A Study in Death: A Lady Darby Mystery by Anna Lee Huber

    It must be nice being able to make money doing what you love to do in life. It is what I, and so many other people, try to do every day. The process is long and hard, but I am determined to make it happen.

    Lady Kiera Darby loves to paint portraits. Despite her tainted reputation, people still want to sit and be painted by her. Usually, the experience goes well. With Lady Drummond, trouble comes with it.

    The trouble comes because Lady Drummond dies before Kiera can finish the painting. After witnessing the way Lord Drummond treated his wife, added with the way Lady Drummond died, Kiera is convinced the death was murder.

    The problem with this belief is no one will listen to Kiera. Not even her fiancĂ©, Sebastian Gage. Oh, yes, Gage agrees to look into the matter, but it’s only to appease her. Still, that’s more than the attending doctor did after Lady Drummond’s death.

    Kiera, of course, is not going to let Sebastian Gage investigate alone. She goes around town questioning people; including those Gage and his father, Lord Gage, tell her not too. Kiera also works with people she is warned against. These people help her get permission to go into Edinburgh's underworld to look for clues. It is what Kiera needs to do to get justice for Lady Drummond, but to also distract her from the other problems in her life.

Paint
Artwork by Kate Dorsey

    One of Kiera’s problems is her family. Although, they are more of a worry than a problem. Her sister, Alana, is bedridden with a high-risk pregnancy. One would think, in this condition, her loving husband would be by her side. Not this time. Alana’s husband, the usually very loving and adoring Philip, will not go near her. In fact, he is doing whatever he can to stay away.

    Then there are Kiera’s concerns about her marriage to Gage. He keeps making statements which makes her think of her controlling deceased husband. The situation is not helped by the fact Gage’s father is determined to break them up. Lord Gage wants his son to have a politically advantageous wife. That is certainly not Kiera.

    While the mystery involving Lady Drummond’s death was the main focus for Kiera, A Study in Death concentrated a lot on Kiera’s personal life. It also showed how Kiera is able to stand up for herself more and more. Something she struggled with doing in the past.

    This is a good change to see. I loved when Kiera took on Lord Gage. It was about time. Although, I do wish she had been sharper and took the confrontation even further. There was so much more Kiera could have said that she didn’t. But then I must remember this book is set in 1831. Some of the things she should have said could have had severe repercussions. Which is a shame. It would have been nice to see Kiera get everything she’s been holding back out.

Survey created by Kate Dorsey with Microsoft Paint 3D

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