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Kate Hamilton Mysteries #3
The Art of Betrayal
In Connie Berry's third Kate Hamilton mystery, American antique dealer Kate Hamilton's spring is cut short when a body turns up at the May Fair pageant.
Spring is a magical time in England--bluebells massing along the woodland paths, primrose and wild thyme dotting the meadows. Antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is spending the month of May in the Suffolk village of Long Barston, enjoying precious time with Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. While attending the May Fair, the annual pageant based on a well-known Anglo-Saxon folktale, a body turns up in the middle of the festivities.
Kate is even more shocked when she learns the murder took place in antiquity shop owner Ivor Tweedy's stockroom and a valuable Chinese pottery jar that she had been tasked with finding a buyer for has been stolen. Ivor may be ruined. Insurance won't cover a fraction of the loss.
As Tom leads the investigation, Kate begins to see puzzling parallels between the murder and local legends. The more she learns, the more convinced she is that the solution to both crimes lies in the misty depths of Anglo-Saxon history and a generations-old pattern of betrayal. It's up to Kate to unravel this Celtic knot of lies and deception to save Ivor's business.
Spring is a magical time in England--bluebells massing along the woodland paths, primrose and wild thyme dotting the meadows. Antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is spending the month of May in the Suffolk village of Long Barston, enjoying precious time with Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. While attending the May Fair, the annual pageant based on a well-known Anglo-Saxon folktale, a body turns up in the middle of the festivities.
Kate is even more shocked when she learns the murder took place in antiquity shop owner Ivor Tweedy's stockroom and a valuable Chinese pottery jar that she had been tasked with finding a buyer for has been stolen. Ivor may be ruined. Insurance won't cover a fraction of the loss.
As Tom leads the investigation, Kate begins to see puzzling parallels between the murder and local legends. The more she learns, the more convinced she is that the solution to both crimes lies in the misty depths of Anglo-Saxon history and a generations-old pattern of betrayal. It's up to Kate to unravel this Celtic knot of lies and deception to save Ivor's business.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2021
79 people are currently reading
1758 people want to read
About the author
Connie Berry
7 books151 followersConnie Berry is the author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries, set in the UK and featuring an American antiques dealer with a gift for solving crimes. Like her protagonist, Connie was raised by antiques dealers who instilled in her a passion for history, fine art, and travel. During college she studied at the University of Freiburg in Germany and St. Clare’s College, Oxford, where she fell under the spell of the British Isles. Besides reading and writing mysteries, Connie loves history, foreign travel, cute animals, and all things British. She lives in Ohio with her husband and adorable Shih Tzu, Emmie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
June 9, 2021
Kate Hamilton is back in the village of Long Barston to help her friend with his antiques business while he recovers from surgery and spend more time with Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. One afternoon, a woman comes into the store with a valuable piece of Chinese pottery she wants to sell on consignment. But that night, she stumbles onto the stage of the village’s May Fair pageant and dies. Almost immediately, Tom gets a call about the antique shop, and he and Kate go there to find that the pottery is missing. Can Kate figure out what is going on?
It was a pleasure to be back with Kate and Tom in England. This is a fantastic mystery with plenty of twisty threads for Kate to follow before she resolves things. I had a part or two figured out, but most of it didn’t come together for me until Kate had figured it out. Then I couldn’t believe I had missed it. The characters are strong. Kate is a little older than a traditional protagonist, something that I enjoy. I quickly got reacquainted with the returning characters and enjoyed getting to know the suspects, who were strong enough to make me care about the outcome. This book will please Kate’s fans and should bring her some new ones.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
It was a pleasure to be back with Kate and Tom in England. This is a fantastic mystery with plenty of twisty threads for Kate to follow before she resolves things. I had a part or two figured out, but most of it didn’t come together for me until Kate had figured it out. Then I couldn’t believe I had missed it. The characters are strong. Kate is a little older than a traditional protagonist, something that I enjoy. I quickly got reacquainted with the returning characters and enjoyed getting to know the suspects, who were strong enough to make me care about the outcome. This book will please Kate’s fans and should bring her some new ones.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
May 25, 2021
Series: Kate Hamilton Mysteries #3
Publication Date: 6/8/21
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 336
Connie Berry is a new-to-me author and although I came into this series on the third book, I don’t feel as if I’ve missed anything by not having read the previous books in the series. The writing is excellent and the mystery is compelling. As you meet different characters, you begin to feel something isn’t right with them, but you don’t know what it is – and won’t until the end when all of the players – good and bad – are sorted out. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and am looking forward to another visit with them in the next book.
I don’t know if Kate Hamilton, an antique dealer in the USA, had left England after the last book or not, but, if she did, she is back now. Her good friend, Ivor Tweedy, had to have both hips replaced and he couldn’t just close his shop, so Kate left her best friend Charlotte in charge of her Ohio business and planned to spend the month of May looking after Ivor’s shop. As a widow with grown children, she didn’t have family to worry about, so spending time in the small Suffolk village of Long Barston wasn’t a problem for her.
Kate is rocking along managing Ivor’s shop and expanding her relationship with Tom Mallory, a detective inspector with the local constabulary. Evidently, something that happened in one of the two previous books cost Tom a promotion to DCI and he now has to report to a real jerk. Hopefully, that jerk will go away in the next book or two and Tom can get his promotion.
Kate is at The Cabinet of Curiosities, Ivor’s antiquities shop, when a lady identifying herself as Evelyn Villiers came into the shop with a rare and very valuable Húnpíng stoneware jar found in the Han dynasty tombs of early imperial China. Then, the new client dropped an even bigger bombshell – she wanted to sell several additional pieces of Meissen pieces. Kate was a bit leery of the lady – could she have stolen the goods and was just trying to fence them through Kate?
Later, at a local festival, a woman staggers into the crowds and dies. She had been stabbed – and the lady was none other than Evelyn Villiers. Right on the heels of that, Tom is called out to a break-in at Ivor’s shop. The only thing taken was the Húnpíng jar.
The Villiers family tale is a sad one. Eighteen years ago, the husband died while stopping his headstrong teenage daughter from eloping. Then, the mother, blaming their daughter, Lucy, for the death sent her daughter off to live with an aunt. The daughter ran away after about a year and nobody has seen her since then. Does the current death really start eighteen years ago? Are the theft and the murder related? Where is Lucy?
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. There are plenty of hints and red herrings dropped throughout the story, and they’ll just keep you guessing. You’ll think you know – but do you really? If you love mysteries, I hope you’ll give this book a try.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 6/8/21
Period: Contemporary
Number of Pages: 336
Connie Berry is a new-to-me author and although I came into this series on the third book, I don’t feel as if I’ve missed anything by not having read the previous books in the series. The writing is excellent and the mystery is compelling. As you meet different characters, you begin to feel something isn’t right with them, but you don’t know what it is – and won’t until the end when all of the players – good and bad – are sorted out. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters and am looking forward to another visit with them in the next book.
I don’t know if Kate Hamilton, an antique dealer in the USA, had left England after the last book or not, but, if she did, she is back now. Her good friend, Ivor Tweedy, had to have both hips replaced and he couldn’t just close his shop, so Kate left her best friend Charlotte in charge of her Ohio business and planned to spend the month of May looking after Ivor’s shop. As a widow with grown children, she didn’t have family to worry about, so spending time in the small Suffolk village of Long Barston wasn’t a problem for her.
Kate is rocking along managing Ivor’s shop and expanding her relationship with Tom Mallory, a detective inspector with the local constabulary. Evidently, something that happened in one of the two previous books cost Tom a promotion to DCI and he now has to report to a real jerk. Hopefully, that jerk will go away in the next book or two and Tom can get his promotion.
Kate is at The Cabinet of Curiosities, Ivor’s antiquities shop, when a lady identifying herself as Evelyn Villiers came into the shop with a rare and very valuable Húnpíng stoneware jar found in the Han dynasty tombs of early imperial China. Then, the new client dropped an even bigger bombshell – she wanted to sell several additional pieces of Meissen pieces. Kate was a bit leery of the lady – could she have stolen the goods and was just trying to fence them through Kate?
Later, at a local festival, a woman staggers into the crowds and dies. She had been stabbed – and the lady was none other than Evelyn Villiers. Right on the heels of that, Tom is called out to a break-in at Ivor’s shop. The only thing taken was the Húnpíng jar.
The Villiers family tale is a sad one. Eighteen years ago, the husband died while stopping his headstrong teenage daughter from eloping. Then, the mother, blaming their daughter, Lucy, for the death sent her daughter off to live with an aunt. The daughter ran away after about a year and nobody has seen her since then. Does the current death really start eighteen years ago? Are the theft and the murder related? Where is Lucy?
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. There are plenty of hints and red herrings dropped throughout the story, and they’ll just keep you guessing. You’ll think you know – but do you really? If you love mysteries, I hope you’ll give this book a try.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 9, 2021
This series keeps getting better and better.
Secondary characters that were introduced in A Legacy of Murder seemed to be here to stay. Some were a bit quirky, and a few were staid, but they were all interesting. They offered Kate acceptability which she desperately needed as an American temporarily living and working in England.
DI Tom Mallory offered balance to Kate's personality. They made a great pair: his professional career working for the law and her life-long experience working with antiquities. It also helped to have a mother with lots of common sense, patience and an ear for listening. There were even the 'gut feelings' Kate felt when she came upon a superior find that offered a bit of excitement.
And the mystery was very good.
When I read A Dream of Death and A Legacy of Murder, I hoped Ms. Berry expanded on Tom's and Kate's relationship and she did. I am looking forward to reading The Shadow of Memory as soon as it's published.
Secondary characters that were introduced in A Legacy of Murder seemed to be here to stay. Some were a bit quirky, and a few were staid, but they were all interesting. They offered Kate acceptability which she desperately needed as an American temporarily living and working in England.
DI Tom Mallory offered balance to Kate's personality. They made a great pair: his professional career working for the law and her life-long experience working with antiquities. It also helped to have a mother with lots of common sense, patience and an ear for listening. There were even the 'gut feelings' Kate felt when she came upon a superior find that offered a bit of excitement.
And the mystery was very good.
When I read A Dream of Death and A Legacy of Murder, I hoped Ms. Berry expanded on Tom's and Kate's relationship and she did. I am looking forward to reading The Shadow of Memory as soon as it's published.
January 28, 2021
The Art of Betrayal the 3rd instalment in the “A Kate Hamilton Mystery” series by Connie Berry, this was my second time reading a book by this author and I was super happy to find out there was a new one. This can be read as a stand-alone but I find its always better to read in order.
I loved visiting the village of Long Barstow in Suffolk again, Berry’s descriptions made you feel like are there in the rain of England. I also enjoyed learning a bit about antiques as well as local folklore.
Protagonist Kate is level headed, kind hearted and very talented at seeing little details and putting clues together to solve crimes. I really liked the side characters of Ivor Tweedy , Lady Barbara, Vivian and Fergus (pug). I enjoyed the ending of the story but wont give out any spoilers.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. I did suspect the killer early on but there were lots of twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good traditional British cozy mystery with a historical background.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved visiting the village of Long Barstow in Suffolk again, Berry’s descriptions made you feel like are there in the rain of England. I also enjoyed learning a bit about antiques as well as local folklore.
Protagonist Kate is level headed, kind hearted and very talented at seeing little details and putting clues together to solve crimes. I really liked the side characters of Ivor Tweedy , Lady Barbara, Vivian and Fergus (pug). I enjoyed the ending of the story but wont give out any spoilers.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. I did suspect the killer early on but there were lots of twists and turns to keep me absorbed in the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good traditional British cozy mystery with a historical background.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 4, 2021
The history of stolen Chinese artifacts intertwines with the very-English legend of the Green Maiden as American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton returns for her third adventure in the UK, in Connie Berry’s The Art of Betrayal (Crooked Lane Books, 2021). Rich and atmospheric, well-paced, and spiced with just the right amount of personal drama and romance, this one will keep you turning the pages long after lights out.
April 29, 2021
Kate Hamilton is spending the month of May in Long Barton helping run her friend Ivor Tweedy's antique shop while he has hip replacement surgery. It also gives her a chance to spend time with her boyfriend Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. When a local recluse comes in with a very valuable Chinese funeral vessel and asks Kate to take it on consignment, she is pleased since Ivor's stint in a care home is really depleting his savings.
However, soon things take a turn for the worse when the recluse is stabbed to death and the vessel is stolen from the shop leaving Ivor on the hook for its value. Kate is determined to solve the mystery and get the vessel back.
There are lots of suspects. The crime scene was discovered by the owner of the local Chinese restaurant but his timeline for his evening doesn't quite match up and leaves him a suspect along with his son who has recently immigrated from China. Then there is the recluse's missing daughter who left home after a family argument which resulted in her father's death and her mother's blame for the event eighteen years earlier. The police aren't able to locate her but they do find an Australian nephew who might be a suspect since he figures he'll inherit some of the art treasures in the house.
Meanwhile, Lady Barbara is in danger of losing her stately home if she can't convince the National Trust to take it on. She decides to sell some of her treasures by consigning them for auction at the new local auction house run by a retired realtor and his son and his son's good friend to hold her over until the trust makes up its mind. Kate wants them to do a test consignment before entrusting the auction house with a very, very valuable antique Chinese tray.
And Tom is very involved in an investigation of the growing drug problem that has been taking over the county along with his work on the murder investigation. His mother is still doing her best to ruin Tom's relationship with Kate even going so fat as to import Tom's recently divorced sister-in-law who is a dead ringer for his deceased wife.
This was a nice mystery with loads of clues and red herrings. I did have a good idea about what happened and who the villains were but it was still fun to follow along as Kate solved the mystery.
However, soon things take a turn for the worse when the recluse is stabbed to death and the vessel is stolen from the shop leaving Ivor on the hook for its value. Kate is determined to solve the mystery and get the vessel back.
There are lots of suspects. The crime scene was discovered by the owner of the local Chinese restaurant but his timeline for his evening doesn't quite match up and leaves him a suspect along with his son who has recently immigrated from China. Then there is the recluse's missing daughter who left home after a family argument which resulted in her father's death and her mother's blame for the event eighteen years earlier. The police aren't able to locate her but they do find an Australian nephew who might be a suspect since he figures he'll inherit some of the art treasures in the house.
Meanwhile, Lady Barbara is in danger of losing her stately home if she can't convince the National Trust to take it on. She decides to sell some of her treasures by consigning them for auction at the new local auction house run by a retired realtor and his son and his son's good friend to hold her over until the trust makes up its mind. Kate wants them to do a test consignment before entrusting the auction house with a very, very valuable antique Chinese tray.
And Tom is very involved in an investigation of the growing drug problem that has been taking over the county along with his work on the murder investigation. His mother is still doing her best to ruin Tom's relationship with Kate even going so fat as to import Tom's recently divorced sister-in-law who is a dead ringer for his deceased wife.
This was a nice mystery with loads of clues and red herrings. I did have a good idea about what happened and who the villains were but it was still fun to follow along as Kate solved the mystery.
March 31, 2021
The Art of Betrayal is the third book in the Kate Hamilton mystery series and it takes readers on another adventure involving the world of antiques. Ms. Berry has created a set of mature, dimensional characters. I like that Kate is a widow in her 40's. It makes her a bit more relatable to me at my current stage in life. I also think this book will be a turning point for Kate and help her determine the next path in her life's journey. She is surrounded by a nicely diverse group of secondary characters, including Tom Mallory, who is a member of the village police force. I like the tension in their relationship and the fact that Tom values Kate's insights and opinions as they relate to the various cases. He is protective, given what has happened to her in the first two books, but he doesn't try to stifle her natural instincts.
I found the mystery to be interesting. It involves Chinese antiques which may (or may not) have been plundered from China and a secret group that tries to reacquire those antiques, sometimes by less than honorable means. For someone who is reading this series for the first time, the books are a bit heavy on the history of antiques and some of the minutia in being involved in such a business. There are plenty of twists and turns as Kate tries to figure out why a potential customer is murdered after dropping off a rare antique at the shop where she works. There are plenty of secrets to unravel as Kate and Tom look for motives and suspects in this murder. Just as Kate unravels one secret, she uncovers another that deepens the mystery, until the killer's identity is revealed in a heart-stopping conclusion.
I really enjoy this series and look forward to each new book. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I found the mystery to be interesting. It involves Chinese antiques which may (or may not) have been plundered from China and a secret group that tries to reacquire those antiques, sometimes by less than honorable means. For someone who is reading this series for the first time, the books are a bit heavy on the history of antiques and some of the minutia in being involved in such a business. There are plenty of twists and turns as Kate tries to figure out why a potential customer is murdered after dropping off a rare antique at the shop where she works. There are plenty of secrets to unravel as Kate and Tom look for motives and suspects in this murder. Just as Kate unravels one secret, she uncovers another that deepens the mystery, until the killer's identity is revealed in a heart-stopping conclusion.
I really enjoy this series and look forward to each new book. I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
June 17, 2022
Long Barston, Suffolk, England. Spring. Present Day. Connie Berry’s The Art of Betrayal (Kate Hamilton Mysteries, #3) has Kate, an American antique dealer, spending the entire month of May in Long Barston, pinch-hitting for English antique dealer, Ivor Tweedy, at his antique store, The Cabinet of Curiosities, while Ivor has some surgery. Kate is very excited to be spending time with Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, and they will be attending the May Fair in Long Barston which is a local fair focusing on a ‘well-known Anglo-Saxon folktale’, the Green Maiden. Kate has also accepted on consignment a Chinese húnpíng jar, Han Dynasty, very old and very valuable, from Mrs.Evelyn Villiers, Hapthorn Lodge, Little Gosling, Suffolk. When at the May Fair, a woman with a fatal wound staggers to the Green Maiden, mouths something, and dies. The mystery then becomes beautifully scary with a missing person and even a big touch of Edgar Allan Poe! I most definitely enjoyed this mystery, but I will go back and read Kate Hamilton Mysteries #1 and #2 which luckily I have, but I had forgotten. Oops! I like everything about this series! 4.5 stars
May 23, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I was pleasantly surprised.
I thoroughly enjoyed this new-to-me author's cosy mystery, which I received from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Although this is the third volume in the series, it worked just fine as a standalone.
Kate Hamilton is an American antiques dealer living in the Suffolk village of Long Barston. Her stay is meant to be temporary, but there is a romance budding between Kate and Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, so Kate is torn about when and if she will return to America and her elderly mother (who has a surprise for her daughter!).
The mystery was complex but solved in a believable manner. The romance is sweet. The main characters are engaging, and the cast of secondary characters includes some typically eccentric English village folks. In keeping with what I like about the cosy genre, there were no car chases or shootouts, but there was a bit of violence, mostly from Mother Nature.
I recommend this title to cosy mystery fans, and I intend to go back and read the first two volumes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this new-to-me author's cosy mystery, which I received from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Although this is the third volume in the series, it worked just fine as a standalone.
Kate Hamilton is an American antiques dealer living in the Suffolk village of Long Barston. Her stay is meant to be temporary, but there is a romance budding between Kate and Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, so Kate is torn about when and if she will return to America and her elderly mother (who has a surprise for her daughter!).
The mystery was complex but solved in a believable manner. The romance is sweet. The main characters are engaging, and the cast of secondary characters includes some typically eccentric English village folks. In keeping with what I like about the cosy genre, there were no car chases or shootouts, but there was a bit of violence, mostly from Mother Nature.
I recommend this title to cosy mystery fans, and I intend to go back and read the first two volumes.
May 10, 2023
The audiobooks of this series have been accompanying me on my commute and I enjoy Kate and Tom solving mysteries. There’s more “tell” than “show” in the romantic subplot, which is a little disappointing. I also think the cast is sometimes larger than needed or hard to keep straight (lots of older women in these). I find myself searching an ebook version for names to remember who is who, which says something about how distinct the characters are when introduced.
Still, I’m three books in with one left. Might as well continue.
Still, I’m three books in with one left. Might as well continue.
July 9, 2021
The Art Of Betrayal was a FANTASTIC read! I all but devoured this one, the mystery was truly unputdownable and in the course of reading this series, I have come to adore the characters and the settings, and this latest installment was pretty much a perfect read for me. Don't miss this one with it's superb mystery, lovely characters and a perfect setting!!
June 28, 2023
I really like this cozy mystery series! While I guessed part of the mystery relatively early, it didn't even matter. There was a lot going on here, involving antiques, drugs, murder, and of course many of the characters we met in the last book.
The book ends with a big personal development for Kate, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
The book ends with a big personal development for Kate, and I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
July 16, 2021
4.5*
I was a little concerned when asked if I’d like to review The Art of Betrayal as it’s the third book in a series. Thankfully, it works perfectly well as a standalone with enough background information woven through the narrative that I didn’t feel at a loss at any stage.
Kate Hamilton, an Antiques dealer from America, is spending some time in the village of Long Barston, managing her good friend Ivor Tweedy’s antique shop, The Cabinet of Curiosities, while he recovers from surgery. When Evelyn Villiers came into the shop one morning with a very valuable Chinese húnpíng jar to sell, and the promise of more items from her late husband’s collection, Kate was intrigued. Not only by the thought of quality merchandise and how much it would help Ivor, but by Evelyn herself, who wanted her privacy guaranteed and only wanted to be contacted by text.
All had been going well — Ivor was on the mend, Kate was enjoying spending time with DI Tom Mallory and running the shop — until that night at the annual May Fair pageant, based on a local legend. Just as The Green Maiden performers were taking their final bows, a woman stumbled through the audience towards the stage and collapsed. She had been fatally stabbed. Then Tom gets a call about a break in at Ivor’s shop. As he and Kate rush over to the shop they discover the húnpíng jar is missing.
The Art of Betrayal was a thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery where some things aren’t quite what they seem. Kate’s first person narrative lets the reader discover information and clues alongside Kate as the investigation progresses.
Both Kate and Tom are mature, likeable protagonists, insightful and quick-witted. Their relationship is realistic although not straightforward, with one based in America and the other in England, not to mention Tom’s disapproving mother. The secondary characters are also well realised.
The plot is quite intricate, with twists and misleading clues, incorporating among other things folklore and family dynamics, while running alongside issues such as Tom investigating an invasive drugs ring operating in the area, and local, Lady Barbara, trying to entice the National Trust to take over her extensive property. The fictional setting of Long Barston is lovely. I look forward to the next instalment.
I was a little concerned when asked if I’d like to review The Art of Betrayal as it’s the third book in a series. Thankfully, it works perfectly well as a standalone with enough background information woven through the narrative that I didn’t feel at a loss at any stage.
Kate Hamilton, an Antiques dealer from America, is spending some time in the village of Long Barston, managing her good friend Ivor Tweedy’s antique shop, The Cabinet of Curiosities, while he recovers from surgery. When Evelyn Villiers came into the shop one morning with a very valuable Chinese húnpíng jar to sell, and the promise of more items from her late husband’s collection, Kate was intrigued. Not only by the thought of quality merchandise and how much it would help Ivor, but by Evelyn herself, who wanted her privacy guaranteed and only wanted to be contacted by text.
All had been going well — Ivor was on the mend, Kate was enjoying spending time with DI Tom Mallory and running the shop — until that night at the annual May Fair pageant, based on a local legend. Just as The Green Maiden performers were taking their final bows, a woman stumbled through the audience towards the stage and collapsed. She had been fatally stabbed. Then Tom gets a call about a break in at Ivor’s shop. As he and Kate rush over to the shop they discover the húnpíng jar is missing.
The Art of Betrayal was a thoroughly enjoyable cosy mystery where some things aren’t quite what they seem. Kate’s first person narrative lets the reader discover information and clues alongside Kate as the investigation progresses.
Both Kate and Tom are mature, likeable protagonists, insightful and quick-witted. Their relationship is realistic although not straightforward, with one based in America and the other in England, not to mention Tom’s disapproving mother. The secondary characters are also well realised.
The plot is quite intricate, with twists and misleading clues, incorporating among other things folklore and family dynamics, while running alongside issues such as Tom investigating an invasive drugs ring operating in the area, and local, Lady Barbara, trying to entice the National Trust to take over her extensive property. The fictional setting of Long Barston is lovely. I look forward to the next instalment.
November 13, 2021
4.5 stars — Murder and antiques collide again in the third book in Connie Berry’s series about American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton and her British suitor, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory.
The Art of Betrayal opens with Kate minding the shop for her friend Ivor, who is recovering from a double hip replacement. A nervous, mysterious woman brings in a húnpíng, a Chinese funerary jar with an intricacately detailed top. Kate’s sixth sense—one she tries very hard to explain away scientifically—tells her it is authentic, so when the woman asks her to take the jar on consignment, Kate signs the contract with only a small qualm. But when the woman is killed and the húnpíng stolen from Ivor’s storage room, Kate is determined to help Tom solve the case and recover the húnpíng to save Ivor’s reputation (not to mention his finances.) A long-lost daughter, a local legend, a nearby auction house whose partners seem a little over-eager, and a secretive Chinese society seeking to return looted Chinese art treasures all add to the complexity of the case.
The book (and the whole series) straddles the line between cozy and traditional mystery; it combines the amateur detective and village setting of a cozy mystery with the more serious, realistic elements of a traditional mystery—and even, thanks to Tom’s presence, a few scenes reminiscent of a police procedural. Kate, who narrates in first person, is a well-developed and likeable character: a widow in her mid- to late-forties, with two adult children, she has been falling for Tom since they met in Scotland in A Dream of Death . Like Kate, Tom is widowed; he lives in Suffolk, near the village of Long Barton (the site of the second book in the series, A Legacy of Murder, as well as of Ivor’s shop.) Kate’s relationship with Tom is complicated, not by their mutual attraction but by distance—she owns an antiques shop in the US; he’s a police detective in the UK—and by Tom’s mother, who is the opposite of enthusiastic about Tom’s relationship with Kate. That relationship, a mature but by no means staid romance, is one of the things I like best about the books, along with the character of Kate herself. She comes across as a real person, someone I could easily be friends with. I particularly appreciate her determination not to give in to her more negative feelings, like jealousy or anger. It’s not that she doesn’t experience those feelings, but she tries not to act on them, which saves a lot of unecessary drama and angst and seems very realistic for a woman of her (or my) age.
Another thing I love is Berry’s propensity to play fair with the reader. You see everything through Kate’s eyes and are privy to her thoughts; there are no clues withheld from you. If you pay attention, you have as much chance as Kate to solve the mystery. In the last book, I figured out the solution(s) about the same time Kate did. In this one, I was slightly ahead of her in solving several pieces of the puzzle, but the murderer’s identity did come as a bit of a surprise… or at least, some of it did.
I also enjoy the world Berry has created. Yes, this book and the last are set in and around Suffolk and Essex, but the village of Long Barton, its surroundings, and its inhabitants are entirely Berry’s creation… and they feel utterly real. Berry’s England isn’t an idealized American vision, all cottagecore and afternoon tea. Tom and his colleagues are investigating a large-scale drug operation in the county; Kate’s friend, Lady Barbara Finchley-fforde, is anxious to keep her lovely, crumbling Elizabethan manor from disintegrating before the National Trust can take over; and the people living in the area exhibit a variety of class and ethnic backgrounds (including several from former British colonies.) These secondary characters are less developed than Kate or even Tom, but they too come across as real people, with lives and dreams and disappointments we catch only glimpses of.
Kate’s involvement in what proves to be a complex mystery deepens when Tom’s antagonistic boss, at Tom’s urging, hires her as a consultant to inventory the victim’s late husband’s art collection; the estate’s solicitors ask her do to the same for them. Tom has a healthy respect for Kate’s insight and intelligence (not that he’s lacking in either trait himself), so between her commissions and the information Tom shares with her, Kate’s involvement in the case appears both natural and inevitable.
Berry makes it easy to jump into the series at any point, giving you the necessary background information without making it feel like an awkward info dump. All the same, if you prefer to follow the characters’ developing relationships from the beginning, I would suggest starting with A Dream of Death.
The Art of Betrayal comes out on June 8, 2021.
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
The Art of Betrayal opens with Kate minding the shop for her friend Ivor, who is recovering from a double hip replacement. A nervous, mysterious woman brings in a húnpíng, a Chinese funerary jar with an intricacately detailed top. Kate’s sixth sense—one she tries very hard to explain away scientifically—tells her it is authentic, so when the woman asks her to take the jar on consignment, Kate signs the contract with only a small qualm. But when the woman is killed and the húnpíng stolen from Ivor’s storage room, Kate is determined to help Tom solve the case and recover the húnpíng to save Ivor’s reputation (not to mention his finances.) A long-lost daughter, a local legend, a nearby auction house whose partners seem a little over-eager, and a secretive Chinese society seeking to return looted Chinese art treasures all add to the complexity of the case.
The book (and the whole series) straddles the line between cozy and traditional mystery; it combines the amateur detective and village setting of a cozy mystery with the more serious, realistic elements of a traditional mystery—and even, thanks to Tom’s presence, a few scenes reminiscent of a police procedural. Kate, who narrates in first person, is a well-developed and likeable character: a widow in her mid- to late-forties, with two adult children, she has been falling for Tom since they met in Scotland in A Dream of Death . Like Kate, Tom is widowed; he lives in Suffolk, near the village of Long Barton (the site of the second book in the series, A Legacy of Murder, as well as of Ivor’s shop.) Kate’s relationship with Tom is complicated, not by their mutual attraction but by distance—she owns an antiques shop in the US; he’s a police detective in the UK—and by Tom’s mother, who is the opposite of enthusiastic about Tom’s relationship with Kate. That relationship, a mature but by no means staid romance, is one of the things I like best about the books, along with the character of Kate herself. She comes across as a real person, someone I could easily be friends with. I particularly appreciate her determination not to give in to her more negative feelings, like jealousy or anger. It’s not that she doesn’t experience those feelings, but she tries not to act on them, which saves a lot of unecessary drama and angst and seems very realistic for a woman of her (or my) age.
Another thing I love is Berry’s propensity to play fair with the reader. You see everything through Kate’s eyes and are privy to her thoughts; there are no clues withheld from you. If you pay attention, you have as much chance as Kate to solve the mystery. In the last book, I figured out the solution(s) about the same time Kate did. In this one, I was slightly ahead of her in solving several pieces of the puzzle, but the murderer’s identity did come as a bit of a surprise… or at least, some of it did.
I also enjoy the world Berry has created. Yes, this book and the last are set in and around Suffolk and Essex, but the village of Long Barton, its surroundings, and its inhabitants are entirely Berry’s creation… and they feel utterly real. Berry’s England isn’t an idealized American vision, all cottagecore and afternoon tea. Tom and his colleagues are investigating a large-scale drug operation in the county; Kate’s friend, Lady Barbara Finchley-fforde, is anxious to keep her lovely, crumbling Elizabethan manor from disintegrating before the National Trust can take over; and the people living in the area exhibit a variety of class and ethnic backgrounds (including several from former British colonies.) These secondary characters are less developed than Kate or even Tom, but they too come across as real people, with lives and dreams and disappointments we catch only glimpses of.
Kate’s involvement in what proves to be a complex mystery deepens when Tom’s antagonistic boss, at Tom’s urging, hires her as a consultant to inventory the victim’s late husband’s art collection; the estate’s solicitors ask her do to the same for them. Tom has a healthy respect for Kate’s insight and intelligence (not that he’s lacking in either trait himself), so between her commissions and the information Tom shares with her, Kate’s involvement in the case appears both natural and inevitable.
Berry makes it easy to jump into the series at any point, giving you the necessary background information without making it feel like an awkward info dump. All the same, if you prefer to follow the characters’ developing relationships from the beginning, I would suggest starting with A Dream of Death.
The Art of Betrayal comes out on June 8, 2021.
Review originally published on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
FTC disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
January 10, 2024
I like Kate well enough still. I would have preferred if the mystery wasn't so simple and if the detective boyfriend did some basic things (like maybe posting surveillance on the lady who just inherited a ton and whose mom was just horribly murdered? And recognizing the drug link before Kate - some unconnected person who only had basic knowledge of the case from their conversations - did?) I'd be concerned about my tax dollars if I were a native of Sussex.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2021
I enjoyed it!
November 19, 2021
I do enjoy this series. Not quite cosy, but a little more depth.
August 27, 2023
What an outstanding mystery story! There were so many loose ends, but they come together shortly before the book ends. I am enjoying the character development very much, especially the romantic angle. This is still a young mystery series, and I hope the author will continue to write Kate Hamilton mysteries for years!
January 10, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Art of Betrayal is the third Kate Hamilton village cozy by Connie Berry. Released 8th June 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Readers who enjoy British village cozy murder shopfront mysteries are in for a treat with this series. Series protagonist Kate is an American expat antiques expert who involved with local Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. She's just trying to enjoy her month long trip to England to help out in the high end antiques store of her friend Ivor whilst he's recovering from surgery, (and enjoy Tom's company) but bodies simply won't stop turning up.
I liked the characterizations here; the characters live and breathe and the dialogue was never clunky. There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the third book in the series, it worked well as a standalone, though there are some minor spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. I was engaged enough with the writing and the mystery, that I've picked up the previous two books in the series.
Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence (though the first murder was fairly gory).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Art of Betrayal is the third Kate Hamilton village cozy by Connie Berry. Released 8th June 2021 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Readers who enjoy British village cozy murder shopfront mysteries are in for a treat with this series. Series protagonist Kate is an American expat antiques expert who involved with local Detective Inspector Tom Mallory. She's just trying to enjoy her month long trip to England to help out in the high end antiques store of her friend Ivor whilst he's recovering from surgery, (and enjoy Tom's company) but bodies simply won't stop turning up.
I liked the characterizations here; the characters live and breathe and the dialogue was never clunky. There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the third book in the series, it worked well as a standalone, though there are some minor spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. I was engaged enough with the writing and the mystery, that I've picked up the previous two books in the series.
Four stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence (though the first murder was fairly gory).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 22, 2021
I really enjoy this delightful traditional/cozy mystery series, and THE ART OF BETRAYAL is a fine addition. With its intellectual emphasis on antiques and the history surrounding them, well developed and engaging characters, and a compelling mystery to solve, it is highly entertaining.
American Kate Hamilton continues her sojourn in England taking care of a friend’s antique shop and spending time with DI Tom Mallory. When a customer is murdered and her precious Chinese jar stolen from the shop, Kate must do all she can to save her shop owner’s reputation and help track down a killer.
There is a lot going on in THE ART OF BETRAYAL…a murder, an old folktale, a family seemingly cursed by tragedy, theft, drugs, and more…but it all weaves together seamlessly to tell quite a tale. The writing is excellent, the plot well crafted, and the pace steadily building to the climax. There are plenty of clues, red herrings, twists and turns to keep readers guessing throughout. I admit I guessed one of the big twists early on, but otherwise did not figure everything out until Kate did.
I like Kate and Tom and appreciate that Kate is older (in her 40’s) than a lot of amateur sleuths out there. Her relationships, especially with Tom and her mother, feel genuine and relatable. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Kate and Tom. I also really like that Tom and Kate work together to solve the mystery and that Kate is not portrayed as better or smarter than the police and that the police are bumbling, incompetent idiots.
THE ART OF BETRAYAL is outstanding. I cannot wait to visit with Kate and company again. Highly recommended to any mystery reader.
I received and ARC of this title from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
American Kate Hamilton continues her sojourn in England taking care of a friend’s antique shop and spending time with DI Tom Mallory. When a customer is murdered and her precious Chinese jar stolen from the shop, Kate must do all she can to save her shop owner’s reputation and help track down a killer.
There is a lot going on in THE ART OF BETRAYAL…a murder, an old folktale, a family seemingly cursed by tragedy, theft, drugs, and more…but it all weaves together seamlessly to tell quite a tale. The writing is excellent, the plot well crafted, and the pace steadily building to the climax. There are plenty of clues, red herrings, twists and turns to keep readers guessing throughout. I admit I guessed one of the big twists early on, but otherwise did not figure everything out until Kate did.
I like Kate and Tom and appreciate that Kate is older (in her 40’s) than a lot of amateur sleuths out there. Her relationships, especially with Tom and her mother, feel genuine and relatable. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Kate and Tom. I also really like that Tom and Kate work together to solve the mystery and that Kate is not portrayed as better or smarter than the police and that the police are bumbling, incompetent idiots.
THE ART OF BETRAYAL is outstanding. I cannot wait to visit with Kate and company again. Highly recommended to any mystery reader.
I received and ARC of this title from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
June 19, 2021
If your favoured reading material is a compelling tale with a good sprinkling of mystery, murder, relationships and good old-fashioned policing and sleuthing then The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry is a must-read for you!
It’s May and independent and level-headed American antique dealer Kate Hamilton is back, along with DI Tom Mallory, in this fabulous continuation of a brilliant series! The two are in the Suffolk village of Long Barston, enjoying some time together, though Kate is covering for the owner of The Cabinet of Curiosities, her friend Ivor Tweedy, who is recovering from surgery. One afternoon, a woman turns up at the shop with a valuable piece of Chinese pottery - a funerary jar - she wants to sell. That night Kate and Tom are at the village’s May Fair pageant when the same woman dies on the stage.
This traditional mystery plot was very appealing to me in many ways. There were elements of history, a large bunch of colourful characters, and a fantastic setting in the English countryside. The whodunnit mystery contained red herrings that threw me off the scent and would satisfy many an armchair detective. Connie Berry’s knowledge of antiques was admirable and she clearly knew her subject matter very well. I found that this novel was suspenseful enough to keep my level of interest high and I wanted to keep reading just one more page.
All in all, The Art of Betrayal was a brilliant addition to marvellous, compulsive series and it was the perfect book to curl up with on a balmy evening. I am already looking forward to reading the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
It’s May and independent and level-headed American antique dealer Kate Hamilton is back, along with DI Tom Mallory, in this fabulous continuation of a brilliant series! The two are in the Suffolk village of Long Barston, enjoying some time together, though Kate is covering for the owner of The Cabinet of Curiosities, her friend Ivor Tweedy, who is recovering from surgery. One afternoon, a woman turns up at the shop with a valuable piece of Chinese pottery - a funerary jar - she wants to sell. That night Kate and Tom are at the village’s May Fair pageant when the same woman dies on the stage.
This traditional mystery plot was very appealing to me in many ways. There were elements of history, a large bunch of colourful characters, and a fantastic setting in the English countryside. The whodunnit mystery contained red herrings that threw me off the scent and would satisfy many an armchair detective. Connie Berry’s knowledge of antiques was admirable and she clearly knew her subject matter very well. I found that this novel was suspenseful enough to keep my level of interest high and I wanted to keep reading just one more page.
All in all, The Art of Betrayal was a brilliant addition to marvellous, compulsive series and it was the perfect book to curl up with on a balmy evening. I am already looking forward to reading the next instalment.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
December 30, 2020
Murdered bodies don't just show up at May fairs in idyllic English villages, or do they? In books they certainly do! Kate, an American who is working temporarily in England at an antiquities shop and her boyfriend DI Tom Mallory join forces to find the identity of a murderer but along the way also discover theft of a Chinese jar, betrayal, a green maiden, a secret society and seemingly meaningless words.
Kate is a bright 40-something widow who finds more than a job in England...far more. Tom is a kind widower and detective of the same age. Aside from the main characters there are several others including Ivor, the fatherly owner of the antiquities shop, Vivian (who speaks in Italics!) and Kate's mom. So, not only do we have interesting plot twists but also fascinating characters. And you know how village gossips can be...
"But if you've been stabbed, your final words are significant." They certainly are! The mysteries swirl like mist in this book. The author treats us to historical details which I appreciate, including the mention of quaint and descriptive town names. England is lovely and the names make me smile. Details like this make a book special. And what a cover!
Cozy mystery fans, this is a charming, enjoyable and clean book which you should snap up. It's comfy and homey. Immerse yourself in it.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.
Kate is a bright 40-something widow who finds more than a job in England...far more. Tom is a kind widower and detective of the same age. Aside from the main characters there are several others including Ivor, the fatherly owner of the antiquities shop, Vivian (who speaks in Italics!) and Kate's mom. So, not only do we have interesting plot twists but also fascinating characters. And you know how village gossips can be...
"But if you've been stabbed, your final words are significant." They certainly are! The mysteries swirl like mist in this book. The author treats us to historical details which I appreciate, including the mention of quaint and descriptive town names. England is lovely and the names make me smile. Details like this make a book special. And what a cover!
Cozy mystery fans, this is a charming, enjoyable and clean book which you should snap up. It's comfy and homey. Immerse yourself in it.
My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.
March 18, 2021
The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry is the third book in a series about Kate Hamilton, 40-year-old, widowed antique expert visiting Long Barston in Suffolk, England. Berry cleverly links betrayal throughout her story. Her descriptions of the countryside and the extremely wet weather we all expect of England sets the scene for the spring-showered May Fair. But this year the murder of a reclusive woman disrupts the festivities. Her death may be somehow connected to a robbery at the antiques store of Ivor Tweedy, a store Kate is supposed to be watching over while Ivor has hip surgery. Kate's concern for Ivor's livelihood leads her to become involved in the research of a local legend.. Could there be a connection? Each discovery leads relentlessly to an astounding climax to the story. A lot of mystery, a little romance, but always character-driven because of the folks Kate loves. It is a fitting novel in this Anglophile series. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this ARC and give an honest review through NetGalley.
April 28, 2021
The Art of Betrayal is wonderful traditional cozy mystery with an American main character and a strong British feel. This third novel in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries by Connie Berry, held me in its grasp throughout. I loved it even more than the first two, three out of three winners! I can't call it fast-paced because it takes time for Kate and Tom to put the whole mystery together but there is so much action that it feels like a dash from end to end; I was barely able to catch my breath. The plot is well constructed which is really important with a book this complex. I love most of the characters and appreciate not only the romantic relationship between Tom and Kate but the amount of respect he shows in her interest in the case.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for allowing me to read an ARC of The Art of Betrayal. As a big fan of the series, I had to make that request and am more than happy to share my thoughts about the book. I always do when I love a book.
#CrookedLane #NetGalley #ConnieBerry #TheArtofBetrayal
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for allowing me to read an ARC of The Art of Betrayal. As a big fan of the series, I had to make that request and am more than happy to share my thoughts about the book. I always do when I love a book.
#CrookedLane #NetGalley #ConnieBerry #TheArtofBetrayal
July 31, 2021
WOW – I thoroughly enjoyed the main character, Kate. The very light romance was handled perfectly. This intelligent woman was portrayed in such a manner that I seriously would like her as a neighbor or co-worker! In addition, the aspect of the antiques gave the book such a nice layer that I did a small dive into some of the more interesting artifacts. Woven in is a compelling legend from the area. It was very refreshing to see a character a lot closer to my age than most main female characters shown in the light of ability and professional respect yet still have a romance with a professional male character. Kudos to the author!
The author did a very nice job of giving just the right amount of details from Kate’s previous adventures to keep me in the know and not feeling like I had the whole picture.
I now need to find some time to read the first two books!
The author did a very nice job of giving just the right amount of details from Kate’s previous adventures to keep me in the know and not feeling like I had the whole picture.
I now need to find some time to read the first two books!
February 19, 2021
Kate Hamilton is taking care of Ivor Tweedy’s Antique business in Long Barston, while he is recuperating from his hip replacement surgery. This gives her also time to spend with Tom Mallory, the local Detective Inspector. A valuable Chinese jar, theft, murder, double crossing, family intrigue, folklore, and more, another great book in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries Series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion
June 4, 2021
American antiques dealer Kate Hamilton is back in England to manage Ivor Tweed’s Cabinet of Curiosities shop while he recovers from surgery. It also gives her a chance to once again spend some time with DI Tom Mallory. On her last trip she was.involved in a murder investigation at Finchley Hall and befriended Lady Barbara and Vivian. Now she is a guest at Vivian’s Rose Cottage on the grounds of the Finchley estate. At the shop Kate receives a Chinese urn from the Han dynasty on consignment from Evelyn Villiers. Evelyn’s husband collected antique pieces from around the world before his death and she signs a contract for Kate to sell a number of the pieces. The next time that Kate sees her is the night of the local fair when she staggers on the stage during a performance of the Green Maiden, a local folk play. Someone had attacked Evelyn and she dies before the audience. As Kate reels from the murder, she and Tom are notified that Ivor’s shop has been broken into and the urn has been stolen.
As Evelyn’s murder is investigated, Kate is asked to do an inventory and evaluation of Evelyn’s collection. Evelyn’s husband kept detailed records and Kate discovers that several other pieces are missing. Also missing is Evelyn’s daughter Lucy. Years before she had fallen in love with the chauffeur but before they could elope they were stopped by her father just before his death. Lucy was sent away and was never seen again.
Reflecting on her meeting with Evelyn, Kate feels that something wasn’t right. Now Ivor is responsible for the lost urn and Kate begins her own investigation into why Evelyn was killed, what became of Lucy and how is this tied to the Green Maiden. The recovery of the stolen urn is also a concern since its’ loss is having an effect on Ivor’s business. Through it all she has the support of Lady Barbara and Vivian, who fill her in on all of the local gossip and history. This is the third book in Connie Berry’s Kate Hamilton series. Her characters continue to develop their relationships but it can also be read on its own. With some surprise twists and an unexpected ending, this will please fans of cozy mysteries. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
As Evelyn’s murder is investigated, Kate is asked to do an inventory and evaluation of Evelyn’s collection. Evelyn’s husband kept detailed records and Kate discovers that several other pieces are missing. Also missing is Evelyn’s daughter Lucy. Years before she had fallen in love with the chauffeur but before they could elope they were stopped by her father just before his death. Lucy was sent away and was never seen again.
Reflecting on her meeting with Evelyn, Kate feels that something wasn’t right. Now Ivor is responsible for the lost urn and Kate begins her own investigation into why Evelyn was killed, what became of Lucy and how is this tied to the Green Maiden. The recovery of the stolen urn is also a concern since its’ loss is having an effect on Ivor’s business. Through it all she has the support of Lady Barbara and Vivian, who fill her in on all of the local gossip and history. This is the third book in Connie Berry’s Kate Hamilton series. Her characters continue to develop their relationships but it can also be read on its own. With some surprise twists and an unexpected ending, this will please fans of cozy mysteries. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this book for my review.
June 13, 2021
The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry is the third book in her Kate Hamilton Mystery series and even if this is the first book you pick up in the series, you will have no problem catching on quickly. The Art of Betrayal could be a stand alone book leaving the reader to miss nothing.
The Art of Betrayal follows Kate Hamilton as she is on an extended visit to Suffolk village of Long Barston helping her friend and father figure Ivor Tweedy in his antique store, The Cabinet of Curiosities. Ivor is having hip surgery so he has asked her to be there to take care of the business while he is laid up. Of course Kate agreed to do it as she has developed a relationship with her boyfriend, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory who lives there as well. Even though she lives in Ohio and has her own antique business there to deal with, she has left that in the capable hands of her mother and friend so that she can stay in England to help Ivor and see where her relationship with Tom will go.
While tending the store a woman comes in with a very valuable antique and specifically wants Ivor to handle the sale of it. Unfortunately soon after leaving the piece with Kate, the store is broken into, the piece is missing and the woman is murdered. When they look into the woman's history, they find a mansion full of valuable antiques, missing jewelry, and a lot of questions. The woman had been a recluse for over 18 years after her husband died for which she blamed their daughter and she sent her daughter away to live with an aunt. Kate is asked by the police to go through the house and inventory the antiques but it doesn't stop there with Kate. She cannot help but look into the family history and try to find the daughter.
Readers will be drawn into this mysterious story and will be along side Kate throughout the entire ordeal. Kate has a lot of great friendships in Long Barston as well as the relationship you see throughout with her mother. And we cannot help wondering what Kate will do about her growing feelings for Tom......and the way that Berry ends the story readers will be counting the days until the next installment in this series to see what develops.
June 18, 2021
The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry is an interesting mystery set in a quaint British village. Although this newest release is the third book in the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series, it can be read as a standalone.
Kate is manning Ivor Tweedy’s antique store in Long Barston while he undergoes much needed surgery. She is also enjoying her time with her long distance significant other Detective Inspector Tom Mallory who is unfortunately tied up working an important case. While attending the May Fair, the festivities come to a shocking end following a murder. Kate is stunned to discover the victim was attacked in Ivor’s storeroom and a valuable pottery jar has been stolen. When she is hired to value the victim’s expensive and expansive art collection, Kate notices some troubling inconsistencies. Will she and Tom unmask the killer?
Kate owns an antiques business in the United States and she is well-versed in antiquities. So, filling in for Ivor is no hardship. What she does not expect is for a customer to bring in a rare and expensive pottery jar for her to sell on consignment. The client is a little mysterious and Kate feels a bit uneasy about the woman. Trying to focus on what the sale would mean for Ivor, she pushes aside her doubts.
Kate has been involved in two other murder cases so she promises Tom she will stay out of this latest murder investigation. Of course, she does pass on her observations to Tom when they arise. Kate continues valuing the victim’s estate, but she becomes very curious about some of the discoveries she makes. Despite her best efforts to remain on the sidelines, Kate cannot resist looking into some of the things that are troubling her. Will she discover any new information that might identify the murderer?
Kate is an amiable woman who never expected to fall in love after her husband unexpectedly passed away. Since she lives in the United States and Tom in England, she never believed their relationship would become serious. Although they have spent limited time together, Kate (reluctantly) admits to herself she is in love with Tom. But is there any future for them together?
The Art of Betrayal is a clever cozy mystery with a wonderful cast of characters. The village is a lovely setting that is quite atmospheric. The storyline is interesting and while initially a little slow, the pace soon picks up steam. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Connie Berry brings this engaging mystery to an exciting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series are going to love this newest addition.
Kate is manning Ivor Tweedy’s antique store in Long Barston while he undergoes much needed surgery. She is also enjoying her time with her long distance significant other Detective Inspector Tom Mallory who is unfortunately tied up working an important case. While attending the May Fair, the festivities come to a shocking end following a murder. Kate is stunned to discover the victim was attacked in Ivor’s storeroom and a valuable pottery jar has been stolen. When she is hired to value the victim’s expensive and expansive art collection, Kate notices some troubling inconsistencies. Will she and Tom unmask the killer?
Kate owns an antiques business in the United States and she is well-versed in antiquities. So, filling in for Ivor is no hardship. What she does not expect is for a customer to bring in a rare and expensive pottery jar for her to sell on consignment. The client is a little mysterious and Kate feels a bit uneasy about the woman. Trying to focus on what the sale would mean for Ivor, she pushes aside her doubts.
Kate has been involved in two other murder cases so she promises Tom she will stay out of this latest murder investigation. Of course, she does pass on her observations to Tom when they arise. Kate continues valuing the victim’s estate, but she becomes very curious about some of the discoveries she makes. Despite her best efforts to remain on the sidelines, Kate cannot resist looking into some of the things that are troubling her. Will she discover any new information that might identify the murderer?
Kate is an amiable woman who never expected to fall in love after her husband unexpectedly passed away. Since she lives in the United States and Tom in England, she never believed their relationship would become serious. Although they have spent limited time together, Kate (reluctantly) admits to herself she is in love with Tom. But is there any future for them together?
The Art of Betrayal is a clever cozy mystery with a wonderful cast of characters. The village is a lovely setting that is quite atmospheric. The storyline is interesting and while initially a little slow, the pace soon picks up steam. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Connie Berry brings this engaging mystery to an exciting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries series are going to love this newest addition.
January 4, 2022
This instalment of the series skirted the boundary of a thriller and cozy mystery and fell in neither. This is more because of the ominous atmosphere that lingered in the background.
The series continues to have fabulous cover pages, with pictures that I would have loved to be the one to have clicked! But that does not have much to do with my reading experience because, as an EARC, I do not get to see the cover while I read. That only happens when I read a physical book, and I can admire the covers as I set them aside between reads.
Kate is helping out a friend and is leading a new life in England. Her future is uncertain (in terms of life choices), but her courtship progresses nicely. Kate's mother, as well as Tom's mother, make significant appearances here. They do add a diversion from the central mysteries. There are several, and I guessed only a couple of them.
It all begins with a regular day, and Kate meets a new client. That is followed by her meeting a friend who wants to become a client. There are many discussions between all the people featured in the narrative, and it might not be to everyone's taste. It does slow down the action part of the story but does provide fodder for clues and the like.
Kate is a slightly older protagonist than this kind of series' feature, and she stays true to her age in terms of her investigation and behaviour - or at least it feels that way.
I enjoyed the investigation and the unravelling. It felt a little slower than I hoped from it, but that was a more personal issue given the time and place I was reading it. I did not go into the details of the various plotlines because that might reveal something and the fact that the way things are introduced is a primary draw into the story itself.
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes the idea of a semi-cozy mystery series featuring antiques, murders and a level headed leading lady.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous works in the series.
The series continues to have fabulous cover pages, with pictures that I would have loved to be the one to have clicked! But that does not have much to do with my reading experience because, as an EARC, I do not get to see the cover while I read. That only happens when I read a physical book, and I can admire the covers as I set them aside between reads.
Kate is helping out a friend and is leading a new life in England. Her future is uncertain (in terms of life choices), but her courtship progresses nicely. Kate's mother, as well as Tom's mother, make significant appearances here. They do add a diversion from the central mysteries. There are several, and I guessed only a couple of them.
It all begins with a regular day, and Kate meets a new client. That is followed by her meeting a friend who wants to become a client. There are many discussions between all the people featured in the narrative, and it might not be to everyone's taste. It does slow down the action part of the story but does provide fodder for clues and the like.
Kate is a slightly older protagonist than this kind of series' feature, and she stays true to her age in terms of her investigation and behaviour - or at least it feels that way.
I enjoyed the investigation and the unravelling. It felt a little slower than I hoped from it, but that was a more personal issue given the time and place I was reading it. I did not go into the details of the various plotlines because that might reveal something and the fact that the way things are introduced is a primary draw into the story itself.
I would recommend this series to anyone who likes the idea of a semi-cozy mystery series featuring antiques, murders and a level headed leading lady.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience of this and the previous works in the series.
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