by Amanda Quick
Series: Burning Cove #2
Genres: Historical, Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Knew Too Much sweeps readers back to 1930s California--where the most dazzling of illusions can't hide the darkest secrets...
After escaping from a private sanitarium, Adelaide Blake arrives in Burning Cove, California, desperate to start over.
Working at an herbal tea shop puts her on the radar of those who frequent the seaside resort town: Hollywood movers and shakers always in need of hangover cures and tonics. One such customer is Jake Truett, a recently widowed businessman in town for a therapeutic rest. But unbeknownst to Adelaide, his exhaustion is just a cover.
In Burning Cove, no one is who they seem. Behind facades of glamour and power hide drug dealers, gangsters, and grifters. Into this make-believe world comes psychic to the stars Madame Zolanda. Adelaide and Jake know better than to fall for her kind of con. But when the medium becomes a victim of her own dire prediction and is killed, they'll be drawn into a murky world of duplicity and misdirection.
Neither Adelaide or Jake can predict that in the shadowy underground they'll find connections to the woman Adelaide used to be--and uncover the specter of a killer who's been real all along...
There is nothing like curling up with a good book. Regardless of what name she pens them under, Jayne Anne Krentz always satisfies this reader. The Other Lady Vanishes by Amanda Quick is the second novel in the Burning Cove series. Suspense, Hollywood glamour, murder, and an unexpected romance delivered the perfect Saturday afternoon read.
While this is the second novel in Amanda Quick’s Buring Cove series, both can be read as standalone and feature a woman on the run who hides in Burning Cove, California, a beachside haven for Hollywood celebrities. It’s set in the 1930’s when men still wore suits and ladies dressed up and wore hats. Movies were all the rage, and the rags loved to get the latest on their on-screen celebrities.
The story begins as Adelaide Blake escapes a private sanitarium. Her time there was dark and Quick shared a chilling story while shedding light on experimental drugs and the practice of sending unwanted family members off to mental hospitals. Both threads were chilling and led to murder, blackmail, and betrayal.
Adelaide, the daughter of botanists, is working at a local herbal tea shop. The owner has allowed her to create special blends of tea that calm your nerves or energize you. They’ve become quite popular with the movers and shakers, particularly the Hollywood crowd. However, Adelaide doesn’t want to draw attention to herself. Jake Truett, a retired businessman on an extended stay to calm his nerves takes an interest in her and fate has them investigating a possible murder. A romance develops between them as their snooping places them in danger.
I enjoyed the updates about characters from the first story while Quick quickly immersed us into this suspenseful tale. The romance which started as friendship was an enjoyable one as both Jack and Adelaide slowly confessed secrets and tied threads together. Both rely on new and old acquaintances to gather info and protect themselves. A lot was going on in this story, with plenty of twists, villains, and suspects. However, Quick tied it all together and kept me engaged. While I guessed early on the mastermind behind the threat, Quick added some twists that surprised me and I enjoy when that happens.
Fans of historical fiction and murder-mysteries that deliver on danger and suspense while mixing in a delightful romance will enjoy The Other Lady Vanishes.
Suspense, Hollywood glamour, murder, and an unexpected romance made The Othe Lady Vanishes the perfect afternoon read. #NewRelease #mustread Share on X
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
Dani
Loved the Arcane Series! Her Amanda Quick wrote some of the series. I love her books, she does the past so well! Excellent review!
Kimberly
I agree Dani. One of my favorite authors
Dani
Love Amanda Quick’s books. Especially her Arcane Series! Excellent review, I loved the book too!
Kimberly
The Arcane series is one of my favorites and I love how she wrote under all three names and periods.
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
I have seen this one all over the place and really want to get it. I think I will, I have seen great reviews of it. I love that this is set in the 30s – I loved watching (haven’t read) Poiret by Agatha Christie. So, I think I will enjoy reading this one. Great review!
Kimberly
I hope you grab it. I love AC too.
Bookworm Brandee
I, um, haven’t read Krentz in any of her incarnations. *gasp* I know! I like the sound of this one – exploring a time period where we sent off family members who were mentally ill. *sniff* And it’s a time period I don’t read often despite enjoying HF/HR. Another author I’ll give a go someday. 😀
Kimberly
What is creepy about this period is that women who were NOT mentally ill where shipped off to these asylums.
stefanie
I haven’t read her for a very long time. I’m a bit intrigued about this book now.
Kimberly
Glad to hear you’ve read her work.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
This and the previous book sounds so good! I really love Jayne Ann Krentz but I’ve only read one or two of her Amanda Quick books. I love the time period this is set. I’ve only read a couple books set in 1930s.
Kimberly
Katherine, she is one of my favorite authors. Her Arcane Society series spans all three names she writes under. It begins with Quick (Second Sight).
Cyn @ Bookmunchies
I’m like the 1930’s setting, and it’s nice there’s some twists and turns to keep you on your toes! Glad this was a great read, lovely review, Kim!
Kimberly
It was an interesting period. Thanks Cyn.
Quinn's Book Nook
You know, I have never read anything by Amanda Quick. Years and years ago (seriously more than 10 years ago) I read some of her contemporaries/suspense under Jayne Ann Krentz, but never made it to her historicals. I really need to. I have heard good things about this series. I love that it’s set in the 30s!
Kimberly
Ooo I hope that you do Quinn. Jayne Anne Krentz is one of my favorites and I love both her Quick and Castle books.
Carole @ Carole's Random Life in Books
I wasn’t sure if this was a series that needed to be read in order. It is good to know that it works as a stand alone. I haven’t read any of her works under the name Amanda Quick but have read a few JAK books.
Kimberly
Krentz is one of my favorite authors Carole
Aleen @ Lampshade Reader
I liked this one as well and for the same reasons you stated. 🙂 I loved their relationship the most…so far.
Kimberly
I have to agree with you, Aleen.
Angela Adams
The 1930s is not a time period used often by authors. This read sounds intriguing. Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
Right. I love when I get to slip into a different period.
Kathryn
I love the books by JAK but sometimes give her Quick books a miss, I guess because I am only a small percentage reader of historical. Same for J Castle. However reading the blurb and your review for this series I feel myself being drawn to it.
Kimberly
I have a very eclectic taste so I read all three, but I think you’d love this one.
Heidi
Yeah for glamour and old Hollywood, plus throw in a murder mystery. I had no idea this was a pen name for Jayne Krentz.
Kimberly
Yes. She writes historical under Amanda Quick and futuristic using Jayne Castle
blodeuedd
Glamour, Hollywood, murder and more! Lol, sure why not
Kimberly
Exactly. Thanks, Linda. Hope your Tuesday is going well.
Melliane
I always love books during this period and I did read a nove by this author so I should try this series too
Kimberly
Yay. I hope you do Melliane.
Debbie Haupt
Love this review Kim and another historical author that I love and have to get back to. Well like I said I may be getting some time to read back.
Thank You
Kimberly
That would be lovely. We all deserve more time for pleasure reads.
kindlemom1
The old practices and things that went on in those places seriously freaks me out, especially since they were mostly for women who didn’t behave “properly” which so would have been me during that time! I think I need to grab this one Kim. 😉
Kimberly
Yes. Imagine being able to put your wife away because she didn’t like the way you acted.
Vanessa
I haven’t tried historical fiction with mystery yet and my, I am digging it!
Kimberly
That has me excited Vanessa 🙂 I hope you love it.
Nadene
Love the premise. I love it when the author introduces surprising twists, which makes you wonder if your original guess was wrong.
Kimberly
Yes, and she does exactly that!
verushka
oooh, I am intrigued about this setting and this mystery! Adelaide especially has my attention because of her escape and experience at the Sanitarium.
Kimberly
That suspense thread was chilling. I hope you get a chance to read it.
Cindy
I love the sound of this one and a tea shop with special blends to calm nerves? I am in! Wonderful review!
Kimberly
Exactly. I love these kinds of shops add the coast and I am backing my bags 🙂