Cloaked in the costume of a hysterical chambermaid, Nicole Beauvoire walks away from her single-handed assassination of Gen. Capette, one of Napoleon's most victorious and barbaric commanders. In the two years since she became an assassin for the British Foreign Office, she's killed many times, usually dressed as a French courtesan or maid. A note from her contact reveals that her next assignment will be much more dangerous -- attack the Minister of Police during a party hosted by the Empress.

When a man arrives during the night demanding to speak with the infamous assassin Scorpion, Nicole is wary. Although Daniel Damont claims that Scorpion's mission has been compromised and that they must return to London, Nicole is determined to complete her assignment. Daniel is a shockingly handsome, but obviously inexperienced, spy. She takes advantage of his presumption that Scorpion is a man to escape his escort.

Nicole's suspicions are confirmed when she finds her contact murdered in his rooms. She quickly assumes the identity of a sexy noblewoman in order to seduce and murder the Minister of Police as planned. Within a few days, Daniel locates her. With a misplaced sense of obligation to protect her, he insists on moving into her apartments across the square from her target, while he tries to convince her to return to London.

Daniel's attentions are unwanted because, despite his reassurances after they become lovers, Nicole knows she can never return to London. While Nicole does not fear for her own life, she begins to care for Daniel and must now plan for his safety while plotting the assassination.

Although by definition a romance novel, this historical spy story features torture of political prisoners in the French prison that are more graphically described than the bedchamber scenes. The political villains employ henchman who are utterly evil, and the situations of peril and suspense kept me glued to the action until its conclusion. The heroine's many acts of calculated murder are capably portrayed by Samantha Saxon in a larger context of the horrors of war and personal experience that gain the reader's sympathies. While Daniel is a strong and handsome man, the inner strength and determination that Nicole possesses are most impressive. THE LADY KILLER captures the romance of Napoleonic subterfuge as Saxon continues her Lady Spy series.

Book Summary

The tumultuous era of the Napoleonic Wars provides the thrilling backdrop for a female spy who discovers the consequences of desire.