The Mystery Woman - (Ladies of Lantern Street) by Amanda Quick (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The second Ladies of Lantern Street novel from Amanda Quick explores the crimes, passions and paranormal secrets of Victorian London.

Under the plain gray skirts of Miss Beatrice Lockwood's gown, a pistol waits at the ready. For Beatrice is a paid companion on a secret mission--and with a secret past--and she must be prepared to fight for her life at any moment.

Yet she is thrown oddly off guard by the fierce-looking man who joins her in foiling a crime outside a fancy ball--and then disappears into the shadows, leaving only his card. His name is Joshua Gage, and he claims to know Beatrice's employers. Beyond that, he is an enigma with a hypnotically calm voice and an ebony-and-steel cane. . . .

Joshua, who carries out clandestine investigations for the Crown, is equally intrigued. He has a personal interest in Miss Lockwood, a suspected thief and murderer, not to mention a fraudster who claims to have psychical powers. The quest to discover her whereabouts has pulled him away from his mournful impulses to hurl himself into the sea--and engaged his curiosity about the real Beatrice Lockwood, whose spirit, he suspects, is not as delicate as her face and figure.

He does know one thing, though: This flame-haired beauty was present the night Roland Fleming died at the Academy of the Occult. Guilty or not, she is his guide to a trail of blood and blackmail, mesmerism and madness--a path that will lead both of them into the clutches of a killer who calls himself the Bone Man. . . .

Review Quotes

Amanda Quick is an exceptional storyteller.
-- Los Angeles Daily News

One of the most creative, inventive storytellers in the field, Quick infuses her own addictive brand of breathless, sexy adventure with dashes of vengeance, greed, and violence and a hefty splash of delectable, offbeat humor to spin another mesmerizing paranormal gem.--Library Journal
-- Library Journal

"A fast-paced, suspenseful narrative that is also a touching love story."--The Seattle Times

"Contains all the requisite elements: romance, sex, mystery and clever repartee."--Kirkus Reviews

"Has the right mix of mystery, danger, paranormal and romance."--Novel Reaction

"Will captivate readers from start to finish."--Booklist (starred review)

"Quick delivers everything her fans yearn for: a strong mystery with otherworldly touches; delightful, smart characters; a fast pace and powerful plot; and a story they'll stay up all night to finish."--RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

About the Author

Amanda Quick is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes historical romance novels under the Quick name, contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, and futuristic romance novels under the pseudonym Jayne Castle. There are more than 35 million copies of her books in print.