Library Journal
"Mad" (and gorgeous) Jack Hazard has returned from his mysterious vacation and he now needs a "wife" for his next case as Allan Pinkerton's most renowned detective. Among Pinkerton's file clerks is the young widow Anna Matlin, who prides herself on being as invisible as a mouse but suddenly finds herself packing to go with Jack. As she blossoms in both her detective and lover roles, Anna finds loving Jack complicated, not only because of his single-minded quest for revenge but also because of his desperate fight against alcoholism and a scarred childhood. Despite the dark Victorian overlay, there are moments of high hilarity in McBride's (Forever and a Day, Harequin, 1995) novel, an interesting blend of poignancy and humor. McBride lives in St. Louis, Mo.-MKC