"The Lady is a Thief.

Years ago, Owen Renderwell earned acclaim-and a title-for the dashing rescue of a kidnapped duchess. But only a select few knew that Scotland Yard's most famous detective was working alongside London's most infamous thief...and his criminally brilliant daughter, Charlotte Walker.

Lottie was like no other woman in Victorian England. She challenged him. She dazzled him. She questioned everything he believed and everything he was, and he has never wanted anyone more. And then he lost her.

Now a private detective on the trail of a murderer, Owen has stormed back into Lottie's life. She knows that no matter what they may pretend, he will always be a man of the law and she a criminal. Yet whenever he's near, Owen has a way of making things complicated...and long for a future that can never be theirs."

Sounds like such a fun new series.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Years ago, Owen Renderwell earned acclaim-and a title-for the dashing rescue of a kidnapped duchess. But only a select few knew that Scotland Yard's most famous detective was working alongside London's most infamous thief...and his criminally brilliant daughter, Charlotte Walker.
Lottie was like no other woman in Victorian England. She challenged him. She dazzled him. She questioned everything he believed and everything he was, and he has never wanted anyone more. And then he lost her.
Now a private detective on the trail of a murderer, Owen has stormed back into Lottie's life. She knows that no matter what they may pretend, he will always be a man of the law and she a criminal. Yet whenever he's near, Owen has a way of making things complicated...and long for a future that can never be theirs.

This was a frustrating read, without a doubt. Described as a historical romance / mystery novel, I am not sure it fits either of those titles very well...

On the side of good: the author certainly knows her way around a sentence, a paragraph. She writes with such a fluid style that it is easy to fall into the story early on. Also, the pacing is pretty good, too, allowing the story of the mystery AND the story of Owen and Lottie to build in its own, organic way, rather than feeling like rushing it through...

On the downside: a villain who seems to come from nowhere takes the suspense, turns it upside and shakes the crap out of it until there is nothing left - no suspense, surprise or real connection to the story. That was disappointing. Also, the "will-they, won't-they?" thing between Owen and Lottie was very frustrating. Every time they seemed to be getting somewhere, some little thing would set one of them off and off they went, back to their respective corners. After one or two episodes, it got eyeroll-worthy...

Will I read anything more in this series? For sure - I think there is a good story under here and I hope that things improve next time around.


Paul
ARH