Recommended Reading Order for Fogg Lake
To fully experience the paranormal intrigue and overarching mystery of Fogg Lake, readers should follow the series in its publication order. The trilogy is tightly plotted, with the lore of the town's psychic secrets unfolding sequentially across the three volumes. While each book spotlights a different couple and resolves its main romantic plotline, the mystery of the secretive Bluestone Project spans the entire series.
- The Vanishing (2020)
- All the Colors of Night (2021)
- Lightning in a Mirror (2022)
The Core Books of the Trilogy
1. The Vanishing (2020)
The trilogy begins by introducing Catalina Lark and Olivia LeClair, two best friends who run a private investigation firm using their unique psychic talents—collectively referred to as "other sight." When Olivia suddenly goes missing, Catalina is forced to team up with Slater "Slate" Arganbright, an enigmatic investigator representing a mysterious organization known as the Foundation. As they work to track down Olivia, they uncover a dangerous conspiracy: someone is hunting down survivors and witnesses of a murder that occurred in Fogg Lake fourteen years prior, all linked to the town's strange history.
2. All the Colors of Night (2021)
The second installment follows North Chastain, a skilled psychic tracker working for the Foundation. When North's father falls into a mysterious coma, North suspects the cause is a dangerous, psychically active artifact linked to the town's historical cover-up. Because he needs access to the underground market of paranormal antiquities, North recruits Sierra Raines, an independent expert in psychic artifacts whose reputation was recently ruined by false accusations. Together, they head to Fogg Lake to locate the artifact, only to find themselves hunted by shadowy enemies desperate to keep the secrets of the Bluestone Project buried.
3. Lightning in a Mirror (2022)
The trilogy reaches its climax in this final book, which focuses on Olivia LeClair. After escaping a disastrous speed-dating event that turns out to be a trap, Olivia is approached by Harlan Rancourt. Harlan is the mysterious heir to a powerful foundation who has been operating in the shadows. He convinces Olivia to assist him in locating a legendary, destroyed laboratory known as the Vortex lab, which holds the final keys to the Bluestone Project. As they search for the lab, they must confront the mastermind behind the string of murders and finally bring closure to the legacy of Fogg Lake.
The Lore of Fogg Lake: The Incident and the Bluestone Project
At the heart of the trilogy is "The Incident," a disaster that occurred approximately fifty years ago in the small town of Fogg Lake, located in the Pacific Northwest. The government had established a top-secret research program known as the Bluestone Project to study paranormal energy and psychic phenomena, operating out of isolated local caves. An explosion at the facility released experimental gases into the valley, permanently altering the genetic makeup of the residents.
As a result, descendants of the Fogg Lake survivors possess varying degrees of psychic talents, ranging from the ability to read aura colors to tracking energy trails and sensing danger. The series exploring the legacy of this project shows how ordinary people adapt to extraordinary, sometimes volatile abilities while trying to lead normal lives. The Foundation, a recurring entity in Krentz's books, acts as a self-policing body for the paranormal community, keeping these talents hidden from the public eye while stopping rogue psychics.
Connections to the Wider Krentzverse
Longtime fans of Jayne Ann Krentz will find a comforting familiarity in Fogg Lake. Although the trilogy is a distinct, self-contained story, it shares deep thematic DNA with Krentz's famous Arcane Society universe. The Arcane Society books, which Krentz has written across various historical, contemporary, and futuristic settings (using her pseudonyms Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle), similarly revolve around psychic lineages, secret societies, and investigators with paranormal gifts.
While Fogg Lake does not feature direct crossovers with the main Arcane Society characters, the presence of the Foundation, the reliance on specialized psychic abilities, and the classic pairing of intuitive female leads with protective, analytical male leads firmly places the trilogy within Krentz’s unified paranormal universe. It serves as an excellent entry point for readers new to her style, offering a condensed, high-stakes introduction to her signature blend of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.
Practical Reader Advice
Where to Start
The absolute best starting point is The Vanishing. While the romances are standalone, the core mystery of Olivia's disappearance and the search for the Bluestone Project's lost labs form a continuous narrative arc. Reading the books out of order will result in significant spoilers for the overarching plot.
Tone and Atmosphere
Expect a classic Krentz mix of cozy, small-town vibes, eerie Pacific Northwest weather, and sharp dialogue. The suspense is suspenseful without being overly graphic or dark, prioritizing partner chemistry, lighthearted banter, and clever detective work over grit.