I was sent a free copy of The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
About 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.
Any purchase links are affiliate links which means if you buy anything through them I will receive a small commission (at no additional charge to you)
Praise for The Art of Betrayal:
“[A] traditional mystery that combines British legend with a contemporary story of crime and betrayal.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“A delight for lovers of antiques and complicated mysteries with a touch of romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“An engaging cast of characters that will appeal to fans of Jane K. Cleland’s Josie Prescott novels and Barbara Allan’s Trash ’n’ Treasures mysteries.”
—Booklist
“A smartly written, cozy mystery that will especially appeal to history buffs.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Kate is a well-written character . . . [and] the small English town enhances the story.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“The Art of Betrayal is a magnificent book in the finest tradition of English countryside mysteries.”
—Gumshoe Review
“Readers will be counting the days until the next installment in this series.”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
About the Author:
Connie 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.
In 2019 Connie won the IPPY Gold Medal for Mystery and was a finalist for the Agatha Award’s Best Debut. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and is on the board of the Guppies and her local Sisters in Crime chapter. 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. You can learn more about Connie and her books at her website www.connieberry.com.
My Opinion:
This is the third book featuring Kate Hamilton. I didn’t realize that when I decided to read the book but don’t let that deter you if you haven’t read the previous books - it really didn’t make a difference in my enjoyment of this tale. Kate is an antique dealer from America working in a friend’s shop while he recovers from surgery. She is also spending time with a certain Detective Inspector named Tom with whom she has been falling in love.
Then disaster strikes and an expensive Chinese vase is stolen from her friend’s shop. He can’t afford to replace it and it wasn’t insured. What is Kate going to do? She is on the trail of the mystery! What follows is a fun, detailed mystery with a cast of quirky yet endearing characters. The who done it isn’t overly complicated and just enough fun to keep the pages turning and the location makes it interesting.
Kate is smart and uses common sense and her knowledge of the art world to piece together the mystery of who stole the Chinese vase in a way that keeps the reader engaged while also teaching a little about art and art history. I will definitely look forward to further installments of this series.
Rating:
4.5
