The Curiosity Keeper

In 1812, Camille Iverness works in her father's curiosity shop, selling collectibles, in a rough part of London. She had a more genteel upbringing living on her grandfather's estate, until his death brought about a move to London and into commercial enterprise. Jonathan Gilchrist is drawn to the Iverness Curiosity Shop in search of a valuable ruby stolen from his father, the possession of which can save the Gilchrist family fortune and their estate. Jonathan naturally assumes Camille knows something about the ruby; after someone else appears at the shop seeking it, the subsequent trouble forces Camille to accept help from Jonathan, although she does not trust him. Attraction grows between them even while the gem threatens their developing relationship. Ladd's (The Headmistress of Rosemere) story, with its menace and cast of seedy London characters, feels more like a work of Dickens than a Regency, which may confound Regency fans. A twist near the end provides an element of surprise in a relatively predictable plot. A solid outing. Agent: Tamela Hancock Murray, Steve Laube Agency. (July)