Running Hot

Jayne Anne Krentz

Grace is a librarian for the Arcane Society's genealogy section. For the past year she has been living in a small community in western Oregon. She has been hoping to do more. Now J&J, the security section of Arcane, needs her to use her psychic talents in Hawaii. She's supposed to meet another J&J operative there. Together they're to try to locate and identify another sensitive who is being wanted for murder. They're not to apprehend him, just find him.

Luther is an ex-cop turned bartender. Both he and Grace can see auras around people. She can identify the patterns in individual auras. He has a talent for calming other people and turning their attention. Together they should be able to locate the murderer and prove his aura has the twist of a murderer.

Things are not as easy as they appear. There's a contract killer on the island who is looking for the same man. Then an opera singer with a truly killer voice also targets the murderer. Plus the couple observe several high level sensitives arrive at the exclusive hotel. Grace recognizes the dark twist in all their auras. Soon Luther and Grace believe they have stumbled in a meeting of regional Nightshade executives. If they're discovered, they'll be killed.

This is the fifth novel of the Arcane Society (some by Jayne Ann Krentz's alter ego, Amanda Quick) romantic suspense series. The Arcane Society is a secret group of people with special psychic powers and gifts. This novel focuses on the gifts of the ability to see auras around other people. Sensitives have brighter auras to those who can see them than non-Sensitives. Although Grace and Luther have similar gifts they each see differently with it.

Running Hot is a romantic suspense, so the read knows from the beginning that Luther and Grace will get together by the end. Since it's a Jayne Ann Krentz novel, they'll be attracted and probably in bed before half way through the book. Usually her novels are quick and sharp. Unfortunately, Running Hot doesn't live up to Krentz's normal work. The writing doesn't hang well. At times the love scenes get hokey. I like Luther and Grace but couldn't get involved with their story. This novel is also setting up a future novel featuring Fallon Jones, the paranoid head of J&J.

If you're following the Arcane Society series, you'll want to read this. If you haven't read any Jayne Ann Krentz before (in this or either of her pseudonyms - Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle) don't start with Running Hot. Try Sizzle and Burn (Arcane Society) or Smoke and Mirrors (stand alone) instead.

Notice:  Non-graphic violence; Strong sexual content

Second Sight (Amanda Quick)
White Lies (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Sizzle and Burn (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Silver Master (Jayne Castle)
The Third Circle (Amanda Quick)
Running Hot (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Dark Light (Jayne Castle)
The Perfect Poison (Amanda Quick)
Obsidian Prey (Jayne Castle)
Fired Up (Jayne Ann Krentz) (Dreamlight Trilogy)
Burning Lamp Amanda Quick) (Dreamlight Trilogy)
Midnight Crystal (Jayne Castle) (Dreamlight Trilogy)
In Too Deep (Jayne Ann Krentz) (Looking Glass Trilogy)
Quicksilver (Amanda Quick) (Looking Glass Trilogy)
Canyons of Night (Jayne Castle) (Looking Glass Trilogy)
Copper Beach (Jayne Ann Krentz)