Book Review: The Perfect Poison (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series): Amanda Quick: Books
Book Review: The Perfect Poison (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series): Amanda Quick: Books
The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick,
By jjmachshev “jj” (Grovetown, GA) -
This review is from: The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society, Book 6) (Hardcover)
Historical romance readers will be very, very happy with Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle’s newest ‘Arcane Society’ novel, “The Perfect Poison”. This is the long awaited story of Caleb Jones, founder of Jones & Jones Investigations. As a long-time and fervent (rabid might be more truthful) fan of the author, I loved how she contrived connections, both written and implied, to her contemporary ‘Arcane Society’ books and her Jayne Castle Harmony/St Helens books. But even if you’ve not been following any of those books, “The Perfect Poison” is a perfect delight.
Lucinda lost her father, his business partner, and her fiance within two horrible months a year and a half ago. However, it was the fiance’s death that caused Lucinda’s infamous notoriety. You see, when the fiance of an expert botanist dies…well, rumors run rampant; and the ton loves nothing more than a good, juicy scandal! Lucinda is also a member of the Arcane Society and assists a certain local police inspector (also a Society member) in determining death by botanical means. So when she’s called to assist in the inspector’s latest case, and discovers the means of death was not only poison–but poison from an extremely rare plant that was recently stolen from her conservatory… well, she calls upon the unique services of Caleb Jones, psychical investigator.
Caleb has his hands full with his new agency. As a strategic and hunter ‘talent’, his skills make him uniquely qualified, and quite gratified, to do this type of work…if he just didn’t have to deal with PEOPLE. Caleb also has another little problem. You see, he’s pretty sure he’s inherited the insanity that comes with his particular family talent and fears his descent into madness is closer than ever. But it only takes a few minutes in Lucinda’s company for Caleb to realize something amazing…she calms his tension and invigorates his passion. And for a man who can’t pass up a puzzle, she’s the most interesting puzzle he’s ever seen.
But there’s trouble ahead for these two. A group of power hungry talents have created their own society within the Society. Their aim is to recreate a dangerous drug that can enhance psychic talents…but also kills. It’s up to Caleb and Lucinda (despite Caleb’s protests) to stop them.
There’s so much I enjoy about Quick’s writing. Her historical novels have lots of sensual tension, but the actual deeds themselves are few and mostly PG-rated. Not to say I’m averse to hotter, but it’s still a fairly easy gauge for me…if it’s a Quick novel, it’s PG. Also, her wonderful and witty dialogue always lures me into another chapter…and another chapter…and another chapter…until I look up and find myself done with the book and wanting to go back and read it again! There’s humor, passion, suspense, very little real violence, a tidy mystery, and always a happy ending. Who can resist?
Perfect Poison,
By Isabelle Jolly (El Segundo, CA) -
This review is from: The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society, Book 6) (Hardcover)
Lucinda Bromley, a botanist, has been ostracized by polite society since she was accused of murdering her fiance. As she can detect and identify almost any kind of poison, even on a dead body, she is often called on by the police to determine if a person has been killed by poison. She was very upset to discover that a Lord has been poisoned by a very rare fern, one stolen from her conservatory just a month ago. She verifies that he was indeed murdered, but does not identify the poison for the police. To protect herself, she hires fellow Arcane Society member, Caleb Jones, to track down the thief.
He does identify the thief, a doctor for whom he has been searching as the doctor is attempting to copy a drug which enhances one’s paranormal powers. It was originally made by a Jones ancestor, but no antidote was named. It is extremely addictive and eventually kills the user if withdrawn.
Although Caleb and Lucinda are drawn to each other, he knows that insanity runs in the men of his family who have the same kind of power he has and has decided he will never marry.
Although the doctor escapes, the men who had sponsored him are vanquished. She finds that the men in the Jones family have been slowly poisoned to cause the insanity.
It all ends well. (Of course!)
I really like this series. This is the sixth of the ‘Arcane Society’ paranormal/mystery/romance stories. Although ‘Perfect Poison’ is a series book, each book stands alone. (There are often references to people mentioned in the previous books, but it is not distracting.)
More paranormal from Amanda Quick,
By jhl (VA) -
This review is from: The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society, Book 6) (Hardcover)
I’m a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz and buy her books without question. She always has strong, quirky characters, interesting plots, and well-written stories. I share her sense of humor, which tends towards the dry and understated, and I really enjoy the intelligence of her books. The Perfect Poison delivers on all these points.
I have to admit, however, that this is not one of her best. As far as I can tell, she hit her peak (in all the genres she writes in) in the 1990s and has been coasting on formulas ever since. The first Quick books had far more variety in the plots and the nature of characters’ quirks than the recent books have, where everyone has some paranormal abilities, and the lead characters used to have to work harder to get together, providing some tension to the stories that is now lacking. I really liked the paranormal stuff when she first started using it (in the sci fi romances written under the name Jayne Castle - buy a copy of Orchid, Amaryllis or Zinnia if you can get your hands on them), but I’m bored with it now. Does every villain have to be using mind control? Does every romantic couple have to feel a special “zing” the first moment they meet? I wish Krentz could take her considerable talents someplace new.
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