Close Up

By: Amanda Quick

Narrated by: Morgan Hallett

Welcome to Burning Cove, California, where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer...

Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.

After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims - details that only another photographer would have noticed - details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.

Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it - his curse - along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse - all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.

©2020 Jayne Ann Krentz (P)2020 Recorded Books

Good read

Lots of action, good mystery always enjoy Amanda quick, and Jayne Ann krantz or Jayne castle

Very enjoyable, However...

I actually really enjoyed the story. I’ve read a lot of reviews lately saying how JAK has become predictable and has run out of story plots. This one to me says that although her writing style is very clear, she can still write a great story. I’m a little meh on the revelation in the conclusion. It got a little , well for lack of a better word lazy. I don’t want to give away the ending so all I can say was that the reason why the heroine was being hunted fell flat for me and the villains were boring. That is the reason it only got 4 stars from me. Now for the narrator. She was clear spoken, but that’s all I can say good about the performance. Her inflection in some of the more dramatic scenes was flat and didn’t draw me in like I should have been. Their was absolutely no anxiety build up to the more dramatic parts of the story simply because the narrators tone didn’t convey any. All in all if you are new to JAK aka Amanda Quick I think you will like the story and will like all the burning cove stories prior. If you are an established JAK fan you might feel a little let down towards the end of the book. Also, and this is just my personal opinion. I have always liked that JAK books never went into raunchy love scenes to sell books. Do t get me wrong their isn’t anything wrong with them I just prefer thrilling mystery based stories with a little bit of passion as the characters relationship builds up. This book however. Well now that I’m thinking back I’m considering 3 stars. The relationship for the hero and heroine was just off for some reason. It didn’t seam like a very passionate or exciting relationship. They were likable enough, but it just seamed blah. The sex scene was kinda goofy and awkward. Idk like I said just my opinion.

Entertaining

I enjoyed this book. the heroine did not have any " to stupid to live" moments. I enjoyed the romance. I could have done without the sex scenes. I particularly dont like to listen to them read to me so I skipped that part. the mystery was decent with a few twist. I like how the authors delt with some of the social issues of that era. narration good. overall a nice way to spend a few hours.

A Good Book

A Good Addition to this series but a little to heavy on the sex had to fast forward.

The narrator did not do the story justice

This narrator read the story with no emotion, next time I will buy the book and read it.

loved it!

one more glorious book of one of my favourite authors. Loved the narrator as well, subtle nuances which compliment Amanda's quick and subtle sense of humor.

Look over your shoulder

I really liked this story, it was fast paced & had a subtle love interest. Took you into a world most of us know very little about.

She never disappoints!

Another very good story in her Burning Cove series. I made sure I had the whole day free to read/listen to this book because I new I wouldn't be able to put it down until I finished it. The narrator did a great job. I sure hope there is a next book in this series....Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Jayne Bentley has been and is one of my very favorite authors and I get the books by her just as soon as they are released...she has never disappointed!

definitely worth the read

excellent plot great storyline and some little twists at the end highly recommend it. I hope the characters return for a second book in the series.

Excellent

Amanda quick takes us back to burning Cove to enjoy another fantastic book. She does an amazing job making you feel as if you can really be there with the characters.. It kept me entertained from beginning to end. The narrator could have been better. She does an OK job not great with distinguishing voices for each character.