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A review by laurenjodi
As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber
4.0
As Death Draws near
4 Stars
Kiera and her new husband, Sebastian Gage, are enjoying their honeymoon in the idyllic countryside of the Lake District when they receive a missive from her father-in-law requesting their assistance in investigating the death of a young Irish nun. Upon arriving in Ireland, Kiera and Gage are faced with the locals' suspicion and mistrust as well as the growing unrest between the Catholic and Protestant populace. Can they solve the crime before they are caught up in the violence?
While the mystery is not as gripping in this installment, the setting and characterization more than make up for it.
The murder investigation progresses slowly as Kiera and Gage endeavor to garner information about the victim and motives from recalcitrant witnesses. The twists and turns of the case are intriguing enough to keep turning the pages, but some of the revelations are predicable, and the final confrontation with the killer is anti-climactic.
In contrast, the rural Irish setting as well as the historical background on the religious and political aspects of what, in later years, becomes the infamous Troubles is particularly interesting and adds an extra layer of nuance to the mystery.
As with the previous books in the series, the real highlight is the ongoing character development. It is often difficult for mystery authors to maintain the excitement of any romantic elements, especially once the couple marries. However, this is not the case for Sebastian and Kiera whose relationship continues to evolve and strengthen both in terms of their physical intimacy as well as their emotional bond.
In conclusion, As Death Draws Near is first-rate addition to the series and the hints regarding the next book, which will apparently focus on Gage's family secrets, are very intriguing.
4 Stars
Kiera and her new husband, Sebastian Gage, are enjoying their honeymoon in the idyllic countryside of the Lake District when they receive a missive from her father-in-law requesting their assistance in investigating the death of a young Irish nun. Upon arriving in Ireland, Kiera and Gage are faced with the locals' suspicion and mistrust as well as the growing unrest between the Catholic and Protestant populace. Can they solve the crime before they are caught up in the violence?
While the mystery is not as gripping in this installment, the setting and characterization more than make up for it.
The murder investigation progresses slowly as Kiera and Gage endeavor to garner information about the victim and motives from recalcitrant witnesses. The twists and turns of the case are intriguing enough to keep turning the pages, but some of the revelations are predicable, and the final confrontation with the killer is anti-climactic.
In contrast, the rural Irish setting as well as the historical background on the religious and political aspects of what, in later years, becomes the infamous Troubles is particularly interesting and adds an extra layer of nuance to the mystery.
As with the previous books in the series, the real highlight is the ongoing character development. It is often difficult for mystery authors to maintain the excitement of any romantic elements, especially once the couple marries. However, this is not the case for Sebastian and Kiera whose relationship continues to evolve and strengthen both in terms of their physical intimacy as well as their emotional bond.
In conclusion, As Death Draws Near is first-rate addition to the series and the hints regarding the next book, which will apparently focus on Gage's family secrets, are very intriguing.