Eh. I’m not really invested in the relationship anymore but the mysteries continue to be interesting.

Just like book #6, this one was hard to put down and was finished in one day. I hope Amory and Milo will continue to find mysteries to solve even though they are now parents!

"Amory Ames is alone at her country house Thornecrest, enjoying her last few weeks of peace and quiet as she prepares for the imminent arrival of her baby. Her husband, Milo, is in London on business, and Amory is content to catch up on her correspondence, organize the nursery, and avoid the well-meaning if rather overbearing company of the ladies in the village as they prepare for the Springtide Festival. But then a woman appears on her doorstep, also claiming to be Mrs. Ames, Milo’s wife. Amory's marriage has had its ups and downs in the past, but her faith in her husband has been restored, and Milo has been nothing but thrilled about becoming a father. Though the supposed second Mrs. Ames seems earnest, Amory is convinced she must be mistaken, a belief that Milo confirms upon his homecoming. However, when a second unexpected visitor arrives at Thornecrest, secret identities and whirlwind romances appear to be becoming par for the course.It's not until the day of the festival, when Milo's stable hand Bertie is found dead, that the strange characters appearing in town begin to seem more sinister, and Amory is determined to uncover the killer in the crowd. "

In this outing, Milo and Amory Ames are at their English country estate, Thornecrest, when a murder occurs in the village. A young man who worked in their stable is killed, and there are a number of suspects. Meanwhile, an unknown half-brother to Milo turns up, and comes under suspicion for the murder. Amory is pregnant with their first child and can't help sleuthing, against Milo's wishes. I love this series. Amory is so kind and civilized, and it's a pleasure to see her relationship with Milo developing further. The mystery was very good, with an unexpected conclusion. This is a consistently good series.

Milo and Amory Ames are an interesting couple, finding themselves again in the midst of a murder investigation . The book takes place in the 1930’s, and you really get a sense of the era from the writing. The main appeal is the personalities of Milo and Amory, and add in a newly discovered relative, and the fun really begins. I enjoy this series, and like the evolution of Milo and Amory’s relationship. Recommended, and thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

It took me time to get into this story--perhaps because this is book 7 in an ongoing series, perhaps because it was slow to get to the action--but I enjoyed it once it actually got to the who-dunnit part.

This is my first Amory Adams book, and now I have to go back and read the rest of the series! I really enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the mystery. Amory is just a delight. She's got several mysteries to tackle in this novel, and I was pulled in from the first page. Great cozy mystery.

3.75 stars

This series keeps getting better and better. This one and the one before it are my two favorites (tied with the first). The direction the series is going is perfect for the characters.

I absolutely adore Amory and Milo and their interactions with each other. The writing style is just pure fun. I love the historical detail, while the mystery element is always solid.

If you’re a fan of this series, you will absolutely be delighted by this latest addition. I am SO looking forward to more Darien in the next book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital copy.

4.5/5⭐️

I really enjoy this series, and this 7th installment doesn’t disappoint.

Amory and Milo are anticipating the birth of their first child at their country home when one of their stable hands is inexplicably murdered. A second death follows, and Amory feels compelled to investigate.

There isn’t as much physical action in this one, but of course Amory is 8 months pregnant. And I did miss Milo as he was away from home at intervals. But there are two new additions to the family here (and no, it’s not twins!) and a twisty denouement that kept me riveted.

Looking forward to number 8!

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress and #MinotaurBooks for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for this delightful book in exchange for an honest review.

If the first sentence doesn't grab you, nothing will. From start to finish this was a clever, witty and engrossing read. Though this is the seventh book in the series, it can easily be read on its own (this is my introduction to the series).

Amory and Milo's marriage has historically been shaky but over the past two years has grown deeper and deeper and, in fact, the arrival of their first child is only weeks away. So, when a stranger suddenly announces she is married to Milo Amory can't believe this woman is married to the same man she is.

This novel takes place in the 1930s, the great golden era when the wealthy lived lives of luxury. When a murder occurs at a festival, everyone...except one...is shocked. Amory, as an amateur sleuth, begins snooping around by visiting villagers, determined to discover the truth. Her pregnancy is hardly a deterrent!

Along with many excellent and successful twists and turns are interwoven side stories which is a mark of a good mystery author. The stories flowed smoothly.

A few unlikable characters also added to the story; in fact, it is unlikable characters which engaged me even more.

The only drawback is the lack of enough descriptions of the era...reading about the specific historical bits sets the atmosphere but this is merely personal preference.

This series is a happy discovery. I will be sure to read it in its entirety. It was a fun, fascinating, energetic and beguiling read punctuated with just enough wit and humour. The ending was beautifully done and was satisfying.