Prince of Danger

Free-spirited Lady Isobel Macleod has resolved never to marry—not exactly normal behavior for a 19-year-old Scottish Highlands noblewoman in 1379. But then, neither is her habit of escaping the confines of her family's castle for wild, solitary rides in the forest, nor her cool-headed, dagger-wielding rescue of a mild-mannered mystery man she finds being tortured by armed men during one of her prowls. After days alone on the run with the captive, who turns out to be the equally highborn Sir Michael St. Clair, Isobel agrees to marry him, both to avoid scandal and because the young knight promises a relationship whose almost 21st-century mutual respect comes close to crossing the border of believability. Fortunately, RITA Award–winning Scott has a flair for colorful, convincing characterization, bringing both protagonists to life in an appealing as well as credible way. The story line, which revolves around the legendary missing treasure of the Knights Templar, also rings true, thanks to a plethora of authentic historical and geographical details—plus deductions that fill in the blanks about this still unsolved puzzle with a logic few real-life detectives could fault. (Nov.)