As Death Draws Near, the fifth novel in Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby Mystery Series, started off on an interesting foot. We have a sudden summons to Ireland, the return of a troublesome character from the first book, and a sensitive significance of religion as the tensions bubble between Protestant and Catholics. Unfortunately, it didn’t reach the heights it could’ve for me.

I felt that there was a lack of landscape illustration in this one. The journey over the sea to Ireland was well done, but the description of the scenery felt lacklustre upon arrival and the opportunities were there for many chapters. I don’t recall the abbey being described in much vivid detail, nor the gardens which play a huge part in the layout and plot. Even if there was one simple references to the gardens, how things looked, what there was, how it was maintained and how it made Kiera feel in this little secluded part of the world would’ve sufficed.

Marsdale was a highlight of this book, which is unfortunate to say given he wasn’t really involved all that much. Once his relevance becomes known, it seems like his part to play would be included in Kiera’s observations and discussions, but he was in the background and how he was feeling wasn’t really analysed as much as it could’ve been. Kiera comes to her own conclusions about him, but I would love to have had deep conversations between the two that proved to the reader her thoughts about him.

I’m atheist. Let me say that right off the bat. The religion aspects of this story could’ve been really interesting when given more weight and context – so many experiences and perspectives would’ve benefitted the story and Kiera could’ve learned so much while talking to people about what was going on. I know she’s an outsider here, as is Gage, and it was very right that they would’ve been treated with hostility, but Kiera had Bree whom she could’ve had a more in-depth conversation about religion with. It was brought up a little, but there was a great opportunity to share with the readers another side to the discussion.

The crimes and mystery itself had a decent weight to them – the more uncovered about the victim, their situation, the events going on in the area, etc. the more the tension and stakes grew. I didn’t expect it to go the way it did, and I’m a little sad that it ended that way, but I guess there’s only so much you can do when working with facts and fiction. We do get a protective Gage which I do appreciate so I can’t be totally upset.

Given we likely won’t see this location again, I wish we had the chance to get a deeper insight into the land, the people and the different way of life. Kiera does draw some people which she will, I’m sure, mention in later books but there isn’t a steady anchor in this book to make the image of Ireland stick. It’s a shame, but I still give the book a 4/5.