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Review: A TARNISHED CANVAS by Anna Lee Huber
- Sophia Rose
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
ABOUT THE BOOK
March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She's thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin's coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives. It soon becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit's aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage's assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, they discover that the victim was not the killer's intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they're on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter's repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.
OPENING LINES
“I could count on one hand the number of times I’d witnessed a gentleman hanging out of a window, and most of those had been the result of some foolish wager. I trusted my husband’s current predicament wasn’t due to such idiocy. Though one could never be sure.”
GUEST REVIEW BY SOPHIA ROSE
When one wants interesting historical details and settings, nuanced characters, and a mystery plot that doesn’t give up the answers easily, look no further than the talented pen of Anna Lee Huber.
A Tarnished Canvas extends the Lady Darby mysteries to the thirteenth installment and remains fresh and engaging for long-time fans or for those just discovering the early Victorian era series about a female artist who once lived a macabre life with her first husband, but now shares a loving partnership with her husband, Gage, a professional inquiry agent.
After recent escapades among Gage’s relations in Cornwall, Kiera, Gage, and their retinue return to their home in Scotland for a time of peaceful doings. Gage is between cases, but Kiera occupies herself with preparing her work for a show, finishing some commissions, and with her family. Then, an unlooked-for invitation to an art auction leads to a horrific accident when the floor gives way and the pair are injured, but at least alive.
However, it wasn’t an accident, and now they, along with their investigating assistants, including crime lord, Bonnie Brock, must get to the truth of the matter because there are strong hints that Kiera might have been the target.
A Tarnished Canvas was centered around a real-life event of a floor collapsing, and kudos to Anna Lee Huber for working this event and so many period descriptions into her story. At times, the historical element is firmly at the forefront, as are the relationship developments, particularly between her maid and Gage’s manservant. Bonnie Brock is the spice of life whenever he appears and unsettles matters. The last third of the book kicked it up a notch and left me wide-eyed at the conclusion--which yes, as usual, hints at a new mystery book hovering on the horizon.
Narrator Heather Wild has been a familiar and enjoyable voice for the audiobook series. She draws listeners in quickly and deepens the connection to the well-loved characters with her distinctive voices.
There are enough details for historical mystery lovers to dive into A Tarnished Canvas and try out Anna Lee Huber’s work, but I strongly recommend getting the series from the beginning so that all their character and relationship growth, along with those stellar mysteries, are not missed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Lee Huber is the USA Today bestselling and Daphne award-winning author of the "Lady Darby Mysteries," the "Verity Kent Mysteries," and the "Gothic Myths" series, as well as Sisters of Fortune: A Novel of the Titanic and the anthology The Deadly Hours. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she majored in music and minored in psychology. She currently resides in Indiana with her family and is hard at work on her next novel. Visit her online at her website.
ABOUT GUEST REVIEWER Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet, curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants, and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and a loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, baseball, cats, Scooby Doo, and chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. In 2012, she submitted her first book review and is currently an associate reviewer. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener, which allows her to experience many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction, particularly history, mystery, scifi, and romance. Sorry, no horror...or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby. Connect with Sophia via FACEBOOK GOODREADS TWITTER.
Lovely review, Sophia! I am currently in the middle of book 12 'A Deceptive Composition'. I love the Lady Darby series and look forward to diving into book 13. Bonnie Brock always lends a little 'spice' to the stroy as you say. Her historical blend of details and her 'engaging' characters has made me a huge fan. I, too, stonrgly agree that one should start from the beginning!