Jayne Ann Krentz: Copper Beach

Books

Copper Beach

- 23/10/2012

Jayne Ann Krentz: Copper Beach

Jayne Ann Krentz
Fiction
Out now
English English
138 EGP
Everywhere

reviewed by

Basma Mostafa

rate it

review it

Abby Radwell is a freelance book dealer whose paranormal abilities allow her to unlock psi-locked antique books. After Abby uses her powers to disarm an intruder, a blackmailer appears, wanting her help in finding and unlocking a lab notebook full of dangerous information.

Feeling threatened, Abby is referred to Sam Coppersmith by a trusted friend. Sam is a paranormal expert who further investigates the matter as well as protects Abby from the blackmailer. Abby in turn helps him find the notebook that belonged to his father’s former partner, which contains information that could lead to catastrophic results if placed in the wrong hands. Predictably, a sizzling romance breaks out between Sam and Abby and is intensified by their ‘paranormal’ attraction to one another.

But Sam and the blackmailer are not the only ones seeking the lab book; other people, including Abby’s stepbrother, are also willing to do anything to get their hands on it, even if it means a few killings on the side.

Here’s the deal with Copper Beach: it’s completely unsatisfying. Ardent followers of Jayne Ann Krentz’s work will hardly find any surprising turn of events; Abby and Sam can easily be replaced by any of the characters in her other novels and the difference would hardly be discernible.

In addition, those who are unfamiliar with her work might have a hard time keeping up with the paranormal world, the terms that are used and their subsequent implications. The author offers very little background information. For example, Abby’s pet, a dust bunny, always accompanies her, but readers don’t sufficiently understand what a dust bunny is, or why it’s her pet.

Dust bunnies have made frequent appearances in the author’s previous books, which has led her to assume that readers are familiar with them. Abby also comes from a dysfunctional family and was institutionalised as a child, but the author offers very little insight into Sam’s earlier life.

The concept of paranormal books that are locked in order to protect their secrets is intriguing. However, the author hasn’t completely explored its potential and could have made the novel more interesting.

Copper Beach is the first novel in the Dark Legacy series and although it doesn’t deliver on what it promises, there’s still hope that the author’s upcoming novels won’t be as disappointing.

Like This? Try

Midnight Crystal, In Too Deep, Quicksilver.

Author Bio

American author Jayne Ann Krentz is best known for her romance novels. She wrote bestselling novels under seven different pseudonyms. She received a degree in history from the University of California. She has around 23 million copies of her novels in print.