I have absolutely loved some of Amanda Quick’s books: Desire, Seduction, and Scandal are three of my favorites by her. The last few years, however, it’s been interchangeable plots and a persistent “ancient civilization” streak that has become too familiar. After her last couple of books, I hoped to find a gem in Slightly Shady. Alas, it was not to be.

In Rome, widowed Lavinia Lake watches in dismay and anger as Tobias March literally breaks into shards nearly every piece of her inventory of antiquity replicas and sends her and her niece, Emeline, back to London. He claims that she is in danger from a man named Carlisle, who is after a diary that reveals the true identity of Azure, the head of a secret society known as the Blue Chamber. Lavinia is not convinced, and, still angry about losing her shop, is understandably peeved when she runs into Tobias again as she’s investigating blackmail notes she’s been receiving. Although there is nothing too scandalous in her past, Lavinia’s concern is with Emeline’s launch into Society, where the merest hint of impropriety could seriously undermine the girl’s chances of a good match. What Lavinia doesn’t know is that Tobias’s trashing of her shop spared both her and Emeline a late-night visit by Carlisle. And that very night, Carlisle’s visit had had serious consequences for Tobias himself.

Tobias suggests that they pool their resources and work together in finding the diary and the unknown member of the Blue Chamber. In addition to the threats of blackmail made against her, Lavinia has received a death threat. She’s also gotten involved in investigating threats of blackmail made against a member of the ton. She sees no other choice than to take Tobias up on his offer, although, from the very beginning, their relationship is marked by mutual distrust. As Tobias and Lavinia begin digging deeper, we meet several secondary characters, all of whom seem to be a great deal more than “slightly shady,” beginning with the people for whom Tobias and Lavinia are working. As if she didn’t have enough to worry about, Lavinia is also busy launching Emeline and worrying that for all her efforts to nab a good prospect, the girl will end up marrying Tobias’s brother-in-law, Anthony Sinclair, who is a good, albeit not rich, young man.

I didn’t see a genuine, loving relationship between Lavinia and Tobias. We’re told there is, but what I saw was two people who distrust each other, like to get on each other’s nerves, yet have a mutual attraction, and kiss and make love. Even the first lovemaking scene seems distant, especially considering that right after, Lavinia acts much more concerned with the stain on her cloak than with anything else. I genuinely missed the emotional connection in earlier Quick books, where the hero and heroine truly appreciate each other as they get to know each other better.

Like most of Quick’s heroines, Lavinia has some peculiar interest that sets her apart, in this case, it’s her interest in mesmerism, an interest she has inherited from her parents, and something that comes into play during the climactic scene in the end. Tobias is forever running after the wayward Lavinia, who keeps interfering with his plans, and he spends a lot of time “in a temper” over her actions. He is a charming hero, but again, there seems to be no deep and emotional connection between him and Lavinia.

The mystery was well-plotted for the most part, but quite predictable; I’m very bad at guessing but was easily able to figure out that a few characters were not all-innocent. The secondary romance between Emeline and Anthony was delightful. Slightly Shady is a comfort read for Quick fans, but it doesn’t have much to set it apart from earlier, and better titles.