The Riddle of the Lost Lover

A sequel to the strong historical The Alabaster Royal, Veryan's 27th novel follows Captain Jack Vespa through the dangerous adventures attending his search for his true parentage. Sent home after being wounded in the campaign in France in the winter of 1813, Vespa goes to live at Alabaster Royal, one of his family's several estates. When he discovers a stash of weapons in the catacombs beneath the family home, however, he provokes the senior Vespa's anger and his admission that Jack is not his son. Unless Jack can discover his true lineage, he may lose the hand of his sweetheart, the spirited and beautiful Consuela Carlotta Angelica Jones. Consuela and a few trusty friends accompany Vespa on his search, braving brushes with death and vindictive munitions dealers while Jack gathers evidence that his true father is an eccentric who travels Europe buying fine carpets, looking in particular for a sixth-century Persian rug. Despite the occasional narrative red herring, the novel bustles through its eager hero-must-overcome-obstacles-to-win-lady formula and is, at last, a satisfying quickie. (Nov.)