ARC Review: Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz

Lightning in a Mirror
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Series: Fogg Lake (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (January 18, 2022)

Description: The final installment in the chilling Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

Olivia LeClair's experiment with speed dating is not going well. First there was the nasty encounter with the date from hell who tried to murder her and now the mysterious Harlan Rancourt—long believed dead—sits down at her table and tells her she's the only one who can help him locate the legendary Vortex lab.

This is not what Olivia had in mind when she signed up for the Four Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the dating agency.  She doesn't have much choice, though, because her psychic investigation firm works for the mysterious Foundation and Victor Arganbright, the director, is adamant that she assist Harlan. There's just one problem—no one knows Harlan's real agenda. His father once ran the Foundation like a mob organization, and Harlan was destined to be his heir.  There's a real possibility Harlan has returned to claim his inheritance.

For now, however, it's a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend because others are after the secrets of the long-lost lab. Unfortunately for Olivia, the one thing friend and foe have in common is that everyone is convinced she is the key. Her unique psychic talent is required to defuse the ticking time bomb that is Vortex.

Neither trusts the other but Olivia and Harlan soon realize they must work together to survive and unlock the Bluestone Project's most dangerous secrets before more innocent people die.

My Thoughts: Olivia LeClair is a private investigator who uses her psychic gift - aura reading - to help with her cases. While her professional life is going well, her personal life is not. She is attempting to find a soul mate by taking part in speed dating which isn't going well. Her screening question: "If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into hell to find me? - is scaring away all her potential dates. That is, until Harlan Rancourt sits across from her and answers: "If you disappeared I would walk into hell to find you. I know the way. I've been there."

Unfortunately, Harlan has an ulterior motive. He needs Olivia to help track down the Vortex Lab and he's convinced that Olivia is the oracle who can help him. Only Olivia vehemently denies being an oracle despite her heritage.

Luckily, Harlan is with her with a couple of other guys try to kidnap her because they, too, think she's an oracle. The two of them decide to team up because Harlan says that he can help her find out who murdered her mother along the way to the Vortex Lab.

Both Harlan and Olivia have powerful psychic talents and his are more than usually unusual. He is able to disguise his aura so that he blends in and, when he drops the disguise, his aura is very frightening. Olivia sees through his attempts to disguise his aura and isn't afraid of the real Harlan.

This is the third book in a trilogy and neatly ties up quite a few of the threads left dangling in the earlier books while still leaving some things unfinished. It was an exciting story filled with Krentz's usual banter and crisp dialog. I liked both Olivia and Harlan and thought they were just right for each other. 

I liked the way the story pulled in threads from some of the Arcane Society books and connected those two fictional universes into one. Fans of Krentz (or Quick or Castle) will enjoy this exciting conclusion to a trilogy.

Favorite Quote:

Olivia LeClair was halfway across the parking garage and thinking about getting a cat when she realized the man coming toward her intended to murder her.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.