Here’s a story with an unconventional heroine, a hero immersed in the study of an ancient civilization, and a dangerous mystery that must be solved. Sound familiar? Amanda Quick has drawn from this well before, and she’ll probably draw from it next time too. Although there are a few cosmetic differences, this book reads much like Quick’s several offerings.

Madeline Deveridge is a widow who is suspected of killing her husband, although of course nothing can be proven. When one of her maids is kidnapped outside of a pleasure garden called the Dream Pavilions, she contacts Artemis Hunt, the owner of the gardens, and demands his help. Artemis is part of the ton, so he is not particularly eager to have everyone know that he is the owner of the gardens – and engaged in trade. He helps Madeline find her maid, then asks her how she knows so much about him. It turns out that Madeline’s father and Artemis both belong to an organization called the Vanza. Vanza revolves around the study of an ancient civilization called Vanzagaria, and it encompasses everything from philosophy to fighting techniques to herbalism. Madeline’s father kept detailed records of the men who were involved in the Vanza, and the record about Artemis contains other information which he would prefer to keep secret.

As it happens, Madeline is in need of further assistance from a Vanza master, and Artemis is uniquely qualified to help her, so they strike a bargain – he will help her discover the truth about the mysterious appearances of her husband’s ghost, and in return she will give him her father’s records. The book follows a somewhat predictable path from this point, with Madeline and Artemis working together to solve the mystery of the ghost, and falling in love in the process.

Although it differs somewhat from other Quick books in that there are almost no scenes involving other members of the ton, most of the book has a familiar feel. In some ways this can be good. I have always loved the way Amanda Quick’s characters talk, and this book has plenty of good banter between the hero and heroine. The love scenes are nicely written, and the first one is unusual; for once the heroine comes away feeling intrigued but unsatisfied. It’s a welcome change from the norm.

However, though the hero and heroine are likable, the mystery seems to overshadow the romance. They both seem a little more interested in the ghost than each other, and they don’t spend much time musing about their love. There is also a lot of emphasis on the whole Vanza philosophy. This first appeared in Quick’s last book, I Thee Wed, and evidently she liked it enough to bring it back for a second go ’round. I found the philosophy a little silly and quickly tired of hearing about it.

And this may seem a little picky, but why on earth is the hero named Artemis? Artemis is the Greek goddess of the moon and hunt. The fact that his last name is hunt suggests that Quick is not unaware of the name’s origin. At any rate, it took me a full third of the book before I stopped picturing the hero as a woman.

I have heard many readers say they have given up on Amanda Quick. Although Wicked Widow is definitely not anything new or different, I still enjoyed reading parts of it. If you’ve never tried Quick, I recommend starting with one of her earlier, and far better efforts like Rendezvous. If you’re still a diehard fan, you might want to save yourself $23.95 and pay a visit to your public library.