Huge thanks to Lynn Messina and Netgalley for the ARC. Now on to the review. As a Beatrice Hyde-Clare fan and a casual Verity Lark reader, I love the intermingling of not only the plots but of the characters. I've loved how Bea, after living most of her life unwanted and ignored, has created her version of a little family with Kesgrave, the Dowager, the Countess of Abercrombie, and now Verity. I am excited to see what kind of shenanigans Bea comes up with to bring the siblings together. While both Kesgrave and Verity have very clear boundaries drawn in the sand regarding their new found acquaintance, I don't see how they can remain strangers now that Bea has been brought into the loop.

Like always, the mystery was beautifully developed and Bea's internal ramblings and witticisms remain a highlight ove every book. My one and only complaint is that I'M DESPERATE TO MEET THE CHERUB!! I've always loved how each book seems to roll into the next, but for once I'd love a large enough time jump to speed up the introduction of the cherub.

How does Lynn Messina do it? Lynn Messina writes twisty murder mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end and still manages to pepper every scene with humor. I imagine her cracking up as she writes, even though some of the subject matter in these books is heavy.

In A Vicious Machination, the Beatrice Hyde-Clare series continues to overlap with the Verity Lark series. Verity Lark, the reporter who has excoriated Beatrice in the past in a gossip column who also happens to be the half-sister of Bea's husband, is in jail for murder. Bea feels she and her husband, Damen, Duke of Kesgrave, must investigate and prove her innocent. Though Damien and Verity have met in a past book, Bea meets Verity for the first time in Newgate Prison.

The murder victim ran the orphanage where Verity grew up. She had been selling children into slavery and blackmailing members of the orphanage's board of directors as well. Verity exposed the scheme and ruined everyone involved, so suspects for the murder are numerous. Over the course of two days, Bea and Damien interview suspects and hone in on the guilty party. The finale is an action scene where Damien and Verity's beau (is that the right term?) play major roles.

In addition to the fascinating investigation, we see Bea continue to deal with discomfort over her new roles as Duchess and impending motherhood,. These scenes are both sweet and funny with secondary characters like Bea's Aunt Vera and Lady Abercrombie appearing briefly. There's a hint that action will move to the Kesgrave country estate soon.

As always, the pace is fast. Though this installment is under 300 pages, it is packed!

A new mystery for Bea to solve but this time it is Verity Lark that has been accused of murder!

After the revelation that Verity is Kesgrave's half sister, Bea is curios to get to know her but unfortunately it is under dire circumstances.

As with all the books by Lynn Messina I loved the mystery component of the story and the characters are perfectly designed.

The dowager could have played a bigger role but I was happy to get more of Lord Colson.

As usual, I cannot wait for the next book in this series and in Verity Lark's.

Thanks to the author and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

I would recommend all readers to read the books of this series in order. This is is the first one that I read, and I struggled in the first few chapters to make sense of the characters and the back story that was being discussed. Having said that, I must commend the writer on doing a brilliant job with the plot and characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and the amazing relationship between the Duke and the Duchess. The writing kept me hooked till the end.

3.5

I have to admit that I did not make any previous research when I stumbled upon this book and started reading it. I realised soon enough that it was part of a series (a very lengthy one, in fact) that I had never read, unfortunately. Despite this, I found the book enjoyable and fun, and although I clearly lacked a myriad of backstory it only made me more keen to read the previous releases.
Bea is witty and smart and this is the perfect book (and saga, please do not repeat my mistakes and start from the beginning!!) for those who want a little bit more mystery and adventure from their period romances.