A Tarnished Canvas

A Lady Darby Mystery, Book 13

De: Anna Lee Huber

Narrado por: Heather Wilds

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She's thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin's coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

It soon becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit's aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage's assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, they discover that the victim was not the killer's intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they're on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter's repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

©2025 Anna Aycock (P)2025 Tantor Media

Unable to put down!

I love the modesty, history, drama, and even humor in these stories! I cannot put this down once I start it.

Another great adventure and mystery solved.

Was so happy to listen to another chapter of my two favorite characters doing what they do best. Solve another murder and mystery. The characters are likeable, and easy to relate to. The narration was done well as always and a very enjoyable listen. Can't wait for the next murder for them to solve.

An Absolute Fave!

The ‘Lady Darby Mysteries’ is, by far, one of my FAVORITE series!! The character development continues to be strong, as it has since book1. The storylines, intrigue and adventure bring history to life in quite a fascinating way! I’m only “sad” I have to wait for what I suspect (hope) will be another book!!

The voice actors are fantastic

As usual, the mystery is profound. The prose and the background setting is perfection. It’s entirely well written.

Kiera and Gage Continue to Enthrall

I love being back in Kiera's and Gage's world, complete with Anderley, Bree, and the rest of their capable staff. Bonus to see both Bonnie Brock and Lord Henry. Of course, all of them are in the thick of it again when what appeared to be a tragic accident is found to be murder, but with a unique twist. Beyond the challenging mystery, even beyond the Gage's relationship of love and respect that make this a must-read for me, there is a reflective aspect to this book that captured me. First, two anniversaries almost coincide, the death of Kiera's father a number of years ago and the first anniversary of the birth of their daughter that took place in dire circumstances, threatening the lives of parents and child (see Book 9, A Wicked Conceit). Second, after Kiera took her art in a new direction some time ago, her work is finally coming to fruition, leaving her unsettled and unsure of how it will be received. While we have seen Kiera reflect on her disastrous first marriage and the path her life has taken since, including her art, this perfect storm seems to provide a window into the soul of the series' protagonist in a way that hasn't been seen previously. If you are not into introspection, not to worry, it comes in glimpses and doesn't weigh the story down. Regardless, this book is a welcome addition to the series, and as always, I cannot wait for my next visit with the Gages.

As usual, Heather Wilds does an excellent of voicing these characters.

Good story, but not an attention grabber

So far, I have really liked the series, but this book fell short for me. No really interesting historical tidbits on the plot subject. I also noticed a growing tendency toward repeating certain phrases and over describing surroundings. The story focused more on personal relationships than the plot. Whereas I love this series, I didn't love this book, only liked it a bit

Disappointed

I was really looking forward to listening to the latest book in the series but was very disappointed in the story. It was drawn out and not interesting. In fact it was boring especially in comparison to the other books in the series.

A Disappointment

This was my least favorite book by Anna Lee Huber. The climax and conclusion of the book are incredibly weak. They never face down the villain, and there is no dramatic ending. It was a weak; flat ending that didn't fit with the rest of the Lady Darby novels.