Late for the Wedding

April 28, 2003
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.

May 15, 2003
While enjoying a bit of discreet togetherness at a lavish country house party, sleuths and lovers Lavinia Lake and Tobias March find their romantic interlude cut short when a local lord falls to his death with a blood-curdling scream-right past their bedroom window. This sets them on a deadly, convoluted trail littered with macabre rings, wigs, and a host of colorful characters. Humorous, sexy, and intricately plotted, this lively romp continues Quick's Regency mystery series (Slightly Shady; Don't Look Back) in fine style, proving that with well-matched, engaging protagonists and careful attention to sexual tension and romantic plot line, romances can, indeed, successfully maintain a series featuring one couple. Quick is a pseudonym for best-selling author Jayne Ann Krentz; she lives in the Seattle area.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2003
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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2003
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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)