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Ageless Mysteries #4

Assassin's Noon

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One dead man. A fortified house full of innocent people.

One of the city's wealthiest and most powerful residents is found dead in his own home. Murder is suspected, but the house was supposed to be absolutely secure against any intruder. Thea is faced with a hostile group of household servants inside the house and demands for swift justice outside its walls.

Working with Mage Niath, it doesn't take long to realise that it's not a straightforward death and the dead man has ties to opponents they have faced before.

Can Thea uncover the truth of the death before the tensions in the city spill over and more deaths occur?

Assassin's Noon is the fourth book in the Ageless Mysteries series, and continues Thea's story which started in Deadly Night.

If you like your fantasy with mystery and magic, you will love Thea's story.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2022

233 people are currently reading
71 people want to read

About the author

Vanessa Nelson

32 books419 followers
I am a fantasy author living in Scotland, United Kingdom and spending my days juggling the demands of an elderly, spoiled cat, two giant dogs and a host of fictional characters.

As far as the cat is concerned, she’s in charge and should always come first. The older dog’s favourite method of getting my attention is a gentle nudge with his head. At least, he would say it’s gentle. And the younger dog's attention-getting method generally involves playing with the loudest squeaky toy he can find.

You can find out more information at the following places:
Website: www.vanessanelsonwrites.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taellaneth

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5 stars
1,304 (58%)
4 stars
693 (31%)
3 stars
217 (9%)
2 stars
15 (<1%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Ira.
1,155 reviews129 followers
September 23, 2022
I really really wanted more romance in this series! 😩
She can write one, if she wanted too 😘.

Thea’s parents story is definitely a romance, well a tragic love story probably 🥺.
I don’t like Ware, stuck there in the middle of their problems 🙄.
They’re need a HEA after those misunderstandings!

I will continue this series after book #6 publish, and I’ll write the review for the series there.

❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Mara.
2,533 reviews270 followers
June 23, 2022
I’m really curious to know how all this ends (both the overall story and the personal one).
Profile Image for Andrea.
2,138 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2022
3.5

A master merchant is dead, and his crime scene is a veritable mystery.

Door locked from the inside-killed in the middle of the day-a litany of magical wards just bypassed- nothing disturbed- and the victim was killed sitting behind his desk with no apparent struggle.

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How the hell are Thea, Niath and the team suppose to figure this one out with conflicting clues, a growing suspect list, and the Ageless in the mix? Plus The Archeron sniffing around and acting erratically-not to mention the Hand showing up to cause some havoc. Chaos!

Also, Thea's work and home life keep getting more complicated as secrets are revealed, and issues with her family keep building. Can the crew solve this one before even more people die?
Profile Image for Ami.
6,239 reviews489 followers
December 3, 2023
3.5 stars

Okay, I need to deduct stars because I am FRUSTRATED with Thea in this book. Since the shock of the previous book, when Thea discovered that she HAD WINGS (which made her Ageless rather than Ageless-born), she REFUSED to accept the fact.

With this new finding, Thea can help more with the threats that coming, from the warriors of Alayla, to the merchant masters who seem to use dark magic to create havoc. ALSO, she can actually try to get closer and learn from her father. But nope, Thea is in DENIAL. She doesn't want to have wings, she doesn't want to be Ageless, she doesn't want to learn magic...

Well, PHOEY!

Yes, yes, sure, sure, all the life foundation that she had learned all these years were wrong. But I still annoyed that Thea is more determined NOT to stand out and hide rather than try to learn more about who she is.

I hope this changes in book #5

The mystery is still great though, and I can't wait to see the final conclusion of the whole arc. Two books to go!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
340 reviews12 followers
July 12, 2022
3.5 Stars

The murders were an interesting mystery in this one, although I feel like the reveal could have been done better. I wish there had been more growth in Thea's personal life/problems. Despite this, I still enjoyed this book (just not as much as book 3).
1,304 reviews4 followers
November 26, 2023
Enjoyable quick easy read with interesting characters and story. Magic, mystery, and some action
966 reviews11 followers
April 29, 2024
4.5 stars - each book in the series gets better and better!
Profile Image for Hanna.
780 reviews8 followers
January 17, 2023
It started out on par with the previous book.
Plenty of action, interesting new case... locked room mystery no less...
Sadly it felt more like we were told whodunit rather than being lead there, you know getting to discover it along the way
It was at around 80% when she pulled a random previously nameless person out of nowhere who was suddenly the prime and only suspect. It seems the rest of the book was spent chasing red herrings.
I know they're part of any good mystery, just was way out of balance in this one.

and again way too many unanswered questions and not just ones from the over-arcing story, but from current situations. Like how did Matthew and Iva know to come look for Thea to name just one of the never ending questions that fail to get any real answers (don't get me started on Niath or her mother with regards to unanswered questions)

I also find myself growing tired of a) Thea still stubbornly refusing to actually deal with anything, especially anything remotely personal... we'Re at the end of the 4th book for crying out loud...
and b) her habit of blowing off/avoiding asking questions. Sure, in some instances it made sense to wait and see, but mostly it's really just more of her not dealing with things... and really out of place for someone who everyone hails as such a good investigator...
it's getting old and is making me like her decidedly less than before. It just seems so childish, juvenile, more than once I wanted to tell her grow up...

Oh and on a whole her skills, competency, "fighting prowess", etc fluctuate quite a bit day to day, scene to scene. Like one moment she's all competent and the next a total novice without any real rhyme or reason to it..

There are also a lot more editorial issues, typos, misspellings and such. I noticed an uptick with that in the previous book as well, but forgot to mention it
Profile Image for Alice.
1,899 reviews103 followers
November 13, 2024
I like the mysteries introduced in each book, but this one failed to give any good answers about the main conspiracy plot and only solved a minor detail before ending. Any main actors ended up without providing much information about why the crimes had happened and who actually directed their actions. It was an unsatisfying read on its own without continuing onto the next book.

I have a pretty good idea about the history of the FMC and what motivates her at this point, but the MMC is still a complete mystery, and the romance is quite introductory even 4 books into a completed series of 6. It seems that both writing and pacing decisions are a habit of the author after finishing 3 of their series.
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Ratings - completed series:
#1 Deadly Night: ★★★★☆
#2 False Dawn: ★★★★☆
#3 Morning Trap: ★★★★☆
#4 Assassin's Noon (this book): ★★★☆☆
#5 Flightless Afternoon: ★★★★☆
#6 Ascension Day: ★★★☆☆
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,852 reviews20 followers
June 26, 2023
Good

Note: this is book four in a sequential series, in which each book builds on the ones that went before. It’s not a standalone, so the reader really must read the preceding books first.

Thea finds herself asked to investigate the mysterious locked room death of a merchant, and it turns out not the last death either.
Along with Niath, and the help of her investigative friends, Thea starts searching for the murderer, learning some important things in the process.

This book allows Thea a little time to come to terms with the new things she has learned: both about herself and her mother. She’s able to put her new job to the test, investigating for the Watch, and furthering her relationship with Niath a little (it’s a very slow burn relationship).

Despite that, it’s still an action filled book, with a worthy mystery at the centre of it, and an entertaining plot. The same entertaining characters are present as in the other books, and are like old friends by now.

It’s a compelling series, and worth the read for any fantasy and mystery loving reader.
Profile Image for Fred Hewett.
174 reviews10 followers
February 27, 2022
Reliably enjoyable series

This is another enjoyable book in one of my favorite series. Thea continues to learn more about her world, including learning truths that have been hidden from her. In the first book, Thea was keeping herself small and hidden. She continues to (metaphorically) spread her wings, showing her considerable skills to a wider audience.

I really wish she would accept her (literal) wings and her ability to use magic. I fully understand why she hasn't (and this book drives those reasons home), but we all know the truth will come out. Still, it frustrates me.

Anyone who has read the previous books in this series will enjoy this one. If you're a big mystery fan, you will probably not be happy. The solution to the mystery is rather messy.

I eagerly await the next book. I hope there are several more to come.
86 reviews
March 16, 2022
Wonderfully layered series.

The series is so well done. The only slightly irritating thing is the emotional avoidance trope. I usually feel that's kind of a lazy way of justifying keeping a potential conflict on the back burner, but I feel like in this case it's supported by the rest of the protagonist's history. Besides, I have the feeling the avoided reality is going to be pivotal later on, and I would have been super mad if it had been first introduced 5 or 6 books in. So fair enough.

Clear as mud? I was trying to avoid spoilers. Got to read the whole series to find out ;).

Everything else is wonderful. The mysteries are engaging, the slow burn romance is believable and worth rooting for, and the family relationship is wonderfully complex and interesting.
868 reviews14 followers
July 3, 2022
The theories are every growing over what is going on in this corrupt world surrounding Thea and her friends and allies. She needs every one of them as the Ageless appear as dark and corrupt as never before, with no sense of who can be trusted. The suspense and drama that is built was enough to keep my frantically turning every page, whilst at the same time loving every interaction between Thea and her friends, family and the growing bond between her and Niath. Thea's secrets are getting harder to keep she is learning to trust. I love this world and am so very very sad that this is the last book that Vanessa Nelson has out after reading every single one back to back. The sense of loss is very real! But I will be there waiting for every single release from now on.
10 reviews
July 7, 2025
This is a pretty good book. The best part of tit is definitely the world. It really intrigues me and I want other series in the world with other characters.

Unfortunately it really suffers from the "too stupid to live" trope, the "lets do everything ourselves" variant. Our main character always runs headfirst into whatever trouble there is and of course causes the bad guys to escape and she gets hurt.

There is also a distinct lack of romance in a book that could really use a romance subplot. The developing relationship between our main characters is not even moving at a glacial pace: it has been completely frozen.

I would really like to give this book a higher rating, but the I have exclaimed, more than once, "don't do that!" whenever the MC runs into the enemy HQ.
429 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2023
Good series

Clean fantasy mystery series that is well paced with interesting characters. Start with book 1. There is an overall story arc that carries over into each book. Thea is a Watch representative who investigates crime. She is strong, likeable and capable. The series evolves around Thea. The world is introduced by sequences in the investigation. No info dumping or reiterated events from the previous books which I appreciate. I am moving on to the next book now. I want to know what happens next.
Profile Image for fred jones.
1,784 reviews11 followers
July 6, 2025
This is a superb series

I am loving this series. When one of the cities wealthiest and most powerful man is found murdered in his own magically protected home, Thea and Mage Niath are sent to investigate. Magic, mystery and secrets abound, the return of old enemies and the ever present oversight of the Ageless make for a difficult and dangerous investigation. Well written and entertaining with engaging characters. Vanessa Nelson has created a fascinating and engaging world. This is book four and I recommend you read them in sequence. Highly recommended series
Profile Image for Siesta.
407 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2022
The binge reading continues!
And this time there’s a locked room mystery, as well as stirrings of a political uprising, and the skillful unfolding of the layers of the story that I’ve come to expect from this author.
Thea is as compelling a lead as ever, I love Niath’s endless curiosity, and the secondary characters are given increasing depth. Personally, I like that there is barely any romance, Thea doesn’t deserve to be subsumed by a love interest.
On to book 5 😁
187 reviews1 follower
April 17, 2023
Exactly what I needed

I’ve been in a book drought, but happened upon a recommendation for one of this author’s series. I’d never heard of her, but I decided to give it a shot and I’m sooo glad I did. This is the second book of hers I’ve finished today and I’m on to the third (#5 in the series). These are soooo well written…I love the balance of action, mystery, backstory, worldbuilding and the very subtle slow burn romance. What a fantastic series!
Profile Image for Millennium65.
200 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2023
4/5 stars - All Business

The mystery was good, but I was disappointed at the lack of development in Thea's personal life. Thea and Niath's relationship stays fairly stagnant, and most of their focus is on the investigation. We get a few new side characters, but no one amazingly interesting. I had hoped the author would build on Thea's big reveal from the last book, but it was largely pushed aside.
47 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2023
Yet more intrigue …

Thea and Niath are tasked with discovering a murderer who can seemingly escape through locked doors and defeat magic? Is it the mysterious Hand at work or is there a more prosaic reason for these murders. Alongside all of this, Thea has to deal with some personal issues including the fact that her mother has been lying to her. Will all of this prove too much for Thea?
Super story with intriguing characters!
Profile Image for D K.
584 reviews3 followers
February 29, 2024
I am loving this series! 💜💜💜

There is mystery, magic, action and so much more! The the FMC is a wonderful character, she is smart, fierce, very likable and always fighting the good fight. Thea is a watchwoman aka cop, with an inquisitive mind and a warrior at heart. This is a series that needs to be read in order. As the series progresses, more is revealed and more questions arise. Such a wonderful treat! Highly Recommended 😍🥰💕
Profile Image for Emilye.
1,551 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2024
Dark Days, Brighter Days

AgelessMysteries4

More complex as we explored the locked room murder trope. Since magic is involved in these stories, it had a frisson of “you’re kidding” mixed in. Perfect.

The Hand of the goddess is taking on more of an aspect that will allow Thea to find and enjoy her place, as one of the defenders of the city and its people.

I am pacing myself … don’t want this to end too soon 😏
Profile Image for Sara.
646 reviews5 followers
September 2, 2022
I really love the story but I need a break from the series a bit.
I feel the main problem is - there is too much mystery. I would love to read how the heroine grows relationship with the people around her. I would love nothing more than for her to sit down and really talk with... anybody. The mage, her mother, her father or even any of her colleges.
97 reviews
July 14, 2023
And the mystery deepen

Thea has a case as the new Watch Investigater that's going to be a challenge. I enjoy the way the author has crafted a complete plot for each book while laying out clues for the overarching plot. The characters are developing & relationships deepening, keeping you looking forward to the next adventure
15 reviews
August 19, 2023
Excellent series

I'm now on book 4 and Enjoying the series. Headache The heroine is not a typical perfect all- powerful character. She The romance is a slow burn but satisfied flaws and is likable. The mysteries have twist and turns that keep it interesting. There is character growth. The romance is a slow burn but satisfying.
85 reviews1 follower
December 1, 2023
Ageless mysteries

This is a great series of books and well worth a read if you like fantasy. The plots are teasing, the characters fully fleshed and the world is wonderfully written. So glad I picked the first one and kept with it this far, thank goodness I don't have to wait 6 months for the next one! 😅
Profile Image for Emmalynn.
2,938 reviews29 followers
July 11, 2025
Back with Thea and Niath on another 🫆 investigation. Mages are being killed as someone is getting through their security. Her mother finally reveals some devastating news that has Thea seeing her father in a different way. Shes more open to a relationship with him and has to work on forgiving her mother. Still no romance with Niath 😑😑 but they work great together
76 reviews
February 26, 2022
Very dramatic story

Loving the on going story of Thea and Niath . Looking forward to the next part with as much patience as I can manage. The new characters are very interesting and it is good to see a bit more of Thea's history being resolved.
309 reviews4 followers
January 18, 2023
So good!

To be read in order, this is book 4, ‘Assassin’s Noon’ from Vanessa Nelson’s ‘Ageless Mysteries’. There is mystery, family ties, friendship, magic, and many secrets. So far, I have savored each book in this excellent series and look forward to the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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