The Third Circle (Large Print Press) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Amanda Quick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2009 | Series: Large Print Press

Leona Hewitt, disguised in men’s formal evening clothes, has secretly made her way into Lord Delbridge’s private museum to recover a relic stolen from her family years ago. But someone else is there in the dimly lit gallery, on the same errand: a tall, black-cloaked man whose very voice is enough to put her in a trance. Thaddeus Ware, a mesmerist with powerful psychic energy, is accustomed to fearful reactions from others - women in particular. After all, a man who can control the minds and actions of others could rob a lady of her virtue - without her ever knowing! But Leona shows no trace of hysteria in his presence. A force to be reckoned with as both a gifted crystal worker and a woman, she exerts a rather hypnotic power over the hypnotist himself. And she is determined to keep the crystal they recovered, by giving him the slip at a run-down London inn. Thaddeus, on assignment for the secretive Arcane Society, knows the menace Leona is courting by absconding with the crystal. It is a source of remarkable energy, and it holds the potential for great destruction. Lord Delbridge has already killed two men to acquire it, for it is his key to membership in the elite, shadowy group known as the Third Circle. And with the help of a seductive hunter of preternatural skill, dubbed “The Midnight Monster” by the press, Delbridge intends to find her. With the stolen crystal in their possession, the danger is only beginning.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Quick's (Jayne Ann Krentz's pseudonym) mediocre latest installment to the Arcane Society series, Leona Hewitt, a crystal reader, and Thaddeus Ware, a hypnotist, meet trying to steal the same relic—the aurora stone—from a private collection, but a murdered prostitute and a trap protecting the stone initially complicate their success. Thaddeus, hired by the Arcane Society to claim the stone, allows the plot's loudly grinding gears to ally him with Leona. Both Leona and Thaddeus are sensible and pragmatic, qualities that make for efficient sleuths but passionless lovers, and Quick has to try unusually hard to make their romance believable. The story fares better when it focuses on the crystal and its connections to secret societies, to the Midnight Monster (a hackneyed serial killer) and to Leona's personal history. When the plot threads finally pull taut and the villains' motives and schemes are completely (if clumsily) exposed, Leona is endangered in a suspenseful climax. This is unlikely to garner Quick any new fans, or even delight her devotees, but it will tide them over until the next episode. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Leona Hewitt knew breaking into Lord Delbridges’ estate to steal a valuable crystal would involve some danger; she just didn’t expect to stumble across a woman’s body while doing so. Fortunately, a mystery man with a hypnotic voice and mesmerizing powers is also in the gallery, and he helps Leona retrieve the crystal she seeks. Unfortunately, while they are stealing the crystal, the man is poisoned, and Leona realizes that she can’t just leave him there to die. When Thaddeus Ware wakes up in a London inn the next day, he discovers that not only did his partner in crime use her crystal-working powers to save him but she has also disappeared with the rare crystal. Which gives Thaddeus no other option but to locate the lady before she gets herself killed. The latest in Quick’s delightfully original, paranormal-spiced Arcane Society series is another dazzling combination of superbly realized characters, an intrigue-studded plot, and spellbindingly sexy romance. --John Charles --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 485 pages
• Publisher: Large Print Press; Lrg edition (March 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594133190
• ISBN-13: 978-1594133190
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #950,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With a string of bestselling Regency and Victorian Era romantic-suspense novels under her quill, AMANDA QUICK (who also writes under the pen names JAYNE ANN KRENTZ and JAYNE CASTLE) entered the world of a highly secretive paranormal group, the ARCANE SOCIETY, with her novel SECOND SIGHT. The series moved into a contemporary setting when JAYNE ANN KRENTZ (Amanda's contemporary alter-ego) released the second book in the series, WHITE LIES.

This winter, the ARCANE SOCIETY continues with THE LOOKING GLASS TRILOGY. It begins with IN TOO DEEP by Jayne Ann Krentz this December. Amanda is working on QUICKSILVER, her Spring 2011 contribution is book 2 in the series. The trilogy will conclude when JAYNE CASTLE releases CANYONS OF NIGHT, the futuristic novel, in Summer 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do not read in order of publication. See review..., May 3, 2008

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Third Circle (Arcane Society, Book 4) (Hardcover)

Leona Hewitt's power is crystal working. Crystal workers are held in a very low opinion in the Arcane Society due to the legend of Sybil, the rival of the Arcane Society's founder, Sylvester. In her time, Sybil used the green Aurora Stone often. The crystal is useless unless it is activated by someone with the very rare talent. The Aurora Stone was stolen from Leona's mother eleven years ago. So when Leona received word that Lord Delbridge currently had possession of the stone, she crashed his party to retrieve it. The last thing Leona expected was to meet Thaddeus Ware, especially while he was standing over the body of a streetwalker with her throat slashed.

The papers call the serial killer the Midnight Monster. Gabriel Jones, the new Master of the Arcane Society, has given Thaddeus the job of finding out the name of the killer and stopping him. The killer is not only an intelligent madman, but is also a Hunter. Using a Hunter's psychical abilities means that the normal police would never capture him. When Leona crashes into Thaddeus, he immediately sets out to get her to safety. However, it turns out that the lady is after the same artifact he is. Circumstances soon compel the two to join forces. For Leona's protection, she and her extraordinary dog, Fog, move into a townhouse with Thaddeus and his formidable great-aunt.

Another secret society, The Third Circle of the Order of the Emerald Tablet, has been promised the Aurora Stone as a gift from Lord Delbridge and they are en route to pick it up. The Third Circle will also need someone able to work the crystal. It just so happens that Lord Delbridge knows about Leona's crystal talents.

**** Let me say first off that you should NOT read the first four books of this series in order of release. Instead, read them in the order events happened. Read in the following order:

SECOND SIGHT, Book One

THE THIRD CIRCLE, Book Four

WHITE LIES, Book two

SIZZLE & BURN, Book Three

In this story readers will see the J&J agency's birth. After this book, the story jumps to the modern day with the title, WHITE LIES (book two). Readers get the last of the solid foundation needed to set up the rest of this series. Krentz made sure to keep all of the era's rules of etiquettes in mind as the situation evolved around the story's characters. I found that the secondary characters are almost as interesting as the main. The great-aunt is included in a sub-plot, which makes the entire story even more entertaining. Highly recommended! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun to renew old acquaintances, April 28, 2008

By 

A. Dolan (Malden, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Third Circle (Arcane Society, Book 4) (Hardcover)

This was an enjoyable, albeit not fantastic, Amanda Quick, with the usual assortment of intelligent, unconventional characters, including Adam and Mr. Pierce, and others from earlier. Leona and Thaddeus, while not overwhelmingly passionate, don't engage in tedious waffling about their feelings. The mystery was decent, the comeuppance to the bad guys gratifying, and the additional details about the Arcane Society's roots satisfying. I enjoy reading JAK because her books make me feel good about life and love, and this was no exception.(For those who might be considering this as their first Amanda Quick - although it is part of a series,it covers all the necessary details, and can stand on its own.)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars wilbeau, April 25, 2008

By 

Margaret A. Wilson "wilbeau" (Hemet, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Third Circle (Arcane Society, Book 4) (Hardcover)

Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorite authors today. However this is not one of her best. The other Arcane Society novels had more suspense and better love scenes. This book does let the reader know how Jones& Co. and the matchmaking of the Society were started. I would still recommend the book for true Amanda Quick fans to read.