The Cold Light of Day
Verity Kent Mysteries #7
By Anna Lee Huber
ISBN 9781496740076
Author’s website: annaleehuber.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
June 1920, Ireland: The streets of Dublin seethe with revolution as the Irish Republican Army clashes with British authorities. Roving assassination squads mean nowhere is truly safe, particularly for Verity Kent and her war hero husband, Sidney. Given their celebrity as society darlings and intrepid sleuths, they must tread carefully to go unnoticed—nearly impossible when they are called upon to search for Verity’s fellow spy and friend . . .
Captain Alec Xavier has seemingly vanished after traveling to Dublin to infiltrate the IRA at its highest levels. Doing her best to maintain a modicum of normalcy and stay under the radar of both the rebels and British Intelligence, Verity works undercover by day and waltzes through the city’s elite social scene by night. Still, she fears the worst for Alec—until shocking evidence mounts that not only is he alive, but that he has switched sides . . .
Already disillusioned with the British government, the news leaves Verity and Sidney reeling. Worse, they learn of a conspiracy within Dublin Castle, where personal vendettas are being carried out and sanctioned by British Intelligence under the cover of revolution. With the distinction between friend and foe never more blurred—or the margin for error narrower—Verity and Sidney cannot turn a blind eye. Especially when a familiar adversary appears, bringing a threat almost too terrifying to confront—even in the cold light of day . . . (from Goodreads)
Review:
This breathtaking new novel and its mysteries deliver the brilliant, persevering Verity Kent, who was a top-notch operative for Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service during The Great War. She is joined by her husband, Sidney, a highly decorated war hero. After the war, Verity was officially released from her role, but she has since been on numerous unofficial missions. Sidney often joins her wherever she is sent.
Verity and Sidney went to Dublin in June 1920. Great Britain promised Ireland Home Rule at the time of the Armistice but has not yet released control. The republicans/ rebels wanted Northern Ireland to leave British rule and be part of a united Ireland, independent of Britain. The Unionists/ loyalists wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Alec Xavier was also an excellent operative during the war, and Verity and Alec became close friends. Alec was sent to Dublin to infiltrate the rebels and learn their plans so they can be defeated. He met Verity in London before leaving, and pointed out the leader of the rebels, Michael Collins, and two of his cohorts nearby. Several months after Alec went to Dublin, he disappeared without a trace. Verity and Sid went to unofficially search for him. After several weeks, it was suggested to Verity that Alec, weary with the battles with Britain, turned traitor and joined the rebels. Sidney and Verity didn’t quite believe it, but they understood. Britain had been brutal on the rebels and Ireland.
The Kents are also trying to locate cylinders of phosgene gas that were taken from Britain and delivered somewhere in Ireland. Phosgene is highly poisonous and caused many deaths in the Great War. They wanted to locate it so it could not be a weapon in battles within Ireland or with Britain.
Verity has another mission, to find who assaulted Miss Kavanaugh, daughter of an Irish official. She was dating a young, British intel officer who asked her to meet him in her parents’ garden late one night. Rebels sometimes assaulted women dating British officials who kept thumbs on the Irish, and chop off the women’s hair, what many still believed was their crowning glory. Masked men assaulted her in the garden and hacked off her hair. The footman ran to the rescue, the men scattered, and rebels were blamed. Miss Kavanaugh was so ashamed and distraught that she committed suicide soon after.
Battles raged throughout Ireland, with buildings burnt and murders committed both by the rebels and the Crown Forces. It was not the time for anyone to be in Ireland who didn’t live or have business there.
The characters were unique and well defined except for the rebels. There is adequate backstory on the main characters, very helpful since I’ve only read a couple of the novels. Verity, a young woman wiser than her years, comes to life under the masterful hand of Anna Lee Huber.
This novel is written with excellence and authenticity. This reader, not familiar with the rebellions within Ireland or with Britain, found Google very helpful. The mysteries are absolutely confounding. The Kents and several British officers search for the phosgene cylinders which they had sought in the prior novel. To find Alec, Verity, in disguise, hung out at some of the places Alec had in his reports with little success. She determined the best way to find out about Alec, after misinformation was given to her, was to find the man in charge, Michael Collins. She never knew for sure if those she met were loyal to Britain or sympathetic to the rebels.
I was stunned at what they learned of Miss Kavanaugh’s death, a betrayal beyond what I suspected. In the end, I was genuinely saddened by the results of that investigation. It was the only piece fully resolved. The phosgene is still well hidden; and Verity and Sidney choose to remain in Dublin. It might help Verity continue to work out Alec’s locations. While I don’t enjoy cliffhanger endings, this one is presented without extremes. I highly recommend this novel and the mysteries therein, and look forward to meeting up with Verity back in Dublin!
