Samantha Saxon, The Lady Killer

The Lady Killer

Samantha Saxon

Berkley, Dec 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0425207323

In 1811 Paris, Andre Tuchelles provides Nicole "Scorpion" Beauvoire with the target of her next assassination, Ministry of Police Joseph LeCoeur. At the same time Joseph sets in motion a trap to capture the Scorpion.

Daniel Damont arrives with a note from Andre that he wants delivered to Scorpion. Nicole refuses to reveal she is the assassin, but reads the note in front of him. The note says to leave Paris as the French have set a trap to catch Scorpion. Nicole tells Daniel that she will inform Scorpion of the danger and meet him at the ship. Nicole stops to see Andre, but finds him dead, battered to death. She assumes Daniel did this and set a trap for her. She plans to complete the assignment and then kill Daniel. When she fails to come to the ship, Daniel looks for her starting at her apartment where he finds her hidden note stating her next assignment. He knows Nicole is the Scorpion and his honor demands he get her out of France. Nicole plans to seduce Joseph so she can be alone with him when she kills him. As Nicole and Daniel work closely together they fall in love, but danger surrounds them from all sides and if they survive she knows she can never return to England.

The strong lead couple especially the heroine makes for a terrific espionage romantic thriller as they battle a tough clever opponent. The action-packed story line never slows down as Nicole and Daniel try to complete the mission. References to the lead couple from the previous novel THE LADY LIES add depth to a fabulous Regency romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner