Midnight Obsession

Leigh’s fourth Midnight contemporary romantic thriller (after Midnight Betrayal) will excite readers with its puzzling mysteries and toe-curling romance. In Philadelphia, museum curator Louisa Hancock and sports bar owner Conor Sullivan hope that life is returning to normal after a nightmarish couple of months. Then Louisa’s father, a scholar of Viking history, is kidnapped after he receives a package containing a ninth-century sword, a confusing thank-you note, and a gruesome photograph of a ritual killing. And Conor is targeted by a vengeful gang when he protects Jordan, a troublesome teenager. Conor wants nothing more than to keep Louisa out of danger; Louisa is headstrong and smart, and she convinces Conor that they work best together. Despite police investigations, the violence escalates. A deadly showdown requires Conor to use all of his fighting talent, and Louisa must dig deep into her own skills to save all that is important to her. The intimacy between the couple, seamless inclusion of Norse mythology, precise storytelling, windows into the killer’s mind, and surprise ending all heighten the enjoyment. The novel is easily read as a standalone, but returning readers will get more out of it. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Jan.)