Amanda Quick takes us Close Up into Burning Cove, an upscale community in 1930's California. Vivian Brazier, photographer for art and murder scenes, is the target for an assassin. Nick Sundridge, private investigator, has a tip that she is not safe and both pretend to be married at the Burning Cove hotel to sniff out the assassin and who hired him. Both Vivian and Nick have special senses and bad track records with previous romantic entanglements. Bodies are tumbling out. Romance looks ready to bloom. Tune in to this romantic cozy.

Regardless of the time, place, or pseudonym, Amanda Quick (a/k/a Jayne Ann Krentz) is a master crafter of mystery. In Close Up, the fourth book of Quick's Burning Cove series, the author takes us into the fascinating world of Hollywood's Golden Age and the deadly evil of a murderer lurking within. She begins weaving the threads of the mystery from the first pages of the book and keeps them tightly bound through several twists and turns until the final, stunning conclusion. I was hooked from beginning to end.

One of the many things at which Quick excels is creating atmosphere within her stories. Close Up is no exception. She transported me to the 1930's of the many Hollywood movies I've seen that were filmed in that era. The clothes, cars, nightclubs and mansions in the hills above Los Angeles. The beautiful young men who gathered in what would become Muscle Beach, who provide artistic inspiration to photographer Vivian. And the throng of crime beat photographers who rush to the scenes of murders in the middle of the night, flashbulbs popping, jostling one another in a bid to get the best shot, the front page photo, and the newspaper money to carry them through another day. It all played out, like a black and white film reel in my mind.

I adored Vivian. She's a wonderful representation of the bold, "modern" women of the time who were venturing out into the world (she's cut off by her wealthy father), forging their own paths, using their voices, and creating careers, and lives, of their own choice. Nick, a man who admires her fortitude, respects her skill, and shares the desire blooming between them, is her perfect partner. And, while the suspense is more heavily weighted in this book, their romance is grounded with an emotionally satisfying depth...and a flash of sizzle. Vivian is also the right woman to help Nick deal with the emotional trauma of his past and stand strongly by his side into the future. I so enjoyed these two and loved watching them work together to unravel the mystery. A mystery, with many moving parts, that kept me trying to figure everything out right up until the end of the book. I love when an author is able to do that.

Close Up is the fourth book in Quick's Burning Cove series but stands on its own. While a few characters from earlier in the series make appearances, reading their stories first is not necessary to thoroughly enjoy Vivian and Nick's journey in Close Up. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

*ARC received for fair and honest review
4.5 Stars

My Friday night just-for-me reads are the perfect opportunity to enjoy Krentz/Quick books, and this newest, Close Up, is a good one! Of the four in the Burning Cove series, this is the best by far: fast-paced and constantly compelling my attention.

I enjoyed the way this book starts without connection to the others in the series- a strong read on its own merit. Then the connections begin to show up, and the story gets even better.

A fun read and a strong addition to the series. I really enjoyed it!

Close up is the latest book in the Burning Cove series the 4th book set in California during the 1930s. This book takes place in Hollywood where glamour conceals a ruthless killer.
I have read all the other books She has definitely made me a fan. One does not have to read the previous 3 books to follow along nicely with this one.All the books take place in a central location which ties them all , but each book is a stand alone mystery. The mystery was good in that i never guessed the killer.

Close Up is the enchanting follow up to Tightrope, making it book 4 in the Burning Cove series. But don’t let that stop you from picking up this terrific historical romance, as there is very little that ties this book into the earlier books in the series, beginning with The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Come to think of it, the entire series features women who know entirely too much, and who use that knowledge to solve murder sprees that they find themselves at the hearts of through absolutely no fault of their own.

Not that it’s remotely coincidental that bad things happen to them, just as it is far from coincidental that photographer Vivian Brazier becomes the target of not one but two murder attempts. The long arm of coincidence is seldom that long, and it certainly isn’t here – no matter how much it seems that the two plots are not related to each other – except in their choice of victim.

It’s up to Vivian, along with her temporary bodyguard, private investigator Nick Sundridge, to figure out who is after her and why – before it’s too late.

Escape Rating B+: The fun in this entry in the series is twofold. Of course there’s figuring out who is doing it. Not to mention, why are they doing it? Well not directly why. The murderer is planning to do Vivian in because he’s being paid to do it. The question is why would someone want to eliminate her?

Her family may be wealthy, but she’s been disowned. She’s a freelance crime photographer and hopeful art photographer, neither of which brought in “big bucks” during the Depression. She’s young and hopeful at the art photography, using the freelance crime photography to pay the rent. So no one is after the money she doesn’t have.

She’s still at the bottom rung of the ladder in her chosen profession, so she’s not in anyone’s way.

At least the first murder attempt was the direct result of her actions. She figured out, not who the “Dagger Killer” was, not exactly, but she narrowed the field enough for the police to hone in on their killer. Who tried to kill her first and failed.

The second plot seems to make no sense. But through investigating it we get to visit the point in history when the question of whether photography could possibly ever be considered “Art” was still the subject of considerable debate. (Man Ray, the famous artist and photographer, was working in Paris at this time, along with one of the characters of yesterday’s book, Salvador Dali)

Times when the world is in flux make fascinating backgrounds for stories and characters. Vivian is at the crux of this particular change, and it makes her compelling to follow. She’s a woman attempting to make a career in a man’s world, and that’s always a challenge. But she’s also a proponent of a new way of doing things at a time when the old way still holds sway. And she’s working at the juncture between commercialism and art, yet another turning point.

She’s right, she knows she’s right, but there’s a question of whether she will live to see her vision proven correct. Not just because she’s in the crosshairs of a murderer, but because pioneers in any field always wonder if they will make it during their own lifetimes.

And on top of it all, there’s a romance. I’ll admit that, like an earlier book in this series, The Other Lady Vanishes, I didn’t quite buy the romance. I expected it as part of the pattern for this series, but there wasn’t quite enough romantic tension between Vivian and Nick to really sell it, at least not for me.

But I still had a great time watching Vivian take on the establishment and help to save herself from being the murderer’s next victim. A murderer that, like both Vivian and Nick, I didn’t suss out until the very end.

Amanda Quick is an author that I love under all of her names, Quick for historical, Jayne Castle for futuristic and Jayne Ann Krentz for contemporary. I look forward to reading her next venture into romantic suspense, no matter when it is set or which name she publishes it under!

**I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

In this fourth venture to Burning Cove, Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) artfully combines suspense and romance to create another entertaining read. Vivian loves photography, with dreams of becoming an art photographer. To pay the bills, she also takes crime scene photography for newspapers. When she stumbles upon a clue left behind by a ruthless killer, she never imagines that she herself could become a target. Enter Nick, whose family’s intuition “curse” makes him a great private investigator, as well as a great bodyguard. It does not take long for these two to feel sparks between them. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, Quick writes a twist, which will keep you guessing until the very end.

A perfect addition to the Burning Cove series! Quick’s writing is entertaining and flows so well from chapter to chapter. Despite a few storylines appearing from time to time, everything connects so well, and I was never confused by the side stories. The characters are very likeable, and series followers will recognize some characters from prior Burning Cove books. Plus, just to read about the glamor of Hollywood and socialite living in 1930s California is a very inviting experience. I’ve become a fan of her writing and anxiously await the next in the series.

Up Close is the fourth book in the Burning Cove series from Amanda Quick. The story is set in 1930's LA among the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's golden age. Vivian is a photographer working nights on the crime beat to cover the costs of her true passion, fine art photography. We meet Vivian as she's called to the latest murder in a series that has been haunting the hills of Hollywood. Her involvement in documenting the scene sets a whole new mystery in motion. Aided by private investigator, Nick, Vivian must find a killer and save herself in the process.

I have been a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz's historical romance novels written under the pen name Amanda Quick for many years. She always manages to create an engaging mystery, and well-rounded characters that keep me coming back for more. This book is no different as it follows not one but two mysteries that all center around Vivian. The story starts at a crime scene, and Krentz doesn’t let up on the action and the intrigue for the entirety of the book

The characters of Nick and Vivian are very nuanced and interesting. I liked that both characters were given a bit of the psychic powers that is typical in Krentz books, but it was not as pronounced as other offerings. I also enjoyed how both main characters were thoroughly modern people for their time. Vivian is a great example of the emboldened women of the 30's who were finding their way in the world outside of the expected ideals. Nick is an excellent partner for this type of woman, thoughtful and pragmatic, he embraces her wit and intelligence.

Perhaps, that is why I was a bit bothered that as is typical for these books the romance becomes lost at times among the action and the mystery. Usually, I don't mind this in Amanda Quick novels, but this time around I did find it a little too light on the romance for my personal taste. I think some of this comes down to the fact that the entire book takes place in about a week's time, thus limiting the time spent on the couple coming together.

Krentz is always a master of her craft, but she shines the brightest for me in how she crafts a mystery. I love how plot threads are woven together and never seemed to be dropped. There were times I was worried that a detail had been missed because the resolution seemed incomplete, but by the end of the novel we are given every necessary answer. My only complaint with this story was that the ending was a bit too drawn out to ensure all ends were tied up. Some of the ending could have been relegated to a short epilogue, but was instead given several pages worth of time.

Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone that's a fan of romantic suspense. I'd especially recommend it as an excellent example of a historical romance that isn't set in the typical regency time period. This was the first book I have read in this series and I was happy that it easily stood on its own even as you were given glimpses of previous books' characters.

Everything by this author is well-documented, polished, and a fun read. I enjoy reading about the different career fields she puts her heroines in as well as the fact that the women are relatable. This book was no exception. It was a quick read and the characters were entertaining.
So this can either be a plus or minus. This is a formulaic read. You know how the book will progress and end. I find this very comforting sometimes as it just gives me escape time while not making me think to much. I have read everything by this author so obviously I like my escape time. However, if you need to be riveted and challenged by a story, this may not be for you. But you probably would be fascinated by the way photography has developed over the years as art and a reflection on our society.

Vivian Brazier’s passion is photography, and she hopes to become a respected and successful art photographer. Until then, she has to pay the bills by taking news photos at crime scenes, then hustling to sell them to a newspaper before her competitors. Vivian comes from a wealthy family, but her father stopped supporting her financially when she refused to marry the respectable man of their choosing. And there’s also the matter of that other scandal, the shocking affair that ended in a very nasty, public scene.

Nick Sundridge is a private detective. He also has a gift, or, perhaps it’s a curse, where he goes into a trance and has the ability to see a murder scene. He uses this gift to try to prevent future murders, but the fever dreams, nightmares, and trances have played havoc with his love life. Women seem to find that all a bit off-putting.

Nick shows up at Vivian’s door, telling her that he’s there to protect her, as a hit has been ordered on her. Eventually, he convinces her that he’s on the level, and she is truly in danger. Their path to finding the answers as to who wants Vivian dead leads them to Burning Cove, a playground for the rich and famous, where they pose as a honeymooning couple.

There are twists and turns in the plot, and just when you think it’s all over, another curve is thrown at you. This fast paced book holds your attention as Vivian and Nick solve the mystery while falling in love. CLOSE UP takes place in California after the Great Depression, and Vivian is a very modern woman for that time. She is intelligent and career oriented, and unafraid to let everyone see her true self, and accept her or reject her as they will. She is also woman enough to accept genuine love when it comes calling. Nick was smitten with Vivian from the moment he first saw her. Though he’d been badly hurt and rejected before, he’s willing to risk his heart for a chance at a future with Vivian. I love how both characters are so accepting of each other, especially the things that they feel most insecure about. I also appreciate how Nick encouraged and supported Vivian’s career, while never being derogatory about her past. In turn, she was not put off by his “curse.” CLOSE UP is an engaging read, a whirlwind of mystery and romance, which takes the reader on an entertaining journey through a glamorous, long gone era.

CLOSE UP takes readers back to Burning Cove, California, and the glamour, glitz, and danger of 1930s Hollywood. Who else could come up with this amazing mixture of characters and situations that will have you glued to the pages but Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz)?

Annetta Sweetko, reviewer for Fresh Fiction

Complete review: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=70568

Close Up is the 4th book in the series. I did not realize that when I read it but I don't think it mattered. It felt like a stand a lone.
Vivien Brazier is a photographer. She wants to use her photography as art and have it in galleries but for now she takes pictures at scenes of murders and fires and sells to papers. As she takes pics of a murdered actress, she notices there is something similar to the murder of another one. Now Vivien is at the top of hit list.
Nick Sundridge is someone who can see things in his dreams and now he has been told that Vivien's life is in danger. So he shows up at her door to try to convince her. She has been put into danger and needs to relocate for a short while. But she is also trying to get her foot into art galleries.
I did enjoy this book a lot. Vivien is a very independent woman and her parents are not happy with her. This does have instant love in it just as a warning.
I received this from NetGalley and Berkley for review.

3.5

Vivian Brazier left the conventional life she could have had (getting married, running a household, having kids) in order to make it as an artist, particularly with her photography. In the interim of making it big, Vivian does freelance work as a photojournalist, documenting crime scenes. She knows there is a strong division between what people consider art and what others consider news, that's why she keeps her name out of the papers, but Vivian knows that her success shouldn't rest on the what she has to do in order to survive. When Vivian draws the attention of a serial killer she gets some much needed help from private detective Nick Sundridge whose ability to "see" things that others can't has helped him solve many cases, and save many lives, including his own.

First off, I this has the most gorgeous cover of the entire series thus far. I love it. I love the art deco background.

Now, to the story. Having read, and enjoyed, all previous books in the series, I felt like Close Up starts off a little clunky. Readers are given a slight feint in regards to where the mystery will be starting off. I don't say this as a spoiler because it's all revealed within the few couple of chapters. Once the layout of the story is changed, it put me off a little bit. It took me a but more to get a feel for where the story is going and how everything ties together. In that regard I felt like the actual denouement was almost reaching in places in order to make things work. There were definitely a few places where it felt a little too jumbled. Not really a clean line of how things got from point A to B. Which I get because it's a mystery/thriller, there's going to be twists and turns, but I still believe, in the end, when all is revealed, things should be clear.

There were some good moments. I love being back in Burning Cove again. The setting of the series during the Golden Age of Hollywood has always been a standout.

I loved the behind the scenes look at photography and the different viewpoints on what is considered art (all subjective of course), and those that make the decisions on what is art. I think that, if anything, Amanda Quick really gave the most to getting Vivian's story - her struggles as a woman trying to make it on her own, her struggles as an artist - on the page, and it was what worked the best for me in the entire read.

The past couple of books have leaned into the idea of supernatural-type powers. Nick has visions, goes into trances, where he gleams information about the cases he's working, typically helping him solve them. Vivian also gets certain feelings about the people she photographs. Feels that inform how she should frame a shot and if it's working or not. For the most part, these "powers" remain ambiguous. You could call them intuition, or you could fully stand on the side of psychic ability. I think Close Up more than the previous books makes a stand for the psychic ability aspect at least in regards to Nick and his visions. It's an interesting turn of plot, as Nick frequently calls his visions a curse. Amanda Quick ties together the idea of things passed down through family. Things that have the ability to either help or hinder how we live our lives, and sometimes it's what we do with them ourselves, the resources available to us, that can determine whether we're helped or hindered. In this regard there's a slight correlation between Nick and the killer. It's an interesting dynamic and I would have like to have seen it explored more, but I think that would have meant exposing the mystery sooner.

Overall, while not my favorite in the series, the pages still flew by. I was engaged with the story, and I, as always, loved the setting and liked the characters. Quick keeps teasing a bigger storyline for Luther Pell and Raina Kirk so fingers crossed their book is next.

Vivian Brazier is a photographer working in a beach town just outside of Los Angeles, California, trying to sell her work to galleries while working as an uncredited crime photographer at night to pay the bills. After a third dagger murder, she notices how staged the crime scenes are for photography specifically and mentions it to the local detective. This results in the Dagger Killer coming after her.

Nick Sundridge is a PI in San Francisco who has been sent by his uncle to act as Vivian’s bodyguard while she is under threat. They wind up hiding out in Burning Cove, hoping it is easier to find out who is threatening her there. Nick is also dealing with his attraction to Vivian, a surprise after his failed marriage a year earlier.

Once again, this book takes place over a short period of time so the romance happens fast. I found Vivian’s photography work quite fascinating and how it informs how she looks at crime scenes and investigating. She is an heiress (currently cut off from her allowance after leaving home to be a photographer) but has a genuine curiosity about the world and isn’t snobbish, and she uses the tools Society taught her as she navigates the art world.

I found this book to have a slow start (despite opening with a murder) but then it really kicks into high gear and keeps going. Readers will adore Rex, Nick’s faithful, bacon loving dog. The suspense flows nicely as they try to find out who it is that is trying to kill Vivian and ultimately, why. The twists and turns along the way are quite enjoyable for mystery and romantic suspense readers.

Close Up is the fourth book in Amanda Quick's her Burning Cove series, although this is the first book I have read from the series. I can't believe I haven't read this series before though because this book was so good. I shouldn't be surprised though because I love her Arcane Society books.

Close Up and the entire Burning Cove series is set in 1930s California. Our heroine Vivian Brazier is an aspiring art photographer who makes a living taking photos of crime scenes for newspapers and headshots for aspiring male actors. She finds herself the target of a killer after noticing similarities in the crime scenes of the killer's victims. Nick Sundridge, a private investigator, is sent to help protect Vivian.

Amanda Quick, who also writes as Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle, seamlessly weaves romance and suspense in all her novels, and Close Up is no different. It was beautifully written and had me on the edge of my seat guessing the whole time. And the romance between Vivian and Nick was sweet, their connection clear and instantaneous.

I've never read a historical romance set in this era before so it was a fun experience. As Vivienne was a photographer, it was particularly interesting to read about the photography process back then.

While this book is not directly connected to her Arcane society books, both our characters clearly have special intuitive abilities seen in the characters in those books and I did enjoy the reference to Caleb Jones, a character from that series.

I very much enjoyed this read and will definitely be going back to the beginning of the series. On that note, it is clear that each book can be read as a standalone, as I had no problem reading this book without having read the previous three. Some characters from the first books do appear but other than that there is nothing that prevents the book from being read on its own.

I definitely recommend this book.

Set in the 1930’s, this nail biter is about a photographer who has angered the wrong people through no fault of her own. Trying to get by without the backing of her rich family after being disowned, Vivian Brazier has moved to the town of Adelina Beach, CA and is working hard to sell her photos to the local galleries. Having a hard time, she’s taken a night job as a crime photographer for the local papers. While photographing the latest crime scene, a Hollywood starlet, she recognizes something that no one, including the police do. The scenes have been staged, staged for the perfect photo. Calling her tip in to the detective in charge, she washes her hands of it.
Now, she’s up to her armpits taking photographs of the young bodybuilders that litter the beach, the ones hoping to make their way onto the silver screen and need good shots. That is until Nick Sundridge shows up at her little bungalow and informs her that her life’s in danger. Someone’s put a hit out on her and it’s up to Nick to make sure she survives.
Running from the killer, Nick and Vivian end up in Burning Cove, Ca where they set up the killer. With him out of the picture (in a rather dramatic way), we find out that Vivian is still not safe, and there’s yet another person wanting her dead.
This is the first book I read in the Burning Cove series (this is book 4 in the series), but I read it without issue. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know it was part of the series until I set out to write this review. This book is wonderfully written, a great mix of a period piece and a nail biting thriller. The list of suspects is long, and the final killer is a shock when revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and now need to read the rest of the series!
**I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

While trying to make it as an art photographer, Vivian Brazier pays the bills with crime-and-fire shots she sells to local newspapers. When her artistic eye sees details at the crime scene of a serial killer, she accidentally puts herself in his crosshairs. Then Nick Sundridge, private investigator, shows up at her door to tell her she's being stalked by a killer and he's supposed to protect her. It's enough to send even as strong and pragmatic a woman as Vivian running for the hills- or at least Burning Cove. In this little seaside town Nick and Vivian work together with mobster (and Bureau code breaker) Luther Pell to unravel the secrets behind the assassin for hire stalking Vivian- and must try to discover not only who is out to kill Vivian, but why?

Amanda Quick (Tightrope) returns to the glitz and glamour of 1930s Hollywood in her fourth Burning Cove book. This time the town is a safe haven for PI Nick Sundridge and photographer Vivian Brazier, as they try to prevent Vivian's murder. Nick is extremely laid back, pragmatic, and a perfect example of still waters running deep. He and his faithful dog Rex make a delightful team, and Rex quite stole the show for me (that happens a lot with me and dogs who are obviously written with love. Also dust bunnies). Vivian is a wonderful heroine- a modern woman trying to make a living with her photography while working on her art. She's willing to roll with the punches life throws at her, and her rather personal interest in discovering who would want to hire someone to kill her gives her the believable investment in the mystery that some authors miss with amateur sleuths.

The mystery is like the relationship between Nick and Vivian: an instant flash followed by a slow burn that builds up a solid foundation and a very satisfying conclusion. It's an Amanda Quick mystery, so readers familiar with her books will know to expect plenty of twists, turns, and a few red herrings- plus the solution that you never quite see coming but makes perfect sense and ties up those last pesky loose ends after the big reveal. Readers new to the Burning Cove series or Quick's other books will enjoy a delightful, fresh story, while long time readers will also enjoy cameos by Luther Pell, Raina Kirk, Oliver and Irene Ward (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) as well as Caleb Jones! The psychic twist for the characters here is not as much a part of the plot as in Quick's Arcane series, so mystery readers who don't like too much paranormal with their suspense should still enjoy the story. Arcane fans (like myself) may be a bit disappointed the psychical aspect isn't pushed more, but I'm personally holding out hope for more in future book- perhaps Caleb Jones' diary can now fall into the hands of the 1930s Jones & Jones agency?

A fun and fast read, with plenty of satisfying plot twists set to the backdrop of glittering nightclubs and art galleries. Also, huge shout out to the designer of the amazing Art Deco cover! I love it!

I enjoyed the mystery, romance and setting of Close Up. The characters were interesting as were the situations in which they found themselves.
While 4th in the Burning Cove series it is not necessary to read the others to enjoy this book. Those who follow the series will not be disappointed, and those who discover it in this book will want to read the rest.

"Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer...

Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.

After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims - details that only another photographer would have noticed - details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.

Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it - his curse - along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse - all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders."

THIS! This is what I love! Hollywood glamour with murder!

What do murder, science and the supernatural have in common? It's the winning formula for Ms. Quick's latest romantic suspense novel in the Burning Cove series. From the luscious cover,  to an empowered heroine that has me cheering and the twists and turns of a great plot: this is a fabulous chapter in the series.
The dagger killer always leaves an antique dagger at the scene of his crime but Vivian Brazier may have inadvertently found a second signature when she uses her psychic eye to look through the lens of her camera. She's definitely hit a nerve since someone now seems to want her dead.
As Vivian goes through her daily routine photographing the hunky beach guards she starts to feel hunted. Her feeling is definitely borne out when she foils an attacker in her home at night with a little bit of help from Nick Sundridge, PI who's been assigned to keep her alive.
Nick helps Vivian to look through all the footage that she's been photographing to find clues. Before they can talk to what appear to be some suspicious characters bodies start to pile up. Failure is not an option for Nick who's haunted by a near miss in his past plus the red hot chemistry between the two raise the stakes even further.
They've got to follow the clues and trust me there are some hairpin turns to find the killer before he finds Vivian. Ensconced in the Burning Cove Hotel with some new characters and a supporting cast of characters from the previous books in the series Nick and Vivian hunker down and get to know each other a whole lot better in the process.  Apparently Nick has his own psychic talent; lucid dreaming which he employs as a tool along with his connections to narrow down on the killer.
The author delivers suspense, romance, passion, friendship and a great cast of characters.  I can't wait to see what comes next.

Up Close is the fourth book in the Burning Cove series from Amanda Quick. The story is set in 1930's LA among the glitz and glamour of Hollywood's golden age. Vivian is a photographer working nights on the crime beat to cover the costs of her true passion, fine art photography. We meet Vivian as she's called to the latest murder in a series that has been haunting the hills of Hollywood. Her involvement in documenting the scene sets a whole new mystery in motion. Aided by private investigator, Nick, Vivian must find a killer and save herself in the process.

I have been a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz's historical romance novels written under the pen name Amanda Quick for many years. She always manages to create an engaging mystery, and well-rounded characters that keep me coming back for more. This book is no different as it follows not one but two mysteries that all center around Vivian. The story starts at a crime scene, and Krentz doesn’t let up on the action and the intrigue for the entirety of the book

The characters of Nick and Vivian are very nuanced and interesting. I liked that both characters were given a bit of the psychic powers that is typical in Krentz books, but it was not as pronounced as other offerings. I also enjoyed how both main characters were thoroughly modern people for their time. Vivian is a great example of the emboldened women of the 30's who were finding their way in the world outside of the expected ideals. Nick is an excellent partner for this type of woman, thoughtful and pragmatic, he embraces her wit and intelligence.

Perhaps, that is why I was a bit bothered that as is typical for these books the romance becomes lost at times among the action and the mystery. Usually, I don't mind this in Amanda Quick novels, but this time around I did find it a little too light on the romance for my personal taste. I think some of this comes down to the fact that the entire book takes place in about a week's time, thus limiting the time spent on the couple coming together.

Krentz is always a master of her craft, but she shines the brightest for me in how she crafts a mystery. I love how plot threads are woven together and never seemed to be dropped. There were times I was worried that a detail had been missed because the resolution seemed incomplete, but by the end of the novel we are given every necessary answer. My only complaint with this story was that the ending was a bit too drawn out to ensure all ends were tied up. Some of the ending could have been relegated to a short epilogue, but was instead given several pages worth of time.

Overall I'd recommend this book to anyone that's a fan of romantic suspense. I'd especially recommend it as an excellent example of a historical romance that isn't set in the typical regency time period. This was the first book I have read in this series and I was happy that it easily stood on its own even as you were given glimpses of previous books' characters.

~ Lindsey