The Perfect Poison (Arcane Society Series #6) by Amanda Quick

From the Publisher

Victorian London holds many secrets. But none are so closely guarded as those of the shadowy Arcane Society. In her suspenseful new novel, New York Times-bestselling author Amanda Quick delves into this underworld of passion, greed, and powers that lie beyond this realm . . .

P lagued by rumors that she poisoned her fiancé, Lucinda Bromley manages to live on the fringes of polite society, tending her beloved plants-and occasionally consulting on a murder investigation. For the notorious botanist possesses a unique talent: She can detect almost any type of poison, especially ones that have their origins in the botanical kingdom.

But the death of a lord has shaken Lucinda to her core. At the murder scene, she picks up traces of a poison containing a very rare species of fern. So rare, in fact, that only one specimen exists in all of England-and it was stolen from her conservatory just last month.

To keep her name out of the inquest and to find the murderer, Lucinda hires fellow Arcane Society member Caleb Jones who runs a psychical investigation agency. A descendant of the founder of the Society, Jones is very skillful at protecting its secrets-and frighteningly good getting at the truth. Immediately, Lucinda senses both a raw power and an undeniable intensity in the imposing man.

But as a nearly overwhelming desire blooms between Caleb and Lucinda, they are drawn into the dark heart of a deadly conspiracy that can be traced to the early days of the Arcane Society -and to a legacy of madness that could plunge Caleb into the depths of his own tortured soul. . . .

Publishers Weekly

Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) delivers her reliable blend of sex and suspense in her latest Arcane Society novel. In Victorian London, spinster botanist and psychic Lucinda Bromley meets her match in Caleb Jones, a member of the Arcane Society and descendant of an alchemist family that makes him "the stuff of myth and legend." Together, this paranormal pair of snoops sets out to track down a thief who made off with a dangerous plant implicated in the death of a wealthy lord, but wind up uncovering a sinister secret order. Quick invents two dazzling 19th-century sleuths who combine paranormal prowess and raw sexual heat. But if they excel at fooling Mother Nature, it's their all too human nature that brings this uncommon Victorian duo to life. (Apr.)

Kristin Ramsdell - Library Journal

Possessing the ability to sense the presence of poison, botanist Lucinda Bromley is often called in by local authorities for her expert opinion. Unfortunately, some think she had a hand in poisoning her fiancé. Then a nobleman is killed with poison that could only have been made with a rare fern that had been stolen from her conservatory. Together with fellow Arcane Society member Caleb Jones, Lucinda sets out to unmask the real killer. What she doesn't expect is to fall for her partner in detection. Seductiveness and clever plotting combine with Quick's classic zingy wit to produce a funny, fast-paced romp that will please readers. Another winner in the popular Arcane Society series for Seattle area-based Quick (The Third Circle). [See Prepub Alert, LJ12/08.]

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