4.5

Not more than two days into her new job as a private investigator for Kirk Investigations does Lyra's boss, Raina Kirk, decide to take an unexpected trip to a health resort and spa. No one buys the idea that Raina just needs a little rest and relaxation so Lyra and fellow investigator Simon Cage leave Burning Cove to follow Raina to the resort posing as a newly married couple on their honeymoon. When they get there, Raina is nowhere to be found, but a woman fitting her description mysteriously checked out of the hotel late the same evening she arrived. Now, Lyra and Simon must unravel the tangled threads that have caught Raina and hope to avoid getting caught up themselves.

Raina Kirk (and by extension Luther Pell) have kind of been the touchstone characters of this story. Something I didn't realize until maybe book 3. They've both made appearances and contributions to the others books while readers have slowly, and tentatively, gotten glimpses of their own stories. I was excited when I learned that Raina would be more of a focal point for The Lady Has A Past and I think that Amanda Quick did a great job of wrapping Raina's own story kind of within another unfolding mystery. So we get the satisfaction of learning about Raina's past, but then Lyra and Simon are also featured characters who get their own story.

At the start, this book just took off. As it was building the pieces of the story and setting things into motion, I didn't want to put it down. I was a tad disappointed when, towards the very end, the story lost that momentum in favor of clicking the last pieces of the puzzle into place. That's pretty much my only complaint is that I wish the pacing could have been kept evenly throughout.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed this entry in the series. Lyra especially was a standout character. Her never-ending curiosity and the way she just seamlessly asserts herself is flawless. I loved every time Lyra gave her two cents and didn't back down on her assertions. She might be new to the private investigation business, but that doesn't mean her views aren't valid, and that she doesn't bring some great perspective to the search for Raina. For the most part, Simon is in her corner, barring a few instances of the alpha-male protection gene rearing up. Due to Simon's penchant for being able to feel the strong emotions left on objects, I think, in a way, he understands Lyra's need to solve puzzles and figure things out. I'd say Simon takes a bit of a backseat to Lyra which is fine by me. I like seeing the man in more of a supportive role to a strong woman.

This series kind of abruptly threw in the idea of ESP abilities for some of it's characters in, I want to say, the second book. I don't really remember it being a thing in the first book. I've since come to not be quite so surprised when a character exhibits an innate sense for feeling emotions or being able to parse out lies, etc. While it's an added layer I'm not sure sways my overall feelings of the story / series one way or another, I kind of feel like it fits into the setting of the 1930's when the ideas behind extrasensory perception started to gain interest. It's another element that kind of enriches the setting that Amanda Quick has created with Burning Cove.

The Lady Has a Past certainly feels like it could be the last entry in the series. I almost feel like tackling Raina Kirk's backstory was the final box to be checked but also in that regard each book in the series has featured a different hero / heroine so it would not be completely unexpected to have someone else wind up in Burning Cove getting involved in another mystery. I'd have to say I'd happily keep reading this series and interacting with these characters for as long as Amanda Quick would decide to write them.

If you haven't read the series, you can most certainly pick up any of the books and enjoy them on their own. I'd say this one has featured a bit more build up, but in no way would hinder someone unfamiliar with the other books in the series.

I have enjoyed all of Amanda Quick's Burning Cove books but this was my favorite. It was a fun blend of witty banter and romantic suspense in a stylish 20's era setting. It isn't necessary to have read the previous books but readers that are new to the series will very likely wish to go back to see what they've missed.

Another lively installment to the Burning Cove series by Amanda Quick (a.k.a. Jayne Ann Krentz). Personal disappointment has brought Lyra Brazier to Burning Cove to start anew as a junior PI working for Kirk Investigations. After a less-than-stellar first day, she finds herself in charge and slightly in over her head. Simon Cage has used his paranormal abilities to authenticate a rare book and now he has come under unwanted scrutiny. Thus he finds himself on vacation in Burning Cove, home of his contract employer, Luther Pell. Now they are both embroiled in a mystery of missing persons and murder. . . and each other.

The characters are delightful. Their interactions are witty and the heat between them is palpable. The dialog fits the 1930's setting perfectly, yet the colloquial slang is still easy to follow and never detracts from the flow of the story. The environments are richly described and create a vivid setting for the plot. The reoccurring characters from past series volumes add to the story, but it is in no way imperative that you read the books in order. (I accidently began with book 3, and had no troubles following along. This book is the same way.)

I highly recommend this book for fans of Anne Perry, Carola Dunn, and Rhys Bowen.

* I received an eARC for free through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily. *

Lyra Brazier and Simon Cage are a interesting mix. When they get together their talents merge. A missing person, a long standing arrangement, and the need to find Raina Kirk keeps them both going. Love the mix of past and present characters. Also you really get two couples for the price of one.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and Ms. Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

This is the latest installment in the Burning Cove series and honestly in my opinion is the best of the series so far. The 1930s California setting is so refreshing for historical mystery. Amanda Quick’s trademark “psychic” elements (supernatural powers of various types) are present but they never seem that outlandish. I was particularly impressed in this case that at least 50% of the investigative work is done in old-fashioned ways (read: a regular human investigator with no fancy forensics tools could do them).

Lyra Brazier has given up on her original dream of taking over the family business and turned to Burning Cove where she has found interesting work as a junior investigator for Raina Kirk (a previous recurrent character, she of the series-long romance arc with shady hotel/club owner-slash-maybe mobster Luther Pell). Meanwhile, Simon Cage, an investigator of sorts who contracts for Pell on outlier cases is tired and plans to vacation in Burning Cove. Of course the two pair up when Raina disappears under mysterious and, perhaps, dangerous circumstances and sparks fly. (I had two-thirds of the plot unraveled in my head but I will say the author surprised me on the last reveal.)

The characterization was super: I could completely envision the snarky, flirty banter between Lyra and Simon. I especially liked Lyra, whose skill at relating to people (charming them, even) paved the way at practically every step of the investigation, and who seemed ever ready with a quip or question to anything Simon could dish out. Raina and Luther were also welcome side characters, as it seems the author is intent on spreading their story out over the course of the series. I don’t know if they’ll ever really get their OWN book but their relationship certainly advanced a lot here. There were also cameos from Vivian (Lyra’s sister), Amalie (book #3) and Irene (book #1). I don’t remember Adelaide being there but I may have missed it. A new character, Angela Merryweather, seems promising and I have strong suspicions she will be back in a future book.

The only quibble I could have is that the denouement seemed to drag a little bit as Every. Little. Loose. End was tied up. I wish the big moment between Simon and Dr. Tinsley had happened much earlier in the story but I guess there really wasn’t anywhere else to put it; unfortunately it had the effect of making that portion of the story a tiny bit anticlimactic.

Regardless, this was a fun read, and the zing between Simon and Lyra alone is worth the read. Definitely a worthy addition to Ms. Quick’s bookshelf and probably my favorite of the Burning Cove series thus far.

I really enjoyed this book. I’d been in a reading slump and this really pulled me in. I enjoyed the character we development and how the story came along. I love this authors work.

I received this ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quick jumps right in with Lyra, investigator apprentice stopping an attempted murder. Saves a potential client in her first interview. She then celebrates with her boss, Raina to decompress what happened that day. The next day Lyra goes to work and finds a note from Raina saying she had to go away for a few days but Lyra doesn’t seem to think everything is alright with Raina and especially when she tells Luther Pell, Raina’s lover about it. Luther decides to send Simon Cage to find out what happened to Raina and Lyra decided that she could be helpful and Raina is her boss, so she joins Simon on this endeavor. While tracking Raina, Simon and Lyra stumble across even a bigger crime besides a missing person.

Read and find out what happens to Lyra & Simon on this adventure. I couldn’t put this book down and finished it in two nights. Once again Quick has you wanting to join this duo in solving a mystery or two.

Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly disappears. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and tracks down her last known appearance at an exclusive hotel and health spa. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. What Lyra lacks in investigative experience she makes up for in gut instinct, and her gut isn’t happy that she’s saddled with a partner by Luther Pell, Raina’s dangerous lover, who wants to bring in someone with more experience to help.

Instead of the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected, though, Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and a cool, remote gaze. Lyra suspects that Simon is much more than what he seems, and her instincts are confirmed when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn't the only one in grave danger—Lyra is next.

I've been a fan of the Amanda Quick novels forever, and they keep getting better and better. Loved this book!

Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss, Raine Kirk (The Other Lady Vanishes) suddenly takes off without telling anyone where she is going. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina. When she and Raina's boyfriend Luther realize that Raina has gone to expensive spa, they realize that Lyra's socialite background is the perfect cover. But Luther will not let her go alone.

Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and Lyra can't figure out why he was chosen as her partner. But it soon becomes clear when they arrive at the spa and pose as newlyweds: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

It doesn't take long for the duo to fall down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. And with a murderer in their midst, Raina isn't the only one in grave danger.

In the fifth in the Burning Cove series, Quick has again created characters who are likeable and fun to read. Her dialogue is fast and funny and appropriate to the time period. I was glad to see Raina and Luther again. They may be my favorite couple in Burning Cove and The Burning Cove series may be my favorite books by Quick so far. Recommended.

The Lady Has A Past by Amanda Quick is the 5th book in her wonderful Burning Cove series. Refresher: This series takes place during the 1930’s in the small town of Burning Cove, California. Some of the recurring characters we have met in the previous books continue to have secondary roles, as we return to Burning Cove. Burning Cove is a small resort town with many Hollywood stars or the very rich, but it seems that is it also a magnet for danger

Lyra Brazier, our heroine, has just started working as an assistant private investigator for Raina Kirk; she is sent on her first case, which turned into a nightmare. When Lyra meets the woman, who requested her to come to her home, she finds the woman being accosted by her husband in the pool. When the mad man runs toward Lyra, she grabs the only thing she sees nearby and hits the man with a golf club. When the police come, it seems someone (the wife) hit the man multiple times to make sure he was dead. So, Lyra in her first case, has no idea if she killed the man or was it the wife.

We meet Simon Cage, our hero, who is on assignment for Luther Pell, and confronts a man who threatens to kill him for a book that is worth a lot of money; Simon manages to stay alive and get the book he needed. After the case is over, Simon decides after visiting Pell, to stay in Burning Cove to take a vacation break. It is at this time, that Raina Kirk (who is Luther Pell’s girlfriend, as well as owner of the detective agency), disappears. Lyra, Luther and Simon try to find clues where Raina has gone, and they learn she was heading to a resort, which has a famous health spa. Simon and Lyra make plans to go to the hotel as newlyweds, to find Raina.

Lyra was a wonderful heroine, who not only was independent, but smart, bubbly personality, very inquisitive and her witty hilarious banter was pure fun, especially with Simon. I loved how quickly Lyra was able to get people to talk, and learned so much from Simon on how to be a real detective; as well as seeing his paranormal ability to sense danger. Simon at first didn’t know how to handle Lyra, but in a short time, he started falling for her. Their romance started to heat up, as each began to learn more about each other, and their chemistry was great.
What follows is an exciting and intriguing story that has many surprises and twists. Lyra and Simon were great together, and when Luther joins them, they begin to learn the truths of what has been happening in the hotel and spa, putting people’s lives in danger. The danger escalates, as the three of them are desperate to find Raina, before someone kills her. I do not want to give spoilers, saying anything more would ruin the book for you.

The Lady Has A Past was a wonderful exciting, intense, enthralling suspenseful story, with a bit of romance, great couple, as well as having a slight paranormal element. Amanda Quick once again gives us a complex mystery that had a bit of everything in this glamorous historical world of 1930’s. I suggest you start this series from the beginning to enjoy the setting of this series, as well as meet some very good characters. However, each book does read very well as a standalone

Rina Kirk the mysterious PI is starting to feel that she has finally found the perfect place for here. She is involved with in romantic relationship with Luther Pell man who is rumored to have ties to underworld.
Rina has just hired a apprentice Lyra Brazier. On her first case Lyra comes across Mr. Adlington strangling his wife Mrs.Adlington . When he sees Lyra he comes after her and she defends herself a
nine iron while Lyra is contacting the police Mrs. Adlington strikes her husband to make sure she is dead.
Simon Cage on other hand runs into difficulty in completing his own his retrieve of a rare book using his
paranormal talent. After he finish his assignment he decides it is time to take a vacation and find a divorcee who will be interested in a no strings affair while lounging at the pool.
Rina takes Lyra out to deal with difficult first day on the job. Rina and Lyra meet up Luther and proceed to enjoy the evening. After spending most the night with Luther, Rina gets up and and has breakfast and after that she receives a mysterious phone call and agrees to a meeting. Rina breezes into the office and tells Rina she is in charge for a couple she must take care of some personal business. Luther becomes suspicious and decides he needs to find Rina and Simon and Lyra agree to help look for Rina .
Their adventure begins by posing as newlyweds and arrive in Labyrinth Springs and Guppy’s House of Beauty. Their Simon and Lyra realize that Rina has been kidnapped. Simon and Lyra discover that several women have disappeared from the same room that Rina was staying in.
Lyra is a smart and savvy women who fancied herself running the family shipping company, but her father is never going to give her that opportunity and decides she needs to find herself a career.
Simon has to deal with his own problems and before he realizes it he is confessing his issues to Lyra, he is not a happy camper about that.

This a great read another fabulous book by Amanda Quick 📚📚📚

In this return to Burning Cove, Lyra Brazier is an apprentice private investigator on her first case. She was sent by Raina Kirk to interview a woman who was afraid of her husband. She walks into the back yard to see him trying to drown her. She stops him with a well-placed three iron but Mrs. Adlington wanted to be sure and clubbed him again while Lyra was going out front to get the police.

Lyra's first day wasn't what she was expecting and the rest of the week wasn't much better. On her second day of work, she learns that Raina has developed an urgent need to leave town to take care of some personal business and Lyra was suddenly in charge of Kirk Investigations.

Meanwhile, Simon Cage runs into trouble while authenticating a rare book using his paranormal talent. When he gets out of there, he decides he needs a vacation complete with a lounge chair, an ice cold martini, and maybe a fast woman looking for a no-strings affair. Since he sometimes works for Luther Pell, he decides Burning Cove is the right spot for his vacation.

Lyra and Simon soon get involved in he investigation to locate Raina and the clues lead them to Labyrinth Springs and Guppy's House of Beauty. Their cover is to be newlyweds on their honeymoon. With Lyra's talent for getting anyone to talk to her and Simon's ability to get impressions from objects, their investigation and problems quickly escalate.

Raina has been kidnapped but not as a usual part of the blackmail scheme centered on the resort. Now someone is cleaning up and leaving a trail of bodies behind. One of them is almost Lyra.

I really liked Lyra who is smart and savvy and just a little lost as she is changing her life goals. She knows she won't be picked by her father to run his shipping business and needs another career. Simon is also great. I liked his secrets and his growing need for Lyra.

The story had a great 1930s setting, lots of great dialog, and a fast-paced and exciting plot.

While I didn’t realize that this was the 5th in the Burning Cove series when I requested it, it didn’t really matter that I hadn’t read any of the others in the series. This was fine to read as a standalone and they are just all set in the same town of Burning Cove but there is not overarching plot that connects all of the stories. This was a really fun read and I really loved the characters and the time period which is the 1920/1930 is really interesting. Lyra Brazier, apprentice investigator is unsettled when her boss Raina Kirk leaves her in charge for a week and then disappears. Her last known whereabouts are an exclusive hotel and health spa which caters to the rich and Lyra with her socialite background is perfect to go undercover with Simon as newlyweds who is an associate of Luther Pell her boss’s lover. Oh man this was just so good and the mystery was great and when you think everything is solved think again. Simon and Lyra are such a good team and of course while pretending to be newlyweds they really get into the act. The writing was so great and the characters were so fleshed out and you really knew everyone’s motivation and this was just a great read. I love all her books I’ve read and this was no exception.
Thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

The entire Burning Cove series is a fun, fresh setting for Amanda Quick (yes, we know her by other names as well), and I've enjoyed each of the five novels.

This latest novel (publication date 04 May 2021) has a different feel. It is largely set outside of the town of Burning Cove, but each of the characters and the action revolve around the place, the resort, and the club. In fact, the book ends with even more of the characters moving to make Burning Cove "home."

The feel of the relationship between the two main characters is different: a little more acerbic, a little more friction, and it's fun. Best of the book, I thought, was the further development of the relationship between Luther Pell (nightclub owner, and so much more) and Raina Kirk of the Burning Cove detective agency. There's more to Raina than we've been told!

The series is fresh; this latest title has enough variety to satisfy those who have read them all; and there's time to line up your own copy for the first of May.

Thanks to NetGalley and one of my favorite publishers, Berkley, for the chance to read an early copy.

An enjoyable read. Predictable yet engaging. With this author, there is a standard formula which this followed. I was glad to see a bit less of the paranormal and am always up for a HEA.

Another great story by the awesome Amanda Quick. I love her storytelling and have enjoyed her books for years. Although this is number 5 in the Burning Cove series, this book is also great as a standalone read. I loved the idea of Lyra Brazier being an apprentice investigator and it was electrifying to see her go up against Simon Cage. With Lyra's friendly and inquisitive personality, sparks definitely flew between her and Simon from the first meeting. I was often amused by their banter back and forth from Simon, the professional, to Lyra, an apprentice learning her trade. Lyra was a great female lead, who is smart, capable, intelligent, and more than a match for anyone. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and a great, enthralling read! I am grateful to have been able to read this as an ARC for my honest review. I will definitely be purchasing this item for our library patrons to enjoy.

"Beauty and glamour meet deception and revenge in this electrifying novel by New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick.

Investigative apprentice Lyra Brazier, the newest resident of Burning Cove, is unsettled when her boss suddenly disappears. Lyra knows something has happened to Raina Kirk, and tracks down her last known appearance at an exclusive hotel and health spa. The health spa is known for its luxurious offerings and prestigious clientele, and the wealthy, socialite background Lyra desperately wanted to leave behind is perfect for this undercover job. What Lyra lacks in investigative experience she makes up for in gut instinct, and her gut isn’t happy that she’s saddled with a partner by Luther Pell, Raina’s dangerous lover, who wants to bring in someone with more experience to help.

Instead of the suave, pistol-packing private eye she expected, though, Simon Cage is a mild-mannered antiquarian book dealer with a quiet, academic air, and a cool, remote gaze. Lyra suspects that Simon is much more than what he seems, and her instincts are confirmed when they arrive at the spa and pose as a couple: Simon has a unique gift that allows him to detect secrets, a skill that is crucial in finding Raina.

The unlikely duo falls down a rabbit hole of twisted rumors and missing socialites, discovering that the health spa is a façade for something far darker than they imagined. With a murderer in their midst, Raina isn't the only one in grave danger - Lyra is next."

Bookish private investigators!?! YES!

I will read anything Amanda Quick/ Jayne Ann Krentz / Jayne Castle writes and was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.

Amanda Quick writes historical fiction filled with mystery, romance, and a side of paranormal. The Burning Cove series takes place in Southern CA in the 1930’s, and this is the 5th book in the series. I have read and enjoyed them in order and would recommend that- however, I believe this could be read as a stand-alone.

Lyra Brazier is new to Burning Cove and eager to embark on a career as a private investigator. Her first case takes a decidedly wrong turn, and, as she’s deciding if this is really the field for her, her new boss, Raina goes on a sudden and unexpected trip to a health spa. Lyra knows somethings wrong and exudes to ingesting are. She’s paired up with Simon Cage. A colleague of Raina’s lover and they pose as a married couple at the spa (I love the fake romance trope😍). Of course Simon and Raina spark off of each other as they are drawn into the mysterious disappearance of not just Raina, but other women.

This is the whole package for me for because it has:
✨Witty banter that makes me smile
✨An interesting period of history in a fascinating town
✨A mystery to be solved
✨Some paranormal talent
✨Some romance
✨A strong, independent female lead
✨A cast of side characters through the series (who also have their own books in the series)

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

In Jayne Ann Krentz (aka Amanda Quick) fashion, The Lady Has A Past, the fifth book in her Burning Cove series, is loaded with suspenseful scenes and interplay between the characters that she describes with keen articulation. Her style of writing keeps readers turning the page.

Each character is well developed, displaying traits that readers can relate to and feel genuinely reflect real life people. The plot line is intense and preferably does not reflect real life circumstances but rather extraordinary circumstances. She transports the reader into another world, setting the tone where truth and deception challenge each other. In typical Krentz/Quick fashion, the truth prevails.

Set in the foothills of post-Gold Rush California, the time frame of the story happens after World War I as the fall of Prohibition has occurred and the rise of the Classic Age of Hollywood is peaking. Millionnaires are on the upswing and Lyra Brazier, the daughter of a shipping magnate finds herself floating through life, searching for a purpose since her father will never leave his business to her. Lyra has a gift for making people talk, open up to her about their deepest secrets. She puts her talent to good use, working as an apprentice for private investigator Raina Kirk whose agency is headquartered in Burning Cove, California.

The hero in the story, Simon Cage, has paranormal abilities, able to sense people's emotions by touching an object that his quarry has touched, leaving an indelible imprint on the object. His sensory perception is reminiscent of several of Quick's characters from her Arcane Society series. This particular talent is always fascinating for readers, and Cage does not disappoint. He is called into an investigation by Luther Pell, a steadfast character from Quick's Burning Cove series, which readers previously learned owns the Paradise night club in Burning Cove. He has Mob connections and is, from time to time, clandestinely hired by the FBI to assist in their investigations.

The plot thickens when Raina takes a trip to help a friend from her past. It takes a few hours for Lyra, Simon and Luther to realize that Raina is in danger, and indeed she is. As the story unfolds at a steady pace, which enables readers to keep up, it is revealed that Raina's captors are extortionists. The malfeasance of one member even goes further into subjugating their victim and now murder. The rescue scene, when truth and deception confront one another, reassures the reader's faith that the good prevails.

Jayne Ann Krentz (aka Amanda Quick) exceedingly holds her audience in rapt attention through the story. The genuine characterization of the key players makes the read feel real, employing Krentz/Quick's signature writing style that articulates scenes making the story a stimulating read.

I love a good historical mystery. Definitely check this book out if that is your catnip. I enjoy reading them and this has the added bonus of being a bit paranormal as well.