A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber

A Fatal Illusion
by Anna Lee Huber

ISBN-13: 9780593198483
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Released: June 20, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Yorkshire, England. August 1832. Relations between Sebastian Gage and his father have never been easy, especially since the discovery that Lord Gage has been concealing the existence of an illegitimate son. But when Lord Gage is nearly fatally attacked on a journey to Scotland, Sebastian and Kiera race to his side. Given the tumult over the recent passage of the Reform Bill and the Anatomy Act, in which Lord Gage played a part, Sebastian wonders if the attack could be politically motivated.

But something suspicious is afoot in the sleepy village where Lord Gage is being cared for. The townspeople treat Sebastian and Kiera with hostility when it becomes clear they intend to investigate, and rumors of mysterious disappearances and highway robberies plague the area. Lord Gage’s survival is far from assured, and Sebastian and Kiera must scramble to make the pieces fit before a second attempt at murder is more successful than the first.


My Review:
A Fatal Illusion is a mystery set in 1832 in England. It is the 11th book in a series. It can be read as a standalone, but it'll probably be the most meaningful to those who've read at least some of the series. That's because much of the story was about Sebastian, Kiera, and Henry's strained relationship with Lord Gage. I thought the author did a good job showing how Kiera tried to understand what motivated others and have a good relationship with them even though still feeling hurt, frustrated, and such with them. The main characters were complex, well-developed, and acted realistically.

Kiera, Sebastian, Henry, and their servants investigated who attacked Lord Gage. It didn't help that Lord Gage hid critical information about his past. Kiera's crew uncovered clues, followed up on them, and steadily sorted out the bad guys and figured out their motive. While the main characters were unconventional for their time, overall, the story felt historically accurate and brought out some interesting details about the place and past events.

There were no sex scenes or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this mystery to fans of the series.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.