The Lark’s Regret

by Lynn Messina. 2025.

This is the fifth book in the Verity Lark mysteries, and I feel it might be the best so far. I will point out these books are really an offshoot of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries that started this little universe. From the first book they have been alternating with the BHC books and so it’s almost but not quite like a dialogue between the two.

It would be easy enough to say this was another great entry in the Verity Lark mysteries or the Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries. It’s definitely true. But I feel this one stands above the other books in so many ways. Bea has worked out that Twaddle Thum is the work of Lord Colson Hardwicke and Verity does nothing to disabuse her of this notion. But the two soon come face to face after both investigate the latest gossip in town and find the culprit, murdered. A few things are clarified for Bea while Verity spends an awful lot of time in anguish about her actions towards the duchess.

I suspect some might find Verity’s constant self-reflection a bit tiring, but it definitely suits this character, which is truly a complicated one. Verity finds it hard to trust others, having been let down so many times before. But when it becomes apparent she has wronged the duchess, she continues her anguish and never forgives herself or will let the duchess forgive her. To hear Verity’s skewed view of things, she will never be good enough to matter, to be in love, or even to be loved. She is self-contained in all ways. With Hardwicke and their budding relationship, she has definitely moved in the right direction. But in relationships outside her core group, she is never sure of herself. Of course, she fails to recognise the parallels of Bea’s life might make her a bit more understanding than she perceives.

I truly delighted in the scene that revealed the truth of Twaddle Thum. Then I delighted in the more frequent interactions between these two characters. We didn’t have the benefit of Kesgrave in this tale, and I think it was right for the big reveal. He will take his place again in the next BHC story, I’m sure. Even the ending was lovely, and I just look forward to more from this pair.

I am rating this 4.5 stars as it was truly wonderful. Thank you to Netgalley and Book Whisperer for the free advanced reader copy. I have given my opinions under no obligation.