A Tarnished Canvas

A Lady Darby Mystery, Book 13

By: Anna Lee Huber

Narrated by: Heather Wilds

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She's thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin's coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

It soon becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit's aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage's assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, they discover that the victim was not the killer's intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they're on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter's repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

©2025 Anna Aycock (P)2025 Tantor Media

Excellent Writing and Narration

The characters are so interesting and intriguing and have grown all through the series. Her books are a delight to read and just the right length!

Auctions turn, exciting

Interesting plot, twists abound
The continuing adventure, adventures of Lady Darby to not disappoint. With excellent voice acting and an intriguing story, another lady Darby adventure keeps your attention throughout.

The voice actors are fantastic

As usual, the mystery is profound. The prose and the background setting is perfection. It’s entirely well written.

An Absolute Fave!

The ‘Lady Darby Mysteries’ is, by far, one of my FAVORITE series!! The character development continues to be strong, as it has since book1. The storylines, intrigue and adventure bring history to life in quite a fascinating way! I’m only “sad” I have to wait for what I suspect (hope) will be another book!!

Atmospheric

The voice of the narrator is elegant and lovely. It's easy to imagine Lady Darby in all her finery. Strong female character, but there is no doubt, the Gages love one another. I recommend starting with book one, to understand her backstory.