Riddle of Reluctant Rake

I recommend this novel by Patricia Veryan, which is intense, fast-paced and romantic. It kept me turning the pages, wanting to read more. The author skillfully weaves all her interesting characters together to form a web of intrigue and romance. The story begins with Colonel Hasting Adair's court-martial. This well-bred young man believes he is innocent of the charges set against him, but no one else, even his own family, believes him. He has no inkling as to what has happened to Miss Alice Prior, the young lady whose reputation he purportedly ruined, and who lured him into her carriage, of which he has no memory of afterwards. After the court-martial, he is shunned by society and is ridiculed wherever he goes.Cecily Hall now enters the scene. Loyal to Alice, she is keen on hunting Hastings down and finding out where he has kept poor Alice. She keeps showing up in all these odd places, like a detective, surprising Hastings. She is spirited, lovely, and over time, begins to like Hastings. He also develops tender feelings towards her.The rest of the story is spent trying to prove Hasting's innocence, which means risking his life in doing so, as well as Cecily's, for the person who framed him will stop at nothing to get what he wants. The description of Hasting's encounter with the "bad guys", his escape, battling his fatigue and wounds, surviving a torturous ride with his horse Toreador to Blackbird Terrace, and finally enduring the fire to rescue Cecily is quite an extroadinary read. His Herculean effort was motivated by his love for Cecily, which is a very strong romantic statement. This is as good as it gets in romance.

As usual, Patricia Veryan does not disappoint. Her characters are fascinating and eccentric, the mysterious plot serpentine, and her deft touch with dialog and humor keep the action and romance moving along at breakneck speed. Any book by her is a treasure, and there are few -- very few -- writers in this genre of her calibre. While I don't think the "Riddle" series is as good as the outstanding (and longer) Jeweled Men series, it is still a fine read and well worth the time.

I agree! This is by far the best in the series to date. Adair was a great hero, and as for Paige and Toby, the sooner they get their own books the better - wonderful characters.I would recommend that if you wish to read the series that you do so in order. This book contains major spoilers to the previous two books (The Riddle of Alabaster Royal and The Riddle of the Lost Lover).

I wanted to give this book 3 1/2 stars, but the choices are 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (no halves). I opted to give it a full four rather than 3 because Patricia Veryan is a big favorite of mine, and I did enjoy this book, overall. But does anyone else wish that Veryan would return to her previous technique, which was to place more emphasis on romance, and less on mystery? This book is certainly worth reading; Veryan has not written a bad one yet. However, since the story is told almost entirely from the perspective of the male lead, Hastings Adair, the reader is distanced from the love interest, Cecily Hall. I personally did not feel like I knew this young woman when I had finished the book. I knew and liked Adair, but something is lacking when the romance seems so underdeveloped. WHY did Adair fall in love with Cecily? What was she thinking? We are never told, or shown. I put the book down feeling like I didn't care what happened to her. Enough with the criticism. As already stated, I do recommend this book. It displays Veryan's usual light touch, and features interesting supporting characters. There are several surprises, lots of mystery, and some good dialogue. I just wish more of Cecily's story had been told. THEN, you might have seen a five-star review.

In 1814, Colonel Hastings Adair faces a court martial board that accuses him of dereliction of duty for abducting an unmarried woman of quality, Miss Alice Pryor. The verdict of guilty is a forgone conclusion even though Adair vows he is innocent of any wrongdoing. Though he is not hung, he is drummed out of the service, leaving his family filled with dishonor and loathing towards him. Before leaving his family, he informs them he will uncover the conspiracy of lies that will prove his innocence.He travels to Alice's home where he insists on speaking to the woman who failed to show up at his hearing. Alice's brother Rufus and her cousin Cecily Hall attack him, demanding to know where he hid Alice. As he continues to make inquiries with the help of his friends, he constantly runs into Cecily. However, as Hasty gets closer to the truth, Cecily starts to believe the aristocrat is innocent. They begin to work together and fall in love. Still, Bow St. wants Adair to explain where he buried the still missing Alice, leaving his future very bleak.THE RIDDLE OF THE RELUCTANT RAKE is more of a historical mystery with romantic elements than a Regency romance. The story line centers on an intriguing who-done-it that brings early nineteenth century England into clear focus. Readers will enjoy the antics of the lead characters as an attraction between them begins. The supporting characters include the return of heroes from the first two "Riddle" tales that complements the amateur sleuthing of Adair with warmth and continuity. Ms. Veryan deserves a cross reader audience with this exciting romantic mystery.Harriet Klausner