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A Verity Lark Mystery #4
A Lark's Release: A Regency Cozy
It is hardly surprising Verity Lark can’t sleep at night with all the thoughts darting through her her recent stay in Newgate, her debt to Colson Hardwicke, the horrible abuse suffered by the children at Fortescue’s that her reporting on the orphan asylum several years earlier had failed to uncover.
And then of course there are the shooting lessons she has promised to give to the Duchess of Kesgrave. Verity has spent three months cruelly mocking the former spinster for her investigative pretensions, and now she is obligated to teach the woman how to fire a deadly weapon.
It is madness!
Thank goodness she stumbles onto a forged antiquities ring when she visits the British Museum with Hardwicke. Finally—something benign to focus her brain on.
Alas, when a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household, Verity realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, and now she must figure out the identity of a ruthless enemy who doesn’t care whom he hurts in his quest to eliminate her.
Welcome to the fourth installment of the Verity Lark Mysteries, where secrets run deep, and every move could be her last.
And then of course there are the shooting lessons she has promised to give to the Duchess of Kesgrave. Verity has spent three months cruelly mocking the former spinster for her investigative pretensions, and now she is obligated to teach the woman how to fire a deadly weapon.
It is madness!
Thank goodness she stumbles onto a forged antiquities ring when she visits the British Museum with Hardwicke. Finally—something benign to focus her brain on.
Alas, when a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household, Verity realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, and now she must figure out the identity of a ruthless enemy who doesn’t care whom he hurts in his quest to eliminate her.
Welcome to the fourth installment of the Verity Lark Mysteries, where secrets run deep, and every move could be her last.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2024
191 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Messina
53 books661 followersLynn Messina is author of more than a dozen novels, including the best-selling Fashionistas, which has been translated into sixteen languages, and a series of Regency romance novels. Her essays have appeared in Self, American Baby and the New York Times Modern Love column. She lives in New York City with her sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
October 12, 2024
Reading a book by Lynn Messina is always such a delightful ride. I was laughing and smiling so much while reading this story that my cheeks hurt! I have no regrets.
When Verity met Beatrice Hyde Clare, Duchess of Kesgrave, in the last book in the series, I assumed their two stories were merging. That’s not the case yet! Verity is trying to figure out who attempted to frame her for stealing from the British Museum and who sent chocolates laced with poison to her. Promises to teach the Duchess to shoot a gun are forgotten as she investigates with her friends by her side.
As usual, the intricacy of the mysteries makes this book unputdownable. How can you stop to eat when there are so many threads dangling? You know they’ll come together if you just give it a few more minutes. Or hours.
Verity and Hardwicke are such a fascinating pair and there are significant developments in their relationship in this story.
There are some “Easter eggs” in this story that won’t be obvious to those who haven’t read Messina’s other books. Let this be a nudge to read her backlist because seemingly innocuous moments (like making a plan to go see a garden hose demonstration) take on new meaning if you’re familiar with her work.
What an absolute joy this was. As always, I’m eager for more!
When Verity met Beatrice Hyde Clare, Duchess of Kesgrave, in the last book in the series, I assumed their two stories were merging. That’s not the case yet! Verity is trying to figure out who attempted to frame her for stealing from the British Museum and who sent chocolates laced with poison to her. Promises to teach the Duchess to shoot a gun are forgotten as she investigates with her friends by her side.
As usual, the intricacy of the mysteries makes this book unputdownable. How can you stop to eat when there are so many threads dangling? You know they’ll come together if you just give it a few more minutes. Or hours.
Verity and Hardwicke are such a fascinating pair and there are significant developments in their relationship in this story.
There are some “Easter eggs” in this story that won’t be obvious to those who haven’t read Messina’s other books. Let this be a nudge to read her backlist because seemingly innocuous moments (like making a plan to go see a garden hose demonstration) take on new meaning if you’re familiar with her work.
What an absolute joy this was. As always, I’m eager for more!
October 24, 2024
Verity Lark, a magnificent, often bizarre, woman!
Verity Lark’s busy mind leaves me astounded. She’s a master of disguise’s balancing them with aplomb and always ready to search out the odds and make the best decision she can, even when sorely tested, under fire as it is.
Having just been released from Newgate, she’s now being accused of stealing an artefact from the British Museum.
Her neighbour is poisoned with a treat meant for Verity. Both Delphine and Verity feel a bit queasy by the closeness of the call.
Verity continues to investigate the death using her Mr Twaddle-Thum persona. Relations with Hardwick go from intense, to cordial, to downright aggravated on Verity’s side, back to intense. After all how can Verity handle a man who has the decency to treat her as a partner? Verity’s definitely thrown.
To see the unvocalized behavior between the two in their investigative processes is a thing of beauty. Why is Verity annoyed, even fearful of this?
In the meantime someone powerful is behind Verity’s troubles, but who?
The disclosure is alarming and rather sad.
Verity come closer to who her father is. To think she’d been sired by such a degenerate reprobate, his throwing her to the wolves is a reflection on him not Verity.
And Verity still hasn’t given shooting lessons to Her Outrageousness, the Duchess of Kesgrave!
I’ve grown very fond of Verity. This is another wonderful gallop through her zany amazing life built from the ashes of a sordid, harsh childhood.
A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Verity Lark’s busy mind leaves me astounded. She’s a master of disguise’s balancing them with aplomb and always ready to search out the odds and make the best decision she can, even when sorely tested, under fire as it is.
Having just been released from Newgate, she’s now being accused of stealing an artefact from the British Museum.
Her neighbour is poisoned with a treat meant for Verity. Both Delphine and Verity feel a bit queasy by the closeness of the call.
Verity continues to investigate the death using her Mr Twaddle-Thum persona. Relations with Hardwick go from intense, to cordial, to downright aggravated on Verity’s side, back to intense. After all how can Verity handle a man who has the decency to treat her as a partner? Verity’s definitely thrown.
To see the unvocalized behavior between the two in their investigative processes is a thing of beauty. Why is Verity annoyed, even fearful of this?
In the meantime someone powerful is behind Verity’s troubles, but who?
The disclosure is alarming and rather sad.
Verity come closer to who her father is. To think she’d been sired by such a degenerate reprobate, his throwing her to the wolves is a reflection on him not Verity.
And Verity still hasn’t given shooting lessons to Her Outrageousness, the Duchess of Kesgrave!
I’ve grown very fond of Verity. This is another wonderful gallop through her zany amazing life built from the ashes of a sordid, harsh childhood.
A Book Whisperer ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
October 21, 2024
A Lark’s Release by Lynn Messina
A cozy regency mystery at its best.
It’s always a joy to read a book by Lynn Messina and A Lark’s Release is no exception. It is absolutely delightful.
As always, Lynn Messina's fantastic sense of humor and wit are on full display. She has done an excellent job of creating suspense and intrigue throughout the book. The mystery is intriguing. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish, ending on a very satisfying conclusion.
The MMCs are charming and witty. Verity (with her many disguises) and Colson Hardwicke, her love interest, are delightful . The side characters are also great, especially Verity's life long friends - Delphine and Freddie - bringing humor and support to the main cast.
The crossover between Verity and Beatrice, The Duchess of Kesgrave is fascinating.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next one.
A Lark’s Release is the fourth book in the wonderful Verity Lark mystery Series. I highly recommend reading the entire series in order.
A cozy regency mystery at its best.
It’s always a joy to read a book by Lynn Messina and A Lark’s Release is no exception. It is absolutely delightful.
As always, Lynn Messina's fantastic sense of humor and wit are on full display. She has done an excellent job of creating suspense and intrigue throughout the book. The mystery is intriguing. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish, ending on a very satisfying conclusion.
The MMCs are charming and witty. Verity (with her many disguises) and Colson Hardwicke, her love interest, are delightful . The side characters are also great, especially Verity's life long friends - Delphine and Freddie - bringing humor and support to the main cast.
The crossover between Verity and Beatrice, The Duchess of Kesgrave is fascinating.
I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next one.
A Lark’s Release is the fourth book in the wonderful Verity Lark mystery Series. I highly recommend reading the entire series in order.
October 27, 2024
My favourite yet. This was a cracking instalment with a great mystery for Verity to solve with help from her friends. I particularly enjoy the fact that the romance is balanced by Verity’s friendship with Delphine; it’s rare to see female friendship like this. Even Beatrice is much more focused on Kesgrave and vv. And I note the small shoutout, in the form of the hosepipe, to the Harlow Hoyden books (which are also a great read btw).
October 17, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley, Lynn Messina and PotatoWorks Press for the advanced review copy. All opinions expressed in my review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
Verity Lark has just barely survived Newgate and doesn't want to rest, thank you. Nor does she wish to thank the Duchess of Kesgrave for finding the real culprit or offer the Duchess a time for shooting lessons. (Verity doesn't yet know about the cherub, apparently!) When Lord Hardwicke invites Verity to the British Museum to view the Elgin Marbles as part of an investigation, she readily accepts. While at the museum, they meet the head librarian (curator) and discover the museum holds at least one forgery in the collections and is about to buy another. Finally, something for Verity to do! She's on the hunt for the master forger. Her investigation leads her to Saffron Hill where she believes Hell and Fury Hawes might be involved. Getting nowhere, she arrives home to find a package waiting for her and a trip back to Newgate already prearranged by some shadowy figure! No sooner does Delphine help Verity out of that sticky situation than Delphine is almost killed! Verity watches in horror as Delphine's gift of biscuits to their neighbor's son-in-law, Mr. Muir causes him to drop dead. Smelling almonds, Verity tosses the biscuits away from her dearest friend. Suddenly, she's very afraid. She's up against a cunning (or really stupid) villain who doesn't care who he kills in the process of getting to her. Who is he (or she?)? Is Verity really the target and if so, why? Or is this another instance of someone trying to get to Lord Hardwicke through her? Verity's quest for justice gets her nowhere with the coroner so she'll just have to figure this out on her own. Not so fast! Delphine, Freddie and Lord Hardwicke are ready and willing to assist with the investigation. The investigation leads to some surprising revelations about Verity and causes her to readjust her belief that she is master of her own destiny. Can she stop the killer before everyone she loves is killed?
This series is just sooo goooood! You must read all the books in order, beginning with Bea and especially her last A Vicious Machination.The plot structure is a little different and a bit stop and go. We learn who and why right away, before Verity. Then it backtracks as the storyline goes back to the end of Bea's adventure and then forward again as Verity figures out what's going on, the who and why. There's a secondary mystery to figure out that is never fully resolved. Just as the first mystery seems to be wrapped up, there's a shocker! The Twaddling felt more like filler and didn't have much to do with the story. That was rather dizzying and distracting from the main storyline.
I liked this one more for the character building than the plot. We learn more about Verity's background and what makes Verity the way she is. There are some really awful things that happened to her and children/young women like her so beware if you haven't read A Vicious Machination. She's been through a lot in roughly 30 years and has come out stronger because of it. She's still wary of strangers and too proud to accept help or apologize to the Duchess of Kesgrave. The least she can do is stop writing sensational Twaddle stories about the Duchess. (No, please keep them coming!) Verity is terrified of losing control over her own life. She thinks she's the master of her own fate and that comforts her, makes her proud and sometimes reckless. It was interesting to read a more vulnerable Verity who realizes there are circumstances she can't control. It's scary and upsetting for her. She tries not to let it show but there are moments when she is about to panic. It's good to have her be more three-dimensional and not so super human. She is human and makes mistakes. She beats herself up when she does because it almost cost her life and the lives of her friends but how could she have known? She didn't have all the information.
The opening scene of seduction is rather a little more graphic than I would like but not super graphic. At the end it becomes clear that this scene as observed is vital to the plot. The romantic subplot with Verity and Lord Hardwicke is heating up but still in the early stages of love. At first I thought this book was not quite as swoony as the previous story but I went back and reread the previous one and then this one and this new story is more swoony than the last! I could quite fall in love with Lord Hardwicke myself were I not devoted to the Duke of Kesgrave. He's a wonderful man and truly loves Verity no matter how hard she tries to push him away. He's intelligent, shrewd and on the same wavelength as Verity. Colson is trying to make amends after a blunder in the previous book but still has to figure things out. He has a temper and Verity may have pushed him too far. It's obvious he's utterly besotted with her but she can't quite realize it yet.
Sadly we don't get any Bea or Kesgrave in this adventure but Delphine plays a larger role. She's only pretending to be a demure homemaker! She is fierce, loyal and has a temper when roused. Delphine can playact right along with Verity and seem sincere. I love fierce Delphine! Freddie doesn't have a lot to do except come long for the round table discussions on what Verity will do next. We do get a lot of Lady Abercrombie and get to know her better. As usual, Verity misjudged the woman simply because she's ton and tries hard to be outrageous. Lady Abercrombie may be silly at times but she can be fierce and determined when necessary. She wants to see justice done, for her own reasons, of course, and is a good sport for going the extra mile to help. I don't like it when she tries to railroad Bea but here she's better. What will Verity do when she discovers the haunt ton are people too and not all brainless, frivolous beings?! (Keep reporting on the government?!)
Poor Mr. Muir. He was a pompous windbag, a mansplainer and really had few redeeming qualities. He was very silly to combat a bush and greedy to eat three biscuits at once. They ARE amazing and light and sweet so I totally understand why he would want to but they weren't his. The revelations about him were rather surprising and unlike what I would have expected from him. I feel sorry for his family. The villain is not too bright, egotistical and careless, especially of others. There are other factors and malefactors at work behind the murderer who are more clever and cunning. None of these people is used to hearing no and you can't do that. They think they own the world and are about to meet their downfall at the hands of Verity and friends.
Mr. Goddard, the chief librarian (curator) at the British Museum is described as a "sanctimonious prig" who "cherished an ardent dislike of women." That's not all! He is not too intelligent or creative. The man loves the power of being in charge and thinks everyone is beneath him and unworthy. He could never ever be WRONG about something. Oh no! He's the expert! Riiiggghtt... Grint, Hardwicke's former superior at the Alien Office, is another pompous bore. He lacks imagination and empathy. Verity doesn't have a high opinion of him and I expect lots of Twaddle stories to come.
At the British Museum, Hardwicke's schoolmate's brother, Archibald Owens, seems nice enough but someone knows something and tries to get Verity arrested again and this gentleman was in the right place and the right time. Sir Thomas Soame, a wealthy art collector, is buying and selling forged antiquities. Does he know they're forgeries? Did he sell the forgeries as authentic on purpose? Does he know who the forger is? The man is of course reluctant to spill the beans. Who is Samson Kirks? How is he connected to the forgeries? If his associate, Mickey, is anything to go by, this person is thick in the middle of things. Mickey seems more like a thug than a forger though.
I can't say more without spoiling the plot! I do hope Verity and Bea team up for an investigation in the future. Perhaps after Bea and Kesgrave's cherub arrives?
Chocolate Puffs recipe can be found on George Washington's Mount Vernon website in a modernized format
https://www.mountvernon.org/inn/recip...
or a period recipe
Chocolate Puffs. Having beat and sifted half a pound of double refined sugar scrape into it an ounce of chocolate very fine and mix them together. Beat the white of an egg to a very high froth and strew in the sugar and chocolate. Keep beating it till it is as stiff as a paste. Then sugar the paper drop them on the size of a sixpence and bake them in a very slow oven.
John Farley. The London Art of Cookery and Domestic Housekeeper's Complete Assistant (1811).
N.B. Do NOT sprinkle with cyanide!
Verity Lark has just barely survived Newgate and doesn't want to rest, thank you. Nor does she wish to thank the Duchess of Kesgrave for finding the real culprit or offer the Duchess a time for shooting lessons. (Verity doesn't yet know about the cherub, apparently!) When Lord Hardwicke invites Verity to the British Museum to view the Elgin Marbles as part of an investigation, she readily accepts. While at the museum, they meet the head librarian (curator) and discover the museum holds at least one forgery in the collections and is about to buy another. Finally, something for Verity to do! She's on the hunt for the master forger. Her investigation leads her to Saffron Hill where she believes Hell and Fury Hawes might be involved. Getting nowhere, she arrives home to find a package waiting for her and a trip back to Newgate already prearranged by some shadowy figure! No sooner does Delphine help Verity out of that sticky situation than Delphine is almost killed! Verity watches in horror as Delphine's gift of biscuits to their neighbor's son-in-law, Mr. Muir causes him to drop dead. Smelling almonds, Verity tosses the biscuits away from her dearest friend. Suddenly, she's very afraid. She's up against a cunning (or really stupid) villain who doesn't care who he kills in the process of getting to her. Who is he (or she?)? Is Verity really the target and if so, why? Or is this another instance of someone trying to get to Lord Hardwicke through her? Verity's quest for justice gets her nowhere with the coroner so she'll just have to figure this out on her own. Not so fast! Delphine, Freddie and Lord Hardwicke are ready and willing to assist with the investigation. The investigation leads to some surprising revelations about Verity and causes her to readjust her belief that she is master of her own destiny. Can she stop the killer before everyone she loves is killed?
This series is just sooo goooood! You must read all the books in order, beginning with Bea and especially her last A Vicious Machination.The plot structure is a little different and a bit stop and go. We learn who and why right away, before Verity. Then it backtracks as the storyline goes back to the end of Bea's adventure and then forward again as Verity figures out what's going on, the who and why. There's a secondary mystery to figure out that is never fully resolved. Just as the first mystery seems to be wrapped up, there's a shocker! The Twaddling felt more like filler and didn't have much to do with the story. That was rather dizzying and distracting from the main storyline.
I liked this one more for the character building than the plot. We learn more about Verity's background and what makes Verity the way she is. There are some really awful things that happened to her and children/young women like her so beware if you haven't read A Vicious Machination. She's been through a lot in roughly 30 years and has come out stronger because of it. She's still wary of strangers and too proud to accept help or apologize to the Duchess of Kesgrave. The least she can do is stop writing sensational Twaddle stories about the Duchess. (No, please keep them coming!) Verity is terrified of losing control over her own life. She thinks she's the master of her own fate and that comforts her, makes her proud and sometimes reckless. It was interesting to read a more vulnerable Verity who realizes there are circumstances she can't control. It's scary and upsetting for her. She tries not to let it show but there are moments when she is about to panic. It's good to have her be more three-dimensional and not so super human. She is human and makes mistakes. She beats herself up when she does because it almost cost her life and the lives of her friends but how could she have known? She didn't have all the information.
The opening scene of seduction is rather a little more graphic than I would like but not super graphic. At the end it becomes clear that this scene as observed is vital to the plot. The romantic subplot with Verity and Lord Hardwicke is heating up but still in the early stages of love. At first I thought this book was not quite as swoony as the previous story but I went back and reread the previous one and then this one and this new story is more swoony than the last! I could quite fall in love with Lord Hardwicke myself were I not devoted to the Duke of Kesgrave. He's a wonderful man and truly loves Verity no matter how hard she tries to push him away. He's intelligent, shrewd and on the same wavelength as Verity. Colson is trying to make amends after a blunder in the previous book but still has to figure things out. He has a temper and Verity may have pushed him too far. It's obvious he's utterly besotted with her but she can't quite realize it yet.
Sadly we don't get any Bea or Kesgrave in this adventure but Delphine plays a larger role. She's only pretending to be a demure homemaker! She is fierce, loyal and has a temper when roused. Delphine can playact right along with Verity and seem sincere. I love fierce Delphine! Freddie doesn't have a lot to do except come long for the round table discussions on what Verity will do next. We do get a lot of Lady Abercrombie and get to know her better. As usual, Verity misjudged the woman simply because she's ton and tries hard to be outrageous. Lady Abercrombie may be silly at times but she can be fierce and determined when necessary. She wants to see justice done, for her own reasons, of course, and is a good sport for going the extra mile to help. I don't like it when she tries to railroad Bea but here she's better. What will Verity do when she discovers the haunt ton are people too and not all brainless, frivolous beings?! (Keep reporting on the government?!)
Poor Mr. Muir. He was a pompous windbag, a mansplainer and really had few redeeming qualities. He was very silly to combat a bush and greedy to eat three biscuits at once. They ARE amazing and light and sweet so I totally understand why he would want to but they weren't his. The revelations about him were rather surprising and unlike what I would have expected from him. I feel sorry for his family. The villain is not too bright, egotistical and careless, especially of others. There are other factors and malefactors at work behind the murderer who are more clever and cunning. None of these people is used to hearing no and you can't do that. They think they own the world and are about to meet their downfall at the hands of Verity and friends.
Mr. Goddard, the chief librarian (curator) at the British Museum is described as a "sanctimonious prig" who "cherished an ardent dislike of women." That's not all! He is not too intelligent or creative. The man loves the power of being in charge and thinks everyone is beneath him and unworthy. He could never ever be WRONG about something. Oh no! He's the expert! Riiiggghtt... Grint, Hardwicke's former superior at the Alien Office, is another pompous bore. He lacks imagination and empathy. Verity doesn't have a high opinion of him and I expect lots of Twaddle stories to come.
At the British Museum, Hardwicke's schoolmate's brother, Archibald Owens, seems nice enough but someone knows something and tries to get Verity arrested again and this gentleman was in the right place and the right time. Sir Thomas Soame, a wealthy art collector, is buying and selling forged antiquities. Does he know they're forgeries? Did he sell the forgeries as authentic on purpose? Does he know who the forger is? The man is of course reluctant to spill the beans. Who is Samson Kirks? How is he connected to the forgeries? If his associate, Mickey, is anything to go by, this person is thick in the middle of things. Mickey seems more like a thug than a forger though.
I can't say more without spoiling the plot! I do hope Verity and Bea team up for an investigation in the future. Perhaps after Bea and Kesgrave's cherub arrives?
Chocolate Puffs recipe can be found on George Washington's Mount Vernon website in a modernized format
https://www.mountvernon.org/inn/recip...
or a period recipe
Chocolate Puffs. Having beat and sifted half a pound of double refined sugar scrape into it an ounce of chocolate very fine and mix them together. Beat the white of an egg to a very high froth and strew in the sugar and chocolate. Keep beating it till it is as stiff as a paste. Then sugar the paper drop them on the size of a sixpence and bake them in a very slow oven.
John Farley. The London Art of Cookery and Domestic Housekeeper's Complete Assistant (1811).
N.B. Do NOT sprinkle with cyanide!
October 29, 2024
Lark is Learning
With multiple attempts of her freedom and her life, Verity Lark must muster all of her wits, alter egos, and her human assets to survive. As enjoyable as the Beatrice Duchess of Kesgrave mysteries, the adventures of Verity Lark have a bit more depth. As the series has progressed, Lark has been learning more about her painful early years and how those years affected how she perceives others, her ability to trust and even love.
With multiple attempts of her freedom and her life, Verity Lark must muster all of her wits, alter egos, and her human assets to survive. As enjoyable as the Beatrice Duchess of Kesgrave mysteries, the adventures of Verity Lark have a bit more depth. As the series has progressed, Lark has been learning more about her painful early years and how those years affected how she perceives others, her ability to trust and even love.
October 23, 2024
Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Verity Lark Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/25/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 351
This book starts right at the close of the last Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery. It recaps bits of that story from Verity’s perspective and continues with the current Verity mystery. If you are a fan of both series, you are aware that the two series have become intertwined. I don’t know if it will stay that way or not, but, for the moment, it is kind of fun. I just don’t want them to become so intertwined they are basically one series.
Verity isn’t sleeping since ‘Her Outrageousness’ proved Verity’s innocence and got her released from Newgate prison. Now, someone is trying to send her back to prison for antiquities theft. Then, there is a murder, and . . . Who could possibly have that much cold hatred for her? Who has she offended so much? Surely it isn’t against her personally, so it must be something to do with her Twaddle newspaper column. Or not. The murder for which she was sent to Newgate was because of her past – could this be from her past as well? It seems attacks are coming at her from all directions. Will one of them succeed?
With the able help of master spy Lord Colson Hardwicke and her two childhood friends, Delphine and Freddy, the mystery is unraveled and they are all shocked at what they learn. Who would have thought?
I always enjoy reading this author’s books and this was an excellent addition. We learned a little more of Verity’s past and we saw what I hope is a fair-sized shift in Verity’s relationship with Colson. Verity is growing more and more well-rounded in each book and I am enjoying watching her cope with the mysteries while she grows and comes to grips with her past. Another thing I truly enjoy is the many personas she adopts to ferret out information for her Twaddle stories and her stories written as Robert Lark. Those characters and how Verity uses them will keep you smiling.
This was a quick, entertaining read with wonderful, charismatic characters and a mystery that will have you scratching your head. I am usually good at figuring out the villain(s), but this time – well – it eluded me. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: A Verity Lark Mystery #4
Publication Date: 10/25/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 351
This book starts right at the close of the last Beatrice Hyde-Clare mystery. It recaps bits of that story from Verity’s perspective and continues with the current Verity mystery. If you are a fan of both series, you are aware that the two series have become intertwined. I don’t know if it will stay that way or not, but, for the moment, it is kind of fun. I just don’t want them to become so intertwined they are basically one series.
Verity isn’t sleeping since ‘Her Outrageousness’ proved Verity’s innocence and got her released from Newgate prison. Now, someone is trying to send her back to prison for antiquities theft. Then, there is a murder, and . . . Who could possibly have that much cold hatred for her? Who has she offended so much? Surely it isn’t against her personally, so it must be something to do with her Twaddle newspaper column. Or not. The murder for which she was sent to Newgate was because of her past – could this be from her past as well? It seems attacks are coming at her from all directions. Will one of them succeed?
With the able help of master spy Lord Colson Hardwicke and her two childhood friends, Delphine and Freddy, the mystery is unraveled and they are all shocked at what they learn. Who would have thought?
I always enjoy reading this author’s books and this was an excellent addition. We learned a little more of Verity’s past and we saw what I hope is a fair-sized shift in Verity’s relationship with Colson. Verity is growing more and more well-rounded in each book and I am enjoying watching her cope with the mysteries while she grows and comes to grips with her past. Another thing I truly enjoy is the many personas she adopts to ferret out information for her Twaddle stories and her stories written as Robert Lark. Those characters and how Verity uses them will keep you smiling.
This was a quick, entertaining read with wonderful, charismatic characters and a mystery that will have you scratching your head. I am usually good at figuring out the villain(s), but this time – well – it eluded me. I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 12, 2024
New Verity Lark! How wonderful! This time we will learn more about Verity's life, as she tries to find out who wants to ruthlessly harm her and anyone around her, just after she's been released from wrongful imprisonment. Or is it about her after all? Is she just a collateral for some machination or another? Has the counterfeit antiquities spotted at the British Museum something do with it? Or has her closeness to master spy Lord Colson brought her to someone's unwanted attention? Chuckle-inducing stealth-operations and narrow-escape-situations later, we come to a gasp-worthy conclusion! It's truly entertaining.
Verity Lark books usually open with a side-charater POV chapter, where the events have progressed a few days into the story and arrived to a cliff-hanger moment. When Verity comes in, we move a few days back and start to follow the plot and to wonder how we'll end up to the point described in the beginning.
That brings part of the suspense; as readers, we already know something Verity doesn't, and we wonder how she'll get there and what happens after she does and how she'll react. But the writer always has some curve balls left and manages to turn the readers' expectations to a new constellation before the end.
The sister-series Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries and Verity Lark series share the same setting and some important characters (and pseudonymes), but as the main characters have vastly different status and life-experiences, the narratives are enjoyably different. I'm happy for that - the spin-off with Beatrice's cousin Flora would not have worked that well, just for these reasons. (The one book with Flora was quite fun though, and served to make way for Verity.)
Beatrice's pet peeve is the poor standing of women and her efforts to be seen as capable of more than being a simpering fool arise from that frustration. She is of gentle birth, and even as she is from a relatively poor landed gentry background without peerage, her life has been a far cry from Verity Lark's struggles for survival as a harlot's bastard grown up in a horrible asylum.
For Beatrice, the most pressing feeling of powerlessness has come from her gender. Although orphaned now, she has had parents, who had loved her, even though after their death her life has been lonely and miserable, and she has had to do without affection and appreciation. Her struggle to be her own person, to find her own footing in a world where women are so often ridiculed for their ambition, is understandable, and her persistent efforts to foil the expectations caging in the gently bred women are, for her, a matter of life and death.
In contrast, Verity has never felt any security, and can be sure that her parents never had any benevolent thoughts about her existance. Verity has not only the generally poor status of women impacting her life, she is also keenly aware of the impact of social class. She've seen society's unfair dynamics played around, and is very aware of the political environment. She has managed to take an active role as a journalist, hiding under a couple of pen-names, aided by her friends. Her more active and assertive role in making her own destiny and desiring to impact the world is well established. She has serious issues with trust and hope, but is it any wonder...
These series are partly so fun to follow, because you get this double light in to the world and the setting, one from the view of a rebellious and unconventional duchess, living her life on a constraining pedestal, and one from a cunning and jaded 'nonentity', influental from the shadows.
Verity Lark books usually open with a side-charater POV chapter, where the events have progressed a few days into the story and arrived to a cliff-hanger moment. When Verity comes in, we move a few days back and start to follow the plot and to wonder how we'll end up to the point described in the beginning.
That brings part of the suspense; as readers, we already know something Verity doesn't, and we wonder how she'll get there and what happens after she does and how she'll react. But the writer always has some curve balls left and manages to turn the readers' expectations to a new constellation before the end.
The sister-series Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries and Verity Lark series share the same setting and some important characters (and pseudonymes), but as the main characters have vastly different status and life-experiences, the narratives are enjoyably different. I'm happy for that - the spin-off with Beatrice's cousin Flora would not have worked that well, just for these reasons. (The one book with Flora was quite fun though, and served to make way for Verity.)
Beatrice's pet peeve is the poor standing of women and her efforts to be seen as capable of more than being a simpering fool arise from that frustration. She is of gentle birth, and even as she is from a relatively poor landed gentry background without peerage, her life has been a far cry from Verity Lark's struggles for survival as a harlot's bastard grown up in a horrible asylum.
For Beatrice, the most pressing feeling of powerlessness has come from her gender. Although orphaned now, she has had parents, who had loved her, even though after their death her life has been lonely and miserable, and she has had to do without affection and appreciation. Her struggle to be her own person, to find her own footing in a world where women are so often ridiculed for their ambition, is understandable, and her persistent efforts to foil the expectations caging in the gently bred women are, for her, a matter of life and death.
In contrast, Verity has never felt any security, and can be sure that her parents never had any benevolent thoughts about her existance. Verity has not only the generally poor status of women impacting her life, she is also keenly aware of the impact of social class. She've seen society's unfair dynamics played around, and is very aware of the political environment. She has managed to take an active role as a journalist, hiding under a couple of pen-names, aided by her friends. Her more active and assertive role in making her own destiny and desiring to impact the world is well established. She has serious issues with trust and hope, but is it any wonder...
These series are partly so fun to follow, because you get this double light in to the world and the setting, one from the view of a rebellious and unconventional duchess, living her life on a constraining pedestal, and one from a cunning and jaded 'nonentity', influental from the shadows.
October 22, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lynn Messina for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Lark's Release coming out October 25, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
It is hardly surprising Verity Lark can’t sleep at night with all the thoughts darting through her mind: her recent stay in Newgate, her debt to Colson Hardwicke, the horrible abuse suffered by the children at Fortescue’s that her reporting on the orphan asylum several years earlier had failed to uncover.
And then of course there are the shooting lessons she has promised to give to the Duchess of Kesgrave. Verity has spent three months cruelly mocking the former spinster for her investigative pretensions, and now she is obligated to teach the woman how to fire a deadly weapon.
It is madness!
Thank goodness she stumbles onto a forged antiquities ring when she visits the British Museum with Hardwicke. Finally—something benign to focus her brain on.
Alas, when a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household, Verity realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, and now she must figure out the identity of a ruthless enemy who doesn’t care whom he hurts in his quest to eliminate her.
I’ve only read the second book in the series, so I’ve probably missed a few things. Verity is a really intelligent and strong character. I really loved her interactions with Colson in this book. I thought the book felt slightly long, but I really enjoyed the mystery. This is a series that’s really growing on me. I would definitely check out more books by this author.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency mysteries!
It is hardly surprising Verity Lark can’t sleep at night with all the thoughts darting through her mind: her recent stay in Newgate, her debt to Colson Hardwicke, the horrible abuse suffered by the children at Fortescue’s that her reporting on the orphan asylum several years earlier had failed to uncover.
And then of course there are the shooting lessons she has promised to give to the Duchess of Kesgrave. Verity has spent three months cruelly mocking the former spinster for her investigative pretensions, and now she is obligated to teach the woman how to fire a deadly weapon.
It is madness!
Thank goodness she stumbles onto a forged antiquities ring when she visits the British Museum with Hardwicke. Finally—something benign to focus her brain on.
Alas, when a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household, Verity realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, and now she must figure out the identity of a ruthless enemy who doesn’t care whom he hurts in his quest to eliminate her.
I’ve only read the second book in the series, so I’ve probably missed a few things. Verity is a really intelligent and strong character. I really loved her interactions with Colson in this book. I thought the book felt slightly long, but I really enjoyed the mystery. This is a series that’s really growing on me. I would definitely check out more books by this author.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys regency mysteries!
October 17, 2024
Book 4 in the Verity Lark series gave me quite a few laughs. The side characters in the story bring balance to single-minded Verity who continually pushes aside her feelings to focus on danger and crime solving. Delphine is always there to point out the truths Verity tries to ignore about her traumatic history and her feelings about Hardwicke. In this book, we see Verity examine herself, how she became the person she is, and the challenge she now faces in letting her guard down with the person she loves. I prefer the character development to the interludes describing her many alternative identities, as I find them distracting to the main storylines.
The actual crimes involved in the story become twisted and surprising. While Bea and the Duke of Kesgrave are mentioned in passing, there is barely any overlap with the other series in this book. I struggled to remember what happened in the previous story and it took a bit of reading to feel like I understood what was going on again. The differences in people's names and titles can be confusing as to who is being spoken about. I look forward to the next book and hope that we get to see the much-talked-about shooting lesson with the Duchess of Kesgrave as well as finally having Verity and Hardwicke have an open and honest conversation about their relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book
The actual crimes involved in the story become twisted and surprising. While Bea and the Duke of Kesgrave are mentioned in passing, there is barely any overlap with the other series in this book. I struggled to remember what happened in the previous story and it took a bit of reading to feel like I understood what was going on again. The differences in people's names and titles can be confusing as to who is being spoken about. I look forward to the next book and hope that we get to see the much-talked-about shooting lesson with the Duchess of Kesgrave as well as finally having Verity and Hardwicke have an open and honest conversation about their relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book
October 25, 2024
I thank NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for an advance reader copy of A Lark’s Release. All opinions and comments are my own.
As if being accused of murder wasn’t enough (read about that in the previous book, A Lark’s Conceit), Verity Lark, AKA orphan Mary Price, AKA gossip columnist extraordinaire Mr. Twaddle-Thum, AKA muckraking journalist Robert Lark AKA a dozen other aliases and disguises, finds out in A Lark’s Release that she, Regency’s society’s greatest skewer of the ton has a whole bunch of other problems to work through in this, the fourth book in the series (that prologue had me scratching my head, but wow, did the lightbulb go off when I got further into the book). Good grief, when will she have time to give shooting lessons to “Her Outrageousness?” Author Lynn Messina has readers caught up in a whirlwind tale of greed, loathing and (potential) murder, as Verity realizes that someone is trying to kill her. Thank goodness she has friends like Delphine and Freddie and -- someone much more -- to get her through it all.
Lynn Messina tugs at the heartstrings in this one, as much as Verity would have us readers think otherwise. For this is a truly personal story, as she works through her feelings at what is suddenly happening in her life. And as usual, the author has a true grasp of time and place, in the language and dialog phrasing that’s used throughout.
There’s also a secondary story of counterfeiting and fraud at the British Museum. Oh la, that’s not important. What’s important is that Verity has realized that Hardwicke is someone she can’t do without. Lynn Messina has built this relationship up slowly and surely, and it will be interesting to see where these two fictional individuals, so unique and creative, go from here.
As if being accused of murder wasn’t enough (read about that in the previous book, A Lark’s Conceit), Verity Lark, AKA orphan Mary Price, AKA gossip columnist extraordinaire Mr. Twaddle-Thum, AKA muckraking journalist Robert Lark AKA a dozen other aliases and disguises, finds out in A Lark’s Release that she, Regency’s society’s greatest skewer of the ton has a whole bunch of other problems to work through in this, the fourth book in the series (that prologue had me scratching my head, but wow, did the lightbulb go off when I got further into the book). Good grief, when will she have time to give shooting lessons to “Her Outrageousness?” Author Lynn Messina has readers caught up in a whirlwind tale of greed, loathing and (potential) murder, as Verity realizes that someone is trying to kill her. Thank goodness she has friends like Delphine and Freddie and -- someone much more -- to get her through it all.
Lynn Messina tugs at the heartstrings in this one, as much as Verity would have us readers think otherwise. For this is a truly personal story, as she works through her feelings at what is suddenly happening in her life. And as usual, the author has a true grasp of time and place, in the language and dialog phrasing that’s used throughout.
There’s also a secondary story of counterfeiting and fraud at the British Museum. Oh la, that’s not important. What’s important is that Verity has realized that Hardwicke is someone she can’t do without. Lynn Messina has built this relationship up slowly and surely, and it will be interesting to see where these two fictional individuals, so unique and creative, go from here.
January 5, 2025
In the latest Verity Lark mystery novel, readers rejoin Verity as she continues to cope with her time in Newgate, her debt to Hardwicke, and the child abuse at Fortescue’s that her first report had not revealed. Now, adding shooting lessons for the Duchess of Kesgrave into the mix, a forged antiquities ring at the British Museum will provide the perfect distraction from her other problems until a murderer threatens her entire household. Tied to the counterfeit scheme and introducing a hidden and ruthless enemy directly targeting Verity, readers will be engrossed in the fourth book in this historical mystery series and its new crimes and threats. With this return to Verity and her various guises (and her strained relationships with her half-brother, sister-in-law, and Hardwicke), readers will pick up at the high stakes from the previous titles. Messina’s characters are, as always, complex and fascinating with full-fledged backstories and stakes in the investigation’s success or failure. Verity is a grumpy but relatable and entertaining protagonist, and readers will definitely enjoy this new investigation and added tension of direct threats to Verity’s life. Engaging, entertaining, and populated with brilliant characters, this new Verity Lark mystery is a great continuation of the series with new and higher stakes that readers will love.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Book Whisperer for the advance copy.
February 13, 2025
Getting to read eARCs of books by Lynn Messina is always a delight, and A Lark’s Release, published October 25, 2024, was no different.
This is the fourth instalment in the Verity Lark series, which is deeply intertwined with the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series. You could read them as standalone but, frankly, they are best enjoyed in order of publish date to fully appreciate the details and intricacies of the books.
A Lark’s Release picks up where the last Beatrice book ended, with Verity struggling with how to deal with Beatrice, to whom she has promised shooting lessons (she deals with her by ignoring her), trying to figure out what the heck is going on with Hardwicke, who worked relentlessly to get her out of prison and is so obviously in love/infatuated with Verity. And, of course, there is a mystery! Stolen antiquities! Counterfeits! And Verity has been framed! And someone sent her poisoned chocolates which resulted in the death of someone else!
I love how detailed these books are, how we can spend paragraphs in Verity’s head with her brain moving so quickly that it’s only seconds ‘in real life’, and all the personas she takes on in order to investigate crimes and also write her columns.
Another fantastic book in the Beatrice/Verity universe and I’m so excited to see what comes next!
Other series to try:
Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Rayburn
Wexford & Sloane series by Andrea Penrose
Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas
This is the fourth instalment in the Verity Lark series, which is deeply intertwined with the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series. You could read them as standalone but, frankly, they are best enjoyed in order of publish date to fully appreciate the details and intricacies of the books.
A Lark’s Release picks up where the last Beatrice book ended, with Verity struggling with how to deal with Beatrice, to whom she has promised shooting lessons (she deals with her by ignoring her), trying to figure out what the heck is going on with Hardwicke, who worked relentlessly to get her out of prison and is so obviously in love/infatuated with Verity. And, of course, there is a mystery! Stolen antiquities! Counterfeits! And Verity has been framed! And someone sent her poisoned chocolates which resulted in the death of someone else!
I love how detailed these books are, how we can spend paragraphs in Verity’s head with her brain moving so quickly that it’s only seconds ‘in real life’, and all the personas she takes on in order to investigate crimes and also write her columns.
Another fantastic book in the Beatrice/Verity universe and I’m so excited to see what comes next!
Other series to try:
Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Rayburn
Wexford & Sloane series by Andrea Penrose
Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas
October 17, 2024
I love this series!! Verity is released from Newgate Prison, where she ended up in the previous book. She has promised to teach her Outrageousness how to shoot, which she ruminates on throughout the book. Which series will she end up teaching her in I wonder. I hope it is the next Beatrice book.
Meanwhile, Verity dons many disguises as she and Hardwick work to solve an antiquities crime as well as a murder.
The book begins about 5 days in the future, and the rest of the book gets us to that scene. It is a quite clever set up and I enjoyed the journey. We learn quite a bit about Verity's past, and why she has such a difficult time allowing herself to feel emotions. Hardwick stands by her, but eventually does get angry with her in a very devious fashion. When we finally learn who the villain is, I felt quite heartbroken for Verity. However, it does cause her to look inside of herself and finally recognize her emotions. I loved the ending.
Thanks to Netgalley, the Book whisperer and the publisher for the EARC. I highly recommend you read at least this series, and at least the first few Beatrice books. They really do build upon each to give a better view and character development.
Meanwhile, Verity dons many disguises as she and Hardwick work to solve an antiquities crime as well as a murder.
The book begins about 5 days in the future, and the rest of the book gets us to that scene. It is a quite clever set up and I enjoyed the journey. We learn quite a bit about Verity's past, and why she has such a difficult time allowing herself to feel emotions. Hardwick stands by her, but eventually does get angry with her in a very devious fashion. When we finally learn who the villain is, I felt quite heartbroken for Verity. However, it does cause her to look inside of herself and finally recognize her emotions. I loved the ending.
Thanks to Netgalley, the Book whisperer and the publisher for the EARC. I highly recommend you read at least this series, and at least the first few Beatrice books. They really do build upon each to give a better view and character development.
October 25, 2024
Verity Lark (aka Mary Price) is “released” because she gains two startling insights into who she truly is…both in her emotions and her genealogy. At the end of the last Lark book, Verity was released from Newgate prison after she was cleared of a murder charge by the half sister-in-law, the Duchess of Kesgrave. This book picks up immediately after her release and, together with her childhood friends Freddie and Delphine….truly the only “family” she’s had since her time in the orphanage, Verity becomes entangled in an antiquities counterfeit scheme while simultaneously battling for her life being threatened by an unknown foe. Verity also continues her partnership with Lord Colson Hardwicke as their relationship continues to unfold at a torturously slow burn. The bottomless wickedness and complete lack of moral accountability of Verity’s tormentor is shocking. But Verity, as always, is up to the challenge, even when her stubbornness and lack of self-preservation is in full swing. Verity is a terrific character and her “adventures” are always entertaining. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.
October 29, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed Messina's latest in the ongoing adventures of Verity Lark and Lord Colson Hardwicke. The variety of "undercover" characters she inhabits are very clever and I wonder how they might play if one of these volumes was ever made into a movie. I was reminded of the many disguises used by Sherlock Holmes in movies and television productions where no one ever seemed to recognize him or his voice even when he played women characters. The not so subtle undertones of the role of women in the social strata of the times and Verity's all consuming desire to be seen as an independent, smart, resourceful and successful woman and how that conflicts with the slow building relationship between her and Colson easily echoes down to current times. I especially enjoy Messina's use of the vernacular of the times in reminding us how language has developed and changed and in some ways become less colorful. I heartily recommend this series for readers who enjoy historical fiction that immerses the reader in the social mores, dress and language of a particular time and also presents characters who are fully fleshed out with all of their doubts and fears fully exposed.
October 29, 2024
A Lark’s Release is the latest installment in the Verity Lark Series. Verity is beside herself when she has to rely on her friends, Lord Colson Hardwicke, his father, tħe Marquess of Ware and the Duchess of Kesgrave to assist in her release from Newgate Prison after being charged with a murder she didn’t commit. Verity is particularly miffed that she will have to provide shooting lessons to the Duchess of Kesgrave in exchange for her help. She also doesn’t want to be beholden to her beau Lord Colson for the money he spent getting her out of prison. As Verity and Hardwicke are asked to investigate possible forgeries at the British Museum they are then thrust into series of incidents that put Verity’s and her staffs lives in jeopardy. The more Verity and Hardwicke investigate they uncover a plot that leads back to Verity and her father, whose identity she has never wanted to investigate. Another great installment from Lynn Messina.
I received an ARC from The Book Whisperer and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from The Book Whisperer and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2024
Thanks to assistance from her half-brother's wife, Verity Lark escapes the murder charge that put her in Newgate Prison. She's out and starting to look at some aspects of life a bit differently, particularly her relationship with Hardwicke. Unfortunately, she can't relax for too long because it soon becomes evident someone is trying to kill her. And her dear friend Daphne almost became victim to this attempt.
The fourth installment in the Verity Lark series continues to entertain well. Verity's character develops at a faster pace in this one and her relationship with Colson seems to affect much of the change. After being jailed for a crime, she didn't commit, she starts to understand that she needs the support of others at times in her life. It's a hard fact to accept but she's coming around. It's a lot of new territory for Verity and I like the way she takes it on like other challenges.
I highly recommend this one and rate this 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the Book Whisperer to giving me a free copy to read in advance. I have provided this review voluntarily.
The fourth installment in the Verity Lark series continues to entertain well. Verity's character develops at a faster pace in this one and her relationship with Colson seems to affect much of the change. After being jailed for a crime, she didn't commit, she starts to understand that she needs the support of others at times in her life. It's a hard fact to accept but she's coming around. It's a lot of new territory for Verity and I like the way she takes it on like other challenges.
I highly recommend this one and rate this 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the Book Whisperer to giving me a free copy to read in advance. I have provided this review voluntarily.
November 23, 2024
At the beginning of the book Verity Lark is in prison. Once released she begins to investigate a series of crimes - art forgery, art theft, and eventually a murder. Her investigation, with the assistance of her friend Delphine and potential suitor Hardwicke, also leads to revelations about her own past and family. The author does a good job tying together all of the plot lines at the end and also moving the relationship between Hardwicke and Verity forward. This is the 4th book in the series, and I think a new reader would be confused by the characters' relationships and back stories that are alluded to but not explained in detail. There are also numerous long passages of Verity musing about possible disguises or analyzing in detail her relationship with Hardwicke; these passages bring the action to a grinding halt but are easily skimmed or skipped. Thanks to NetGalley and Potatoworks Press for the ARC.
October 25, 2024
This book follows closely on from the last so I’d recommend at least reading that first. Verity is recently released from Newgate so is not feeling the best. Thank goodness she stumbles onto a forged antiquities ring when she visits the British Museum with Hardwicke. Finally—something benign to focus her brain on.
Then a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household & she realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, A very well written entertaining murder mystery. The characters have depth, the pace is good & I was kept guessing as to who the villain was. I really like Verity & I’m also enjoying her relationship with Colson & enjoy how it is developing
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
Then a murderer strikes close to home, threatening every member of her household & she realizes just how grossly she misunderstood the situation. Far from harmless, the counterfeit scheme is in deadly earnest, A very well written entertaining murder mystery. The characters have depth, the pace is good & I was kept guessing as to who the villain was. I really like Verity & I’m also enjoying her relationship with Colson & enjoy how it is developing
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
December 9, 2024
Aside from a small amount of annoyingness from verity regarding the list of expenses she demanded from hardwicke, this was as wonderful as ever. One of the offending scenes did however give us a very nice interaction with hardwicke:
""You have known me for little more than a month." Oh, but her attempt at clarity fell horribly flat, making everything worse. Because his reply was devastating: "It took little more than a week.""
Obsessed with that. Also the father reveal was not something I expected from this book but of course tillys prologue kinda stole the wind out of the sails of the reveal. I do like getting the different pov in the beginning but I don't appreciate the spoilers.
I hope verity and hardwicke somehow find a way to kesgraves country home even though Tilly said she couldn't invite them to her upcoming party
""You have known me for little more than a month." Oh, but her attempt at clarity fell horribly flat, making everything worse. Because his reply was devastating: "It took little more than a week.""
Obsessed with that. Also the father reveal was not something I expected from this book but of course tillys prologue kinda stole the wind out of the sails of the reveal. I do like getting the different pov in the beginning but I don't appreciate the spoilers.
I hope verity and hardwicke somehow find a way to kesgraves country home even though Tilly said she couldn't invite them to her upcoming party
October 12, 2024
Oh how I love this series and Bea's! It is amazing how they progress parallelly giving you different perspectives and hindsights into the characters.
Another really clever entry, A lark's release follows the events unfolding after Bea manages to solve the mystery behind Verity's incarceration.
But can she be free of her tumultuous past? Another puzzle piece is revealed and Verity is in really high waters.
Delphine is once again a perfect sounding board for Verity and what about Grint? May there be something buried under the contemptuous surface?
I have received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.
Another really clever entry, A lark's release follows the events unfolding after Bea manages to solve the mystery behind Verity's incarceration.
But can she be free of her tumultuous past? Another puzzle piece is revealed and Verity is in really high waters.
Delphine is once again a perfect sounding board for Verity and what about Grint? May there be something buried under the contemptuous surface?
I have received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.
November 12, 2024
Fun to see how so many characters from the two series are coming together. This was much better than the last. So much less angst and even anger. Verity is such fun with her myriad disguises and brilliance. The more that is revealed about her past the more I feel for her. What I mostly want is for Verity and Hardwicke to have a double date with the Matlocks. I love all these characters. The other fun thing about the Verity Lark series is that it is a little bit ensemble in nature with Freddie and Delphine and the household staff in on the hijinks. Also…still waiting for those shooting lessons.
July 9, 2025
It has, I believe, been a while since I read any books by this author, let alone in this particular series and I had forgotten *just* how much I loathe Verity. I knew when I borrowed this on KU I disliked her but clearly time had taken away some of my irritation at her. Verity is honestly so full of herself I genuinely think she is my most hated lead in ANY book.
As for the events of this... my dislike of her has eclipsed my memory of anything mildly interesting happening in this. Whilst I will continue to read the authors other series, unless I forget how annoying Verity is by the time I get KU again, I won't be reading on.
As for the events of this... my dislike of her has eclipsed my memory of anything mildly interesting happening in this. Whilst I will continue to read the authors other series, unless I forget how annoying Verity is by the time I get KU again, I won't be reading on.
October 28, 2024
I appreciate being able to read this Arc, I love Historical Mysteries, they are my favorite Genre. However, as a protagonists, Verity Lark is too obnoxious for me, the story is so full of herself that it doesn't flow well, it gets confusing with her constantly telling us how clever she is, how independent she is, you get the drift, although without Hardwicke she would still be in prison! I read the entire book, but I am sorry, my honest opinion is inviolate, I didn't enjoy her constant self - aggrandizement! I guarantee everyone else will enjoy it, just not me. My honest opinions are my own, I choose books that I think that I will enjoy and when it disappoints, it's devastating to me too,I read for enjoyment and for escape, I have five autoimmune diseases, reading takes me to different world and I love the many hours that I have spent with characters who entertain me, and the stories that transport me to another world, I am on the side of the authors whose imaginations and talents have given me untold please. Thank you #Netgalley #LnnMessina
carolintallahassee
Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
carolintallahassee
Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
October 27, 2024
A murder throws Verity into a deadly conspiracy that threatens everyone she cares about, forcing her to confront a ruthless enemy determined to eliminate her.
I enjoyed this book as well as the earlier ones in the series, which I recommend reading in order. The author’s writing style is entertaining, although I sometimes get confused by the disguises and the quick changes from one scene to another. The characters are likable and the plot intriguing.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I enjoyed this book as well as the earlier ones in the series, which I recommend reading in order. The author’s writing style is entertaining, although I sometimes get confused by the disguises and the quick changes from one scene to another. The characters are likable and the plot intriguing.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 31, 2024
I feel you definitely need to read this series in order as the characters and events do play upon one another. Verity and Hardwicke make a good team. She is just released from Newgate after being wrongly imprisoned and on a trip to the museum she gets accused of stealing. I enjoyed Verity’s many disguises and how she feels when she isn’t under cover of one of them. Someone is behind all these things happening to her. Do we find out in this book or have to read the next? The supporting characters add much to the storyline.
November 8, 2024
An amazing mystery
I love Verity almost as much as I love Bea. And that is saying a lot because I LOVE Bea. I would love to see the two stories come together, but I don’t think it would be a good idea. They are perfect in their own spheres. The romance was a bit thick in this story but it didn’t detract from the story. It weaved through it until the last few pages. And then it was Verity and Coleson. Really a great mystery. Beautifully laid out. I don’t know why Ms. Messina’s books aren’t on a best sellers list. They are worth it.
I love Verity almost as much as I love Bea. And that is saying a lot because I LOVE Bea. I would love to see the two stories come together, but I don’t think it would be a good idea. They are perfect in their own spheres. The romance was a bit thick in this story but it didn’t detract from the story. It weaved through it until the last few pages. And then it was Verity and Coleson. Really a great mystery. Beautifully laid out. I don’t know why Ms. Messina’s books aren’t on a best sellers list. They are worth it.
November 10, 2024
Verity’s Undoing
The romance between Verity & Harwick as it plays out in her head fascinates me. It is similar to the Duke & Bea in that both ladies believe, the men can’t possibly be as good as they appear. They also don’t believe anyone could possibly love them that much because they do not deserve it. Then, in the midst of all this emotion they solve a mystery. It is not a mystery with a little romance but a fairytale with a murder mystery. Such an enjoyable read. I want to be Verity & Bea!
The romance between Verity & Harwick as it plays out in her head fascinates me. It is similar to the Duke & Bea in that both ladies believe, the men can’t possibly be as good as they appear. They also don’t believe anyone could possibly love them that much because they do not deserve it. Then, in the midst of all this emotion they solve a mystery. It is not a mystery with a little romance but a fairytale with a murder mystery. Such an enjoyable read. I want to be Verity & Bea!
November 11, 2024
Did NOT See That Coming
There are so many things I absolutely did not see coming in this story. I love Verity and Hardwicke and Delphine and the rest of her adopted family. I didn't anticipate the murder, attempted murder and other mayhem that came about in this story. Hardwicke's interest in and faithfulness towards Verity was endearing. All the surprises as the story wrapped up were almost overwhelming, but in a good way. Another excellent, hard to put down story by this author.
There are so many things I absolutely did not see coming in this story. I love Verity and Hardwicke and Delphine and the rest of her adopted family. I didn't anticipate the murder, attempted murder and other mayhem that came about in this story. Hardwicke's interest in and faithfulness towards Verity was endearing. All the surprises as the story wrapped up were almost overwhelming, but in a good way. Another excellent, hard to put down story by this author.
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