Category Archives: Jayne Ann Krentz

January 6, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz
Cutler, Sutter & Salinas Series Book Three
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A man’s quest to find answers for those who are haunted by the past leads him deeper into the shadows in this electrifying novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Promise Not to Tell.

Quinton Zane is back.

Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer’s head has garnered him a reputation in some circles–and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace.

But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family’s hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas’s foster sons, starting with Jack.

Review:

Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz is an engrossing mystery with a riveting plot and engaging protagonists.  Although this newest release is the third (and final) installment in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Jack Lancaster has turned to meditation instructor Winter Meadows to help him gain control of his lucid dreams. He utilizes his unique ability to solve cold cases but recently, he has found them difficult to manage.  Jack also uses this skill to track Quinton Zane, the cult leader who murdered his mother and attempted to kill him, and his foster brothers, Cabot Sutter and Max Cutler.  Aided by their foster father, Anson Salinas, the three men have been trying to track down Zane whom they believe faked his death then left the country after he murdered their mothers. After Winter is assaulted by a former client turned stalker, Jack is certain Zane manipulated her attacker as a way of getting to him. With Winter’s assistance, Jack begins what he hopes will be his final quest to capture Zane.

Jack is extremely intelligent with keen instincts but he has been rather enigmatic in previous books in the series. His special ability to use lucid dreams to aid him in finding clues to solve cold cases is quite fascinating. Jack is intense, serious and  extremely focused as he and Winter begin their investigation that will hopefully lead him to Zane.

Having recently moved to Eclipse Bay, Winter is struggling to build her business. She is a meditation instructor and a skilled hypnotist but she keeps this ability to herself. Winter is calm under pressure and  unflappable in the face of danger.

Jack’s hunt for Zane sometimes appears hopeless since he maintains such a low profile. But Jack knows how his nemesis thinks so he is able to weave together the somewhat nebulous threads he discovers to figure out how to locate Zane. Winter is instrumental in helping Jack narrow down exactly which leads to follow. Will Jack and Winter locate Zane before he puts his diabolical plan in motion? Will Jack, Cabot, Max and Anson finally bring Quinton Zane to justice?

Untouchable is a clever mystery with a unique storyline and likable lead characters. The investigation into Zane is fast-paced and compelling. Jack and Winter are endearing characters with relatable shortcomings and strengths.  Jayne Ann Krentz’s incorporation of the paranormal abilities into the storyline provides added interest to the hunt for Quinton Zane. Although it is a little sad to say goodbye to favorite characters, old and new readers will enjoy this satisfying conclusion of the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Cutler Sutter & Salinas Series, Jayne Ann Krentz, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Romance, Suspense, Untouchable

January 1, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: Promise Not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krentz
Cutler, Sutter & Salinas Series Book Two
Publisher: Berkely
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 334 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A broken promise reveals a terrifying legacy in this electrifying novel from the New York Times bestselling author of When All the Girls Have Gone.

A painter of fiery, nightmarish visions throws herself into the sea—but she’ll leave some of her secrets behind…

Seattle gallery owner Virginia Troy has spent years battling the demons that stem from her childhood time in a cult and the night a fire burned through the compound, killing her mother. And now one of her artists has taken her own life, but not before sending Virginia a last picture: a painting that makes Virginia doubt everything about the so-called suicide—and her own past.

Like Virginia, private investigator Cabot Sutter was one of the children in the cult who survived that fire…and only he can help her now. As they struggle to unravel the clues in the painting, it becomes clear that someone thinks Virginia knows more than she does and that she must be stopped. Thrown into an inferno of desire and deception, Virginia and Cabot draw ever closer to the mystery of their shared memories—and the shocking fate of the one man who still wields the power to destroy everything they hold dear.

Review:

Promise Not to Tell is another intricate mystery that revolves around the survivors of a cult leader’s attempt to murder them over twenty years ago. This latest release from Jayne Ann Krentz is the second installment in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series which features three foster brothers who are convinced cult leader Quinton Zane  is still alive despite evidence to the contrary.

When gallery owner  Virginia Troy learns of Hannah Brewster’s death by suicide, she turns to private investigator Anson Salinas to investigate the case. Virginia and Hannah’s connection goes beyond a business relationship; both of them were members of Quinton’s cult. Hannah’s grip on reality was tenuous so she turned to art to work through her demons and although her paintings are absolutely brilliant, no one wants to purchase the disturbing artwork.  Deeply troubled by Hannah’s last painting depicting the night Zane tried to murder his followers, Virginia teams up with fellow cult survivor and private investigator Cabot Sutter in hopes of uncovering the truth about  the artist’s death.

Both Virginia and Cabot were rescued by Anson from the barn fire that Zane set in order to kill witnesses and destroy evidence of his illegal doings. Despite the passage of time, neither of them have managed to completely recover from the anxiety and PTSD from that horrific night.  Until meeting Hannah, Virginia never suspected Zane faked his own death but once she views Hannah’s last painting, she has no doubt that he is, in fact, alive.  What she cannot fathom is Quinton’s reason for stalking Hannah, but hopefully, with Cabot’s assistance, she can figure it out.

The discovery of a murder victim at Virginia’s art gallery is quite puzzling, but considering the location of the corpse, Cabot is certain the crime is somehow connected to what happened to Hannah. With Virginia as his trusty sidekick, they begin searching for the link which leads them to a start-up company that is suffering from a few financial hiccups. Going the old-fashioned route, they decide to follow an intriguing money trail that might lead back to Zane. Startling twists and turns expose shocking correlations between past and present but Virginia and Cabot quickly learn that someone will go to any lengths to keep their brazen scheme from being exposed.

Promise Not to Tell is a bit of a slow moving mystery in which readers know the identity of perpetrator early on.  However, there is plenty suspense surrounding the motive for the crimes and how exactly everything is connected to cult leader Quinton Zane. Jayne Ann Krentz also sets up the perfect opportunity for romance to brew between Virginia and Cabot in the middle of their efforts to uncover the secret that Hannah was willing to die to protect. The novel’s conclusion perfectly sets up the next installment in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series which will most likely feature Anton’s very enigmatic third foster son, Jack Lancaster.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Jayne Ann Krentz, Mystery, Promise Not to Tell, Rated B, Review, Romance, Suspense, Sutter & Salinas Series

November 27, 2016 · 11:58 pm

Review: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Romance
Length: 349 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Jayne Ann Krentz, the New York Times bestselling author of Secret Sisters, delivers a thrilling novel of the deceptions we hide behind, the passions we surrender to, and the lengths we’ll go to for the truth…

When Charlotte Sawyer is unable to contact her stepsister, Jocelyn, to tell her that one of her closest friends was found dead, she discovers that Jocelyn has vanished.

Beautiful, brilliant—and reckless—Jocelyn has gone off the grid before, but never like this. In a desperate effort to find her, Charlotte joins forces with Max Cutler, a struggling PI who recently moved to Seattle after his previous career as a criminal profiler went down in flames—literally. Burned out, divorced and almost broke, Max needs the job.

After surviving a near-fatal attack, Charlotte and Max turn to Jocelyn’s closest friends, women in a Seattle-based online investment club, for answers. But what they find is chilling…

When her uneasy alliance with Max turns into a full-blown affair, Charlotte has no choice but to trust him with her life. For the shadows of Jocelyn’s past are threatening to consume her—and anyone else who gets in their way…

Review:

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz is an intriguing mystery with quite a few unexpected twists and turns.

Hired to investigate Louise Flint’s death, private investigator Max Cutler is not as convinced as the police that Louise’s death was an accidental or deliberate overdose.  The evidence he uncovers points to murder, but trying to find a motive for the crime proves somewhat daunting.  After discovering some perplexing information about her activities immediately preceding her death, Max teams up with Charlotte Sawyer, whose stepsister Jocelyn Pruett was a close friend of Louise.  Jocelyn is also currently missing which leaves Max and Charlotte wondering whether or not her disappearance is connected to Louise’s death.  After learning that Jocelyn and Louise belong to a investment club with three other women, Max and Charlotte are rather puzzled by their reactions to the news of Louise’s death and Jocelyn’s disappearance.  It quickly becomes apparent the remaining members of the investment group might be in danger, but Max and Charlotte are having trouble understanding why the women have been targeted by the killer.

Having recently relocated to Washington following his divorce and resignation from his job as a profiler, Max is struggling to get his private investigation business off the ground.  Despite the circumstances that resulted in his career change, he is still an impeccable investigator with finely honed instincts. It does not take long for him to realize that Louise’s death was most likely foul play but his investigation hits a dead end almost immediately.  While some of Max’s investigative techniques are a little unorthodox, he is a  slow, methodical investigator who turns to good old fashioned detective work to help solve the case.

Fresh off a break up just days before her wedding, Charlotte does not exactly trust her instincts when she first meets Max.  She is a little naive and trusting but she is a genuinely kindhearted person who takes people at face value.  Charlotte is very concerned about Jocelyn’s suspected disappearance but she has complete faith that her stepsister has done nothing wrong.  Convinced Jocelyn is in danger, she refuses to let Max shut her out of the investigation and she is surprisingly resourceful as they track down clues and follow up on leads.

Although the mystery aspect of the storyline is interesting, it is fairly easy to put the pieces of the puzzle together.  There is little attempt to hide the identity of the villain but the motive for the crimes is obscured for much of the novel.  A couple of secondary story arcs add suspense to the main storyline but how these threads fit into the original investigation is quite difficult to discern.  The plot feels a little disjointed and slow-paced for the first half of the novel, but the second half of the story moves at a fairly brisk pace once the various arcs begin to intertwine.  The novel hurtles to a fairly dramatic conclusion with plenty of plot twists that are impossible to predict.

When All the Girls Have Gone is an enjoyable mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre.  The characters are vibrantly developed and easy to like.  The romance element is understated but believable.  While the investigation into Louise’s death and Jocelyn’s disappearance are fully resolved by the novel’s conclusion, the lack of closure for events from Max’s past seem to indicate When All the Girls Have Gone is the first installment in a new series from Jayne Ann Krentz.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Jayne Ann Krentz, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Romance, Suspense, When All the Girls Have Gone

December 7, 2015 · 11:55 pm

Review: Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

secret sistersTitle: Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother’s hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn’t be bothering them anymore…ever. Still their lives would never be the same.

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother’s mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts…and wants.

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack’s brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth….

Review:

In Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz, an eighteen year old secret appears to the impetus for the deaths of two people and a series of attempts on the lives of others connected to those long ago events. This incredibly fast-paced and riveting mystery is full of exciting plot twists that are guaranteed to keep readers’ on the edge of their seats until the novel’s dramatic and very unexpected conclusion.

Although Madelaine Chase has tried to forget the traumatic events of that long ago night, she is still haunted by the foiled attack. Unable to fully trust any man, she has been unable to sustain a lasting relationship despite her best efforts. While still mourning the unexpected loss of her beloved grandmother, Edith, Madelaine is forced to return to the Aurora Point Hotel after a chilling phone call from the abandoned property’s eccentric caretaker, Tom Lomax. Before Tom can tell her why he needed to see her, he is brutally murdered and Madelaine calls in hotel security expert, Jack Rayner, to help her investigate his death.

Madelaine is a no-nonsense business executive who is mostly unflappable even under the most unpleasant circumstances. Already unnerved by her return to Cooper Island, she is truly frightened after she realizes Tom’s death was no accident. Knowing she has to be completely honest with Jack, Madelaine reluctantly reveals the horrifying details of the attack and subsequent series of events that occurred eighteen years earlier. With only a handful of people knowing the truth about what happened, she and Jack are stunned to discover that someone has stolen important information that was concealed by her grandmother and Tom after the attack. When Madelaine and Jack learn her childhood friend Daphne Knight’s condo has recently been ransacked, they are convinced the break in, Tom’s murder and quite possibly, Edith’s death, are somehow linked to what happened at the Aurora Point Hotel that horrible night eighteen years ago.

Jack is no better at relationships than Madelaine and he is nonplussed by his unwanted attraction to his employer. Putting aside his unprofessional feelings for her, he quickly focuses on the case. As a former consultant as an FBI profiler, Jack has an uncanny ability to predict with some degree of certainty what the attacker might do next, but narrowing down the suspect list is a little more difficult. An unpleasant confrontation with a member of a prominent local family steers the investigation in an unexpected, but completely viable, direction. With the assaults on them escalating, Jack calls in his tech savvy genius brother (and partner) Abe to help ferret out information about both the past and present cases. The information they unearth is shocking and it quickly becomes apparent that someone is willing to go to any lengths to ensure their long buried secrets remain hidden.

While investigative duties keep everyone fairly busy, the four lead characters find time for love. Jack and Madelaine’s simmering sexual tension reaches a boiling point and they finally decide to stop fighting the inevitable. While neither has any expectation of a permanent relationship, they are pleasantly surprised to discover how in tune they are with each other. Madelaine is rather intuitive where Jack is concerned and she quickly discerns what he carefully conceals from his loved ones. Jack is incredibly patient and understanding about Madelaine’s (understandable) idiosyncrasies which is helpful in removing the impediments that have derailed her previous relationships. Madelaine is more receptive to committing to a future with Jack than he is since he is very reluctant to reveal the secrets that haunt him.

Secret Sisters is an intriguing mystery with an engaging storyline and well-developed characters. The mystery element is brilliantly executed and Jayne Ann Krentz skillfully utilizes a series of misdirects and red herrings to obscure the perpetrator’s identity and possible motives for the crime(s). Clever plot twists and jaw dropping revelations bring the novel to a spectacular conclusion.

A very perplexing and riveting mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Berkley, Contemporary, Jayne Ann Krentz, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Secret Sisters, Suspense