A Grave Deception: A Kate Hamilton Mystery by Connie Berry

 Kate Hamilton and her husband, Detective Inspector Tom Mallory, have settled into married life in Long Barston. When archaeologists excavating the ruins of a nearby plague village discover the miraculously preserved body of a fourteenth-century woman, Kate and her colleague, Ivor Tweedy, are asked to appraise the grave goods, including a valuable pearl. When tests reveal the woman was pregnant and murdered, the owner of the estate on which the body was found, an amateur historian, asks Kate to identify her and, if possible, her killer. Surprised, Kate agrees to try.

Meanwhile, tensions within the archaeological team erupt when the body of the lead archaeologist turns up at the dig site with fake pearls in his mouth and stomach. Then a third body is found in the excavations. Meanwhile, Kate’s husband Tom is tracking the movements of a killer of his own.

With the help of 700-year-old documents and the unpublished research of a deceased historian, Kate must piece together the past before the grave count reaches four. 

A Grave Deception: A Kate Hamilton Mystery by Connie Berry is a richly layered historical mystery that rewards patient, attentive readers. Set against a vividly rendered English backdrop, this installment delivers a compelling and complex mystery filled with buried secrets, shifting motives, and emotional undercurrents that run deeper than the crime itself. Berry’s pacing is deliberate, allowing clues to unfold organically while keeping tension tight and stakes personal. Kate Hamilton remains a thoughtful, observant protagonist whose intelligence and empathy drive the investigation forward.

What truly elevates A Grave Deception is its intricate plotting—nothing is wasted, and seemingly small details carry surprising weight by the end. Mystery fans who enjoy cerebral puzzles and atmospheric settings will find this novel especially satisfying. Readers should also be sure to read the author’s note—but only after finishing the novel, as it adds meaningful context that deepens appreciation without spoiling the carefully constructed revelations. This is historical crime fiction done right: smart, immersive, and quietly haunting.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.