Smoke in Mirrors

Jayne Ann Krentz

Thomas Walker approached Lenora Hutton when she was cleaning out her friend Meredith's apartment. Meredith had died in a car crash. Thomas had met Meredith when she was working in Washington State a few months earlier. Meredith had scammed a university endowment out of 1.5 million dollars. Thomas wants Leonora to return it before his brother Deke is accused of embezzlement rather than the dead woman.

Although not surprised, Lenora was saddened to learn what her friend had done. That, unfortunately, was Meredith. But when Thomas accused Leonora of being in on the scam, she became angry. She had no idea where Meredith might hide that much money. But when she receives Meredith's final note, Lenora knows where the money is and that Meredith was murdered. She returns the money, then travels up to Washington to discover who had killed her friend and why.

Once she starts looking, Leonora discovers links between Meredith's time in Washington and Thomas' sister-in-law's suicide a year earlier. Perhaps Bethany hadn't commited suicide, but was also killed. Thomas and Meredith start working together to find the truth. But if they get too close, Leonora and Thomas could be the next ones to die.

Once again Jayne Ann Krentz has given the reader a fast paced, suspenseful romance novel. Smoke in Mirrors has enough suspects to keep the reader guessing. The setting of the "museum" of antique mirrors is interesting and spooky. The romance is typical modern romance - too much too soon. It amazes me how these people can wait so long (both in their 30's), have one bad relationship, then suddenly know they have to have steamy sex, then fall in love irrevokably. As I said in another romance review recently, these types of novels are modern day fantasies.

So let me enjoy my fantasies. I enjoyed this one even if Thomas' and Leonora's quick relationship is annoying. It's escapism with an interesting mystery.

Notice: Non-graphic violence, Strong sexual content

Sharp Edges by Jayne Ann Krentz