Amanda Quick Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Amanda Quick

Amanda Quick is the celebrated pseudonym used by Jayne Ann Krentz for her historical romantic suspense novels. Because her work spans multiple eras, subseries, and even paranormal crossover projects with her other pen names, knowing where to start can seem daunting. Here are the three best entry points depending on your reading tastes:

• The Standalone Route (Classic Regency): Start with Ravished (1992). Widely considered a historical romance masterpiece, this beauty-and-the-beast tale of Harriet Pomeroy and Gideon Westbrook perfectly captures Quick's trademark blend of witty banter, eccentric hobbies, and genuine suspense.
• The Paranormal Mystery Route (Arcane Society): Start with Second Sight (2006). This Victorian-era novel introduces the mysterious Arcane Society and serves as the chronological launching pad for a multi-era, multi-pseudonym paranormal saga.
• The 1930s Noir Route (Burning Cove): Start with The Girl Who Knew Too Much (2017). This series moves away from Regency England to the glamorous, danger-filled coastline of 1930s California, blending Hollywood style with hard-boiled mystery.

The Amanda Quick Pen Name and the Krentz Universe

To fully appreciate the reading orders below, it helps to understand how Amanda Quick fits into the author's broader literary ecosystem. Jayne Ann Krentz writes under three main names to signal different genres to her readers:

• Amanda Quick: Historical romantic suspense (Regency, Victorian, and 1930s settings).
• Jayne Ann Krentz: Modern, contemporary romantic suspense.
• Jayne Castle: Futuristic, sci-fi paranormal romance (often set on the colony world of Harmony).

For most of her career, Amanda Quick books stood alone. However, with the creation of the Arcane Society, she began writing interconnected, cross-era trilogies that require switching between these three pseudonyms to get the full story.

The Arcane Society Series and Crossover Trilogies

The Arcane Society is a secret organization founded in the 1600s by the alchemist Sylvester Jones for individuals gifted with psychic abilities. While the complete series jumps between historical, contemporary, and futuristic books, the Amanda Quick historical entries represent the foundations of this lore. The historical novels in the series should be read in this order:

1. Second Sight (2006)
2. The Third Circle (2008)
3. The Perfect Poison (2009)
4. Burning Lamp (2010) — Book 2 of the Dreamlight Trilogy
5. Quicksilver (2011) — Book 2 of the Looking Glass Trilogy

Understanding the Cross-Pseudonym Trilogies

If you want to read the subseries trilogies within the Arcane Society universe, you must read across the different pen names. Follow the publication orders below to preserve the continuity of these specific stories:

The Dreamlight Trilogy:

1. Fired Up (2009) — Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary)
2. Burning Lamp (2010) — Written as Amanda Quick (Historical)
3. Midnight Crystal (2010) — Written as Jayne Castle (Futuristic)

The Looking Glass Trilogy:

1. In Too Deep (2010) — Written as Jayne Ann Krentz (Contemporary)
2. Quicksilver (2011) — Written as Amanda Quick (Historical)
3. Canyons of Night (2011) — Written as Jayne Castle (Futuristic)

The Burning Cove Series (1930s Hollywood Glamour)

The Burning Cove series represents a stylistic shift for Amanda Quick, trading the ballrooms of London for the sparkling pools and dark alleys of 1930s California. While each book centers on a self-contained romance and mystery, they share a recurring cast of characters, including psychic researchers, security experts, and hoteliers. Read this series in strict publication order:

1. The Girl Who Knew Too Much (2017)
2. The Other Lady Vanishes (2018)
3. Tightrope (2019)
4. Close Up (2020)
5. The Lady Has a Past (2021)
6. When She Dreams (2022)
7. The Bride Wore White (2023)

Historical Quartets and Trilogies

If you prefer classic historical settings without modern or futuristic crossovers, Quick has written several localized series. These should be read in publication order to see returning characters and evolving settings:

The Vanza Books

This series centers around characters who are influenced by or have studied the teachings of the Garden Temples on the fictional island of Vanza. These books blend romance with archaeological secrets and martial arts philosophies.

1. With This Ring (1998)
2. I Thee Wed (1999)
3. Wicked Widow (2000)
4. Lie by Moonlight (2005)

Lavinia Lake & Tobias March Trilogy

This trilogy follows partners in a private inquiry agency in Regency London, navigating the criminal underbelly and their own growing attraction.

1. Slightly Shady (2001)
2. Don't Look Back (2002)
3. Late for the Wedding (2002)

Ladies of Lantern Street

Set in Victorian London, this series explores characters with subtle psychic talents who use their deductive reasoning to solve crimes for the Lantern Street detective agency.

1. Crystal Gardens (2012)
2. The Mystery Woman (2013)
3. Otherwise Engaged (2014)

Amanda Quick Standalone Novels

Before launching her interconnected series, Amanda Quick was famous for her standalone historical romances. Although they do not share plot continuity, they are best read in publication order to watch the development of her signature writing style:

• Seduction (1990)
• Surrender (1990)
• Scandal (1991)
• Rendezvous (1991) — published as Virtue in some international markets
• Ravished (1992)
• Reckless (1992)
• Deception (1993)
• Dangerous (1993)
• Desire (1993)
• Mistress (1994)
• Mystique (1995)
• Mischief (1996)
• Affair (1997)
• The Paid Companion (2004)
• Wait Until Midnight (2004)
• The River Knows (2007)
• Garden of Lies (2015)
• 'Til Death Do Us Part (2016)