BookOpinion

Krentz's latest Arcane Society novel rings true.

BOOKOPINION REVIEW: White Lies is the second in a series of novels regarding the Arcane Society, which Jayne Ann Krentz describes on her website as, "a group devoted to the study of the paranormal."

People with paranormal talents are ranked as to the level of their ability. Clare Lancaster hails from a long line of parasensitives and possesses the rarest kind of a talent, a level 10 human lie detector. The ability to distinguish even the slightest deception has not made Clare's life an easy one. Still, she has built a solid career and is engaged to be married.

However, a desperate call from the half-sister she has never met, propels Clare into the center of murder and mystery. The sister begs Clare to help her out of a frightening and abusive marriage. Clare saves her half-sister, but when she later finds her half-sister's sinister husband brutally murdered, the gossip and innuendo destroy Clare's career and end her engagement.

Despite the horrid circumstances, a tenuous bond is formed between Clare, her half-sister, and her father, Archer Glazebrook, a prominent Arizona businessman who was unaware of Clare's existance. On a return visit to meet with the Glazebrook family, Clare encounters Jake Salter, a supposed business consultant who is as good at deception as Clare is at telling lies. Salter, also a level 10 parasensative, is on a dire Arcane Society mission.

Clare and Jake team up to solve the murder mystery, uncover a group bent on destroying the very fabric of the Arcane Society, and, as in any good romance, they fall in love. Clare and Jake are thouroughly likable protagonists, strong characters with enough mystery about them to keep you turning the pages until the end. The ending left something to be desired, as it was more a set up for the next Arcane Society adventure then the neatly package ending I have come to expect from Krentz. Both Arcane Society novels (the first was Second Sight, a Victorian-era novel written under Krentz's pseudonym, Amanda Quick) have been solid, fun reads. The Society is intricate and mysterious, and I look forward to uncovering more of its secrets in future novels. There is almost a Harry Potter-esque vibe going on in these novels, albeit in the guise of romance novel. It's light fare, but White Lies is worth the cover price.

– Jane Leisteiner