The third circle

Leona Hewitt knew breaking into Lord Delbridges' estate to steal a valuable crystal would involve some danger; she just didn't expect to stumble across a woman's body while doing so. Fortunately, a mystery man with a hypnotic voice and mesmerizing powers is also in the gallery, and he helps Leona retrieve the crystal she seeks. Unfortunately, while they are stealing the crystal, the man is poisoned, and Leona realizes that she can't just leave him there to die. When Thaddeus Ware wakes up in a London inn the next day, he discovers that not only did his partner in crime use her crystal-working powers to save him but she has also disappeared with the rare crystal. Which gives Thaddeus no other option but to locate the lady before she gets herself killed. The latest in Quick's delightfully original, paranormal-spiced Arcane Society series is another dazzling combination of superbly realized characters, an intrigue-studded plot, and spellbindingly sexy romance.--Charles, John Copyright 2008 Booklist

In Quick's (Jayne Ann Krentz's pseudonym) mediocre latest installment to the Arcane Society series, Leona Hewitt, a crystal reader, and Thaddeus Ware, a hypnotist, meet trying to steal the same relic-the aurora stone-from a private collection, but a murdered prostitute and a trap protecting the stone initially complicate their success. Thaddeus, hired by the Arcane Society to claim the stone, allows the plot's loudly grinding gears to ally him with Leona. Both Leona and Thaddeus are sensible and pragmatic, qualities that make for efficient sleuths but passionless lovers, and Quick has to try unusually hard to make their romance believable. The story fares better when it focuses on the crystal and its connections to secret societies, to the Midnight Monster (a hackneyed serial killer) and to Leona's personal history. When the plot threads finally pull taut and the villains' motives and schemes are completely (if clumsily) exposed, Leona is endangered in a suspenseful climax. This is unlikely to garner Quick any new fans, or even delight her devotees, but it will tide them over until the next episode. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Leona Hewitt sneaks into Lord Delbridge's private museum to steal back a family heirloom and encounters mesmerist Thaddeus Ware, who knows that the heirloom is trouble. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.