In A Scandalous Deception by Lynn Messina, Beatrice Hyde-Clare discovers that a seemingly harmless lie told in the service of trying to find a murderer in the previous book, A Brazen Curiosity, comes back to wreak havoc. Bea’s aunt becomes determined to locate the nonexistent law clerk with whom Bea supposedly had a painful love affair, and things become so serious that Bea places an obituary for the man in the newspaper in order to put an end to all the nonsense. While in the newspaper office to drop off the notice, a man staggers in with a knife in his back and dies at Bea’s feet. Bea has no intention of trying to solve this murder as she did at the country house party, but something about the knife looked familiar, leading her to seek out answers and find herself assisted once again by the Duke of Kesgrave. Together, they work as a team to locate the identity of the murderer and also hide their activities from Bea’s disapproving family.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to listen to A Brazen Curiosity, but I appreciated A Scandalous Deception even more. I loved the creative interaction between Bea and the duke, who gradually develop a greater appreciation for each other as they learn to work as a team instead of in competition with each other. The murder plot kept me excited and eager to keep listening. I appreciated the acknowledgment of Bea of her inferior status compared to the duke and her observations of how everyone jumps to do his bidding merely because he is a duke. The societal statuses of each character directs her or his behavior towards each other.
The audiobook is performed by Jill Smith, who makes each character seem unique and creates a fun interplay between Bea and the duke. Smith’s narration makes listeners feel immersed in the mystery throughout the course of the book.
I had a great time listening to A Scandalous Deception and am eager to get to listen to the next book in the series. It is exciting and fun in the details of the lives of Bea and the duke. I give this book five stars!
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, and it had no influence on the content of my review.
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