cover image LIGHT IN SHADOW

LIGHT IN SHADOW

Jayne Ann Krentz, . . Putnam, $24.95 (384pp) ISBN 978-0-399-14938-2

If Krentz's newest thriller doesn't send your pulse racing, dial your cardiologist's number. With more than 30 bestsellers under her belt, Krentz (Smoke in Mirrors; Uneasy Alliance) is primed for another roaring success with this rewarding romantic thriller. Zoe Luce is the premier interior decorator in Whispering Springs, Ariz., hampered by one severe handicap; when she enters a room in which a murder or other violent act has taken place, she can sense the pain and rage echoing from the walls. When her uncanny ability leads her to suspect that a local businessman has murdered his wife, she finds herself unexpectedly allied with Ethan Truax, Whispering Springs's newest private investigator. Both have suffered losses in the past, but just when it looks as if true love may be in the offing, Ethan discovers that Zoe is not who she pretends to be. She knows things she shouldn't, operates under a black market–issued identity and wakes screaming from nightmares about a mysterious place she calls Xanadu. Krentz's storytelling shines with authenticity and dramatic intensity: no opportunity for a thrill is missed, and her characters are skillfully crafted. Tightly written and packed with twists and shockers at every turn, this top-notch thriller keeps readers on the edge of their seats till the explosive ending. Doubleday Book Club, Rhapsody main selection; BOMC, Mystery Guild alternate selection. (Jan. 6)