Earl of Darkness

Dan Brown's influence extends even to Regency romances, as this paranormal series launch shows. Secret societies, baffling documents, monstrous stalkers—Rickloff (Dangerous as Sin) has studied the textbook thoroughly, then added more sex. Catriona O'Connell is hired to steal a diary from a Dublin townhouse, but Aidan Douglas, earl of Kilronan, catches her in the act. He only agrees to keep Cat out of prison because she can read the diary, written in a mysterious language by his father many years ago. A demon soon appears to claim the book, by murderous force if necessary. Between bouts of mayhem, Cat and Aidan struggle against their instantaneous physical attraction. Character development is sorely lacking, but for those not yet tired of supernatural conspiracy theories, the pages will turn breathlessly enough. Reader beware, however: with a series to fill, very few plot threads are resolved in this volume. (Jan.)