Wicked - Shannon Drake - HQN Suspense - April/05

Backcover Synopsis - THE EARL WAS KNOWN AS A BEAST

Camille Montgomery is aware of the wicked man's reputation.  But as an expert in antiquities, she also knows his family's Egyptian artifact are the finest in England.  The problem is her wayward stepfather knows  this too--and he's determined to steal them.  So when he's caught in the act of robbing the so-called Beast of Carlyle, Camille must swallow her fear and boldly confront the man whose mask is said to hide a face too loathsome to behold.

The Earl O f Carlyle has lived in the shadows ever since the suspicious death of his parents.  But he's never stopped trying to unravel the mystery behind what he suspects to have been their murder.  And now;that the lovely Camille has stumbled into his life, he has the perfect pawn for his deadly game of vengeance and deceit.  But in laying his ruthless trap, will he risk losing his own heart?

Personal Opinion -  This was a really good book with many twists and turns.  Camille is employed at the Royal Museum as a translator of Egyptian text on the artifacts. Sh stumbles into a nest of intrigue at the Museum because of her Guardian's sticky fingers. The murderer is not discovered until the very end and is quite a surprise.