An Act of Villainy
Author Bio:
Ashley Weaver
The Opening:
From the Cover:
Walking through London’s West End after a night at the theater, Amory Ames and her husband Milo run into wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway. Holloway and his wife Georgina are old friends of theirs, and when Holloway invites them to the dress rehearsal of a new play he is directing, Amory readily accepts.
However, Amory 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.
It quickly becomes clear that each member of the cast has reason to resent Flora―and with a group so skilled in the art of deception, it isn’t easy to separate truth from illusion. When vague threats escalate, the scene is set for murder, and Amory and Milo must find the killer before the final curtain falls.
Walking through London’s West End after a night at the theater, Amory Ames and her husband Milo run into wealthy investor and former actor Gerard Holloway. Holloway and his wife Georgina are old friends of theirs, and when Holloway invites them to the dress rehearsal of a new play he is directing, Amory readily accepts.
However, Amory 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.
It quickly becomes clear that each member of the cast has reason to resent Flora―and with a group so skilled in the art of deception, it isn’t easy to separate truth from illusion. When vague threats escalate, the scene is set for murder, and Amory and Milo must find the killer before the final curtain falls.
The Structure of An Act of Villainy:
The cover lays out the story pretty well. Our protagonist Amory and her husband are leaving the theater when they bump into an old friend who lo and behold has a theatre mystery that needs to be solved. Through the book I noticed that the story almost progresses as I think a song might with a call and response. Amory askes her suspects friends questions, and they reply. To some degree I felt like this book was a verbal seesaw. There was also a theme where Amory's relationship with Milo is being contrasted with another couple in the story. It did a good job of trying to push why Amory is invested in the situation.
My Takeaway:
This was an easy read for me. With the call-response framework, and other themes running throughout, I enjoyed it somewhat, however I was more attracted to the author's descriptions of what Amory and others were wearing or the settings than the actual action at times. If you would like an easy historic mystery to curl up with and you liked Nancy Drew when you were little, you'll probably enjoy this.
Who Should Read An Act of Villainy?
If you are looking for a work where you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery this is a good book for you. Weaver's descriptions of settings and attire are great! If you are looking for engaging conversations and less of a "the hunt is on" chase by the protagonist this book won't be for you.
What to read next?
- Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
- Cocaine Blues (A Phryne Fisher Mystery) by Kerry Greenwood
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