Sizzle and Burn

Jayne Anne Krentz

Raine Tallentyre know there is something wrong in the basement of her aunt's home as soon as she feels the railing. The voices start immediately upon her touch. Her aunt had been labeled crazy all her adult life because of those voices. Now Raine hides the fact that she hears them as well. But this voice came after her aunt died and the house was empty. Fortunately, this time the voice warns her before the victim has died. She is able to call the police and save a young woman from being killed by a serial killer.

Zack Jones, working for the Arcane Society, comes to Washington on the trail of a suspect in Nightshade, a dangerous group wanting to use their paranormal powers to rule - the world? (How trite.) Nightshade is once again working on a drug that enhances those psychic powers to unimaginable levels. But the drug is addictive and once removed, the user will die. The suspect was last seen near Raine's aunt.

Raine has no love for the Arcane Society and doesn't trust any of its representatives. Because of them her father was declared an outlaw and died and her aunt fought depression with her paranormal abilities. Raine stays away from them and reins in her own psychic senses as well as she can without formal training. When Zack Jones shows up in her life, she wants him to leave again.

But Zack isn't going anywhere. Nightshade is tracking Raine to get the work the father had been doing which he left to his sister, her aunt. Now Raine has inherited her belongings and should have that information. She doesn't but the Nightshade people won't believe her once they take her. Nightshade also would like to kill Zack. He is highly place in the Arcane Society. If they can't control him, they'd rather he was dead.

There is the set up for this paranormal romantic suspense novel by Jayne Ann Krentz. The Arcane Society has been established in her earlier novels but is explained in Sizzle and Burn for new readers. The novels in the series are connected by the Society but so far each is also a stand alone book. There are many links, but they're not necessary to know when reading this book.

As a suspense novel, Sizzle and Burn feels dark. But because it is a romance, it returns to the light and has a happy ending. The trip is enjoyable and the twists are interesting. The ending chapter is classic - it's great how people can rewrite history.

Krentz makes the paranormal situations realistic sounding. Her characters are strong, the women sassy, and the complete story just this side of believable. The reader almost has to question - What if there really is an Arcane Society hiding within our midst?

Notice:  Non-graphic violence; Strong sexual content;

White Lies (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Second Sight (Amanda Quick)
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) (Dark Legacy)
Crystal Gardens (Amanda Quick) (Ladies of Lantern Street)
The Lost Night (Jayne Castle) (Rainshadow)
Dream Eyes (Jayne Ann Krentz) (Dark Legacy)
The Mystery Woman (Amanda Quick) (Ladies of Lantern Street)