The Lady Has a Past

December 1, 2020

Apprentice investigator Lyra Brazier wants to move beyond her wealthy socialite background, but it's not to be: Her new assignment is to find her boss, who has vanished at a luxurious health retreat. Lyra is a bit miffed that her investigative partner is unassuming antiquarian book dealer Simon Cage, but he turns out to be a genius at ferreting out secrets. Next in the New York Times best-selling author's "Burning Cove" series.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2021
The world of luxury hides nefarious secrets in this latest installment in the Burning Cove series. Lyra Brazier's new job as an apprentice investigator is off to a wild start. Her first client interview turns into a murder scene, and, shortly after, her boss, Raina Kirk, goes missing. Lyra isn't sure if investigating is for her, but she's determined to at least solve this mystery. She won't be on her own, though. Antiquarian book dealer Simon Cage is sent by nightclub owner Luther Pell, Raina's lover, to assist Lyra. Lyra and Simon pose as newlyweds at Raina's last presumed whereabouts, a hotel with an exclusive spa where rumors and dark secrets abound. Simon's ability to sense emotions tied to objects has been a great asset in other crime-related cases and comes in handy here, too. As the pair draw closer to tying clues together, though, they risk making themselves the next targets. Mystery and action drive this novel, but it's also a solid romance--and a double one at that. Simon and Lyra embark on a fling and develop deeper feelings while Luther and Raina's relationship is explored as well. Some of the heavy topics lack emotional heft, but this allows the narrative to maintain its quick, light tone. The touch of paranormal blends in seamlessly. Reminiscent of an old-school whodunit, fitting with the 1930s setting, this story is chock full of deceit, secret pasts, red herrings, lively banter, exciting sleuthing, and power-hungry baddies. Utterly fun.

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March 15, 2021
Lyra Brazier hoped to make a career as a private investigator, but she never thought she would be running Kirk Investigations after being on the payroll for less than a week. Granted, Lyra's "promotion" is just temporary while her boss, Raina Kirk, takes care of a personal matter, but Lyra still thinks it says something positive about her fledgling private investigative skill set. It is those same deductive powers that soon have Lyra wondering if Raina might be in danger. While Lyra would be more than happy to pursue her own investigation into Raina's disappearance, Luther Pell, Raina's paramour, insists that she be accompanied by Simon Cage, an antiquarian bookseller with a unique skill set of his own. Writing with a wit as dry as Death Valley and cleverly creating an exclusive Palm Springs resort patterned after Elizabeth Arden's Red Door, namely Madam Edith Guppy's violet-themed House of Beauty, Quick continues her winning string of circa 1930s Burning Cove, California books, following Close Up (2020). This ingeniously plotted, paranormal-spiced novel brilliantly showcases Quick's mastery of concentrated suspense, clever characterization, and combustible sexual chemistry.

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