Craig Daily Press

Diane Prather

Diane Prather's columns appear in the Craig Daily Press each Wednesday and Friday. You can contact her at 824-8809 or e-mail .

“Sizzle and Burn,” a romantic suspense novel, is bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz’s newest book. The “Arcane Society” novel was released Tuesday.

Character Raine Tallentyre is a tall, attractive woman in her early 30s who, in spite of her height, likes to wear high-heeled shoes. Her hair is pulled back in a twist, and her cat-like eyes are framed by spectacles.

Raine is a business woman, who owns a costume design shop in the town of Oriana, 20 miles east of Seattle. She likes to play cards, too, and even won money in Las Vegas. Raine has a passion for peanut butter, enjoying it for breakfast on her whole wheat toast.

And then Raine has a special talent that she doesn’t share with most, for fear that she will be considered crazy. Raine hears voices, often coming in whispers, a power that has come in handy when solving cold cases. She’s been working with an Oriana detective for a year and a half.

Raine was raised by her Aunt Vella Tallentyre, her father’s sister. Raine’s mother died when she was a year and a half old, and her father, Judson, a research scientist, didn’t have time for a baby so he turned the job over to Vella. He died in a car accident when Raine was 6, Vella was a level-eight clairaudient, who heard voices as Raine does, but after awhile she started suffering from prolonged bouts of depression. Vella’s friend Andrew Kitredge and his partner, Gordon, helped care for Raine.

Raine’s aunt lived in Shelbyville, Wash., but in recent years was hospitalized at Damian’s Psychiatric Hospital in Oriana. She died there a month ago of a heart attack, leaving the house to Raine.

That’s where the novel begins. Raine and a real estate agent are checking the house out, in order to put it on the market. Raine doesn’t say anything to the agent, but she hears frightening whispers in the kitchen. She follows them to the basement, where she finds a large storage locker with a new padlock.

The police discover Stacey Anderson alive inside the locker. The chief of police thinks it’s the work of the Bonfire Killer.

Publicity about the case comes to the attention of Jones & Jones, who contacts Zack Jones, their private investigator. They aren’t interested in the Bonfire Killer; it’s Raine they need.

The special client for Jones & Jones is the Arcane Society, dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena. That’s where Raine’s father worked. Vella was a member of the society, and according to Zack, so is Raine.

It turns out that Zack has special powers, too. While Raine hears voices, Zack sees visions.

Zack needs Raine’s help. In exchange, he’ll let her have the family file. Zack is investigating a group of psychic criminals known as nightshade. In a special twist, Vella may have been murdered.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable novel.

The author has written contemporary romantic suspect novels under the name Jayne Ann Krentz, futuristic romantic novels under the pseudonym “Jayne Castle,” and historic romantic novels under “Amanda Quick.”

“Sizzle and Burn,” published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, is in bookstores and at the Moffat County Library. The hardcover costs $24.95.

Copyright Diane Prather, 2008. All rights reserved.