Marne Davis Kellogg, Priceless

Priceless

Marne Davis Kellogg

St. Martin's, July 2004, $23.95, 320 pp.

ISBN 0312303815

She led a duel life as the power behind a London auction house while separating the undeserving rich from their fabulous jewels. Kick Keswick was a media icon for her daring thefts, always leaving a bouquet of shamrocks tied by a ribbon behind. Never caught, she retired to Province where she married Scotland Yard's Thomas Curtis, an art thief known as the Samaritan Burglar. They were very happy in their new life until the day Thomas disappears with Kick's jewels.

A heartbroken Kick becomes very angry when she reads about a jewel thief that is using her name and leaving a bunch of shamrocks behind after each heist. Afraid that if the thief continues she will be caught for past crimes, Kick decides to find the imposter, recover the jewelry and return it to its owners. In Portafuro, at a private charity event, the Millennium Star will be worn by a Hollywood actress. No true jewel thief can resist such an offering; Kick finagles an invitation to slay at the villa where she puts a plan in motion that will allow her if she is lucky to steal the Star and the rest of the jewels the imposter took.

Kick is her adorable, felonious self, a mature, wealthy vulnerable woman who has come out of retirement to catch a thief. This upbeat comic crime caper is fast paced, extremely creative and filled with quirky characters that add much spice to this sensual suspense tale. Ironically, Thomas is the person in charge of catching the thief and the meeting at the Villa between the estranged husband and wife is a memorable scene.

Harriet Klausner