A certain darkness

In Huber's dense sixth Verity Kent mystery (after 2021's Murder Most Fair), the impact of the recent Great War lingers, as British secret agent Verity discovers when the French police request her husband Sidney's help interrogating a woman collaborator who refuses to talk to anyone but Sidney. But before Sidney can inveigle the woman's secrets, she's found dead in her cell. Meanwhile, Verity is contacted by C, her Intelligence Service handler, who instructs her to recover sensitive documents stolen from a murdered Belgian informant. At first, the two investigations seem unconnected, but as the couple travels through Europe in pursuit of information, they discover the murders are related. What Verity learns shakes her faith in those she trusted and the cause she and Sidney nearly died for. Huber gives readers a lesson on the toll taken on the lands and the people caught up in the devastation of war, though those who haven't read the earlier novels in the series might find the multitude of characters and plots hard to keep track of. As Verity and Sidney face danger together, their deepening relationship will please cozy fans. WWI buffs will love the in-depth historical detail. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Sept.)