Perfect

Marne Davis Kellogg continues to delight with her divine character Kick Keswick. If you love the good life, this book is a romp! Kick will take you to georgeous locals, introduce you to fine wines and fabulous recipes, bake you up a REALLY yummy chocolate cake, dress you in jewels and a world class wardrobe, and let you imagine yourself rescuing the Crown Jewels! It's a great escape, written with a wonderful sense of humor and an understanding of how a fully formed woman views herself and life.

Marne Davis Kellogg's mysteries continue to evolve, with characters who stay with the reader long after the last page is turned. Such is Marne's newest modern-day investigator-cum-retired-jewel-thief, Kick Keswick. Who doesn't love reading about jewels, fabulous food, shady sharacters, luxurious international locations, with a trace of danger and mystery? I love Kick: She's one classy lady who's smart without being smug; witty without being broad. Can't wait to read the next installment.

This book is a treasure. A lovely escapist adventure that gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of the super rich, with sumptuous gourmet meals, elaborate jewels, the secrets of the world's best jewel thief, luxe travel locations and hidden enclaves in Provence, Paris and the Swiss Alps, and dreamy designer clothes and accessories. All of this luxury is wrapped up in a mystery centering on the clever, endearing Kick Keswick, who rose from poverty to world class success as a jewel thief. Here, she has to steal back the Queen of England's jewels, which have been purloined by a thief who is among an interesting international cast of characters. I did not want this book to end and have to leave Kick and her magical world. More!

Retired Shamrock Burglar Kick Keswick is at it again. She and her husband, former Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Thomas Curtis, who was once the Samaritan Burglar, now live in their farmhouse in Provence. Eventhough retired, Thomas gets called up to help Scotland Yard on a case. Queen Elizabeth asked for him personally because some of the crown jewels were stolen by Bradford, her trusted footman. He helped her pack them for the royal tour she is on. Thomas discovers that Bradford has changed his name to Sebastian Tremaine and is now posing as the business manager and companion to opera singer Constantin. Thomas asks Kick to help out by getting close to Sebastian and Constantin. Once Kick agrees and sets off, she changes the plan to her own, severing ties with Thomas to have more freedom to operate. Kick sets out to meet one of the world's richest men, George Naxos, and his beautiful wife, Alma, who is wheelchair bound. She gets close to them and then gets them to allow her to visit their large isolated estate in Switzerland. It is actually a place where the rich and famous stay. Constantin and Sebastian have a place there. As Kick plays out her plan to steal the jewels back from Sebastian, she puts herself in danger without Thomas to back her up. Can she succeed? Will Thomas find her in time? I love this series. It is always a book that is hard to put down! I devour them. Wish she could write them faster! Kick is such a fabulous character! Having the protagonist be a retired burglar married to a retired Scotland Yard Chief Inspector who is also a retired thief is such a great premise. It's never been done before, and Marne does such a wonderful job of it. I can't wait to read the next adventures of Kick! The location in this book is intriguing, as well as the plan to steal back the crowned jewels is exhilarating! I highly recommend this book and suggest you read the whole series! check out: (...)

After retiring as the highly publicized Shamrock Burglar, Kick Keswick, with her husband former Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Thomas Curtis, who moonlighted as the Samaritan Burglar, retired to their farmhouse in Provence. With the money and jewels they saved from their various heists, they have enough money to live in the most luxurious lifestyle imaginable if they so choose. Thomas gets called up from Scotland Yard occasionally to work on a tough case and Kick helps him in her own manner and style. Now the Queen Elizabeth has asked personally for Thomas's help because some of the crown jewels were stolen by her trusted footman Bradford who helped her pack them for the royal tour she is going on. Thomas learns that Bradford changed his name to Sebastian Tremaine and is the business manager and companion for opera singer Constantin. Thomas has a plan to get Kick in position to get close to Sebastion and Constantin but she has her own methods of doing things and escapes his scrutiny the first change she gets. She tries and succeeds in meeting one of the world's richest men George Naxos and his beautiful wheelchair bound wife Alma. Kick maneuvers them into letting her visit his large isolated estate (more like at a small hamlet) in Switzerland where the rich and famous stay including Constantin and Sebastion. She concocts a daring plan to steal the jewels back from Sebastion but in this garden of Eden there lies a serpent waiting to strike at her and stop her plan from succeeding even if it means killing her. Kick Keswick is very different than the usual heroine. She is self confident, comfortable in her own skin (even if she is twenty-five pounds overweight) and believes there isn't a jewel she can't rob given enough time. The way she maneuvers people to get them to do what she wants is a talent few people possess and the way she does it seems so reasonable at the time that readers find themselves believing she is an average person . This enjoyable crime caper is delightful and charming. Harriet Klausner