Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick returns with a thrilling new venture into romance and mystery, featuring the most unusual, highly compatible--undeniably combustible--pairing of Tobias March and his mesmerizing partner, Lavinia Lake.

An invitation to a country house party at Beaumont Castle provides a perfect solution to Tobias and Lavinia’s most exasperating challenge: how to escape the chaos of London for a remote, relaxing--and above all romantic--retreat from prying eyes and wagging tongues. But the lovers’ plans are foiled when their first cozy interlude of the weekend is disrupted by the appearance of a stunning woman from Tobias’s past. Aspasia Gray’s beauty is as haunting as her connection to Tobias. Her long-deceased fiancé was a friend of his--in addition to being an eccentric assassin. The mysterious nature of the bond between Tobias and Aspasia makes Lavinia more than a little uncomfortable. Especially as her first encounter with Aspasia occurs when she finds her in Tobias’s bedchamber...

It seems Aspasia is seeking protection--and solace--after receiving an ominous message that eerily recalls the past. Suddenly the obstacles standing betweenTobias and Lavinia appear greater than just a little London gossip--and far more deadly.When events at the castle suggest someone is imitating the dead killer’s methods, the team of Lake and March fervently pursue the investigation--and each other--as their leads take them from Society’s most elegant haunts--and most discreet hideaways--to London’s shadiest backstreets. As their relationship heats up, so does the intrigue. Soon Lavinia will have to employ all her talents to flummox the scoundrel who so rudely interrupted her rendezvous. And then she and Tobias can get back to more pleasurable affairs.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #368309 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-23
• Released on: 2004-11-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.08" h x 4.26" w x 6.92" l, .41 pounds
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780553584868
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

From Publishers Weekly
Private investigators Lavinia Lake and Tobias March (Slightly Shady; Don't Look Back) return to the chase in Regency England, hot on the trail of a murderer for hire when not disporting themselves discreetly beneath the sheets. This time a macabre murderer appears to be copycatting two killers who left behind memento mori rings at the scenes of their crimes. The original Memento Mori Man murdered for hire decades earlier, taking on assignments only if he thought the target thoroughly deserved death. Three years before the start of this novel, the same "ghastly signature" was employed by Zachary Elland in tribute to his predecessor. Elland, March's fellow spy (during the Napoleonic wars), committed suicide after March unmasked him, so when a memento mori ring turns up on the doorstep of Elland's rich lover, Aspasia Gray, March is not surprised when she seeks him out at Lord Beaumont's country-house party. Lake, however, is dismayed, since Gray wants more than just March's investigative skills. A murder is promptly committed at Beaumont's estate, and Lake and March launch their investigations, centering on a certain unstylish blonde wig and a trio of dangerous, dowagers. Quick, a pseudonym for prolific romance author Jayne Anne Krentz, relies on her quicksilver sense of humor and tart research into period hairdressers and British upper-crust society. Lake and March's lusty if predictable romps should please Quick fans, as should the contrasting "demure" period flirtation between Lake's niece, Emeline , and March's adopted brother, Anthony, which is tested by the arrival of Dominic Hood, Anthony's half-brother, suggesting future fireworks. As this engaging effort demonstrates, Quick has the Regency-murder mystery mix down to a fine science.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Lavinia and Tobias, private inquiry agents, have looked forward to relaxing in one another's company at a weekend house party in the country. However, they are asked to leave when they suggest that a guest's death was a murder. With minimal clues available, the sleuths and their eager, young assistants, Emmeline and Anthony, realize that there have been other suspicious deaths, with an unusual common denominator. Has a murderer come back from the dead? Quick is an expert at witty dialogue, which keeps the plot moving, and the depiction of early-19th-century England. Fans of the series will particularly enjoy learning more about Tobias's mysterious past and prior relationships, which are an important part of this story. It is not necessary to have read the earlier novels to enjoy this light mystery.
Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The killer, an insider with easy access to the opulent homes of Regency England's elite, has left his calling card, a memento-mori ring--a jeweled, coffin-topped band with a white skull inside. He's clever, but not nearly clever enough to fool the fearless team of Lavinia Lake and Tobias March, back for their third adventure (Slightly Shady, 2001; Don't Look Back [BKL Mr 15 02]). Lavinia's skill as a mesmerist and Tobias' background as a spy, as well as their intelligence and amazing tenacity, allow them to give the killer-for-hire a run for his ill-begotten money. Secondary characters, including Lavinia's niece, Emeline, and Tobias' stepson, Anthony, a young couple showing great promise as investigators, are well developed and interesting, and lend a hand in solving the mystery. The romance between Lavinia and Tobias continues to develop nicely, and his efforts to find them time alone for their romantic trysts is a running joke that adds to the comedic side of the story, which is filled with Quick's signature elements: a plucky heroine, a hero with a dark side, snappy dialogue, witty repartee, lots of humor, and an ongoing battle of the sexes. Quick, who also writes excellent contemporaries under her real name, Jayne Ann Krentz, continues to be one of the best and brightest voices in the romance genre. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

sigh...end to a weak trilogy
I adore Jayne Anne Krentz's writings - whatever the name - and have nearly everything she has written going back to the old Candlelights. Krentz/Quick is one writer I keep and generally buy in hardback, and will even reread them. But I am, once again, sadly disappointed in her #2 and #3 in her trilogies. I know the publishers of today are pushing for trilogies and series, trying to keep readers hooked for more sales. But frankly, they are causing people to grumble, and with good reason, maybe even driving the very fans away with this trend. Jayne Ann - I love you work, but you REALLY NEED to listen to your fans. Your Trilogies are NOT holding up. You give us a SUPER first books, the paler, weaker second and third in the series. You see the same complaint, so-so mysteries with the leads and their romance taking a backseat to too busy story lines. And I see a lot of fans saying NO more. I really hate to see this happening to such a talented writer.

I REALLY wanted to love this book. It's a nice read. But I recommend it for Quick/Krentz devoted fans only, and then, I would suggest waiting for paperback or picking it up at the library. Disappoint hurts less when you don't pay as much!

Lavinia and Tobias from "Slightly Shady" and "Don't Look Back" put in their third - and hopefully last - appearance in a so-so mystery, along with her niece, Emeline, and his brother-in-law, Anthony. Lavinia has finally given up on seeing her niece married "properly", though Tobias has not given up on marriage to Lavinia. Tobias accompanies Lavinia to the county to Beaumont Castle, home of Lord Beaumont. Seems they never have any time alone for lovemaking. (Hum, poor Lavinia and Tobias cannot have time alone? TRY getting MARRIED, then they could see each other every night!!). Sorry, it's just an example of really THIN plot line. Tobias' promise of romance, maybe leading to marriage proposal, nearly comes to cropper by the entrance of Aspasia Gray, back into Tobias' life. She hires him to investigate threats against her, but she wants more than just his investigative skills. Any chance of a romantic weekend is ruined when Lavinia catches him in the arms of Aspasia. Tobias chases after Lavinia to explain, but while they are arguing their host, Lord Beaumont, goes sailing past Lavinia's window. No one believes it is was murder, so it is up to Lavinia and Tobias to get to the bottom the mystery.

Anthony and Emeline's flirtatious romance is rattle by the arrival of Anthony's half-brother, Dominic Hood (hinting there may be more in the series). Sigh, I hope not. At least, not if it is more of the quality.

I am looking forward to "After Glow" under her Jayne Castle name. Her Offworld Romances have been dead on target, so I am hoping (REALLY HOPING) this one will be, too.

Publishers should stop splitting up books!
I'm beginning to feel ripped off - what would be one good book is stretched out by the publisher to three oh-so-indifferent books. Together, all three of this series might come close to one of Amanda Quick's earlier works.

I can see why the publishers do it:
** They'd have to charge $27 or more for one GOOD novel
** By splitting the book, they get $23 each for three NOT-SO-GOOD novels
** The split books still look the same because of wider margins and larger type styles

I can't see why the authors do it, though. Don't they see they are disappointing their readers, and ultimately might turn us off completely?

I won't complain about plots or characters. I know before I buy a hybrid romance/mystery that it's a combination of both genre's and, therefore, neither the romance nor the mystery will be GREAT. You get 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. If you buy one of these hybrid novels, you get characters like Tobias and the crew with several light mysteries thrown in with the lighter version of a romance novel.

I just wish the authors and publishers would quit trying to rip me off. This three book series would have ACTUALLY made only one good book.

Another of the recent weak Quick books....
I used to REALLY enjoy the Amanda Quick books (Rendezvous, Surrender, Desire and Mystique come to mind), but the last 5 or so of her books have been almost non-romance books. The people in them seem to all just have personality issues or something, as opposed to having a romance - it seems like no one is willing to commit and that they aren't really too interested in each other anyway. I wish the author would get back to romance stories and leave the darkness behind. As it is, I'm forced to go back to the old Stephanie James/Jayne Castle books for reading fun.