The Third Circle (Arcane Society, Book 4) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: aunt vicky, gold mask, aurora stone, Miss Hewitt, Arcane Society, Midnight Monster (more...)

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.)
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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

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First Edition first Printing edition (April 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399154841
• ISBN-13: 978-0399154843
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #139,857 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 4 in The Arcane Society Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

19 of 21 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 (REAL NAME)

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.)

10 of 10 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 (REAL NAME)

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.