How to Read the Burning Cove Series in Order
Written by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz under her historical-romance pen name, Amanda Quick, the Burning Cove series transports you to a fictional 1930s California resort town where movie stars, mobsters, and mysteries clash. The series is best read in publication order, which also matches the chronological order of events in the town.
Burning Cove Recommended Reading Order
To fully appreciate the evolution of the town, recurring side characters, and the overarching paranormal thread, we recommend reading the books in this order:
- The Girl Who Knew Too Much (2017) – Focuses on reporter Irene Glasson and ex-magician Oliver Ward at the Burning Cove Hotel pool.
- The Other Lady Vanishes (2018) – Follows Adelaide Blake, fresh from escaping a sanitarium, and businessman Jake Truett.
- Tightrope (2019) – Centers on ex-trapeze artist Amalie Vaughn and businessman Matthias Jones.
- Close Up (2020) – Follows photographer Vivian Brazier and battle-scarred writer Nick Tremayne.
- The Lady Has a Past (2021) – Features apprentice investigator Lyra Mitchell and executive Simon West.
- When She Dreams (2022) – Focuses on dream investigator Maggie Lodge and private eye Sam Coppersmith.
- The Bride Wore White (2023) – Follows psychic advisor Prudence Ryland and consultant Luther Pell.
Chronological Caveats and Standalone Reading
Can you read these books as standalones? Yes! Each novel features a self-contained mystery and wraps up the romance for the featured couple. However, reading them out of order means you will miss the gradual buildup of the town's social circle, references to past cases, and the development of recurring figures like local mastermind Luther Pell. For the best experience, start at the beginning with The Girl Who Knew Too Much.
The Arcane Society Connection
If you're a fan of Krentz's broader work, you'll spot a subtle treat: the Burning Cove series shares a universe with the Arcane Society. While the main Arcane Society books explicitly feature a secret organization of psychically gifted individuals, Burning Cove incorporates these elements more subtly. Strong women with psychic talents and characters dealing with mysterious energy phenomena tie the 1930s seaside glamour directly into Krentz's massive multi-era paranormal world.