‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

April 18th, 2016 Kimberly Review 62 Comments

18th Apr
‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick
'Til Death Do Us Part
by Amanda Quick
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne StarHalf a Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne Flame

Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials. Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one of her clients, Trent doesn’t trust her. Scarred by his past, he’s learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an instant attraction threatens his resolve. But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes clear that the danger may be coming from Calista’s own secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker...

well written historical MURDERMYSTERY ROMANCE

‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick is a standalone historical romantic suspense with delightful characters and a Whodunit that kept me flipping the pages. Amanda Quick (Jayne Ann Krentz) has long been a favorite author and an auto buy for me.  Her richly detailed stories always deliver and ‘Til Death Do Us Part was an exceptional mystery.

Five reasons to grab ‘Til Death Do Us Part

  • Amanda Quick is a masterful storyteller with delightfully unique characters and her historical mysteries always offer unexpected twists. I delight in gathering the clues and holding my breath when the hero and heroine face down danger. In ‘Til Death Do Us Part, Quick surprised me with the reveal and I friggin’ love when that happens.
  • Quick has a way with her characters and such was the case with Calista Langley and Trent Hastings. Calista and her younger brother Andrew inherited a sizeable estate in town, but sadly are house poor. Needing a way to secure income she began an Introduction agency and hosts parties in her saloon. I liked Calista. She has a head for business and delights in offering a safe gathering place for singles to meet. She is level-headed and is very careful to protect her reputation. Trent Hastings is a bit of a reclusive after a terrible accident scarred one side of his face and body. He is also a mystery writer whose stories are the talk of London. When his sister begins attending Calista’s saloons he feels obligated to check things out, and upon meeting Calista he finds himself intrigued. Secondary characters in the form of siblings, suspects and servants offered side threads that were strong and entertaining. Quick made each character memorable and I quickly became caught up in their world.
  • The mystery was both macabre and suspenseful. Calista is receiving gifts meant for someone in deep mourning. The gifts include a black mirror, funeral wreath, jar to catch and hold tears, and the newest a ring with a black stone. All of the gifts come with a note, “’til death do us part” and each engraved with her initials. The whole plot had a very gothic tone to it. Hastings becomes involved when he visits Calista as she returns home with her newest gift. It has unnerved Calista and it quite alarms Hastings.
  • The romance is slow to develop but filled with banter, a touch of snark, tender moments and delicious heat that had me smiling. Despite his physical imperfections, Trent made a wonderful hero. He was smart, protective and very much like the detective in his stories. Both are a little odd, a little damaged and their chemistry felt genuine.
  • Secondary characters, the death trinkets and twists in this clever mystery allowed me to devour ‘Til Death Do Us Part in two sittings. From beginning to end, the story was well paced delivering a mix of dangerous moments and delightfully intimate moments with the characters. I enjoyed how balanced all the threads were and how controlled Quick was with the mystery. One of the things that made me laugh throughout the story was Londoners critiquing Hastings newest mystery book. Each week a new chapter releases in the paper before the book is bound in a book. It is one of many clever things Quick added to the story, which gave it depth and fleshed out the characters.

‘Til Death Do Us Part delivered a suspenseful page turner with wonderful characters that is sure to delight fans old and new. Read the excerpt below to sneak a peek at one of my favorite authors…

Read an Excerpt

She belonged to him.
He was locked inside a cage the size and shape of a coffin. A dark thrill heated his blood like a powerful, intoxicating drug.
When the time came he would purify the woman and cleanse himself with her blood. But tonight was not the time. The ritual had to be followed correctly. The woman must be made to comprehend and acknowledge the great wrong that she had done. There was no finer instructor than fear.
He huddled inside the concealed lift, listening to the sounds of someone moving about in the bedroom on the other side of the wall. There was a narrow crack in the paneling. Excitement sparked through him when he caught a glimpse of the woman. She was at her dressing table, adjusting the pins in her dark brown hair. It was as if she knew he was watching and was deliberately taunting him.
She was passable in appearance, but he had seen her on the street and had not been particularly impressed with her looks. She was overly tall for a woman and her forceful character was etched on her face. She was dangerous. It was all there in her unnerving eyes.
The woman rose from the dressing table chair and moved out of sight. A moment later he heard the muffled sound of the bedroom door opening and closing.
Silence.
He slid the cage door aside and opened the wooden panel. The wall sconce had been turned down low but he could make out the bed, the dressing table, and the wardrobe.
He moved out of the lift. The heady exhilaration he always experienced at such moments roared through him. With every step of the ritual he came closer to achieving his own purification.
For a precious few seconds he debated where to leave his gift. The bed or the dressing table?
The bed, he decided. So much more intimate.
He made his way out through the tradesmen’s entrance and slipped, unseen, into the gardens. The gate was still unlocked, just as he had left it.
A few minutes later he was lost in the fog. The weight of the knife in its sheath beneath his greatcoat was reassuring.
The ritual was almost complete.
The woman with the unnerving eyes would soon understand that she belonged to him. It was her destiny to be the one to cleanse him. He was certain of it. The connection between them was a bond that could be shattered only by death.

Posted by arrangement with Berkley Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Jayne Ann Krentz, 2016.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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62 Responses to “‘Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick”

  1. Dani Chapman

    While this wasn’t my favorite AQ book I still really enjoyed it. I wish there had been a bit more depth in the romance department.

  2. Lark

    Wonderful review, Kimba! Krentz/Quick is indeed a terrific storyteller, and this one was really good, with a Gothic flavor to it.

  3. Bookworm Brandee

    Quick surprised you?!? That’s something. 🙂 I’ve not read Quick before and since this is a standalone, I’m eager to grab this one. I like that the characters are a bit odd and that it has a gothic feel. I’ll check it out. 😀

  6. Katiria Rodriguez

    Great review Kim and what a creepy excerpt. Now after reading your review I really want too check out this book, I heard many great things about Amanda Quick books and this one looks and sounds absolutely fantastic! Thank you for your awesome post Kim.

  7. Tressa

    Well I’m sold. This sounds fabulous and I love historical novels with witty banter, suspense, and a romance that isn’t instantaneous. I’ll definitely be reading this one!

  9. ShootingStarsMag

    Great review. Sounds like a really good mystery -which I love. I also enjoy slow burn romances, so this sounds like a good one for me.

  10. Lekeisha

    This is one of Overdrive’s pre-release titles, and I’ve seen it for weeks. You just made me go and put it on hold. Great review!

  12. Angela Adams

    “The romance is slow to develop but filled with banter, a touch of snark, tender moments and delicious heat” — I enjoy all of these aspects in a novel, especially the banter. Thanks for the post.

  14. kindlemom1

    I’m trying to remember if I’ve tried this author yet or not and I can’t. I’ll have to look it up to see. This sounds great!

  18. Katherine

    This one looks so good! I’m glad you enjoyed it and liked the characters. I’ve been wanting to read more Krentz and her Amanda Quick books and this one looks like one I’d definitely enjoy.

  19. Melissa (Books and Things)

    This is the second review of this book that loves it! I have only read one book by her and enjoyed it and I think I need this one as well. As much as the romance appeals to me, I do think the mystery is what sells it to me. Brilly review.

  20. Heidi

    Well this is not what I was expecting from the cover. I like the sound of those weird artifacts and the macabre mystery.

  23. Nick

    Slow romance with banter is ALL I needed to hear to convince me to give this book a try, Kim! Plus bonus the mystery is well written! 🙂

  24. Debbie Haupt

    Wow Kim its been awhile since I read a Quick historical and like always this one sounds fantastic! Thanks for the heads up!

  25. Stormi

    I didn’t know that Amanda Quick was another name for Jayne but either way I have still yet to read this author and I even have some of her books….sighs.

  26. Quinn's Book Nook

    I really need to read some Amanda Quick. I’ve read some of her books as Jayne Ann Krentz, but never her historicals. This one sounds like a lot of fun, and the cover is GORGEOUS!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Quick is how I feel in love with paranormal. I read all of her historical romances, and Second Sight was the first book in her Arcane Society series.

  27. Kathy

    I’ve seen this book floating through my email subscriptions a lot lately. I’m happy it’s meeting the hype.

  29. Lexxie

    A macabre mystery in a historical? That sounds like something I’d really enjoy, Kim! Plus when even secondary characters are important, I’m totally in book-heaven.

  30. Priscilla

    Oooh, this is one of my highly-anticipated books of 2016. I enjoy Quick (or Krentz)’s writing style. Engaging and entertaining 🙂