ISBN-10 : 074902383X - Paperback $7.29
Publisher : Allison and Busby (May 23, 2019), 352 pages.
Review copy courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library.
The blurb: Walking through London's West End after a night at the theatre, Amory Ames and her husband Milo run into old friends, the wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway and his wife Georgina. When Holloway invites them to the dress rehearsal of a new play he is directing, Amory readily accepts. However, she is shocked to learn that Holloway has cast his mistress, actress Flora Bell, in the lead role. Furthermore, the casual invitation is not what it seems-he admits to Amory and Milo that Flora has been receiving threatening letters, and he needs their help in finding the mysterious sender. Despite Amory's conflicting feelings-not only does she feel loyalty to Georgina, but the disintegration of the Holloways' perfect marriage seems to bode ill for her own sometimes delicate relationship-her curiosity gets the better of her, and she begins to make inquiries.
My Review:
I've been catching up on the Amory Ames mysteries this week, but I hadn't read them in order. I've read the first and the last in the series and am slowly going backwards.
I've been catching up on the Amory Ames mysteries this week, but I hadn't read them in order. I've read the first and the last in the series and am slowly going backwards.
In An Act of Villiany, Amory and Milo have been getting along better. There haven't been as many sightings of Milo with glamorous women and Milo seems to be more protective of Amory. Unfortunately, Milo's friend Gerard Holloway has started an affair with ingenue actress Flora Bell and he's written and produced a play for her to star in. Amory finds this unsettling and doesn't much enjoy having to socialize with the new girlfriend Flora knowing that Georgina, the man's wife is home heartbroken.
Gerard and Flora call Amory and Milo in to investigate poison pen letters sent to Flora. Amory tries to convince Flora and Gerard to call in the police but Flora refuses to file any official complaints. Then, unexpectedly on opening night and during the celebrations, Amory discovers Flora Bell murdered. Amory and Milo are thrown into the crime scene and find themselves investigating at great personal danger.
I thoroughly enjoyed An Act of Villany and Ashley Weaver's writing style. The language is fluid, charming and reminiscent of the lightness and turns of phrase of Wodehouse.
About the Author: Ashley Weaver is the Technical Services Coordinator for the Allen Parish Libraries in Louisiana. Weaver has worked in libraries since she was 14; she was a page and then a clerk before obtaining her MLIS from Louisiana State University. She lives in Oakdale, Louisiana.
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