Good Dukes Wear Black

A writer must employ the assistance of a duke to find her abducted friend in Collins’s enjoyable third Lords of Anarchy Regency novel (after Good Earl Gone Bad). Miss Ophelia Dauntry and her friend Maggie Grayson are both writers for the Ladies’ Gazette, a London gossip publication. Maggie is hauled off to Hayes Clinic for the insane, ostensibly upon the order of her husband, George; Ophelia is certain that the Lords of Anarchy club had something to do with the abduction, since Maggie was trying to get her editor to publish a story on the connection between the club and the clinic. Ophelia enlists Piers Hamilton, Duke of Trent, the new president of the Lords of Anarchy, to assist her in rescuing Maggie. As their quest brings them closer to danger, sparks ignite between Trent and Ophelia. Trent’s admiration for Ophelia’s intellect and independence feels refreshing rather than anachronistic, and Ophelia’s wit is the perfect match for Trent’s arrogance. Romance and mystery are equal partners in this engaging installment, which is certain to garner Collins some new fans. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavall Literary. (Apr.)