Below is the complete list of Jayne Ann Krentz’s Burning Cove books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
Publication Order of Burning Cove Books
as Amanda Quick
- Close Up (2020)
In the Burning Cove series, Close Up is book #4 and was published in 2020. 
About Burning Cove
In the glamorous California resort town of Burning Cove, Hollywood stars, wealthy socialites, and mysterious strangers gather to escape the pressures of their public lives. Beneath the fashionable hotels and exclusive parties, however, dangerous secrets threaten reputations and lives. Jayne Ann Krentz, writing as Amanda Quick, explores this seductive world in the Burning Cove series, combining 1930s historical romance, murder mysteries, psychological suspense, and elements of the paranormal.
Situated along the Southern California coast, Burning Cove attracts celebrities seeking privacy, businesspeople pursuing discreet opportunities, and individuals hoping to leave their troubled pasts behind. Its luxurious surroundings provide an atmosphere of sophistication, but the town’s apparent tranquillity frequently conceals criminal conspiracies, blackmail, and violent ambitions.
The series begins with The Girl Who Knew Too Much (2017), introducing Irene Glasson, a determined young reporter investigating the suspicious death of a Hollywood actress. The woman is discovered at the bottom of a swimming pool at the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel, and Irene suspects that her death is connected to a dangerous secret involving a rising movie star.
Her investigation brings her into contact with Oliver Ward, a former world-famous magician whose career ended under mysterious circumstances. Now the hotel’s owner, Oliver is determined to protect his business from scandal.
Their uneasy alliance gradually develops into mutual attraction as they uncover secrets that threaten both their futures. The novel establishes the series’ characteristic combination of romance, criminal investigation, and the deceptive appearances associated with Hollywood society.
The Other Lady Vanishes (2018) follows Adelaide Blake, a woman attempting to rebuild her life after escaping a private psychiatric institution. Seeking anonymity, she finds employment in Burning Cove but soon becomes entangled in a dangerous mystery involving influential visitors and suspicious activities.
Her developing relationship with Jake Truett, a businessman concealing secrets of his own, introduces questions about trust and the difficulty of escaping a troubled past.
In Tightrope (2019), former trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn purchases a struggling mansion with plans to transform it into a successful hotel. Her ambitions become complicated when a guest is murdered during a performance featuring an unusual mechanical invention.
The investigation brings her together with Matthias Jones, a private investigator whose unconventional abilities prove valuable as they uncover connections between the killing and a larger criminal scheme.
Close Up (2020) centres on Vivian Brazier, a crime-scene photographer whose professional ambitions have made her increasingly familiar with violence. When her investigations attract the attention of a dangerous killer, she becomes involved with private investigator Nick Sundridge.
Their partnership explores the growing importance of forensic photography alongside the unusual psychic talents that occasionally influence investigations within Krentz’s fictional universe.
In The Lady Has a Past (2021), apprentice private investigator Lyra Brazier disappears after attending a fashionable spa retreat. Her employer, Raina Kirk, travels to Burning Cove to investigate, joining forces with Simon Cage, a man whose paranormal abilities make him particularly effective at identifying concealed threats.
The mystery develops through the contrast between the resort’s luxurious reputation and the dangerous secrets surrounding its guests.
When She Dreams (2022) introduces Maggie Lodge, who works as a secretary to a celebrated advice columnist while concealing unusual psychic abilities. Her recurring dreams and disturbing experiences convince her that someone may be pursuing a dangerous agenda.
Seeking help, Maggie hires private investigator Sam Sage. Their investigation takes them to Burning Cove, where their growing attraction becomes entangled with murder, deception, and the consequences of past relationships.
The seventh novel, The Bride Wore White (2023), follows Prudence Ryland, a former psychic dream consultant who has abandoned her professional identity after a disturbing incident. When she awakens beside a murdered man with no memory of the preceding events, she becomes the principal suspect.
Fleeing to Burning Cove, Prudence seeks assistance from influential investigator Luther Pell and the mysterious Archer Norwood. Their efforts expose a carefully constructed criminal scheme while forcing Prudence to confront the extraordinary abilities she has attempted to suppress.
Although each novel presents a distinct mystery and central romance, recurring characters, investigative connections, and the town’s continuing history create a shared fictional world. Burning Cove’s luxurious hotels and exclusive establishments become familiar locations where new protagonists encounter dangers connected to earlier events.
The 1930s setting is particularly important. Krentz draws upon Hollywood’s Golden Age, the popularity of glamorous coastal resorts, and contemporary fascination with spiritualism and unexplained phenomena. These historical details provide a distinctive atmosphere without overwhelming the romantic and investigative storylines.
The series also shares thematic connections with Krentz’s wider paranormal fiction, particularly her Arcane Society universe. Unusual psychic talents, secretive organisations, and individuals attempting to exploit extraordinary abilities appear throughout the books.
Burning Cove comprises seven full-length novels published between 2017 and 2023. Each features a largely self-contained romantic mystery, while the continuing setting and recurring characters provide additional depth.
The series stands out for its combination of vintage Hollywood glamour and unsettling criminal intrigue. Through resourceful heroines, enigmatic investigators, and dangerous secrets concealed behind respectable appearances, Krentz portrays a world where wealth and celebrity offer little protection from betrayal, and discovering the truth often requires trusting someone equally determined to hide their past.