A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber
Lady Darby Mysteries #11
Historical Mystery
June 20, 2023- Berkley
ARC

Review by Angela

The eleventh book in the Lady Darby Mysteries series opens with Keira and Sebastian traveling to the home of a surgeon after receiving word that Lord Gage has been gravely injured after being set upon by highwaymen. With them are their faithful servants, Bree and Anderley, as well as their infant daughter, her nurse, and Henry, Sebastian’s half-brother. Unsure of the severity of the attack and Lord Gage’s exact injuries, they are making haste, worried at what they might find when they finally arrive at their destination.

When they arrive, they realize that Sebastian’s father is healing, if slowly, but the nature of the attack is odd. Rather than ask for his purse, the highwaymen seem to have focused on injuring Lord Gage. Additionally, an outrider was murdered. None of it makes sense, so Keira and Sebastian set out to investigate and figure out the identity of the assailants and their motives behind the crime.

This felt a bit different than the last few books in this series. Mainly because it focused on Lord Gage and his backstory, as well as his tumultuous relationships with Sebastian, Henry, and Keira. He has always been a disapproving man, hard and difficult to understand, and that is no different when the book opens. During the investigation, Keira and Sebastian begin to accumulate leads, many are about a current Robin Hood-like figure who seems to be helping the small village, but there are also rumblings about an uprising years before, and when they question Lord Gage he is secretive and unwilling to open up about his past.

Emotions are on full display, as Sebastian is frustrated by the lack of honesty from his father, and still hurt by finding out that he was unfaithful to his mother. Henry remains on the outside looking in, yet to receive any kindness or warmth from his biological father. Keira and baby Emma are the bridge between them all, able to settle everyone down and working to bring them together in some sense of calm acceptance.

The mystery is well done and the identity of the villain, as well as their relationship with Lord Gage, a surprise.

As with any book in this series, the historical details are vivid and well-researched, even while these characters do tend to be more progressive for the time period. I adore the secondary romance between Anderley and Bree and am hopeful now that their relationship seems to be moving in a positive direction. The ending hints at the tentative beginnings of a new connection between Lord Gage and his sons. This makes me happy and has me looking forward to the next installment.

All in all, another fantastic addition to the series.

Grade- B

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