When Kiera visits her old friend Michael Dalmay she is surprised his brother William, who has been missing for ten years, has returned. She is even more surprised to learn that William has spent the last ten years in an insane asylum, committed by his own father. Kiera is heartbroken to discover what her childhood art tutor has been through, and when suspicion falls on William when a local girl goes missing Kiera is determined to prove his innocence. She teams up with Sebastian Gage and once again must use her knowledge of the macabre to prove William would never hurt anyone and to possibly save his life.

Anna Lee Huber has written a fascinating mystery readers won't be able to put down. The storyline is dark and foreboding giving a mysterious quality to both the characters and the setting. Huber uses vivid details to bring the Dalmays' estate, Banbogle Caste, and Larkspur Retreat to life. Readers will want to live in the Dalmays' estate, explore Banbogle Castle, and avoid Larkspur Retreat at all costs. MORTAL ARTS is filled with plot twists that will keep readers guessing the antagonist's identity throughout the story. William's story will pull at readers' heartstrings, and Kiera's determination to help him will have readers' rooting for her from the very beginning. Secondary characters such as Miss Remmington, Michael, Constable Paxton, and Mac bring diverse personalities, and witty dialogue to MORTAL ARTS. Sebastian Gage is a surprisingly clever character, and his moody personality makes him a great detective. The villain of MORTAL ARTS is one of the creepiest I've ever read about, and is the stuff of nightmares, causing me to become absorbed even more in the shadowy world Huber has created. MORTAL ARTS is a must read, and is one of those rare books that will both shock and please readers.

Book Summary

Scotland, 1830. Lady Kiera Darby is no stranger to intrigue— in fact, it seems to follow wherever she goes. After her foray into murder investigation, Kiera must journey to Edinburgh with her family so that her pregnant sister can be close to proper medical care. But the city is full of many things Kiera isn’t quite ready to face: the society ladies keen on judging her, her fellow investigator—and romantic entanglement—Sebastian Gage, and ultimately, another deadly mystery.

Kiera’s old friend Michael Dalmay is about to be married, but the arrival of his older brother—and Kiera’s childhood art tutor—William, has thrown everything into chaos. For ten years Will has been missing, committed to an insane asylum by his own father. Kiera is sympathetic to her mentor’s plight, especially when rumors swirl about a local girl gone missing. Now Kiera must once again employ her knowledge of the macabre and join forces with Gage in order to prove the innocence of a beloved family friend—and save the marriage of another…