Tangled Webs by Lee Bross (review)

Members of high society in 1725 London have plenty of secrets, and Bones, a sleazy criminal, traffics in them, sending the seductive but intimidating Lady A as a courier on his blackmailing errands. Lady A, however, is really just seventeen-year-old Arista, a girl abused into obedience along with the other children Bones “adopted” years ago. An attempt to escape Bones lands her in the hands of Jonathan Wild, the notorious thief, so Arista must again strike a bargain with an unsavory character who wants to use her connections among London’s elite to gain access to their wealth. Lady A’s duties bring her into contact with the handsome Grae Sinclair, the young heir to a shipping fortune, who seems to want to help free Arista from a life of crime instead of further exploiting her. Lady A is a cunning femme fatale, and the scenes in which she outwits her various opponents are deliciously entertaining; unfortunately, as Arista she comes off as clingy, seeking protection from whoever will give it and lacking any of the confidence that makes Lady A fascinating. The third-person narration is often melodramatic, while secondary characters are mostly one-note; Grae, in particular, is almost too perfect as the flawless hero who swoops in to save Arista. Their romance is a sweet counterpart to the life Arista has led up until this point, though, and readers will likely be relieved that she ultimately finds both safety and happiness in his arms.