The Vanishing

Jayne Ann Krentz begins a new paranormal suspense story with THE VANISHING. Some years ago an accident in the small California town of Fogg Lake caused the people living there and their descendants to develop paranormal powers. Catalina Lark and Olivia LeClair had always been taught not to let anyone know about their powers.

Now, after Catalina was outed by a former boyfriend, she and Olivia have opened an detective agency that investigates people. Their work is helped by their ability to see auras and Catalina's ability to get brief glimpses of the future. When Olivia goes missing, Catalina needs to call in some help.

Slater Arganbright is sent from the shadowy organization known as the Foundation because he needs Catalina for a show more different task. But Catalina is only focused on finding Olivia and it soon becomes apparent that their goals are the same.

Slater is looking for someone who killed noted collectors of paranormal artifacts which may lead to a hidden lab which was built to weaponize paranormal powers. The government shut down the labs years ago but there are still those looking for the things that were discovered and willing to murder anyone who gets in their way.

Slater and Catalina have both had difficulties with relationships before they met each other. However, each has what the other needs and a relationship begins between them. The relationship does take a backseat to discovering who kidnapped Olivia and solving the mysteries that surround Fogg Lake and the missing lab.

This was an entertaining paranormal suspense story. I liked the characters and the banter between them. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. show less

Jayne Ann Krentz begins a new paranormal suspense story with THE VANISHING. Some years ago an accident in the small California town of Fogg Lake caused the people living there and their descendants to develop paranormal powers. Catalina Lark and Olivia LeClair had always been taught not to let anyone know about their powers.

Now, after Catalina was outed by a former boyfriend, she and Olivia have opened an detective agency that investigates people. Their work is helped by their ability to see auras and Catalina's ability to get brief glimpses of the future. When Olivia goes missing, Catalina needs to call in some help.

Slater Arganbright is sent from the shadowy organization known as the Foundation because he needs Catalina for a show more different task. But Catalina is only focused on finding Olivia and it soon becomes apparent that their goals are the same.

Slater is looking for someone who killed noted collectors of paranormal artifacts which may lead to a hidden lab which was built to weaponize paranormal powers. The government shut down the labs years ago but there are still those looking for the things that were discovered and willing to murder anyone who gets in their way.

Slater and Catalina have both had difficulties with relationships before they met each other. However, each has what the other needs and a relationship begins between them. The relationship does take a backseat to discovering who kidnapped Olivia and solving the mysteries that surround Fogg Lake and the missing lab.

This was an entertaining paranormal suspense story. I liked the characters and the banter between them. I can't wait to read the rest of the series. show less

Sometimes I wonder why I continue to read Jayne Krentz books. I don't buy them anymore, just buy them from the library. But when I started this one, it was like reading a mash up of other Krentz books -- the usual paranormal elements, the similar chief protagonists, a familiar kind of plot, and the one thing I really hate -- the villains always explain in the last moment to the Hero/heroine, why and how they did the things they did. This is just a failure in a book purporting to be mystery or suspense. It's happens in every book. Maybe I've just read too many of her books. But the books move fast and the dialog and prose don't give me the creeps, so I guess I'll keep reading them -- maybe.

The Vanishing book is set around a town that had an event happen and now is constantly foggy. The residents of the town have paranormal things that happen to them, like psychic abilities. The town does not accept visitors or maps and is relatively private. Two friends now live in Seattle after leaving the town and starting their own detective agency. They are quickly pulled back to the city to solve a mystery.
I really liked this book. It was interesting, and easy to read. The characters were likeable. It also ended nicely with no cliffhangers. I was actually surprised that it’s a series. I will put book # 2 onto my TBR but there is no rush on it. I’m interested to see where it goes next. I’m also thankful to the local library show more system for pulling books that are not as common and recommending them, because I probably would not have found this one if they hadn’t pulled it off the shelf.
★ ★ ★ ★ show less

Maybe someone else can tell me - as I typically only read the Jayne Castle "Harmony" books, so this is my first foray into Krentz's contemporary paranormal-thrillers - but do all of her books interconnect?

I ask because these felt more like Harmony novels then not. Maybe because Krentz uses much the same language to describe the powers? I kept waiting for someone to discuss tuning amber (though they did mention tuning something to the proper frequency).

This isn't a complaint persay, more of a confusion. I love the Harmony novels; a blend of paranormal and scifi romance I really enjoy. Its just weird to hear that lingo alongside real world stuff.

Anyhow.

This was engaging and had snappy characters. None of the secondary cast felt extraneous show more (okay maybe Roger and Brenda and...Alice? I forget her name), and the principle cast felt real. Makes sense, Krentz has been at this for a LONG time across multiple genres and pen names. The spark between Slater and Catalina was warm, their relationship progressed naturally though I was in a weird position of wishing they HADN'T jumped into bed together.

The two grew closer and more open with each other in such an intimate way that adding a physical component almost got IN the way of the development.

There was a lot of back-and-forth confirmation of facts that readers could infer pretty easily, but the characters didn't know. It got tedious and ruined the flow of the story at times.

Overall a solid book. I have the second book on the docket, but I'll reserve judgement on the physical book keeper status until I've read all three. I reread the Harmony books, well some of them, frequently enough to warrant owning physical copies. Not sure if I'll reread this series yet. show less

Ever since she was branded a fake psychic by local officials and media, Catalina Lark has left the remnants of her old live behind. Along with her friend, Olivia LeClair, Catalina started Lark and LeClair investigations in which the two use their psychic abilities to search for clues overlooked by traditional detectives. When Olivia is kidnapped by an organization trying to find lost labs where research was done that enhance psychic abilities, Catalina is contacted by Slater Arganbright from his Uncle's group called The Foundation to help her find Olivia and some clues into the lost labs. Catalina's last experience with The Foundation caused her to have to start her entire life over, but she knows she has to work with Slater or Olivia show more will never be found.

The Vanishing sets up the Fogg Lake mystery that seems as though it will continue throughout the three books series. The first few chapters that introduce the psychic powers that many of the characters use and explain how those powers manifest are very enjoyable. The search for clues is very entertaining and leads the protagonists to some very interesting characters. Unfortunately the story goes downhill from there, starting with a sudden jump from subtle hints of romance in the background of the story to a jarring insta-love and a quick HEA by the end of the book, with many loose ends about the characters left unaddressed. This series would be so much better if Catalina and Slater were the protagonists of all three books, allowing their relationship and character arcs to develop more naturally. In addition, the ending of this book goes far too long after the climax of the story, setting up the next two books. Overall, The Vanishing starts out with such promise but ends up being little more than an average romance/mystery. show less

Another solid romantic suspense from Krentz. It returns to her psychic characters, although there is no sign of the Arcane Society. (There are, however, hints of a connection to Harmony.)

Decades ago, the small town of Fogg Cove experienced an explosion in the local caves which left its inhabitants and the descendents with psychic abilities. When teenagers Catalina and Olivia witness a murder in the caves, no one believes them, thinking it merely hallucinations from their budding powers.

Years later, the two of them live in Seattle and run a private investigator business, using their abilities to read crime scenes. When Olivia is kidnapped, Catalina is forced to work with Slater Arganbright, nephew of the head of the mysterious show more Foundation, which no one from Fogg Lake trusts.

Nicely twisty, with solid characterizations and a believable romance. show less