I started off confused; for some reason I had it in my head that this book was going to take place in London and centre around Lord Gage (Kiera's soon to be father-in-law), so when the story opens in Edinburgh and Lord Gage was nowhere to be found it felt like I picked up the wrong book.

Once I got past that and settled into the story, I enjoyed it, although I had concerns the author was writing herself into a corner: Lord Gage does appear about a third of the way through and boy is he an ass. Certifiable, no redeeming qualities ass and he doesn't like Kiera at all. This set-up felt like a trite attempt at creating a crise de cœur between Kiera and Gage at best, and at worst, a totally unrealistic set-up for Kiera to "win-over" and redeem her future father-in-law. Either of these scenarios was going to disappoint me after the quality of the story-telling in the first three books.

I should have had more faith; Ms. Huber takes neither of these paths and instead makes the hero more heroic and Kiera's future more realistic, if less HEA. Sometimes, you have to take the ass to get the prince.

As to the actual mystery - I liked it a lot! The author presented several viable suspects and an ingenious method of poison delivery, as well as quite a few red-herrings that didn't look like red-herrings. I didn't sort it out until just before Kiera did and it was someone I never gave a thought to suspecting. I love it when that happens!

I love this series and of the four published so far there hasn't been a bad one yet. It'll be a long year of waiting to see what happens next. ( )

I really like how Huber writes her characters with their flaws shown as well as their strengths, and explores the ups and downs of relationships (of all sorts) as well. Given that realism, the dramatic plot points (or any other aspects that might seem a bit unlikely) don't phase me a bit. I am here for these characters. ( )

Edinburgh 1831 and Lady Kiera Darby has been commissioned to paint the portrait of Lady Drummond. A seemingly unhappy wife, but events take a fatal turn when she is found dying. Lady Darby is convinced that it is murder and by Lady Drummonds' husband.
I did get a bit fed up wth the use of the vernacular, and Lady Darby's interfence in her sisters' marriage.
But overall an enjoyable well-written mystery. ( )

While paining a portrait, Keira witnesses an exchange between the husband and wife suggesting an abusive relationship. The next morning, upon her arrival for a painting session, Keira witnesses the woman's death and feels sure that it was poison rather than apoplexy that the doctor suggests. While she and Gage struggle with even opening an investigation, they face many domestic conflicts with the arrival his father, the confinement of her sister in a risky pregnancy, and the continued dangerous connection to Bonnie Brock.
A strong addition to this series though some of the subplots seemed to be superfluous while the ending seemed rushed.

Another good book in this series. Keira has accepted a commission to paint Lady Drummond’s portrait. One day her husband comes racing into the room shouting at Lady Drummond and waving a letter demanding to know what it means. He tells Keira to leave. When she arrives the next day for their sitting, Lady Drummond is on the floor in apoplexy but Keira believes she was poisoned and wants to investigate with her fiancé Gage. They question all her friends and elicit the help of Bonnie Broc in their inquiries. Also, Gage’s father comes to town and admits his dislike of Sebastian’s choice of wife and Alana's pregnancy is worrisome. ( )