I really wanted to like this book. Jayne Ann Krentz has been an automatic buy for me for years and I have enjoyed most of her books. But I've noticed over the last few years the quality of the writing and plotting has gone down and the formulaic aspects have grown exponentially. This one in particular was just ... not great. There was no sense of personality and humanity in these characters -- they were cardboard cutouts moved around for plot purposes. Compared to Krentz's early books, these supernatural romantic thrillers just aren't compelling or interesting.

Jayne Krentz has begun a new paranormal series in The Vanishing. Catalina Lark saw a murder in the Fogg Lake area while she and a friend braved the caves that are known for weird events; no body was found. Now 15 years later she is having precognitive visions and people are dying. Slater Argenbright is investigating criminal activities centered around the lost lab in Fogg Lake; he is also bumping up against Catalina's activities. Where will this go. From the mistress of paranormal adventures, a great new series. Stay tuned.

This was the book I felt compelled to read this week – no matter what I put in my Sunday Post. I expected to be swept away by Krentz/Quick/Castle’s unique blend of romantic suspense and parapsychological woo-woo and that’s exactly what happened.

I also expect that Fogg Lake will somehow turn out to be just down the road from Scargill Cove, that the Bluestone Project will somehow turn out to be related to “Mad Scientist” Jones’ research or that The Foundation will be outed as a precursor agency to the Arcane Society. Or all of the above.

But in the meantime, The Vanishing stands on its own as the first book in a new series. And it stands proud.

The story does begin a bit in the middle, but not because there have been previous mentions of Fogg Lake. But because by the time that Catalina and Olivia are teenage girls, whatever happened to make Fogg Lake the place it is occurred decades in the past. There was a Fogg Lake Incident that turned the town more than a bit insular. An incident that gave all the residents – and their descendants – paranormal powers of one kind or another. The kind of powers that the so-called normal world treats as a one-way ticket to drugged institutionalization.

Not that The Foundation doesn’t have its own facilities for that sort of thing. It’s one of the reasons that their reputation in the paranormal community is more than a bit tattered. But people with paranormal powers do go off the rails. It’s just that The Foundation is well aware that they are not off those rails merely because they think have those powers.

Catalina and Olivia left Fogg Lake to go to college. After they learned to keep their powers hidden and appear normal. Long after they witnessed a murder in the Fogg Lake caves that everyone else was convinced was a hallucination – even them.

But that long ago incident in their own personal past reaches out to grab them, or at least to grab Olivia, from the streets of Seattle. Just as The Foundation, in the person of Slater Arganbright, shows up at their private investigations agency to hire them. The Foundation needs their help in investigating a couple of crime scenes that just might connect back to Fogg Lake’s incident.

Catalina and Slater join reluctant forces to find the missing Olivia and determine whether their two cases connect.

Coincidences aren’t in either of their worlds. Slater’s crime scenes are all too related to Olivia’s disappearance. And everything ties back to that incident at Fogg Lake. Both the one in the town’s past and the later one in Cat’s and Olivia’s.

And Cat and Slater definitely connect with each other. More than either of them expected – or even thought might be possible.

Escape Rating A-: I got completely lost in this one, which seems appropriate for a story set in a place called Fogg Lake. I was grabbed by the story at the very beginning, with teenaged Cat and Olivia witnessing a murder in the caves – and not being believed.

But that was just a teaser to set up part of the main story. And it so worked.

Because it gives the reader a glimpse of the way that Fogg Lake is while not revealing how it got that way. In the end, that revelation is part of the main story – and it’s clear that we don’t know nearly enough – yet.

The biggest part of this one is the investigation. We follow along with Slater and Cat as they search for the missing Olivia, investigate Slater’s mysterious crime scenes and attempt to discover what the one has to do with the other. All the while, the true history of Fogg Lake hovers just out of reach – until they begin stumbling over its very messy pieces.

Along the way, several fascinating things happen. One is the dive into the paranormal world that Slater and Cat inhabit every bit as much as they do the normal world – if not sometimes a bit more. The whole thing about the secret world existing alongside of the one we know is done well and is very cool as well as a bit creepy in all the right ways.

At the same time we get to know Cat, her abilities and her powers. Part of the fun of that part of the story is discovering just how many people Cat distrusts and has run afoul of, as well as her snarky attitude towards all of the above. Cat’s a woman I’d love to have drinks with – and she’d know if anyone spiked them.

And then there’s the growing tension between Cat and Slater. They don’t trust each other. To be more accurate, Cat doesn’t trust anyone from The Foundation as Cat’s last job for them left her holding the bag on a big mess courtesy of Slater’s uncle. A mess that seems to follow her around throughout the story and with which she has zero patience – and for good reason.

But the same powers that have made both of these people fear relationships with normals have given them an instant and intense awareness of each other that can only lead to one place – if they are willing to take the risk.

And if they can get this case wrapped up before it kills them.

I don’t know when the second book in the Fogg Lake series will be coming out – but I can’t wait to find out more!

It is really hard to believe that this is the first book that I have read by this author, but it will not be the last.

This book draws you in from the very beginning. What is behind the odd occurrences at Fogg Lake? And why do things seem to be kept hush-hush? Even though the town seems to stand behind its residents, it seems to turn a blind eye when certain things happen. The Incident happens when Catalina and Olivia are young and in the caves that many of the youngsters of Fogg Lake explore - an explosion that gives them paranormal talents.

As adults they start a PI business, but when Olivia goes missing it is up to Catalina to track her down...maybe with a little help from Slater Arganbright, a member of The Foundation.

This was a quick read and while I was left with some questions left unanswered, I look forward to the next book by Jayne Ann Krentz that I read. She employs writing skills that are hard to find in a lot of authors. I really enjoyed this book.

We always buy Jayne Ann Krentz for our library. However, this was not one of my favorites. I'm sure it was just me, but I felt like I had already read it before.

This book is vintage Jayne Ann Krentz. It brings together the elements from each of her series under her different pseudonyms to create this masterpiece that combines psychic elements with modern murder and suspense. Romance is a nice thread in the story, but, like in all her books, it's a flavor that brings out more in the story than the story itself.
Back in Seattle, Catalina and Olivia are best friends running a PI firm together. If they are both able to use their psychic talents in their profession, then that only helps their clients, doesn't it? That is, until Oliva suddenly disappears and Catalina's psychic powers are of no help. Along comes Slater Arganbright to help with the case. The fact he and Catalina have a strong chemical reaction to each other is only a bonus.
As they follow the clues, they find themselves heading back to Fogg Lake, where it all began on a night when Olivia and Catalina hung out in the cave system and witnessed a murder. A murder they've never been sure was real or a hallucination.
Slater has his own set of issues after his recent psychic burnout. Catalina's belief in him and the possibilities of getting into Fogg Lake and chasing some of the rumors that have haunted the psychic community are all good for him. There's no spine-tingling excitement and edge-of-seat danger as the story unfolds, but in the author's quiet way, she brings all the threads together very capably with a happily ever after built in.

Catalina Lark and her childhood friend, Olivia, have become business partners in an investigative firm. The friends have a unique bond – they’re both from the town of Fogg Lake, they both have psychic powers, and they witnessed a murder when they were teenagers. Their home town became victim of some psychic experimentation decades ago, leaving the residents with various and varying degrees of psychic abilities.

Slater Albright is a member of the somewhat notorious family who runs what is known as The Foundation, which is actually a sort of policing organization for criminals who are beyond the capabilities of normal law enforcement. He recently was exposed to an emission which caused nightmares and hallucinations, and lead to his own family keeping him sedated under lock and key, until he began to heal. Slater is still not fully cognizant of how his own psychic abilities have been affected – he only knows that he feels different. Slater’s uncle has determined that it’s time for Slater to return to work, as several suspicious murders have come to the attention of The Foundation.

When Olivia is kidnapped, the Foundation believes it may be linked to the recent murders. Slater contacts Catalina, who is leery of the mysterious organization, and its dubious reputation. She’s also desperate enough to know that she can use Slater’s talents in finding her friend before it’s too late. At their first meeting, which is literally their slamming into each other, sparks fly. They both feel a strong sensation, something unlike anything they’ve felt before.

As they investigate together, a path that leads back to Fogg Lake, they discover deception, murder, secret labs, conspiracies, and more! Their attraction continues to build, until finally, they explore the passion between them. Catalina is finally free to not hold back, and it seems that Slater is the perfect match for her. The two outsiders can feel normal with each other, something neither has felt in a long time. Catalina can also somewhat “read” Slater, and she realizes his uncertainty and panic over his evolving abilities. She assures him that he’s not becoming the monster he fears.

THE VANISHING is a fast paced thriller with plenty of action, villains, and twists to go along with the satisfyingly steamy romance. I truly liked both Catalina and Slater, sympathizing with their feelings of being abnormal, trying to fit in to the “outside” world. I love how they found a sense of home, and a place of belonging together. They undoubtedly had some clashes, but never disrespected the other, and always managed to think intelligently about the situation. This book ends in a way I enjoyed, and it gives a hint that there are more villains hiding under the radar, and that there is more to the story of Fogg Lake. I recommend this story to fans of romantic suspense, particularly those who enjoy a touch of the paranormal to add to their reading pleasure.

The book opens with Catalina Lark and Olivia Dayton, teenagers spending the night in the local cave, witnessing a murder. They save themselves but it's a near thing and they spend the night trapped in a nightmare. When they come out, the townspeople are happy to believe that it was a hallucination. After all, Fogg Lake was the site of a paranormal disaster fifty years ago and the people of the town have been dealing with psychic repercussions ever since.
In the present day, Catalina and Olivia are private investigators, using their psychic powers to help their clients. One the same night that Catalina goes to save a client, Olivia is kidnapped. Luckily, Slate Arganbright has already come to town looking for her. He is also psychic but is still getting over being locked in his uncles' "attic" after being dosed with an unknown chemical that they thought might be driving him crazy. He might've been for a little bit but now he's here to help Catalina find her friend as well as trying to figure out why collectors of psychic items are dying.
There is some overlap with the Arcane Society novels (Vortex is a "bad guy" in that series as well) but I think this might actually be a similar, but new, world. Because it is so very similar, it took some time to adjust to the fact that this is a new series but there is a LOT of world building so we don't really get to see the relationshp between Catalina and Slate develop.

Three stars
This book came out January 7th
ARC kindly provided by Berkley and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Every once in a while you pick up a book that blows you away. Bravo, Jayne Ann Krentz, because The Vanishing was mind blowing with its utterly original plot.

The government was secretly experimenting with all things paranormal. When something goes drastically wrong, the entire town's inhalants of Fogg Lake are transformed into something more. This story follows Catalina as she tries to rescue her life long friend Olivia from people who want information that might be locked away in her subconsciousness. Catalina quest is joined by a member of the Foundation, Slater. They soon discover that Catalina is also being targeted and must traverse the dangerous footsteps of Catalina's and Olivia's past to discover the danger in the present.

The Vanishing provides a mind bending mystery that will have you glued to the pages.

I received this ARC copy of The Vanishing from Berkley Publishing Group. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was over the moon to discover that Jayne Ann Krentz has returned to paranormal romantic suspense with The Vanishing, the first book in the Fogg Lake series!

Catalina Lark and Slater Arganbright will feel familiar to Krentz fans. Catalina is smart, determined, and psychically gifted: she has visions of the immediate future (four or five seconds ahead.) Slater is recovering from an accident that left his psychic abilities changed, both more powerful and unpredictable. The several months he spent “locked in the attic” (for his own safety) left their mark on his psyche as well; his outlook, at least in terms of his own future, is somewhat pessimistic. Nonetheless, Catalina learns she can rely on him to have her back as they search for her missing friend Olivia and try to figure out the broader puzzle of who is after Catalina and Olivia and just what those people want.

The result is everything I expect from a Jayne Anne Krentz book: suspense, romance, sharp dialog, and an exciting plot full of twists and unexpected turns. I enjoyed every minute of it, and would have read it through in a single night if I hadn’t also been working a lot of extra hours.

I did wonder as I read The Vanishing whether the Fogg Lake “world” connects with the Arcane Society books, because there are some significant parallels. Arcane is never mentioned in The Vanishing, but much of the overall world seems very similar to that of the Arcane Society — a world where some people possess significant psychic powers, and where secret organizations, both governmental and private (and both benign and malignant) explore those powers and how to create, enhance, or control them. Overall, the Arcane Society and its members are a more organized and knowledgeable than the groups and individuals in this book, but I can easily imagine the Fogg Lake series connecting up at some point.

If past history is anything to go by, the next book will come out in January of 2021. And already I can’t wait to read it!

A new atmospheric romantic suspense series with a strong psychic element from this author will always get me perking right up and ready to grab it for a read. It only took the prologue to prove the high anticipation was not wasted.
Review

The Vanishing is the first in a series centering on a remote community in the mountains where years before a government run paranormal lab’s explosion had certain unique effects on the people of the nearby town and following generations. The lab and others like it were shut down, but now someone is interested in picking through the clues to find the labs and the secrets hidden there. They will stop at nothing even murder and kidnapping to achieve their goals.

Catalina Lark is one of the gifted residents of Fogg Lake who has since moved to Seattle and set up a detective agency with her best friend, Olivia, to discreetly use their psychic talents to handle their cases. Olivia disappears and Catalina must accept the help of the dreaded Foundation, an agency meant to help guide, assist, and police those with psychic abilities. It has a bad rep after the previous leadership went on a power trip and even after their removal she had a bad experience with the new leader. No, she doesn’t want to accept a Foundation agent, but the clock is ticking on Olivia’s disappearance.

Slater Arganbright, recently given a cautious clean bill of health after exposure to radiation did crazy things to his psychic abilities and left him grappling with control, is sent by his uncle into the field to investigate a pair of murders that he feels have ties to the legendary Vortex and experimentation labs. He is told the history between his uncle and Catalina so is well aware she’s nearly hostile about his presence until he has a chance to prove himself.

The Vanishing jumped right into the excitement and suspense I love to see and feel up front in a story. The psychic element was a fun twist on the already intense conspiracies, murder and kidnapping. Instead of aliens and Roswell or Area 51, the author went with paranormal phenomena and psychic energy. It was great.

The characters were tough Catalina who knows her job, has control over her psychic gift, and has a little vulnerability when it comes to men not handling all there was about her in the past- usually seeing her as a freak. Slater is skilled and intelligent as well and his weakness is fear of the changes in his psychic gifts that are darker making him feel like a monster. I was vested in both of them easily and engaged in their story working as partners to solve Slater’s case and find Olivia. The story is more action-focused even with their relationship which is based on attraction and a soul-mate like compatibility pull, but I didn’t mind because the overall story was engrossing.

The situation is kept a mystery and slowly peels back the layers of how the past and the present converge and leaves the reader to keep reading to see who the players are and what their agendas are. The set up and investigation got things rolling slowly compared to the pace of the last quarter of the book. Some good twists and dangerous moments happened and a ‘for now’ wrap up that completed this story thread, but showed where the series arc is taking us. Can’t wait!

All in all, this was a abso-fab series start and I look forward to what comes next in this exciting world of psychics, secret labs and romance. Those who enjoy slightly spicy romantic suspense with a paranormal element should pick this one up.

Even when it's been a while for me reading Krentz I can pick up one of her books and feel like I've come home. The way she writes makes her a comfort read for me. I just really enjoy her books.

When I saw this new series starting I knew I had to give it a try. It just sounded so good and I loved the idea of it. It kinda reminded me of her otherworldly books. Since we haven't had any of those in a while I was excited.

I was right about wanting to read it. I just loved The Vanishing. It has wonderful characters, those ones that make a Krentz book sing. The suspense is good but not over the top. You have a well balanced romantic suspense with the right amount of romance.

I loved both Catalina and Slate. Krentz comes up with wonderful names for her characters. She's been entertaining me for what seems a lifetime with them. Right away you know these two work together. They just mesh.

I love how Slate tells her that he's been locked up in an attic. You'll have to read the book to understand what I'm talking about. His comment is funny, not what happened to him. Slate's family is also very funny. Spending the holidays with them would be different.

As a whole, the story works well and gives you enough about what the series is going to be about and leaves you wanting more. I could have most likely read the whole series in one sitting. That's how much I enjoyed The Vanishing.

THE VANISHING is a book that brings out all of Jayne Ann Krentz's enthralling abilities onto the pages that will hold you captive. Romance, suspense, paranormal magic, evil, good, and drama are rolled up in this fascinating read.

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction.

Complete review may be found at: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=69863

3.5 Stars

Catalina and Olivia grew up in Fogg Lake where the town went through some sort of “incident” forty years back that left most with special/supernatural powers. Because of this the residents try to keep the town off the radar from outsiders, knowing how most of the world views claims of paranormal activity or sensitivity. They don’t want to become lab rats or have scientists descend onto the town making it their personal laboratory.

As teenagers, Catalina and Olivia witness a murder, though, there’s no evidence and the town believe they just hallucinated the whole event, but in the present witnessing this murder leads to Olivia and Catalina running into danger, and Olivia goes missing. Determined to find her friend Catalina reluctantly accepts the help of the Foundation, an organization that knows of Fogg Lake and deals in the supernatural, both protecting and policing those with special powers. However, in the past the Foundation wasn’t run by scrupulous individuals, so most aware of the paranormal community are wary of them. Slater Arganbright is one of the good guys, but Catalina doesn’t trust him at first. That doesn’t mean that the energies between them don’t spark and collide, with a burning attraction between them, but still, Catalina wants to be careful.

They investigate with dangers thrown their way, together they keep each other safe. This was a thrill ride at times, with Catalina and Slater scrapping by. I thought this was an entertaining start to the Fogg Lake series, but still I had a bit of trouble with the pacing. I think explaining and establishing the ins and outs of this world slowed the pace for me. The book wraps up the immediate mystery, but there’s more to come with the factions involved.

Murder, mystery, psychics, auras, and a hint of romance make for a great combination in The Vanishing. Jayne Ann Krentz has kicked off her Fogg Lake series with a fast-paced, engaging story.

Decades ago, “The Incident” happened in Fogg Lake; an explosion in the caves that released gases and gave the residents and their decedents certain paranormal abilities. Catalina Lark grew up in Fogg Lake, but she and her best friend, Olivia, make their living as investigators in Seattle. When Olivia goes missing, Catalina learns that it’s due to a murder both witnessed in Fogg Lake when they were teenagers. The only person Catalina can trust to help her find her friend is Slater Arganbright, an agent from the secretive Foundation. Catalina and Slater have an instant connection and it doesn’t just come from them both having supernatural skills. They clicked perfectly, making it easy to fall into the rhythm of the story as they hunt kidnappers, killers, and unraveled a mystery that began before they were born.

The Vanishing moves at a quick clip and because it’s the first book in the series, Ms. Krentz throws out a lot of information. I won’t spoil the story by revealing anything, but there are mysterious organizations, multiple players with competing agendas, and quite a few point of view shifts, some of which will likely be important down the line in the series. Because of this, there’s a lot of exposition and I wish there had been more show than tell, especially near the end so the developments felt more organic. The world building and mystery are enough to keep the story going strong and Catalina and Slater are great central characters, so it also would have been nice to see their relationship develop over the course of the series. Instead the romance felt almost shoehorned in and was so rushed that it wasn’t quite believable at the end. This isn’t to say I didn’t like the book – I actually really enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to what happens next – but it was missing much-needed depth in some areas that would have made the story shine.

Readers who loved the Arcane Society series, Ms. Krentz creates a new series just as alluring. Set in the contemporary era, this seemingly straightforward suspense tale about two friends who run a business together quickly unveils an otherworldly flavour. Catalina and Olivia are best friends not only because they grew up together in a sleepy town of Fogg Lake, but because during their formative years, they experienced a traumatic incident. This incident so to speak is probably what set them off in their path of investigative work. Trying to put their past in the past, they moved out and on. Unfortunately for the two of them, they are targeted because of it, just a decade and a half later.

Ms. Krentz brings readers to the tantalizing edge of fringe science and mixes it with paranormal creativity. For those who enjoy suspending reality and opening their mind to possibilities, Ms. Krentz is the author extraordinaire. She uses a bit of scientific methods as well as "gut intuitions" to create a plausible world which exists in parallel to the normal "muggle" reality. Creating various secret societies working on using, abusing, or protecting paranormal items brings in the elements of suspense and tension. This plot device where a nefarious group of "mad scientist" bent on a mystical world domination may sound ludicrous and yet it works so smoothly. Why? Because Ms. Krentz balances both the realities of the world with the enticing magic of the supernatural.

Her characters help this balance with a mix of loony and pragmatism. The seriousness of some of the characters offsets the crazy rantings of what seems like the unhinged. Catalina is one who understands and moves in this paranormal world yet keeps an outer shell of normalcy. Whereas her love interest, Slate gives of vibe of intense supernatural whilst he strives for inner normalcy. This dichotomy is riveting to watch as the two of them interact, generate a spark which then slowly builds into a nice sensual fire. Their personalities are different as both of them come from different ends of the spectrum for upbringing. The common denominator of using paranormal powers is what brings them together. Both Cat and Slate follow the same prototype of characters Ms. Krentz creates in all her books. After reading almost all over her books, I am yet to be tired of these character types. It's because she meshes them so well. Be it a historical, fantasy, contemporary or paranormal, the men are stoic loyal ones who want to protect all. The women are considered slightly off beat, independent yet sensitive who believes they can save others. Ms. Krentz brings out the best traits her characters who are sometimes considered broken, flawed or crazy. She makes them human and relatable. This paranormal suspense is highly recommended to readers who enjoy a bit of X-files suspense and romance.

This is the perfect book for a weekend retreat, whether it's actually the weekend or whether someone just has some quiet down-time. A fresh, different but still-familiar Krentz book that entertains effortlessly.

This book read like a stand-alone story -- until after the resolution of the plot crises. I enjoyed that sufficient-unto-itself feel: I wasn't missing any characters or story lines from other books that I hadn't read.

Then towards the end of this first book, the author added in a prolonged section giving the background (usually given in the beginning) and setting up the characters (not referenced earlier in this first book) to establish the necessary platform for the books to come in the Fogg Lake series. I found that section awkward and detracting from the book I was just finishing.

Excepting that final section, the book was enjoyable. And I've reconciled myself to the whole series effect. After all, we always need more new Krentz books!

Jayne Ann Krentz (Untouchable) goes back to her paranormal romance/mystery genre with The Vanishing, although slightly different from what fans know and love. In The Vanishing psychic powers come from the result of an 'Incident' decades ago at a hidden lab in Fogg Lake. Instead of the Arcane Society there is the Foundation, a shadow group that has been trying to help psychics (with mixed results) since the Incident. Slater is one of the people who tracks down artifacts that potentially have paranormal provenance. Recovering from an 'incident' of his own, he's not sure how stable he is or how ready he might be for another investigation, but things change when he meets Catalina. He goes from investigating a potential cold case murder to helping Catalina search for her kidnapped friend and has to jump in the deep end when it comes to trusting his battered senses.

Catalina is a sensible, cynical, investigator whose visions help read crime scenes. She has no reason to trust the Foundation, but also has no choice since Slater is the only one who can help find Olivia. Sparks fly between the two from the beginning and they work well together. I found it enjoyable that every time Slater started getting worried about his altered senses and getting a little disturbed that Catalina wasn't panicking about him being a monster she would just shrug him off and tell him that she was too busy worrying about other things, but maybe later. Her attitude worked well to help ground Slater, and for him to realize that Catalina knows the difference between a real monster and someone whose powers are just a little different- and that 'different' doesn't bother her.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the plot in The Vanishing was the personal aspect. This wasn't an investigator in the course of a case discovering dark secrets that had nothing to do with her- this was Catalina's home town, her past, and her best friend on the line. The urgency to find Olivia thrummed throughout the book, helped put a lot of things into perspective for Catalina and Slater, and kept the book's pacing moving quickly. All the different characters and plot threads come together nicely at the end and still leave us with a few shadowy villains lurking for possible future books. I was hoping for more details about the original 'incident' at Fogg Lake and the people there, but with luck some of those questions might be answered in the future as well. Krentz's trademark dry humor runs throughout the book and keeps the reader smiling even in dangerous circumstances. Readers of Krentz's Harmony series (Illusion Town) will feel right at home in the labyrinth of paranormal energy filled caves near Fogg Lake. Overall, a fast-paced and enjoyable book that Krentz fans will be happy with, and a good introduction to her writing for new readers.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Another great read by Jayne Ann Krentz. I really enjoyed this one, and didn't suspect the villain nearly as soon as I often do. Great job keeping the suspense going!

The Vanishing introduces Catalina Lark and Olivia LeClair, who witnessed a murder as teenagers. But with no body and no evidence, what they saw is dismissed as hallucinations in the mysterious caves of Fogg Lake. How convenient, no? Sounds like a murderer's paradise, really. Makes you wonder how much time residents spend gaslighting each other.


Present day and they are investigators, helping clients dig into other people's backgrounds (significant others, relatives, etc). This part opens with them telling a client that her boyfriend is not what he seems; Catalina later visits her at home because of a bad feeling that leads to her saving the client's life (with a fork, no less!) But in the meantime, Olivia was preparing for a big date with her boyfriend, Emerson, and disappeared on the way. You find out pretty quickly that Emerson is a dunderhead because he's first pissed to have been ghosted, shocked she has disappeared, and then tells Catalina to call him once she finds her. No rush to get his shining armour and noble steed out for his missing girlfriend.

In the meantime, Slater Arganbright has shown up on the trail of some potential murders of artifact collectors in the Seattle area. Slater is dealing with his own psychic issues but he jumps in to helping find Olivia right away (though it isn't always his first priority). Slater represents the Foundation, an organization for psychics that comes complete with their own asylum. That's giving off trustworthy vibes, for sure.

It's definitely an Insta-love book as it takes place over three days where Catalina looks for Olivia and avoids being kidnapped herself. The suspense is enjoyable, and it'll be a standard read for JAK fans. I was intrigued but not that engaged, to be honest. I doubt I will reread it. I suspect there will be other books set in this world so I'm curious to see where it goes from here.