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A review by bookwyrm_lark
The Mystery Woman by Amanda Quick
3.0
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Amanda Quick delivers another gripping paranormal romantic suspense novel set in 19th century England. The Mystery Woman features Beatrice Lockwood, a secondary character in Crystal Gardens and an agent employed by Flint & Marsh of Lantern Street. Like the firm's other agents, Beatrice possesses a paranormal sense, in her case the ability to perceive the energies in others' psychic footprints.
Joshua North, a former agent for the Crown, doesn't believe in psychic phenomena -- or in love. He has come out of retirement in pursuit of Beatrice, whom he believes is a fraud now intent on blackmailing his sister. Once he accepts that Beatrice is not guilty of the latter crime, at least, Joshua turns his attention to the question of who is, and why -- all the while fighting his attraction to Beatrice.
The plot of The Mystery Woman is satisfyingly complex, with plenty of twists and turns. Quick effectively weaves the paranormal elements with the historical setting, taking full advantage both of the era's fascination with psychic abilities and its mania for all things Egyptian. Beatrice is a typical Quick heroine: resourceful, determined, and willing to step outside the conventions which traditionally hemmed in "the fairer sex." Joshua is less straightforward; he hides much of his past from Beatrice, and his own psychic ability from himself. I really enjoyed the interactions between them, particularly as things began to heat up a bit -- not just between them but in terms of danger and intrigue.
I can almost always count on Amanda Quick (a.k.a. Jayne Ann Krentz) for several hours of sheer suspenseful fun punctuated by a bit a of romance. The Mystery Woman delivers. I enjoyed this book nearly as much as her Arcane Society novels.
Amanda Quick delivers another gripping paranormal romantic suspense novel set in 19th century England. The Mystery Woman features Beatrice Lockwood, a secondary character in Crystal Gardens and an agent employed by Flint & Marsh of Lantern Street. Like the firm's other agents, Beatrice possesses a paranormal sense, in her case the ability to perceive the energies in others' psychic footprints.
Joshua North, a former agent for the Crown, doesn't believe in psychic phenomena -- or in love. He has come out of retirement in pursuit of Beatrice, whom he believes is a fraud now intent on blackmailing his sister. Once he accepts that Beatrice is not guilty of the latter crime, at least, Joshua turns his attention to the question of who is, and why -- all the while fighting his attraction to Beatrice.
The plot of The Mystery Woman is satisfyingly complex, with plenty of twists and turns. Quick effectively weaves the paranormal elements with the historical setting, taking full advantage both of the era's fascination with psychic abilities and its mania for all things Egyptian. Beatrice is a typical Quick heroine: resourceful, determined, and willing to step outside the conventions which traditionally hemmed in "the fairer sex." Joshua is less straightforward; he hides much of his past from Beatrice, and his own psychic ability from himself. I really enjoyed the interactions between them, particularly as things began to heat up a bit -- not just between them but in terms of danger and intrigue.
I can almost always count on Amanda Quick (a.k.a. Jayne Ann Krentz) for several hours of sheer suspenseful fun punctuated by a bit a of romance. The Mystery Woman delivers. I enjoyed this book nearly as much as her Arcane Society novels.