Don't Look Back

Don't Look Back
4 Stars

In this second installment of the Lake and March trilogy, Lavinia Lake and Tobias March are struggling to find a balance between their professional partnership and their intense physical attraction. To make matters worse, an old acquaintance of Lavinia's reappears in her life and when his wife is found dead, requests her help much to Tobia's chagrin.

Another light and entertaining tale from Amanda Quick. Tobias and Lavinia have wonderful chemistry and their banter is delightful. The development of the secondary romance between Tobias's young brother-in-law and Lavinia's niece is also appealing and it is fun to see the mirroring with their older counterparts.

The mystery itself is interesting although the mesmerism show more trope is a bit overdone and doesn't really add anything to the plot or the characterization. Nevertheless, there are one or two surprising twists and the climax and resolution are satisfying.

Overall, an enjoyable story and I look forward to the final book in the trilogy. show less

As if a head for business and a nose for trouble aren't enough to distinguish Lavinia Lake from other women, Lavinia is also well versed in the practice of mesmerism. Nobody knows this better than Tobias March, who has fallen hopelessly under her spell. But Lavinia has retired her powers in favor of their partnership--providing "discreet private inquiries for individuals of quality." But when Celeste Hudson, the wife of a family friend and fellow mesmerist, is found murdered, with a gentleman's cravat wound around her lovely neck, Lake and March get on the trail of the killer. Any number of ruthless types--which may include the grieving husband--are after Celeste's priceless bracelet, said to possess legendary powers. And soon they will show more be after Tobias and Lavinia too, as the investigation leads them from the glittering ballrooms of the ton to the darkest reaches of men's psyches. show less

Lavinia Lake is continuing on her profession of Inquiry Agent with the occasional help of Tobias March, while they both explore their relationship as well. An old friend approaches her about looking into the death of his wife and at the same time a precious jewel has gone missing. A jewel that's supposed to have powers of hypnotism.

It's an interesting read, the two main characters are great fun and it was fun to read the developing relationship between the two younger characters as well. There was occasionally too much modern attitudes but on the other hand there were also some quite amusing moments with the characters and the science of hypnotism at the time. I did enjoy the read.

With their tentative partnership still in place, Lavina Lake and Tobias March are once again after a killer. This time Lavina's past history has come back to haunt her. A stolen bracelet, murder, and mesmerism take Lavina and Tobias from the dirty back alleys of London into the world of the highest flyers.

Lavina is as pushy and opinionated as ever, but after a while she sort of grows on you. Still, it's the supporting cast, including the housekeeper and the younger members of each household that offer the story some lightness and humor.

3.5 rounded up to 4. What I particularly enjoyed about this was the four main characters and their interactions.

Narration was excellent, story engaging, made waiting for busses that never show up bearable

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