'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick Published by Berkley on April 19, 2016
Genres: Historical Romance, Romantic suspense
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
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Also by this author: Crystal Gardens, The Mystery Woman, Otherwise Engaged, Garden of Lies, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, With This Ring, Rendezvous, Affair, Tightrope, When She Dreams, Wait Until Midnight
Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials.
Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one of her clients, Trent doesn’t trust her. Scarred by his past, he’s learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an instant attraction threatens his resolve.
But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes clear that the danger may be coming from Calista’s own secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker...
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Review
I’ve come to expect an unexpected twist toward the end of an Amanda Quick (or Jayne Ann Krentz) book — but I totally did not see the final twist coming in this one. In addition to several plot twists, there’s plenty of danger and suspense and an almost Gothic feel to the book, due in part to the killer’s habit of sending memento mori to the victims before their deaths. Memento mori are literally mementos of the dead, and were surprisingly popular in the Victorian era: rings or brooches holding a lock of the deceased’s hair, for instance. To receive one with her own initials on it would have frightened any young lady of the time.
Unlike a Gothic heroine, however, Calista Langley is not easily terrorized. She is a determined and resourceful young woman. Yet even she is shaken when she realizes that the killer has actually been inside her bedroom. (I would be, too!) Her relationship with Trent gets off to a rocky start when she mistakes him for a client; in fact, he’s worried about the influence she is having on his sister, and he doesn’t trust her. Nonetheless, as a mystery writer, he has skills and contacts that prove useful in uncovering what is going on — and who is stalking Calista. Of course, this is romantic suspense, so you know where their relationship is headed from the start, but I still enjoyed watching it develop.
Fast-paced and gripping, ‘Till Death Do Us Part kept me turning pages late into the night. In fact, if you’re susceptible to nightmares or find books about serial killers disturbing, you might want to read this one during daylight hours. Let me hasten to add that there’s no gratuitous violence and the book is not overly graphic or gory; it’s very much in the usual Quick/Krentz style (perhaps a hair darker), and the suspense, danger, and slightly dark tones are alleviated by occasional humor and snappy dialogue. If you enjoy her novels or are a fan of historical romantic suspense generally, I definitely recommend giving ‘Till Death Do Us Part a try.
About the cover: The cover is very pretty and atmospheric, but beyond that, it doesn’t really fit the book at all. This is a story set in London, not the countryside. (And I won’t go into the question of historical inaccuracy when it comes to the dress!)
About Amanda Quick
AMANDA QUICK is a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz. The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonyms: Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Stephanie James, Jayne Bentley, Jayne Taylor, Amanda Glass.
Rita @ View From My Home
Wow, what have I been missing? I’ve read a couple of Krentz books and hemmed and hawed over whether I would like Castle books, with Kimba praising them highly, but this sounds like a lot of fun. I like the darker edge to a traditional hstorical romance.
I want this one, and I’m not just saying that because you gave it a good review. I’ve been looking for historical romance author to start with, and the couple I tried didn’t click with me. Maybe Quick will be a good fit. Thanks, Lark! I’m excited now.
Is this part of a series, or stand-alone?
Rita @ View From My Home recently posted…This n That- in place of Weekly Wrap-Up this week
Lark_Bookwyrm
I think you might really like this one, Rita! It’s definitely historical romantic suspense rather than historical romance. It’s not part of a series that I know of; it’s always possible she could continue with related characters, but it seems unlikely. Her early books as “Amanda Quick” lean more toward historical romance, but since about 2007 or so (certainly since that year’s The River Knows), she has leaned toward historical romantic suspense and sometimes paranormal romantic suspense (ESP rather than werewolves or vampires.) I look forward to seeing what you think!
Quinn @ Quinn's Book Nook
I’ve never read Amanda Quick, but I have read Jayne Ann Krentz’ contemporary novels before. I really need to make some time to read Amanda Quick. This book seems really fun and hard to put down. I’m adding it to my list right now!
Quinn @ Quinn’s Book Nook recently posted…Audio Review: Alex by Sawyer Bennett
Lark_Bookwyrm
I enjoy her more recent (i.e., around 2005 and beyond) AQ books because they’re more suspenseful, but even her earlier ones are often fun — and occasionally poke fun at historical romance tropes, as well.