Thank you, NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Anna Lee Huber for the advanced copy of Murder Most Fair, the newest book in the Verity Kent series. It comes out on August 30, 2021. Verity and Sidney are finally making a 5-year overdue trip to see Verity’s family, all of whom have been hearing her mother say how callous Verity has been in the family’s time of grief for not returning. Verity lost her older and favorite brother Rob in the war, and her other two brothers and sister have had to bear up against their mother’s insulting grief for five years while Verity has been burying her own.
Verity brings her elderly German Tante Isle with her to her family’s seat as she’s fled her homeland with her maid due to some threatening notes. While Verity enjoys renewing her acquaintance with her Aunt, the rest of her relationships with her various family members are full of tension. As Verity tries to avoid her grief in the place that holds the heart of it, she does anything she can to distract herself, including meddling in her family’s relationships – oh, and solving the murder of Tante’s maid.
I don’t mind the Verity Kent series – however, after reading Murder Most Fair, I can officially say that I prefer Lady Darby. I think Huber writes Lady Darby with just a squeak more of truth and authenticity; it seems that Huber might have more experience with self-confidence issues (Lady Darby) than personal grief. Verity is written well, but I just don’t get sucked into her emotions like I do Lady Darby’s. I also feel like the relationship between Verity and Sidney is a little too ambiguous; they seem like they make some progress outside of the books, but readers never get a clear picture of where they’re at as a couple. I’d like that to be a little more clear-cut so that I can better understand the perspective that each is coming from.
Although Verity and Sidney take a few steps forward and a few steps back in their relationship, they work together well when they have a case to solve. They work to keep each other safe and are respectful of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which is nice to see. They actually remind me a ton of Milo and Amory Ames from Ashley Weaver’s series. Even the way they’re written is extremely similar.
In terms of cases, I don’t think that this case was the most complicated that Verity and Sidney have dealt with. It could have been a more remarkable plot, considering that we took a break from the Ardmore problem in this book (which was totally fine with me because it has been going on for so many books that I’m fairly confused, now). But, this novel was more about Verity facing her loss and her fears, and I’m glad that Huber took the time to do so. It shows some serious character development and I’m looking forward to seeing her progress in the next book.
What I’d really like to see in the next book is more about Sidney; we’ve seen a lot of Verity and have an idea of what she went through during the war and how it affected her. But, we don’t really know how Sidney is dealing with the aftermath of the war or how he feels that he’s damaged. He makes a point in this book of saying that if he could help heal Verity, there was a chance that he could be healed in the future as well, and I’d just like to know more of what he’s dealing with. He doesn’t talk about it much (understandably!) but I’d like some insight even if it’s just from Verity’s perspective. She mostly just mentions that Sidney won’t talk about it with her, but she never discusses any guesses with us either.
The writing was flawless, as usual – Huber always does an excellent job. I would like to look deeper into both Sidney and Verity, but if the series is long-running, that may come. I do prefer Lady Darby, but I won’t stop reading Verity Kent anytime soon.