Late For the Wedding

Amanda Quick
aka Jayne Ann Krentz

An old friend of Tobias March's has returned and Lavinia Lake is not happy. Aspagia Gray is an attractive woman a bit younger than Lavinia. She had been engaged to Tobias' apprentice who turned out to be a serial killer. She seeks out Tobias because she has received a disturbing gift. It is a replica of the calling card her fiancee had left behind when he has murdered someone. She wants Tobias to investigate and find who is trying to terrorize her.

Lavinia is certain that Aspagia is hiding something. But when they are at a house party, an older gentleman is pushed off the roof to his death. She and Tobias know the man was murdered. They start investigating two clues they have from Lavinia's glimpse of the murderer. They also grow closer as their own affair continues. The affair grows more inconvenient. When Lavinia is stalked and attacked, their investigation becomes more inconvenient as well.

Late For the Wedding is the final book Amanda Quick's Lake and March investigation team. While it is fun to take their relationship to the next level - both contemplate marriage throughout the novel - the book overall is unexceptional. There are some twists and turns to the mystery to keep it going. There are also a couple of surprises from the past for our characters.

Amanda Quick is known for her Victorian London romances. Late for the Wedding, along with the previous books in the series, addresses some of the social issues of the era. Lavinia and Tobias are part of what is now called the Middle Class. They have to work for a living but are comfortable. There is a social discussion of the practice of arranged marriages in Society. Women in that level usually married to gain money or titles for one of the two parties.

Late For the Wedding can be read on its own. It is better, though, after having read the previous novels in the series. This book is a good escape for a few hours.

Notice:  Strong sexual content

Slightly Shady
Don't Look Back
Late for the Wedding