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The Perfect Poison
Victorian botanist Lucinda Bromley has a rare talent: the ability to detect almost any type of poison. She also tends many rare plants, including a species of fern that was stolen from her conservatory just last month -- and which turns up m a poison that was used in a nobleman's murder.
To keep her name out of the investigation and to find the killer, Lucinda hires a fellow Arcane Society member. The founder of a psychical investigation agency, Caleb Jones is very good at protecting the Society's secrets -- and frighteningly good at getting the truth.
As a nearly overwhelming desire blooms between Caleb and Lucinda, they are drawn into the dark heart of a deadly conspiracy -- and into a legacy of madness that could plunge Caleb into the depths of his own tortured soul . . .
Amanda Quick's books are always delightful to read. Her heroines are often larger than life- too scandalous, too independent or too resourceful for the polite ton. Having read most of Quick's previous works, it did not escape me that scenes remind me of the Lake and March trilogy.
For one, Caleb Jones and Tobias March have similar business. Eventually, Lucinda Bromley became Jones' partner at the agency. This also happened with Lavinia Lake. The scene where Lucinda was contemplating about her being a business partner (much to Caleb's annoyance), I could have sworn I was imagining Lavinia instead. Caleb's consultant, Edmund Fletcher also ended up with Lucinda's relative, Patricia. And not to mention Jones' habit of convenient visits during breakfast at the Bromley household.
Rehashed? I did not think of it that way. I felt nostalgic instead. Lavinia Lake and Tobias March are memorable. In fact until now, Lavinia remains to be my favorite Quick heroine.
The plot was good. Although only a few pages were dedicated to the background of the villains. I suspect that the Huxleys will appear on subsequent books to come. If one is expecting the mysterious cabal will be unmasked, I'm afraid it won't be in this book.
For avid followers of the Arcane Society series, this is a good read. I am finally glad that Caleb Jones has his own story, having played support roles to Quick's first two Arcane books.
For those who aren't, I suggest one should start first with The Second Sight.
