Secrets and Lies
Selena Montgomery
Avon, January 2007, $6.99
ISBN 0060798513

Recovery Specialist Sebastian Caine is the best at coming out of the shadows to steal valuable object d'art for his clients, whether it is America, New Delhi, England or elsewhere. His current assignment, stealing the Cinchona, a five century old manuscript, looks quite easy, as the owner, antiquities collector Felix Estrada is on a buying trip in Buenos Aires. However, after he disarms the alarm and slips inside Estrada's home in the small South American country of Bahia, nothing goes right, as he realizes the cutting of the alarm wire did not include the hissing sound. Worse, he finds dying from a knife wound Estrada who pleads for Caine to protect his "cat", though the thief finds no pet.

Caine learns that the murdered Felix's cat is his beautiful niece ethno-botanist Dr. Katelyn Lyda. He assumes she must be even more morally flexible than he is, as he has never killed anyone, while he also concludes Kat took the manuscript after she murdered her uncle. He follows the clues until he finally locates Kat in the Andes. Though each wonders if the other murdered Felix, they are attracted to one another, but survival comes first, as those who killed her uncle are coming for them in search of the Cinchona.

SECRETS AND LIES is a fast-paced action thriller starring a very ethical female and a Hans Solo like thief, who appears in Selena Montgomery's previous treasure hunt murder mystery HIDDEN SINS. The tale starts at a fast-pace in Estrada's home, and it never slows down as Sebastian and Kat struggle to stay alive against nasty foes. Fans of romantic suspense thrillers that require a one sitting read will want to join the thief and the scientist, as she steals his heart while both try to survive.