Til Death Do Us Part

Starred review from March 7, 2016
Quick’s ambitious Victorian historical mixes witty, occasionally self-referential banter with gothic undertones and a solid thriller plot. Calista Langley has resigned herself to spinsterhood now that she’s in her late 20s. She runs a discreet matchmaking and salon service, pairing each singleton with a potential partner of the person’s preferred gender. She’s also being stalked by a mysterious person who leaves ominous memento mori in her house. Successful mystery author Trent Hastings, dubious about the service Calista is offering his sister, Eudora, confronts her. After some initial hostilities, he finds himself drawn to her and begins helping her investigate the stalker. They’re joined by Eudora as well as Calista’s younger brother, Andrew (a talented investigator in his own right). The four begin to uncover a series of murders, and soon their lives are threatened. Along with the danger, Quick throws in a great deal of humor (including a wonderful running gag centered on Hastings’s latest story), a large cast of well-rounded characters, and lots of solid red herrings. This is a true delight for fans of historical romances and mysteries. Agent Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

Starred review from March 1, 2016
A Victorian matchmaker becomes the target of a macabre stalker and turns to a reclusive mystery writer for help--and when the danger escalates, so does their relationship. After inheriting a grand home but little income, Calista Langley launches her own introductions business, offering clients "an opportunity to meet like-minded people and perhaps develop friendships." When popular mystery author Trent Hastings confronts her, worried that she's taking advantage of his sister, the two get off to a rocky start, but Calista holds her own, and he finds himself attracted to the innovative business owner. When they meet again, he learns she's been receiving creepy presents from an unknown giver--memento mori items suitable for people in deepest mourning but containing her initials--and volunteers to help her get to the bottom of the disconcerting pranks. Except as they delve into the puzzle, they realize the sender has left a trail of previous recipients, each of whom has wound up dead. The stakes get higher as their investigation suggests Calista is in the sights of a serial killer, with signs pointing to an ex-suitor. Finding proof is elusive, however, while the physical dangers escalate and potential witnesses keep winding up murdered. Meanwhile, Calista and Trent, two bruised souls who expected to live solitary lives, find affinity and passion in each other, and as they open up to hope and love, other familial and friendship bonds are tightened. The couple's chance for happiness seems quite good, if they can wrap up the mystery before it kills them. Romantic suspense luminary Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) moves into edgy thriller territory with intelligence and aplomb and uses the backdrop of gaslight-tinted, death-obsessed Victorian London to perfection. The plot is smart and tight and the characters complex, while the subtle wink of humor toward a successful mystery author's plight and romance subplots will make fans smile. Quick's appealing new direction somehow balances Gothic intensity and lighthearted wit.

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April 15, 2016

Fearing that his sister is being taken advantage of by a charlatan matchmaker, popular mystery author Trent Hastings heads to Cranleigh Hall to confront the owner of the introductions agency in question. However, self-reliant, unconventional Calista Langley is not about to be intimidated, even by someone as formidable as Trent--something that both annoys and intrigues him more than he wants to admit. When he learns that Calista is the victim of a bizarre stalking, they join forces to track down the villain and are compelled to deal with their growing attraction as they are drawn into a web of murder and insanity. VERDICT An intrepid heroine and a dashing, equally brilliant hero spar their way to love in this engaging, well-plotted Victorian romance that is rife with witty repartee, fascinating historical detail, and a delicious salting of humor. Just plain fun. Quick (Garden of Lies) lives in the Seattle area. [An April LibraryReads pick.]

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2016
Calista Langley has a secret admirer. Unfortunately, he is not the good kind. Someone has been leaving her memento-mori gifts engraved with her initials. At first, Calista doesn't know whom she can turn to for help. The police most likely wouldn't bother themselves with the matter, since no one had been harmed. She is also reluctant to get the police involved because her business, an introductions agency that caters to respectable society, must remain free from any hint of scandal. So when mystery writer Trent Hastings offers his investigative services, Calista doesn't see that she has any choice but to accept. Best-selling Quick (Garden of Lies, 2015) knows what her readers want, and she delivers it in spades with her latest mesmerizing historical romance. The perfectly realized Victorian setting adds just the right dash of gothic flavor to the story, and the smartly paced plot is filled with enough goose-bump-inducing chills and sexy, romantic thrills to have readers sighing happily with satisfaction. The icing on this irresistible literary confection is Quick's distinctive sense of wit, which remains just as delicious as ever.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)