 2024
A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry is the newest installment in the fantastic Kate Hamilton Mysteries series. Kate is an antiques dealer and appraiser and her new husband Tom is a Detective Inspector with the Suffolk Constabulary. They are on their honeymoon in Devon and team up to solve interconnected mysteries, namely a Victorian era bloodstained dress and murder. The past meets the present in this delicious twisty story and there are secrets galore.
I really enjoyed learning more about the history of textiles including conservation, Honiton lace, lace schools and horrendous lacework conditions young girls endured, Romanichals and the Rational Dress Movement. Talk about fascinating! The mystery itself is clever, the setting lovely, food descriptions delectable and the main characters are worth caring about. The secondary characters are quirky and add a pleasing layer. But what stands out for me most are the breathtaking textile and lace details, tricks, hiding places and imagery.
Craving a refreshing series with a unique premise? This could be your wheelhouse.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel. I'm eagerly anticipating the next in this wonderful series!
I really enjoyed learning more about the history of textiles including conservation, Honiton lace, lace schools and horrendous lacework conditions young girls endured, Romanichals and the Rational Dress Movement. Talk about fascinating! The mystery itself is clever, the setting lovely, food descriptions delectable and the main characters are worth caring about. The secondary characters are quirky and add a pleasing layer. But what stands out for me most are the breathtaking textile and lace details, tricks, hiding places and imagery.
Craving a refreshing series with a unique premise? This could be your wheelhouse.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this enthralling novel. I'm eagerly anticipating the next in this wonderful series!
March 29, 2024
I geek historical information, so first I will say that I learned about Lost Villages, Honiton Lace (I had tried pillow lace some years ago and it was REALLY hard), the National Park in Devon, Romanichal people/culture also known as the GRTs (Gypsy/Roma/Travellers), Swansea teapots, and the incredible due diligence required to document historical provenance of some items.
The mystery and investigation are equally detailed and diabolical, the characters interesting and engaging, and the whole is simply riveting. And then there's that twisty path to the great reveal!
A widowed antique dealer with a shop Ohio who grew up in Wisconsin, Kate is managing the antiquities shop in England with her elder friend Ivor and is very recently married to DI Tom Mallory, of Suffolk constabulary.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 18 Jun 2024 #KateHamiltonBk5 #BritishCozy
The mystery and investigation are equally detailed and diabolical, the characters interesting and engaging, and the whole is simply riveting. And then there's that twisty path to the great reveal!
A widowed antique dealer with a shop Ohio who grew up in Wisconsin, Kate is managing the antiquities shop in England with her elder friend Ivor and is very recently married to DI Tom Mallory, of Suffolk constabulary.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 18 Jun 2024 #KateHamiltonBk5 #BritishCozy
June 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this read! It's the first in the series I've read despite it being the fifth instalment of the series, and I found it really accessible to pick up without knowing any previous context. The mystery, setting and characters really grabbed me and I was instantly immersed in the museum and small town culture. I was left guessing until the very end as to who the murderer was. I loved the combination of the mystery in the present as well as the one in the past and how the two intertwined. I'll definitely be looking for the other books in the series now!
May 27, 2024
I am kicking myself for not discovering this series sooner, and plan to rectify that shortly by devouring books one through four. Even though this is book five in an established series, I had no trouble settling in with Berry’s characters, setting, or story. The heroine, Kate Hamilton, is an antiques expert, and she’s on her honeymoon in Devon with her police detective husband, Tom Mallory. While they are on their honeymoon, Tom and Kate have also taken on a private job. They’ve been asked to verify the provenance of a blood covered dress from the 1880’s, which supposedly belonged to a murderess.
They are staying in a small Devon town, Combe Mallett, where a museum of Devon history is looking to feature the dress as an attraction. And while Kate and Tom are just looking to verify the provenance of the dress, they are also interested in the crime. The dress has been donated to the museum by an eccentric man who lives, as closely as possible, as a Victorian gentleman. He wears the clothes, he’s restoring his home to the period, and he even employs a housekeeper dressed in apron and mobcap. When Kate and Tom go to meet him he is cagey, only mentioning that he bought the dress as part of a lot he purchased.
Berry does a lovely job at drawing in the historical details of the area, of the dress and of the possible life of the woman who wore it. The textile expert at the museum, who is meticulously restoring the garment, provides Kate with many clues and her work is fascinating. The area was famous, for example, for Honiton lace. The women who made it were often sent to lace making schools at very young ages. The bloody dress, while obviously belonging to a working-class woman, is never the less adorned with a lace collar.
I very much appreciate an amateur sleuth uses his or her actual skill to solve the crime. While Kate isn’t strictly an amateur as she’s working with her husband on a specific job, she’s mainly an antiques appraiser and expert in her day-to-day life. Other series that have done this well include Joanne Dobson’s Karen Pelletier books, Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Sweeney St. George novels, and more recently, Elly Griffiths’ wonderful Ruth Galloway series. All the women in these books are experts in their fields and it’s that expertise that lends validity to their investigations.
As Tom works with the police after the inevitable death, Kate is working a parallel case, discovering what she can about the dress while at the same time reporting back and consulting with Tom and the Devon police in charge of the murder investigation. The suspect pool is small but rich, and the characters in the story, whether involved with the museum or local politics, are interestingly complex.
This is not a cozy exactly, but it’s cozy adjacent. Kate and her husband seem to be very happy and the Devon setting (and the food) add a layer of coziness to the story. Kate and Tom aren’t there to upset the apple cart, they’re the calm center of the storm around them. There’s really no more cozy element than that, in my opinion. The fascinating mystery Berry weaves is icing on this delicious mysterious cake.
They are staying in a small Devon town, Combe Mallett, where a museum of Devon history is looking to feature the dress as an attraction. And while Kate and Tom are just looking to verify the provenance of the dress, they are also interested in the crime. The dress has been donated to the museum by an eccentric man who lives, as closely as possible, as a Victorian gentleman. He wears the clothes, he’s restoring his home to the period, and he even employs a housekeeper dressed in apron and mobcap. When Kate and Tom go to meet him he is cagey, only mentioning that he bought the dress as part of a lot he purchased.
Berry does a lovely job at drawing in the historical details of the area, of the dress and of the possible life of the woman who wore it. The textile expert at the museum, who is meticulously restoring the garment, provides Kate with many clues and her work is fascinating. The area was famous, for example, for Honiton lace. The women who made it were often sent to lace making schools at very young ages. The bloody dress, while obviously belonging to a working-class woman, is never the less adorned with a lace collar.
I very much appreciate an amateur sleuth uses his or her actual skill to solve the crime. While Kate isn’t strictly an amateur as she’s working with her husband on a specific job, she’s mainly an antiques appraiser and expert in her day-to-day life. Other series that have done this well include Joanne Dobson’s Karen Pelletier books, Sarah Stewart Taylor’s Sweeney St. George novels, and more recently, Elly Griffiths’ wonderful Ruth Galloway series. All the women in these books are experts in their fields and it’s that expertise that lends validity to their investigations.
As Tom works with the police after the inevitable death, Kate is working a parallel case, discovering what she can about the dress while at the same time reporting back and consulting with Tom and the Devon police in charge of the murder investigation. The suspect pool is small but rich, and the characters in the story, whether involved with the museum or local politics, are interestingly complex.
This is not a cozy exactly, but it’s cozy adjacent. Kate and her husband seem to be very happy and the Devon setting (and the food) add a layer of coziness to the story. Kate and Tom aren’t there to upset the apple cart, they’re the calm center of the storm around them. There’s really no more cozy element than that, in my opinion. The fascinating mystery Berry weaves is icing on this delicious mysterious cake.
June 20, 2024
Kate Hamilton should be enjoying her honeymoon with her new husband, Tom Mallory. But there is no rest for the wicked. Asked to trace the provenance of a bloodstained dress believed to have belonged to an accused murderer, their honeymoon becomes an investigation that gets more dangerous the more they dig in with A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry.
Kate Hamilton arrived in Devon not only to enjoy her honeymoon with her husband, Tom Mallory but also to discover the true history of a dress donated to the local museum. Kate is drawn to this dress, feeling an overwhelming emotional connection she cannot explain. But the dress is not the only mystery when a local eccentric and Victorian enthusiast is found dead. Tom is brought on to consult with the local police department while Kate digs into the murder while also discovering the murky history of the bloodstained dress. However, with their suspect list growing by the day, finding the killer is harder than it seems, and everything seems to link back to this mysterious dress. Will Kate and Tom get to the bottom of the mystery before it is too late?
A Collection of Lies is my first foray into a Kate Hamilton Mystery book, and I was highly impressed by how quickly I connected with these characters. While I would have liked to learn more about these characters from previous books, I didn’t feel I was missing too much. The book truly could stand alone, and it quickly hooked me on the series. Kate and Tom had such a great connection, not only romantically but also professionally. They were seamless in their investigation, and I also loved how the local police were shown as competent professionals rather than dunces, which some mysteries can portray. I loved the connection between a historical mystery and a contemporary mystery. I felt like Berry gave enough information through the investigation that if you were paying close attention, you could guess the ending, but it also kept you guessing.
A Collection of Lies bridges history and mystery seamlessly. Consider this reviewer a new fan of Kate Hamilton.
Review for NovelsAlive.com
Kate Hamilton arrived in Devon not only to enjoy her honeymoon with her husband, Tom Mallory but also to discover the true history of a dress donated to the local museum. Kate is drawn to this dress, feeling an overwhelming emotional connection she cannot explain. But the dress is not the only mystery when a local eccentric and Victorian enthusiast is found dead. Tom is brought on to consult with the local police department while Kate digs into the murder while also discovering the murky history of the bloodstained dress. However, with their suspect list growing by the day, finding the killer is harder than it seems, and everything seems to link back to this mysterious dress. Will Kate and Tom get to the bottom of the mystery before it is too late?
A Collection of Lies is my first foray into a Kate Hamilton Mystery book, and I was highly impressed by how quickly I connected with these characters. While I would have liked to learn more about these characters from previous books, I didn’t feel I was missing too much. The book truly could stand alone, and it quickly hooked me on the series. Kate and Tom had such a great connection, not only romantically but also professionally. They were seamless in their investigation, and I also loved how the local police were shown as competent professionals rather than dunces, which some mysteries can portray. I loved the connection between a historical mystery and a contemporary mystery. I felt like Berry gave enough information through the investigation that if you were paying close attention, you could guess the ending, but it also kept you guessing.
A Collection of Lies bridges history and mystery seamlessly. Consider this reviewer a new fan of Kate Hamilton.
Review for NovelsAlive.com
June 27, 2024
A Collection of Lies by Connie Berry comes upon Kate Hamilton and her new husband, Tom Mallory. Kate is an expert in antiques and Tom is a policeman. They are on their honeymoon and have just arrived at a village near Dartmoor, where they have been hired to solve a mystery. The person paying the bill is Hugo Hawksworth, the director of a museum in Combe Mallet. The mystery is: did they bloody dress now in the possession of the museum belong to Nancy Thorne, who may or may not have been a murderess in the late 1800’s. The dress had been donated by Gideon Littlejohn, with the proviso they prove or disprove the accusation. They didn’t really know how to go about that, but in their inimitable style they started asking questions, of anyone who might know anything. Kate also did some newspaper research and spent some time with the museum’s fabric and fashion expert. Then, Littlejohn was killed and the local police put Tom to work.
Kate is a middle aged-American woman who has fallen in love with England and with Tom. She is excited about her new life, although she misses her children and her parents. She is having a wonderful time, although she worries about Tom, as does anyone who loves a police officer. Hence this investigation: if Tom is happy doing this, he may quit being a policeman and he would be much safer. Tom loves Kate, as well, and would like to make her happy, but he loves being with the police. Do they solve the mystery? Yes, but through some very odd means and they also learn a great deal about the woman to whom the dress belonged. This is a fabulous series and this may be the best book yet. Thanks Connie Berry, for creating these wonderful characters and this most interesting situation.
I was invited to read A Collection of Lies by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #ConnieBerry #ACollectionOfLies
Kate is a middle aged-American woman who has fallen in love with England and with Tom. She is excited about her new life, although she misses her children and her parents. She is having a wonderful time, although she worries about Tom, as does anyone who loves a police officer. Hence this investigation: if Tom is happy doing this, he may quit being a policeman and he would be much safer. Tom loves Kate, as well, and would like to make her happy, but he loves being with the police. Do they solve the mystery? Yes, but through some very odd means and they also learn a great deal about the woman to whom the dress belonged. This is a fabulous series and this may be the best book yet. Thanks Connie Berry, for creating these wonderful characters and this most interesting situation.
I was invited to read A Collection of Lies by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #ConnieBerry #ACollectionOfLies
June 18, 2024
This is the first book I have read by this author, but it won't be the last!
If you follow my reviews at all, you know I have this thing about reading books out of order. When books are touted as stand-alone books, which is usually true, you miss out on the developing personal storylines. I think that might be the case here as well, but I honestly didn't feel like I missed out on much between Tom and Kate. Maybe their relationship before they were married, but the author does a splendid job of filling in the gaps or making it seem like we haven't missed out on a courtship or more.
The premise of the story captured my attention. Was this historic dress covered in blood worn by a murderess? It is up to Kate to help establish the provenance of the dress. There are roadblocks in her way, including the person who found it in the items he purchased from an estate sale. Gideon is an interesting character, and his murder just added another kink to the story.
I enjoyed watching Tom and Kate pull clues together to solve the murder and the history of the dress. There were so many involved in assisting them, but ultimately, it was the sleuthing skills of these two that pulled it together in the end.
The setting of Devon was enjoyable, and I felt like I was in the village with the descriptions provided. So many unique characters rounded out the cast, with several to suspect based on their actions.
I look forward to reading more of this author's works in the future. We give this 5 paws up.
If you follow my reviews at all, you know I have this thing about reading books out of order. When books are touted as stand-alone books, which is usually true, you miss out on the developing personal storylines. I think that might be the case here as well, but I honestly didn't feel like I missed out on much between Tom and Kate. Maybe their relationship before they were married, but the author does a splendid job of filling in the gaps or making it seem like we haven't missed out on a courtship or more.
The premise of the story captured my attention. Was this historic dress covered in blood worn by a murderess? It is up to Kate to help establish the provenance of the dress. There are roadblocks in her way, including the person who found it in the items he purchased from an estate sale. Gideon is an interesting character, and his murder just added another kink to the story.
I enjoyed watching Tom and Kate pull clues together to solve the murder and the history of the dress. There were so many involved in assisting them, but ultimately, it was the sleuthing skills of these two that pulled it together in the end.
The setting of Devon was enjoyable, and I felt like I was in the village with the descriptions provided. So many unique characters rounded out the cast, with several to suspect based on their actions.
I look forward to reading more of this author's works in the future. We give this 5 paws up.
June 19, 2024
While USA Bestselling author Connie Berry’s A Collection of Lies is the fifth of her Kate Hamilton Mystery series, the story, the characters, the case to be solved works so perfectly as a standalone but with enough tease to the back-story that you’ll want to read the entire series. So much so that I have already ordered two of the earlier four installments.
In A Collection of Lies, we find American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, on their honeymoon in Devon, in southwest England. As a favor to a colleague of Tom’s, Kate agrees to put her antique textile expertise to the test exploring whether an old, bloodstained, lace dress could possibly be linked to a long-cold-case murder.
With the discovery of long-held secrets, a shooting at a local history museum gala and a very warm murder of a Victorian You-Tuber, to which Tom assists the local constabulary to solve, and the newlyweds are soon hot on the trail of a mystery with plot turns that keep you guessing.
My new favorite crime-solving duo, I love Kate and Tom’s rapport not to mention their abilities to follow clues and their senses to solve a satisfying caper. I can’t wait to go back and read their origin story in A Dream of Death.
I highly recommend A Collection of Lies to fans of traditional cozy mysteries, British mysteries, and partners in crime-solving duos.
I received this advanced reader copy of A Collection of Lies from Crooked Lane Books, courtesy of NetGalley.
In A Collection of Lies, we find American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton and her new husband, DI Tom Mallory, on their honeymoon in Devon, in southwest England. As a favor to a colleague of Tom’s, Kate agrees to put her antique textile expertise to the test exploring whether an old, bloodstained, lace dress could possibly be linked to a long-cold-case murder.
With the discovery of long-held secrets, a shooting at a local history museum gala and a very warm murder of a Victorian You-Tuber, to which Tom assists the local constabulary to solve, and the newlyweds are soon hot on the trail of a mystery with plot turns that keep you guessing.
My new favorite crime-solving duo, I love Kate and Tom’s rapport not to mention their abilities to follow clues and their senses to solve a satisfying caper. I can’t wait to go back and read their origin story in A Dream of Death.
I highly recommend A Collection of Lies to fans of traditional cozy mysteries, British mysteries, and partners in crime-solving duos.
I received this advanced reader copy of A Collection of Lies from Crooked Lane Books, courtesy of NetGalley.
July 23, 2024
I adore Kate and Tom -- the way their relationship has developed over the the last four books is sweet perfection. Charming and funny and 'mature'. So, yes, they are an 'older' couple (late forties/early fifties?) but it's the way the author has written the romance intelligently. No silly keepaway tropes or does he or doesn't he? blunders or petty miscommunications etc. Just sensible people working out the tricky bits of developing a relationship with grace and humour and lots of love. Sheer bliss.
But, of course, this isn't primarily a romance novel (though I will say that Tom and Kate are very much a team both personally and in their sleuthing.) They work well together -- Tom as a detective inspector and Kate as a kinda nosy (aka caring) busybody that people easily open up to. A great talent to have when doing some compassionate sleuthing!
In A Collection of Lies, Kate and Tom are on their honeymoon and manage to get themselves involved in a murder mystery of epic proportions (because, of course, why wouldn't they?) It involves a very cold case, intriguing historical details, an eclectic collection of unique individuals who may or may not be suspects...and a murder or two. :-) Riveting on all levels.
I listened to the audible edition narrated by the fabulous Ruth Urquhart and enjoyed every minute!
But, of course, this isn't primarily a romance novel (though I will say that Tom and Kate are very much a team both personally and in their sleuthing.) They work well together -- Tom as a detective inspector and Kate as a kinda nosy (aka caring) busybody that people easily open up to. A great talent to have when doing some compassionate sleuthing!
In A Collection of Lies, Kate and Tom are on their honeymoon and manage to get themselves involved in a murder mystery of epic proportions (because, of course, why wouldn't they?) It involves a very cold case, intriguing historical details, an eclectic collection of unique individuals who may or may not be suspects...and a murder or two. :-) Riveting on all levels.
I listened to the audible edition narrated by the fabulous Ruth Urquhart and enjoyed every minute!
March 29, 2025
A Collection of Lies is a mystery within a mystery. Honeymooners Kate Hamilton and Tom Mallory are enjoying some time in Devon by investigating a case for Tom's friend, Grahame Nash's private investigation company. They are to authenticate a bloodstained dress from the 19th century for the Museum of Devon Life in Coombe Mallet. Gideon Littlejohn donated the dress he claimed belonged to Nancy Thorne, a lacemaker accused of murder, but with no body she was never arrested. When Kate and Tom go to see Littlejohn, they find the front door unlocked and his housekeeper screaming, hands covered in her employer's blood. As the police investigate, including DI Tom Mallory in their investigations, Kate attempts to learn about the dress. The investigation has multiple layers in both current time and the Victorian era. The story moves along quickly and is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing as to who did what and when. While part of the resolution is something of a trope, it is very well done and a fun read. I had not read any of the previous books in the series but had no trouble jumping right into Kate and Tom's world. I will definitely be looking for earlier books as well as awaiting new entries in the series.
September 14, 2024
I just discovered this series this summer. I have enjoyed reading each one and I'm sorry to be finished.
This is much more than a cozy mystery series. The plots are complex and interesting. The author has done a great deal of research into the various settings and subjects of the storylines.
While the protagonist assists her policeman husband in solving murders, she is also involved in antiquities authentication. This fifth mystery in the series is much more of a police procedural than the previous four.
This was the best one so far. The setting is Devon, where Kate and her new husband Tom are combining a honeymoon with an investigation for a Canadian PI firm. They are a long way from their home base in Long Barstow, so the regular characters--Lady Barbara , Vivian and Ivor-- and their favorite pub are missing. But the Devon pubs are equally atmospheric and there are plenty of interesting characters.
Connie Berry is a master at describing settings and creating fully realized characters. She is an excellent writer and a thorough researcher. I am definitely adding her to my list of favorite authors.
This is much more than a cozy mystery series. The plots are complex and interesting. The author has done a great deal of research into the various settings and subjects of the storylines.
While the protagonist assists her policeman husband in solving murders, she is also involved in antiquities authentication. This fifth mystery in the series is much more of a police procedural than the previous four.
This was the best one so far. The setting is Devon, where Kate and her new husband Tom are combining a honeymoon with an investigation for a Canadian PI firm. They are a long way from their home base in Long Barstow, so the regular characters--Lady Barbara , Vivian and Ivor-- and their favorite pub are missing. But the Devon pubs are equally atmospheric and there are plenty of interesting characters.
Connie Berry is a master at describing settings and creating fully realized characters. She is an excellent writer and a thorough researcher. I am definitely adding her to my list of favorite authors.
June 23, 2024
A Collection of Lies was excellent--I think it was the best of the five Kate Hamilton books so far, as Berry continues to develop her main characters in a new and interesting setting.
Kate and her husband DI Tom Mallory are enjoying their honeymoon in Devon, and they are also pursuing the mystery of an old, bloodstained dress for a local museum. The quirky characters they encounter, including a man who prefers to live as a Victorian gentleman, his not-so-honest housekeeper, the museum director and his overly-devoted assistant, and a local politician with a shady past and his much-younger wife, complicate the search for reliable information. When one of them is murdered, things take a dark turn.
I particularly enjoyed the information Berry wove into the plot about a Romani family --their history, customs, and actions added a fascinating dimension to the story. I learned a lot, as well.
All in all, a great read!
Kate and her husband DI Tom Mallory are enjoying their honeymoon in Devon, and they are also pursuing the mystery of an old, bloodstained dress for a local museum. The quirky characters they encounter, including a man who prefers to live as a Victorian gentleman, his not-so-honest housekeeper, the museum director and his overly-devoted assistant, and a local politician with a shady past and his much-younger wife, complicate the search for reliable information. When one of them is murdered, things take a dark turn.
I particularly enjoyed the information Berry wove into the plot about a Romani family --their history, customs, and actions added a fascinating dimension to the story. I learned a lot, as well.
All in all, a great read!
August 27, 2025
Another strong story in the Kate Hamilton series. This book follows their wedding in the last book with Kate and husband, Tom Mallory, on their honeymoon in Devon. They're not having quite your typical honeymoon. Healing from injuries sustained before their wedding, Kate and Tom are spending their newlywed days as private investigators trying to prove the provenance of a blood stained dress from the Victorian era. The search takes them to a local museum where they meet the benefactor who donated the clothing item they're investigating. He's quite an interesting character and getting to know him becomes more than interesting. Of course a murder occurs that they also become involved in solving. History, mystery, politics, past, and present all are woven into a wonderful story that ends up solving more than the current murder. Another truly wonderfully researched and written story from author Connie Berry. Now I can't wait to read her next story!!
November 4, 2024
The writing in this series is starting to feel a little pedestrian, but the murder plot was fairly good. I had some problems with some of the details of the story; the rescue from the bog near the end, for example, felt very contrived, apparently intended simply to inject drama and danger, and I can't believe that a civilian, even married to a police officer, would be invited into the inner circle of a police investigation to such an extent as Kate was. But I kept reading to the end, nevertheless. It's a good series if you like detailed descriptions of everything the protagonists eat--Kate and husband Tom seem to get a lot of good restaurant meals, even in tiny villages.
January 8, 2024
This is number five in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries.
Kate and Tom are honeymooning in Devon, where a local history museum has asked them to authenticate a Victorian dress covered in blood to find out if it belonged to the infamous Nancy Thorne. Kate is excited and Tom as well.
The more they find out the further away they seem to find themselves. Until shots ring out at the museum and they are on another case altogether!
With gypsies, and thieves and murderers, the story quickly becomes a race to the truth. And what a fabulous wrap up this was!!
There were so many suspects and they all were truly despicable! But oh so much fun to read!
Always a Pleasure.
Kate and Tom are honeymooning in Devon, where a local history museum has asked them to authenticate a Victorian dress covered in blood to find out if it belonged to the infamous Nancy Thorne. Kate is excited and Tom as well.
The more they find out the further away they seem to find themselves. Until shots ring out at the museum and they are on another case altogether!
With gypsies, and thieves and murderers, the story quickly becomes a race to the truth. And what a fabulous wrap up this was!!
There were so many suspects and they all were truly despicable! But oh so much fun to read!
Always a Pleasure.
October 20, 2024
These are good and worth waiting for the new installment each time. Kateand Tom are married now, and they are spending an extended honeymoon in Devon, while also exploring a new job opportunity for Tom/ A private investigator firm offers an opportunity as a trial and that may prove safer than begin on the force. The job seems straightforward/ A blood-stained dress has turned up at the local museum purported to be the bloody dress of lacemaker Nancy Thorne from 1885. There were a lot of twists that kept the story fascinating. A local, present day killing, and genealogical forays into the past made for a compelling read.
March 3, 2025
This was the 5th book in a series, and I read it because it is one of the Agatha nominees (category: best contemporary mystery novel). Hoping to read as many as I can before the final selections.
This took a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. A more complex case than I initially thought it would be, and it was all handled well.
I will probably go back to the start of this series, after getting through more of the Agatha nominees.
I enjoyed the characters, the plot and the resolutions, as well as the set up for the next book in the series.
This took a bit to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. A more complex case than I initially thought it would be, and it was all handled well.
I will probably go back to the start of this series, after getting through more of the Agatha nominees.
I enjoyed the characters, the plot and the resolutions, as well as the set up for the next book in the series.
April 20, 2025
The section on the true story of Nancy Thorne and her bloody dress was gripping and well-written. The getting there part was not nearly as exciting but have always felt this way about murder mystery novels. Could have shortened a tad by skipping section on the importance of everyday lives to history and all the descriptions of buildings and people and various articles of clothing and pottery.
Is it just me who's stuck on this? Should it be "free rein" and not "free reign?" Page 63. See this so much that I'm beginning to think I might be wrong. Refuse to look it up.
Is it just me who's stuck on this? Should it be "free rein" and not "free reign?" Page 63. See this so much that I'm beginning to think I might be wrong. Refuse to look it up.
August 7, 2025
An atmospheric mystery with a historical twist.
Connie Berry does it again! This latest installment in the Kate Hamilton series perfectly blends modern mystery with echoes of the past. I loved the idea of a blood stained Victorian dress tied to a historical crime it pulled me in right away. The setting in Devon is richly described, and the dynamic between Kate and DI Tom Mallory, now newlyweds, adds warmth without overshadowing the intrigue. The pacing is tight, the clues are smart, and the twist at the end caught me off guard in the best way.
Connie Berry does it again! This latest installment in the Kate Hamilton series perfectly blends modern mystery with echoes of the past. I loved the idea of a blood stained Victorian dress tied to a historical crime it pulled me in right away. The setting in Devon is richly described, and the dynamic between Kate and DI Tom Mallory, now newlyweds, adds warmth without overshadowing the intrigue. The pacing is tight, the clues are smart, and the twist at the end caught me off guard in the best way.
October 21, 2025
The most recent(and latest) volume in this new to me series, which I have been binge-reading since discovering it. Fortunately, all but this book have been available as e-books, although the first one I read (#2) was actually a hardcover, random shelf pick up at my library. Another engaging mystery, great premise, interesting character & plot development. I did manage to subsequently read an e-copy of the novella which falls between #4 & #5. Now I will have to wait until book 6 in this series is published. I see that's now early December, so I am wait listed for a hold at one of my libraries.
June 24, 2024
Each book in this series gets better! I love how Connie Berry manages to combine a traditional mystery with historical investigation. This entry not only ends with a satisfying conclusion, but also opens a pathway for Kate and Tom to continue their joint investigations as they embark on their married life. I’m very much looking forward to the next in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 11, 2024
The books are a long time coming between. Berry gets pervious readers up to speed gently, but someone new to the series could easily catch on and enjoy this as a stand alone. It is richer for knowing the backstory, of course, but wouldn't suffer terribly. I liked this installment. Berry does a good job of introducing the history, not tangentially, but as a part of the plot. I like that it doesn't preach history. Good pacing, good characters, enjoyable overall.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews