Review: Stolen Obsession by Marlene M. Bell

A centuries-old curse, romance and multiple murders abound in Stolen Obsession, an irresistible page turner by Marlene M. Bell.

Country-loving antiquities appraiser, Annalisse (Anna) Drury, is horrified to discover a gold bib necklace, identical to a bracelet owned by her recently murdered best friend, in a showcase during the launch of an art gallery opening by her favorite client, Generosa Zavos. The necklace is part of a centuries-old collection of jewellery created explicitly for the Persian royal family that carries with it a deadly curse.

Anna enlists the help of Generosa’s son, Alec, who’s also at the gallery opening, to convince his mother to put the necklace away. However, Alec is more concerned with getting to know Anna better than worrying about an ancient curse – until Anna’s boss dies unexpectedly at the gallery opening, followed shortly by the ransacking of Anna’s townhouse. Their lives soon spiral out of control when Alec’s mother is kidnapped because of the necklace. With Generosa’s life in imminent danger, Anna and Alec are determined to save her at all costs – even if it means giving up the necklace and never learning the truth behind the murder of Anna’s best friend…

At the heart of Stolen Obsession are the two very attractive protagonists who have a serious case of the hots for one another. Alec Zavos is rich and hunky in a Greek God kind of way, while the beautiful Anna can hardly be described as the typical damsel in distress, especially when she’s always jumping into the fray, ready to defend herself and those she holds dear. The fact that neither of them rush to consummate their relationship allows the sexual tension to build organically.

Bell’s enthusiasm shines through her narrative, giving her readers a story of substance they can sink their teeth into, not merely a book ticking all the romance boxes. From New York to the picturesque Aegean, to an old castle in Turkey, adventure, murder and intrigue are always at the forefront of the story, with Bell offering plenty of twists and turns along the way, and prose that moves at a fast clip.

Stolen Obsession is clearly an ambitious story with many moving parts, but the catalyst that drives the story is the brutal murder of Anna’s friend, Sam. Somewhat strangely, though, the author’s introduction of this key element to the story is in the form of a one-paragraph hook at the beginning, with references to her murder scattered throughout. This results in the reader feeling as though some vital pieces of information have been omitted. The circumstances explaining how Sam acquired her bracelet and the events that led to her murder would have been better addressed by way of a detailed prologue, which would have then set the stage for the events that follow, though the information the reader gleans about Sam and her brutal murder arguably have the makings of a compelling prequel.

That criticism aside, this is a thoroughly successful melding of thriller and romance. With a splash of international adventure and plenty of surprises, Stolen Obsession is an entertaining read and a great beginning to the Annalisse Series.