Marked Masters by Ritter Ames is the second book in the “Bodies of Art” mystery series. Publisher: Gemma Halliday Publishing, March 2015

Laurel Beacham made working solo a habit and a personal success story. The world’s leading art recovery expert, she is known for her nerve, instincts, and the ability to do whatever it takes to bring each masterpiece back safely. Museums applaud her while thieves admire the cunning way she operates. No matter the odds against her, she listens to her instinct when challenges mount.

Right now, those instincts are screaming a warning.

Laurel’s last job landed her the head position over the London branch of the Beacham Foundation. All well and good, except bringing one case to a close only opened another even bigger one. And more importantly, the new case inextricably connects to Jack Hawkes, a man smart enough to be her equal, but one who keeps her trust meter hovering in the red zone. The pair leap headlong into a plot that gets more dangerous and illusive by the minute. As the bodies and forgeries add up and the clock counts down, will Laurel’s skills help her make it out of this job alive?

I like it. Immediately you are pulled into a fast paced, non-stop action drama that had me quickly turning the pages because I had to know what happens next. The excitement, the mystery, the suspense and the solid plot escalated this tale of worldwide exploits in their pursuit of stolen property. Oh what fun it would be to journey with Jack and Laurel who play their part splendidly with a bit of intrigue that rivals a few of the detective’s shows I used to watch. I love watching the interaction and the banter between the two and I liked that the author gave us more insights into these two characters, which explains most of why they do what they do. Boasting a great cast of characters, good conversations and the global background, this was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the third book in this exciting series.