Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Review: An Act of Villainy (An Amory Ames Mystery #5) by Ashley Weaver

 


Amory and Milo Ames run into an old friend on a night out who invites them to come to the dress rehearsal for a new play he has written and produced called The Price of Victory.

Starring rising talents Christopher Landon and Flora Bell, Gerard Holloway is hoping for a great success.  He asks to see Milo at his club for a drink the next day. There he divulges that his star and mistress Flora Bell has been getting threatening letters.

There are a number of cast members who have some level of jealousy towards Bell, both for her success and for her relationship with Holloway.  Bell agrees to let Milo and Amory, who have solved a number of mysteries in the past, try to discover who wishes her harm. No police, though, she's adamant.

Awkwardly, Amory is friends with Holloway's wife, and has had some experience herself with a wandering husband.  As she and Milo attempt to investigate, old memories come between them, and Amory doesn't share quite as much as she should about her half of the investigation.

Opening night comes, the play is a rousing success, and Amory has to admit Flora has a rare talent. There's a gala afterward for charity, and then Flora is found, in the theater, dead.  

Despite the tensions from past problems in their relationship, I thought Amory and Milo worked well together as a crime solving team. Both are smart and observant, and wise about people and their behavior.

There's a lot of light witty banter among all characters, and the glamour of the stage.

This is our April book group book, or you know I never would have started in the middle of the series.  Definitely likeable characters, and a pleasant step into the lives of the wealthy in 1930s London.


https://www.ashley-weaver.com/

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