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Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas #3
Untouchable
Quinton Zane is back.
Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer's head has garnered him a reputation in some circles — and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace.
But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family's hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas's foster sons, starting with Jack.
Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer's head has garnered him a reputation in some circles — and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace.
But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family's hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas's foster sons, starting with Jack.
308 pages, Trade Paperback
First published January 8, 2019
1339 people are currently reading
2041 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
398 books7,189 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 604 reviews
January 11, 2021
Once again Jayne Ann Krentz has written a fabulously entertaining read full of passion and intrigue and characters that are memorable and a storyline that flowed flawlessly from page to page. Krentz is a fantastic writer and her romantic suspense books are some of my favorite reads. In Untouchable we dive back in to her continuing series Culter,Sutter,&Salinas. Jack Lancaster is a dream walker who solves cold cases and all though he helps close cold cases and gets answers for others he still hasn't been able to find Quinton Zane the man how killed his mother and set fire to the members of his cult once they found out he was a liar and swindler. For over 20 years it has haunted him and when he goes to a meditation guide Winter meadows not only is she able to help him with fire walks but she's not afraid of what he can do. Winter has a special gift that she's had since childhood, its the ability to use hypnotic suggestion and after being orphaned at a young age it helped her to survive living on the streets. But when Zane reappears not only is jack and the rest of his family loose ends to get rid of but so is winter. I have read Jayne Ann Krentz books for years and you would think after all these years she would've run out of storylines,but she always puts out a fabulous book and she's my go to time and again for romantic suspense! Until next time Loves💗💋
January 11, 2020
UNTOUCHABLE by Jayne Ann Krentz was an enjoyable romantic suspense novel and is the third book in the Sons of Anson Salinas series. This book worked as a standalone novel for me. Jack Lancaster and Winter Meadows are the protagonists in this story. Jack is the survivor of a fire that occurred when he was young and works on cold cases involving fire. Winter has recently moved to Eclipse Bay, Oregon to escape a stalker. Jack seeks some help from Winter who is working as a meditation therapist. From the initial flashbacks to the exciting ending, this was an enjoyable read.
The novel is mainly set in Oregon and California. Jack and Winter are likeable characters with a lot of chemistry between them. The books focuses on the suspense part of the novel with a build up of chemistry and, eventually, a couple of steamy scenes. The plot is reasonably well-crafted and the story line flows well. However, the conflicts are largely external and not internal. The plot twists are believable and plausible, but not totally unexpected.
Overall, the novel was engaging and very readable with a dramatic peak to the action. If you enjoy romantic suspense novels, then this may be one that you will enjoy.
The novel is mainly set in Oregon and California. Jack and Winter are likeable characters with a lot of chemistry between them. The books focuses on the suspense part of the novel with a build up of chemistry and, eventually, a couple of steamy scenes. The plot is reasonably well-crafted and the story line flows well. However, the conflicts are largely external and not internal. The plot twists are believable and plausible, but not totally unexpected.
Overall, the novel was engaging and very readable with a dramatic peak to the action. If you enjoy romantic suspense novels, then this may be one that you will enjoy.
May 3, 2019
Lots of agonizing getting through this story. While this may be for others, it's not for me. 3 of 10 stars
January 17, 2024
This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable female protagonist who has an unusual talent, an engaging and intelligent male protagonist, murder, suspense, mystery, twists and turns and a happily ever after ending. It is an excellent conclusion to Ms. Krentz's outstanding Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series, and it can be enjoyed as a stand alone, but is best when read in order, because a plot thread connects the entries in the series. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Amanda Leigh Cobb, has a lovely voice and does a wonderful job depicting the characters and their personalities.
January 4, 2019
This heart-pounding thriller had a bit of everything–a fast-paced plot, lucid dreams of a fire maze, a decades old mystery, a stone cold villain, and a dash of romance! I know of Jayne Ann Krentz (who doesn’t? She’s published so much and under more than one name!), but this is the first book of hers I’ve read. It is such a fun read!!! I can see why she’s so popular, and I look forward to reading more from her. Untouchable felt like watching a movie–I totally flew through it!
Reflection
I’m a bit bewildered when describing this book because on the one hand, I was a bit confused at the beginning and felt like I must have missed part of the story. Then I realized that is because this is the third in a series. But as I kept reading, I realized I hadn’t missed anything at all! This book completely works as a standalone and the storyline I thought I had picked up from another book is in fact contained in this story. So give it a chance to unfold, readers! I promise all will make sense!
I had a really fun time with this book. It almost felt a bit like action verging on fantasy, because of the lucid dreaming storyline (the dreams are fascinating!), the hypnotism, and because of the academic professor-turned-detective with gorgeous eyes and a deadly fist. I loved the few scenes narrated by the mysterious assassins (you’ll have to find out for yourself who they are)! They felt like characters from a movie–clad in designer duds and sneaking around cleaning up “messes” for their boss.
Winter is such a wonderful character. We got glimpses of her story, and that is the one I thought I missed. Trust me when I say you’ll learn more about the beautiful, haunted Winter! I loved her backstory, as well as her character in the novel. Her grounded approach to meditation and reflection might be just what Jack needs!
All together, this was a fun, heart-racing thriller with a great ending. Thank you to Berkley for my copy to review.
Reflection
I’m a bit bewildered when describing this book because on the one hand, I was a bit confused at the beginning and felt like I must have missed part of the story. Then I realized that is because this is the third in a series. But as I kept reading, I realized I hadn’t missed anything at all! This book completely works as a standalone and the storyline I thought I had picked up from another book is in fact contained in this story. So give it a chance to unfold, readers! I promise all will make sense!
I had a really fun time with this book. It almost felt a bit like action verging on fantasy, because of the lucid dreaming storyline (the dreams are fascinating!), the hypnotism, and because of the academic professor-turned-detective with gorgeous eyes and a deadly fist. I loved the few scenes narrated by the mysterious assassins (you’ll have to find out for yourself who they are)! They felt like characters from a movie–clad in designer duds and sneaking around cleaning up “messes” for their boss.
Winter is such a wonderful character. We got glimpses of her story, and that is the one I thought I missed. Trust me when I say you’ll learn more about the beautiful, haunted Winter! I loved her backstory, as well as her character in the novel. Her grounded approach to meditation and reflection might be just what Jack needs!
All together, this was a fun, heart-racing thriller with a great ending. Thank you to Berkley for my copy to review.
January 17, 2019
3.5 stars!
Untouchable is my first book by Jayne Ann Krentz, and it’s the third book in an established series.
Jack Lancaster is a consultant to the FBI, and he loves the challenge of cold cases, especially ones involving arson, as he himself is a survivor of a horrendous fire. Jack is uniquely able to relate to a killer and that’s how he solves his crimes, but sometimes that reliability bleeds over into his personal life.
Jack seeks help for his “gift” from Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist, who always brings him back from the dark.
Quinton Zane is an arch nemesis of Jack’s, and Zane is now hunting Jack. He is a cult leader who killed the parents of the children in a foster family, and Jack is one of the foster children for which he is searching.
Jack and Winter are two relatable and strong characters to get behind. I also enjoyed the premise of the story, and especially how well Zane, the villain, was drawn. Untouchable is an easy-to-read and engaging novel, and I think I would have gotten a tad more out of it had I read the first two books, though it was a perfectly suitable read in its own right.
Thanks to Berkley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Untouchable is my first book by Jayne Ann Krentz, and it’s the third book in an established series.
Jack Lancaster is a consultant to the FBI, and he loves the challenge of cold cases, especially ones involving arson, as he himself is a survivor of a horrendous fire. Jack is uniquely able to relate to a killer and that’s how he solves his crimes, but sometimes that reliability bleeds over into his personal life.
Jack seeks help for his “gift” from Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist, who always brings him back from the dark.
Quinton Zane is an arch nemesis of Jack’s, and Zane is now hunting Jack. He is a cult leader who killed the parents of the children in a foster family, and Jack is one of the foster children for which he is searching.
Jack and Winter are two relatable and strong characters to get behind. I also enjoyed the premise of the story, and especially how well Zane, the villain, was drawn. Untouchable is an easy-to-read and engaging novel, and I think I would have gotten a tad more out of it had I read the first two books, though it was a perfectly suitable read in its own right.
Thanks to Berkley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
January 4, 2019
A riveting romantic suspense with a large dose of suspense and a dab of romance, that kept me on my toes!
Jayne Ann Krentz is a comfort read for me, I remember reading her ages ago... there are few authors I read both in my 20s and my 40s and JAK is one of them.... this is the third book in this series and the first book I read... from what I can tell each book is self-contained and about a different foster brother.... I think what I missed from not reading the previous books is the villain was not completely fleshed out... other than that I believe this book can absolutely be read as a standalone, but after reading this book you might want to go back and check out the other brothers stories....
Jack is a consultant for the FBI working cold cases... having lost his mother to a fire a lot of his investigation involves cases of fire, he also has some dream/sleep issues.... I have to admit I never completely understood or bought into some of Jack’s dream scenes in this book.. I think he was hunting for people in his dreams, I’m not sure, I have to admit this was a pretty confusing part of this book... in all honesty this did not need to be included, but that’s my opinion.... The positive side of this dream searching was this is how he met Winter Meadows... A meditation therapist with a fabulous name! Soon after meeting, Jack and Winter had the bad guys after them... this pursuit took them up and down the California coast...
I really liked how they investigated the criminals, I liked how Jack looked into the cold cases and put the pieces together... I liked the chemistry between Jack and Winter I thought it very organic... and I really love the character of Winter... I would have really enjoyed an entire book just about her she was very strong and resourceful and sassy.... I also would have really loved some more scenes with all three of the brothers, I really would’ve liked to see that bond more... but perhaps that is something I missed in the previous books?
A fast-paced, action packed, tension filled story that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense! Recommend!
*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***
Jayne Ann Krentz is a comfort read for me, I remember reading her ages ago... there are few authors I read both in my 20s and my 40s and JAK is one of them.... this is the third book in this series and the first book I read... from what I can tell each book is self-contained and about a different foster brother.... I think what I missed from not reading the previous books is the villain was not completely fleshed out... other than that I believe this book can absolutely be read as a standalone, but after reading this book you might want to go back and check out the other brothers stories....
Jack is a consultant for the FBI working cold cases... having lost his mother to a fire a lot of his investigation involves cases of fire, he also has some dream/sleep issues.... I have to admit I never completely understood or bought into some of Jack’s dream scenes in this book.. I think he was hunting for people in his dreams, I’m not sure, I have to admit this was a pretty confusing part of this book... in all honesty this did not need to be included, but that’s my opinion.... The positive side of this dream searching was this is how he met Winter Meadows... A meditation therapist with a fabulous name! Soon after meeting, Jack and Winter had the bad guys after them... this pursuit took them up and down the California coast...
I really liked how they investigated the criminals, I liked how Jack looked into the cold cases and put the pieces together... I liked the chemistry between Jack and Winter I thought it very organic... and I really love the character of Winter... I would have really enjoyed an entire book just about her she was very strong and resourceful and sassy.... I also would have really loved some more scenes with all three of the brothers, I really would’ve liked to see that bond more... but perhaps that is something I missed in the previous books?
A fast-paced, action packed, tension filled story that will appeal to fans of romantic suspense! Recommend!
*** many thanks to Berkley for my copy of this book ***
January 11, 2019
3.5 Stars
Jack Lancaster is one of the survivors of a barn fire set but cult-leader, Quinton Zane to murder all the member’s children twenty years ago. His mother died that night, one of the many women murdered by Zane that same night. Since then Jack and his foster brothers have been hunting Zane even though he disappeared and supposedly died in a yacht fire. In the last book it was clear the maniac is very much alive, and aware of their investigative efforts putting all the brothers in danger.
Jack seems to be the special target of Zane because of his almost uncanny knack to predict the actions of criminals.
We meet Winter in the prologue as she uses her ability at hypnotism, which was pretty impressive! Years later she’s in Eclipse Bay, Oregon as a meditation therapist helping Jack to control his lucid dreaming, a tool he uses to sort out criminal cases. He needs her expertise, because lately these dreams turn into nightmares of flames and darkness. But Jack and Winter are thrown together as more than therapist and client when Winter is violently attacked.
Untouchable was entertaining from page one, the kind of book you could easily knock out in an afternoon. Lots of action, fast-paced, but it didn’t have the same zing that the previous book, Promise Not to Tell, had. Also, there were parts that felt a little farfetched, and while I don’t totally mind that given this is fiction, it does make it hard to buy into the story. Still, with that said, it was an exciting, fun read.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
Jack Lancaster is one of the survivors of a barn fire set but cult-leader, Quinton Zane to murder all the member’s children twenty years ago. His mother died that night, one of the many women murdered by Zane that same night. Since then Jack and his foster brothers have been hunting Zane even though he disappeared and supposedly died in a yacht fire. In the last book it was clear the maniac is very much alive, and aware of their investigative efforts putting all the brothers in danger.
Jack seems to be the special target of Zane because of his almost uncanny knack to predict the actions of criminals.
We meet Winter in the prologue as she uses her ability at hypnotism, which was pretty impressive! Years later she’s in Eclipse Bay, Oregon as a meditation therapist helping Jack to control his lucid dreaming, a tool he uses to sort out criminal cases. He needs her expertise, because lately these dreams turn into nightmares of flames and darkness. But Jack and Winter are thrown together as more than therapist and client when Winter is violently attacked.
Untouchable was entertaining from page one, the kind of book you could easily knock out in an afternoon. Lots of action, fast-paced, but it didn’t have the same zing that the previous book, Promise Not to Tell, had. Also, there were parts that felt a little farfetched, and while I don’t totally mind that given this is fiction, it does make it hard to buy into the story. Still, with that said, it was an exciting, fun read.
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2019
Jack Lancaster consults for the FBI and works with his step-brothers at Cutler, Sutter, & Salinas. Jack has an unusual gift. It is one that allows him to investigate cold cases. It also makes him Quinton Zane biggest treat.
Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist has recently moved from the city after a bad experience with a client. She rents the cottage across the way from Jack. I have always found her profession to be interesting and immediately liked Winter.
Jack uses a self-created dreamscape to look for clues and solve cold cases particularly those involving arson. While, he solves cases, Quinton Zane manages to stay one step ahead of him. Jack has been experiences difficulty with his dreams. It's becoming harder to manage the dreamscape, and he fears slipping into darkness. Sessions with Winter helps him control the dreamscape. I found this aspect fascinating with a hint of paranormal woo-woo.
It pleased me how Krentz wrapped up the case, but the romance and story fell flat for me. Krentz has served the romantic elements in this series on the side, but I didn't feel the passion in this one. The case had suspenseful moments, red herrings and fit neatly into the plot. However, both the romance and the case had more of a tell not show feel. This typically isn't the case with Krentz and it prevented me from becoming immersed in the story and characters.
Fans of suspense and murder-mysteries served with a side of paranormal woo-woo and romance will enjoy Untouchable and the Cutler Sutter & Salinas trilogy. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist has recently moved from the city after a bad experience with a client. She rents the cottage across the way from Jack. I have always found her profession to be interesting and immediately liked Winter.
Jack uses a self-created dreamscape to look for clues and solve cold cases particularly those involving arson. While, he solves cases, Quinton Zane manages to stay one step ahead of him. Jack has been experiences difficulty with his dreams. It's becoming harder to manage the dreamscape, and he fears slipping into darkness. Sessions with Winter helps him control the dreamscape. I found this aspect fascinating with a hint of paranormal woo-woo.
It pleased me how Krentz wrapped up the case, but the romance and story fell flat for me. Krentz has served the romantic elements in this series on the side, but I didn't feel the passion in this one. The case had suspenseful moments, red herrings and fit neatly into the plot. However, both the romance and the case had more of a tell not show feel. This typically isn't the case with Krentz and it prevented me from becoming immersed in the story and characters.
Fans of suspense and murder-mysteries served with a side of paranormal woo-woo and romance will enjoy Untouchable and the Cutler Sutter & Salinas trilogy. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
October 7, 2018
Ehhh, didn’t do anything for me. The first two books weren’t anything near great reads; but at least contained enough of the stamp of Krentz talent to be readable. This was borderline dull. Vague over-the-top plotline, rambling, and no trademark snappy dialogue. Even her favorite setting of Eclipse Bay got short shrift. I have a hard time believing JAK even wrote this.
February 18, 2019
This was the final book in a trilogy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The fact that Quinton Zane, the once murderous cult leader is still alive ratchets the suspense to another level, especially when he becomes more than just a character recalled through the memories of those whose lives he has affected. I really love the way JAK creates characters with talents that verge on the paranormal, but she does it without slipping over the line of what is and isn’t possible. (At least for readers like me who have always believed you can’t say something doesn’t exist merely because you don’t understand it—leaves me wide open to go with the author’s imagination and thoroughly get into the story.)
All three books in this trilogy are exceptionally well done, and I can’t wait for what comes next. I really enjoyed the characters and the overall connection via the Cutler, Sutter and Salinas agency. Jayne Ann Krentz never disappoints, and I find that her books are ones I always enjoy rereading. I have to add one thing that just added a cherry to the top of some really rich icing—I loved it when Arizona Snow popped up in the story. I’ve always loved her! I would love to be a tough old broad like AZ!
All three books in this trilogy are exceptionally well done, and I can’t wait for what comes next. I really enjoyed the characters and the overall connection via the Cutler, Sutter and Salinas agency. Jayne Ann Krentz never disappoints, and I find that her books are ones I always enjoy rereading. I have to add one thing that just added a cherry to the top of some really rich icing—I loved it when Arizona Snow popped up in the story. I’ve always loved her! I would love to be a tough old broad like AZ!
February 4, 2019
I really love Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick. Out of the 3 books in this particular trilogy this had the best romance element. The characters had great chemistry.
This author also had a couple of series with a paranormal element where the characters had psychic powers. This book had an element of that with the whole hypnosis/lucid dreaming element. I really liked that.
It is sad that this was probably only a trilogy, though I do wonder about AZ.
This author also had a couple of series with a paranormal element where the characters had psychic powers. This book had an element of that with the whole hypnosis/lucid dreaming element. I really liked that.
It is sad that this was probably only a trilogy, though I do wonder about AZ.
January 21, 2019
A long time ago, when JAK wrote romance instead of romantic suspense, she published Witchcraft, about an ex-secret-operative vintner who fell in love with a writer of romantic suspense. The heroine in that book was a loner writing a series about a female PI who was a loner whose romantic interest was a loner who basically thought just like the female PI about all of life's important issues. (It drives the hero in Witchcraft crazy, btw. He feels like he's competing against an unrealistic fantasy man. I couldn't agree more.)
The pairing in Untouchable feels like the perfectly compatible lovers from that book-within-a-book. They're both scarred by childhood trauma, were rescued and lovingly raised by found families, and have quirky pseudo-paranormal abilities (him, lucid dreaming; her, hypnosis) that somehow isolate them from the general mating pool because others find them too weird. Their interaction with each other is largely affirmative and supportive rather than frictive and challenging. Their wry, cliché-strewn dialog sounds as if they're auditioning for the lead in CSI: Miami...which isn't a good sign, since that show was cancelled 7 years ago.
For the plot, JAK tossed Midnight Jewels (pyromaniac cult leader with delusions of grandeur and a hot female assassin) and Falling Awake (lucid dreaming as a crime-solving technique) in a blender. Lots of déjà vu for long-time JAK readers. The result is definitely better than Falling Awake (which may be the worst thing JAK has ever written), but it's hard for me to weigh it against Midnight Jewels, since that book falls in the bottom third of JAK's romances for me. I tend to think most of her romances are better than most of her romantic suspense, but that's because I'm reading for romance, not suspense.
The settings actually sparked joy in my heart: we start off in Eclipse Bay (from the Eclipse Bay and Arcane series) and pay a visit to current-day Burning Cove (the setting of JAK's most recent Amanda Quick historical suspense novels). JAK's fictional geography is collapsing into a singularity, and I couldn't be more delighted. With regards to reusing characters...
We meet up with Arizona Snow again in Eclipse Bay. An aging conspiracy theorist with (undiagnosed?) paranormal abilities, AZ pops up in every Eclipse Bay book. She's comic relief with a bit of pathos, and her character is pretty consistent in all the books she appears in. She's one note and can be plot-convenient.
Where JAK stumbles in serialization -- and has for more than 20 years -- is in revisiting her own protagonists. The hero of Untouchable has two foster brothers who were the heroes of the two preceding books in the series. They're here with their wives, and they are bland. Blancmange. Differentiated from the woodwork solely by their ability to shoot better than the hero (because the brothers were in law enforcement, while the hero is kind of an academic). Absolutely nothing about their appearance in this book inspires me to reread their books, even though I am a voracious rereader. My kind theory is that JAK defines her protagonists as decision-makers and doesn't know what to do with them when they're not leading the action. My unkind theory is that she forgets their defining characteristics the moment she finishes the book they're in, so she's just name-dropping without any attempt to recreate their former persona. It's a pity this hero's book didn't come earlier in the series, because he has an annoying habit of expressing everything in terms of probabilities ("There's a 97% chance that [side character] will be killed by [the villain]") and that kind of tic can be useful when recreating a character via shorthand.
Three stars because the setting pleased me and the relationship bits could have been fleshed out into a satisfying romance if the author were still inclined to write romance. I make no claims about the quality of the suspense plot. I don't read suspense, so I don't know if I find all suspense predictable or just Krentz's. I think the believability of the suspense plot is undermined by the lack of authenticity in Krentz's descriptions of the protagonists' paranormal abilities. (I'm not anti-paranormal. I like what Krentz does with intuition and pattern recognition in other contemporaries, as well as the talent/prism thing from the St Helens series. She's just turned lucid dreaming and hypnosis up to 11 here, and it comes across as ungrounded.)
The pairing in Untouchable feels like the perfectly compatible lovers from that book-within-a-book. They're both scarred by childhood trauma, were rescued and lovingly raised by found families, and have quirky pseudo-paranormal abilities (him, lucid dreaming; her, hypnosis) that somehow isolate them from the general mating pool because others find them too weird. Their interaction with each other is largely affirmative and supportive rather than frictive and challenging. Their wry, cliché-strewn dialog sounds as if they're auditioning for the lead in CSI: Miami...which isn't a good sign, since that show was cancelled 7 years ago.
For the plot, JAK tossed Midnight Jewels (pyromaniac cult leader with delusions of grandeur and a hot female assassin) and Falling Awake (lucid dreaming as a crime-solving technique) in a blender. Lots of déjà vu for long-time JAK readers. The result is definitely better than Falling Awake (which may be the worst thing JAK has ever written), but it's hard for me to weigh it against Midnight Jewels, since that book falls in the bottom third of JAK's romances for me. I tend to think most of her romances are better than most of her romantic suspense, but that's because I'm reading for romance, not suspense.
The settings actually sparked joy in my heart: we start off in Eclipse Bay (from the Eclipse Bay and Arcane series) and pay a visit to current-day Burning Cove (the setting of JAK's most recent Amanda Quick historical suspense novels). JAK's fictional geography is collapsing into a singularity, and I couldn't be more delighted. With regards to reusing characters...
We meet up with Arizona Snow again in Eclipse Bay. An aging conspiracy theorist with (undiagnosed?) paranormal abilities, AZ pops up in every Eclipse Bay book. She's comic relief with a bit of pathos, and her character is pretty consistent in all the books she appears in. She's one note and can be plot-convenient.
Where JAK stumbles in serialization -- and has for more than 20 years -- is in revisiting her own protagonists. The hero of Untouchable has two foster brothers who were the heroes of the two preceding books in the series. They're here with their wives, and they are bland. Blancmange. Differentiated from the woodwork solely by their ability to shoot better than the hero (because the brothers were in law enforcement, while the hero is kind of an academic). Absolutely nothing about their appearance in this book inspires me to reread their books, even though I am a voracious rereader. My kind theory is that JAK defines her protagonists as decision-makers and doesn't know what to do with them when they're not leading the action. My unkind theory is that she forgets their defining characteristics the moment she finishes the book they're in, so she's just name-dropping without any attempt to recreate their former persona. It's a pity this hero's book didn't come earlier in the series, because he has an annoying habit of expressing everything in terms of probabilities ("There's a 97% chance that [side character] will be killed by [the villain]") and that kind of tic can be useful when recreating a character via shorthand.
Three stars because the setting pleased me and the relationship bits could have been fleshed out into a satisfying romance if the author were still inclined to write romance. I make no claims about the quality of the suspense plot. I don't read suspense, so I don't know if I find all suspense predictable or just Krentz's. I think the believability of the suspense plot is undermined by the lack of authenticity in Krentz's descriptions of the protagonists' paranormal abilities. (I'm not anti-paranormal. I like what Krentz does with intuition and pattern recognition in other contemporaries, as well as the talent/prism thing from the St Helens series. She's just turned lucid dreaming and hypnosis up to 11 here, and it comes across as ungrounded.)
January 10, 2019
I love urban fantasy and gothic mysteries, both of which combine magic and reality to create something enigmatic and mystical. There is a way to do it badly, however, and JAK excelled at that in this book.
Winter is an extraordinary hypnotist. Give her a beam of light and she can place anyone under her spell. Jack solves cold cases through lucid dreaming. He guides his subconscious as it works through the details of the case. Winter helps Jack use meditation to deepen and better control his lucid dreaming. The two have just begun exploring the possibilities of a relationship when their pasts collide with their present.
There is nothing cheesier than using magic to solve the problems characters may face. There should be pretium virtutis (price of power) to counter balance the gift. Here, Winter's gift is cost free and completely magical. Also completely ridiculous. Add to that the fact that the leads have no chemistry whatsoever and you have one completely disappointing book.
Winter is an extraordinary hypnotist. Give her a beam of light and she can place anyone under her spell. Jack solves cold cases through lucid dreaming. He guides his subconscious as it works through the details of the case. Winter helps Jack use meditation to deepen and better control his lucid dreaming. The two have just begun exploring the possibilities of a relationship when their pasts collide with their present.
There is nothing cheesier than using magic to solve the problems characters may face. There should be pretium virtutis (price of power) to counter balance the gift. Here, Winter's gift is cost free and completely magical. Also completely ridiculous. Add to that the fact that the leads have no chemistry whatsoever and you have one completely disappointing book.
June 2, 2020
A thrilling romantic novel that hypnotises its readers!
Finished in 2 days - it was such a quick and interesting finish to the three-part story about Quinton Zane. The hunter that was being hunted on.
Why did I take one star off? Ok, something small - but proving Jack's brilliance we knew with almost every page of the story what is going to happen, taking the suspense out. Also, I'd love if Winter's gift was used more - regardless of the code she lived through.
Other than the above, yet another great read by this beautiful author!
Finished in 2 days - it was such a quick and interesting finish to the three-part story about Quinton Zane. The hunter that was being hunted on.
Why did I take one star off? Ok, something small - but proving Jack's brilliance we knew with almost every page of the story what is going to happen, taking the suspense out. Also, I'd love if Winter's gift was used more - regardless of the code she lived through.
Other than the above, yet another great read by this beautiful author!
April 11, 2019
1.5 stars rounded up because I had a hard time giving a 1 star to JAK. However, this ties for one of the worst books I've read this year. I almost DNF'd so many times but I did skim through huge sections to make it to the end.
October 31, 2019
I received this book in the post, I hadn’t requested it and I made the mistake of picking it up to see what the first few pages were like. It turned out that picking it up wasn’t a mistake because about 50 pages later I was fully immersed in the story.
UNTOUCHABLE is a romantic suspense, more thriller in my opinion with shades of the supernatural. In lots of ways this book was out of my comfort zone with themes of hypnotism and lucid dreaming but colour me surprised when I just went with the flow and enjoyed the story.
The main character, Winter is a lone wolf, moving around and new to the small town. Her neighbour and fellow cabin-renter, Jack was also Winter’s meditation client. Jack was something else with some weird skills that some might call flaws. The story started with a bang and the fast moving events were basically what dragged me into the story. In fact, the whole book was fast paced and I enjoyed the thrills and unknown bends in the road.
This book is actually the third in a series of connected characters (brothers) but it stood alone perfectly well. I read this without any disadvantage of not reading the others but I do find myself curious enough to go back and read them.
If I have any critique it is that I would have liked to get to know Jack and Winter a little better as individuals. As a couple, I would have also appreciated a bit more emotional connection but as with some suspense books, the story was told over a relatively short period of time as events unfolded. This was my first book by Jayne Ann Krentz and I would definitely seek her out again.
Thank you Little Brown UK & Piatkus for this finished review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities here.
UNTOUCHABLE is a romantic suspense, more thriller in my opinion with shades of the supernatural. In lots of ways this book was out of my comfort zone with themes of hypnotism and lucid dreaming but colour me surprised when I just went with the flow and enjoyed the story.
The main character, Winter is a lone wolf, moving around and new to the small town. Her neighbour and fellow cabin-renter, Jack was also Winter’s meditation client. Jack was something else with some weird skills that some might call flaws. The story started with a bang and the fast moving events were basically what dragged me into the story. In fact, the whole book was fast paced and I enjoyed the thrills and unknown bends in the road.
This book is actually the third in a series of connected characters (brothers) but it stood alone perfectly well. I read this without any disadvantage of not reading the others but I do find myself curious enough to go back and read them.
If I have any critique it is that I would have liked to get to know Jack and Winter a little better as individuals. As a couple, I would have also appreciated a bit more emotional connection but as with some suspense books, the story was told over a relatively short period of time as events unfolded. This was my first book by Jayne Ann Krentz and I would definitely seek her out again.
Thank you Little Brown UK & Piatkus for this finished review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities here.
May 1, 2019
Untouchable was pretty good! I enjoyed the chase even if the final showdown was a spot anticlimactic.
The Gist: Jack uses his ability to lucid dream to help solve cold cases. But he's losing control of the ability with some scary outcomes and desperately needs help trying to harness his talent. A lovely new meditation specialist in town just might be his answer as long as he can keep her alive after a killer from Jack's past comes after him.
Jack and Winter were both nice characters. Easy to like and hard working. They both have interesting talents -- him: lucid dreaming, her: hypnotism. Both are a bit protective of their talents and used to people thinking they're crazy. I loved them together because of it. They needed someone who accepted them and their talents and helped grow them. They worked well together.
The mystery or rather the hunt was interesting, too. You know the bad guy since he's been a focus of the whole series but it's piecing it all together. So many working parts of this one. Instances that don't seem related until they finally fit all together. I enjoyed that. I did find the final showdown a bit anticlimactic but it was still a decent storyline.
All in all, Untouchable was another enjoyable read from Krentz.
Now my favorite thing. And I know it's silly. But all the connections and mentions of other series from the author. It's in Eclipse Bay. And Burning Cove hotel is mentioned. Some connections to characters in other series. I just loved that. I was like yes yes! I loved that one, too! lol
The Gist: Jack uses his ability to lucid dream to help solve cold cases. But he's losing control of the ability with some scary outcomes and desperately needs help trying to harness his talent. A lovely new meditation specialist in town just might be his answer as long as he can keep her alive after a killer from Jack's past comes after him.
Jack and Winter were both nice characters. Easy to like and hard working. They both have interesting talents -- him: lucid dreaming, her: hypnotism. Both are a bit protective of their talents and used to people thinking they're crazy. I loved them together because of it. They needed someone who accepted them and their talents and helped grow them. They worked well together.
The mystery or rather the hunt was interesting, too. You know the bad guy since he's been a focus of the whole series but it's piecing it all together. So many working parts of this one. Instances that don't seem related until they finally fit all together. I enjoyed that. I did find the final showdown a bit anticlimactic but it was still a decent storyline.
All in all, Untouchable was another enjoyable read from Krentz.
Now my favorite thing. And I know it's silly. But all the connections and mentions of other series from the author. It's in Eclipse Bay. And Burning Cove hotel is mentioned. Some connections to characters in other series. I just loved that. I was like yes yes! I loved that one, too! lol
July 21, 2019
This is the third part of a trilogy. This is a real page turner! I was on the edge of my seat!
January 8, 2019
***ARC received for an honest review***
I don't think this was just a case of poor timing. This book simply did not go down well. First and foremost, what happened to all of the contractions? It's disconcerting to read "I will not" or "she did not" or "he is on his way." At some points I would say the sentence out loud to feel how foreign and jerky it was on my tongue.
Second, the characters didn't evolve beyond the shallowest ideas of themselves. I don't know why they did what the did - and if we can't reach the point where I can respect their motives, we're going to be in trouble. The hero consistently referred to himself as a conspiracy theorist while looking to the heroine to deny it - thus cementing their lurve. It was repetitious and silly for both of them - I don't think adults connect in that manner. He also gave a statistical probability for everything. So. Annoying.
It was a fast read. And I think if you're in the mood for a quick easy caper there's a 37% chance you'll enjoy this. (There's a 98% chance that you need to read the two earlier books in the series for this to make sense.) If you can't handle me doing this about 15 more times there's a 100% chance you're not going to enjoy this book.
I don't think this was just a case of poor timing. This book simply did not go down well. First and foremost, what happened to all of the contractions? It's disconcerting to read "I will not" or "she did not" or "he is on his way." At some points I would say the sentence out loud to feel how foreign and jerky it was on my tongue.
Second, the characters didn't evolve beyond the shallowest ideas of themselves. I don't know why they did what the did - and if we can't reach the point where I can respect their motives, we're going to be in trouble. The hero consistently referred to himself as a conspiracy theorist while looking to the heroine to deny it - thus cementing their lurve. It was repetitious and silly for both of them - I don't think adults connect in that manner. He also gave a statistical probability for everything. So. Annoying.
It was a fast read. And I think if you're in the mood for a quick easy caper there's a 37% chance you'll enjoy this. (There's a 98% chance that you need to read the two earlier books in the series for this to make sense.) If you can't handle me doing this about 15 more times there's a 100% chance you're not going to enjoy this book.
December 14, 2018
I have not read the prior two novels in this series but I had no issues jumping right into this book. This book can be read as a stand alone novel. For me, I was not really experiencing the chemistry between Quinton and Jack. In fact, I found myself struggling to connect to the characters and thus in turn I could not connect with the story as well. It was not for a lack of effort as I did finish this book. However, I will say that I barely remember much details about what transpired within the pages of this book. You can say that this book was not my cup of tea.
January 12, 2019
Huh??? Not at all like the first 2 in the series. No character growth. The bad guy took too many pgs, too many bad guys, and it made no sense why he wanted them dead nor why the elaborate plots with Winter.
She did the lucid dreaming before but this one was too simple and too easy.
I just wasn't impressed. Nothing big, just little bits and pieces that added up.
2 stars because I finished it.
She did the lucid dreaming before but this one was too simple and too easy.
I just wasn't impressed. Nothing big, just little bits and pieces that added up.
2 stars because I finished it.
February 5, 2019
Jayne Ann Krentz never disappoints!! Her stories are full of twists and turns and new revelations. I love her books. The resolution to this trilogy was most satisfying.
August 6, 2020
Good story. I really liked Jack and Winter. This is the third book in a trilogy and a good ending. I would recommend this book and the whole trilogy. JAK's books are easy reads and never disappoint.
December 17, 2018
Last year, I enjoyed the second book from this series (out of order, of course, because I do that sort of thing when a book grabs my interest), Promise Not to Tell. It was also only the second book I'd read by the author and I was riveted to that story. I could barely wait to read this one to see what came of that big reveal at the end of the book. The final book, the final foster brother, and the big bad villain is back!
Untouchable is book three in a series about a foster family, an evil cult leader, and the women who find themselves along for the ride. I think each book can be read out of order though this one does wrap up the series so it probably shouldn't be read first if someone is planning to catch all three.
So, a family of an older man and three brothers not of blood, but held together by first circumstances and loyalty and now love are all doing their part to stop a true villain. Zane, the cult leader who killed their parents and tried to destroy them in a fire is still out there. They searched for him, but now the prey has become the predator. Jack, the FBI analyst brother is the focus of this last segment of the story. He delves into some of the darkest of cases particularly if arson is involved. He has a gift for getting inside the criminal's mind and it helps him solve cases that others cannot. But, it costs him. The darkness and filth would take over so he relies on Winter, a therapist to help him. Zane is gunning for Jack as the first to go down in the family that are all ranged against him to bring him down and stop him once and for all. But, Winter is in danger, too. She has a stalker and she's been attacked. With all that is going on, this pair can still feel the spark of attraction and now that its not doctor/patient, they might do something about it.
So, I was champing at the bit for this one after I finished Promise Not to Tell. I loved the adopted dad and brothers all fighting crime together and a good villain is always welcome. Toss in a romance and I'm happy. If you're sensing a 'but', there is a little one.
I honestly do not know what happened. I read it and enjoyed it to a certain extent, but it didn't quite grab me like the book before it. Maybe I let myself get too high an expectation or built up the villain as smarter than he ended up being. I wanted a little more romance development, but yet I didn't mind that the focus was elsewhere most of the time. I liked what I got and liked Jack and Winter and the group introduced from the earlier books. I enjoy how it felt like lots of unrelated stuff was going on until I saw how it corded together. And, yet, I was somewhat detached other than a couple exciting spots. Let's just say I don't have a solid reason beyond a few little niggles.
In summary, I enjoyed it and rooted on Jack and Winter. I was thrilled to see Zane come crashing down after all he did to harm others. I like the author's writing. This was an easy-read and engaging romantic suspense trilogy that I don't hesitate to recommend.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Untouchable is book three in a series about a foster family, an evil cult leader, and the women who find themselves along for the ride. I think each book can be read out of order though this one does wrap up the series so it probably shouldn't be read first if someone is planning to catch all three.
So, a family of an older man and three brothers not of blood, but held together by first circumstances and loyalty and now love are all doing their part to stop a true villain. Zane, the cult leader who killed their parents and tried to destroy them in a fire is still out there. They searched for him, but now the prey has become the predator. Jack, the FBI analyst brother is the focus of this last segment of the story. He delves into some of the darkest of cases particularly if arson is involved. He has a gift for getting inside the criminal's mind and it helps him solve cases that others cannot. But, it costs him. The darkness and filth would take over so he relies on Winter, a therapist to help him. Zane is gunning for Jack as the first to go down in the family that are all ranged against him to bring him down and stop him once and for all. But, Winter is in danger, too. She has a stalker and she's been attacked. With all that is going on, this pair can still feel the spark of attraction and now that its not doctor/patient, they might do something about it.
So, I was champing at the bit for this one after I finished Promise Not to Tell. I loved the adopted dad and brothers all fighting crime together and a good villain is always welcome. Toss in a romance and I'm happy. If you're sensing a 'but', there is a little one.
I honestly do not know what happened. I read it and enjoyed it to a certain extent, but it didn't quite grab me like the book before it. Maybe I let myself get too high an expectation or built up the villain as smarter than he ended up being. I wanted a little more romance development, but yet I didn't mind that the focus was elsewhere most of the time. I liked what I got and liked Jack and Winter and the group introduced from the earlier books. I enjoy how it felt like lots of unrelated stuff was going on until I saw how it corded together. And, yet, I was somewhat detached other than a couple exciting spots. Let's just say I don't have a solid reason beyond a few little niggles.
In summary, I enjoyed it and rooted on Jack and Winter. I was thrilled to see Zane come crashing down after all he did to harm others. I like the author's writing. This was an easy-read and engaging romantic suspense trilogy that I don't hesitate to recommend.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2019
FINAL DECISION: A nice read, but not particularly memorable. I wanted something more between the main characters who seemed to have no obstacles in their relationship beyond external. The second half of the book was definitely better than the first half. I wanted to like this story more than I actually did. A good read, but I won't be thinking about it as a re-read.
THE STORY: Jack Lancaster has turned his investigative talents to solving cold cases. Because of his past, he is especially intrigued by cases involving fire. But his unique methods for solving these cases have taken their toll on him -- until he meets meditation expert Winter Meadows. The one cold case that especially haunts Jack is the one involving Quinton Zane -- the con man who killed Jack and his brother's mothers in a blazing fire when the boys were teenagers. Believed dead by law enforcement, Zane is alive and determined to eliminate the threat of Jack and his brothers -- beginning with Jack.
OPINION: This book was okay, but ultimately I found nothing particularly memorable about the book or story. I've been reading Krentz books since the 1980s and some books I really, really love and some are just so-so. This ended up being a good read, but nothing particularly memorable. I did notice that the "woo-woo" stuff is creeping into her stories again. I am among her readers who were really disappointed when she abandoned her Arcane stories which I found unique and almost all of them are highly memorable.
Her more recent plain romantic suspense don't have the same energy for me. This book has a hypnotism and a lucid dreaming angle that didn't work as well for me as the Arcane books, but I did feel that it added something unique about the characters. The characters here pretty much didn't have any obstacles other than external. That can work, but here it felt like they were already a couple before the book began in all the emotional ways that count. That left me feeling that there wasn't really an emotional connection between the characters.
The second half of the book which switches to focus on the suspense as the action heats up felt much better and I felt the book ended on a high note. I did like that we got to see other characters from the series and some familiar places and people from Krentz's overall world are mentioned as well which rewards fans.
This book just didn't rise of the level of the best of Krentz's work, so I felt disappointed even as the book itself was a good read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book takes place in Eclipse Bay with a familiar secondary character for those who have followed Krentz's work.
CONNECTED BOOKS: UNTOUCHABLE is the third book in the Culter, Sutter & Salinas series. While there are some appearances by overlapping characters, these books can be read as standalones.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.
This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
THE STORY: Jack Lancaster has turned his investigative talents to solving cold cases. Because of his past, he is especially intrigued by cases involving fire. But his unique methods for solving these cases have taken their toll on him -- until he meets meditation expert Winter Meadows. The one cold case that especially haunts Jack is the one involving Quinton Zane -- the con man who killed Jack and his brother's mothers in a blazing fire when the boys were teenagers. Believed dead by law enforcement, Zane is alive and determined to eliminate the threat of Jack and his brothers -- beginning with Jack.
OPINION: This book was okay, but ultimately I found nothing particularly memorable about the book or story. I've been reading Krentz books since the 1980s and some books I really, really love and some are just so-so. This ended up being a good read, but nothing particularly memorable. I did notice that the "woo-woo" stuff is creeping into her stories again. I am among her readers who were really disappointed when she abandoned her Arcane stories which I found unique and almost all of them are highly memorable.
Her more recent plain romantic suspense don't have the same energy for me. This book has a hypnotism and a lucid dreaming angle that didn't work as well for me as the Arcane books, but I did feel that it added something unique about the characters. The characters here pretty much didn't have any obstacles other than external. That can work, but here it felt like they were already a couple before the book began in all the emotional ways that count. That left me feeling that there wasn't really an emotional connection between the characters.
The second half of the book which switches to focus on the suspense as the action heats up felt much better and I felt the book ended on a high note. I did like that we got to see other characters from the series and some familiar places and people from Krentz's overall world are mentioned as well which rewards fans.
This book just didn't rise of the level of the best of Krentz's work, so I felt disappointed even as the book itself was a good read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This book takes place in Eclipse Bay with a familiar secondary character for those who have followed Krentz's work.
CONNECTED BOOKS: UNTOUCHABLE is the third book in the Culter, Sutter & Salinas series. While there are some appearances by overlapping characters, these books can be read as standalones.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.
This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
September 8, 2025
3.5 stars
Untouchable offers the high-octane romantic suspense I’ve come to expect from Jayne Ann Krentz, but less of the humor and snappy dialog that are also her hallmarks. The plot moves briskly, introducing complications from the very beginning. As the third book in a trilogy involving three brothers and the tragedy that left them orphans, I anticipated answers and closure to the mystery that has haunted all three, and Krentz gave me both.
Neither the hero and the heroine struck me as particularly original; both are reminiscent of main characters from a number of Krentz’s other books. She also rehashes some themes from earlier books: lucid dreaming; a talent for hypnosis bordering on the psychic; a talent for sifting through a myriad of data and perceiving patterns (rather like Fallon Jones’s chaos talent.) In fact, reading Untouchable felt a bit like encountering the ghosts of other novels. The inclusion of Eclipse Bay and Arizona Snow, which both appear in several other series and stand-alones, only enhanced that effect.
None of the familiar elements diminished my enjoyment of the book to any great extent. Krentz may be formulaic, but she knows how to tell a story. More than that, she knows her brand and what her readers expect, and she delivers. Untouchable may not be Krentz at the very top of her game, but it’s an entertaining ride all the way.
#ARCtober2018
https://bookwyrmshoard.com/book-revie...
Untouchable offers the high-octane romantic suspense I’ve come to expect from Jayne Ann Krentz, but less of the humor and snappy dialog that are also her hallmarks. The plot moves briskly, introducing complications from the very beginning. As the third book in a trilogy involving three brothers and the tragedy that left them orphans, I anticipated answers and closure to the mystery that has haunted all three, and Krentz gave me both.
Neither the hero and the heroine struck me as particularly original; both are reminiscent of main characters from a number of Krentz’s other books. She also rehashes some themes from earlier books: lucid dreaming; a talent for hypnosis bordering on the psychic; a talent for sifting through a myriad of data and perceiving patterns (rather like Fallon Jones’s chaos talent.) In fact, reading Untouchable felt a bit like encountering the ghosts of other novels. The inclusion of Eclipse Bay and Arizona Snow, which both appear in several other series and stand-alones, only enhanced that effect.
None of the familiar elements diminished my enjoyment of the book to any great extent. Krentz may be formulaic, but she knows how to tell a story. More than that, she knows her brand and what her readers expect, and she delivers. Untouchable may not be Krentz at the very top of her game, but it’s an entertaining ride all the way.
#ARCtober2018
https://bookwyrmshoard.com/book-revie...
October 12, 2024
One of my TOP authors can write and publish anything and I'll totally love it. This finale of the trilogy was no exception. Loved the way Jack loved Winter. Since he was born a Chaos Theorist and a hunter of evil criminals, his character was unbelievably attractive to me and to Winter. He saw things as probabilities. So when he told Winter that he was one hundred percent certain that he loved everything about her, it was one of the most romantic declarations of true love any Heroes ever uttered.
Winter was a perfect heroine for Jack. Her gift as a true hypnotist had helped grounded Jack. He didn't hunt criminals in fiery lucid dreamscape any longer, but in an Ice Town. The way he took down the pyro maniac who haunted him and his family for two decades was so breathtaking! And yes, he won with Winter's help!
I'm currently rereading one of my favorite books by her other pen name The Perfect Poison just to be in the world built by one of my favorite authors. Looking forward to an as yet to be announced new release!
Winter was a perfect heroine for Jack. Her gift as a true hypnotist had helped grounded Jack. He didn't hunt criminals in fiery lucid dreamscape any longer, but in an Ice Town. The way he took down the pyro maniac who haunted him and his family for two decades was so breathtaking! And yes, he won with Winter's help!
I'm currently rereading one of my favorite books by her other pen name The Perfect Poison just to be in the world built by one of my favorite authors. Looking forward to an as yet to be announced new release!
December 31, 2018
3.5 stars - Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Foster brothers Jack Lancaster, Max Cutler, and Cabot Sutter were all raised in a cult until one hellish night when cult leader Quinton Zane burned down the compound, leaving them orphans. Supposedly Zane died years ago, but Jack, Max, Cabot, and their rescuer/foster father, Anson Salinas, know better. After years of chasing shadows, the man behind their trauma is within their grasp…if they can survive his machinations. Because Zane is tired of hiding, and with a fortune on the line he needs to eliminate the threat the four men who know too much about him present. And he’s going to start with Jack…
Untouchable is an entertaining read that brings the hunt for Quinton Zane to a satisfying conclusion. Jack and Winter are more cerebral characters which gives them and their romance a slightly different dynamic. They’re an interesting pair: a focused hunter haunted by the past who works cold cases and a skilled hypnotist with ghosts of her own. I loved watching how Jack’s mind worked through cases and he definitely fascinated me. Winter is the only person who can bring him back when he goes too far into his own head and her skills are interesting in their own right. They fit one another well, they have solid (if understated) chemistry, and there’s definitely passion. Yet while I liked them together, I won’t deny that there was a certain ineffable spark that was missing, thus making the love story feel a bit by-the-numbers. I’ll be honest and say that this didn’t bother me overmuch, but I do think it’s worth mentioning because other readers may not be as content.
As one might expect from the final book in the trilogy, the resolution of the Quinton Zane plotline shifts the balance more toward suspense. Zane has been the bogeyman of the series; the charismatic, pyromaniac cult leader who is a brilliant con man capable of eluding capture for decades. The problem with having such a powerful villain is that they work better as a shadowy, unseen figure than they do as a main antagonist. There’s so much buildup in When All the Girls Have Gone and Promise Not to Tell that there’s no way one human man could deliver when he ultimately appears (at least if you want him to be plausibly defeated by the heroes and heroines). For me, Zane was the weak point in Untouchable and I wished some of the much-touted charisma and cleverness had shown to make him a stronger villain. That being said, the action scenes were still exciting and the hunt itself was entertaining. Jayne Ann Krentz knows how to keep the pages turning and the story engaging, so I can forgive some of the weaker points in the story because I enjoyed it, flaws and all.
Untouchable is the third book in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed revisiting beloved characters and I got a kick out seeing Jack and Winter in towns from other Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick books (who doesn’t love a good Easter egg?). So while Untouchable has its flaws, it was still a solid read and a satisfying end to the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas trilogy.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Foster brothers Jack Lancaster, Max Cutler, and Cabot Sutter were all raised in a cult until one hellish night when cult leader Quinton Zane burned down the compound, leaving them orphans. Supposedly Zane died years ago, but Jack, Max, Cabot, and their rescuer/foster father, Anson Salinas, know better. After years of chasing shadows, the man behind their trauma is within their grasp…if they can survive his machinations. Because Zane is tired of hiding, and with a fortune on the line he needs to eliminate the threat the four men who know too much about him present. And he’s going to start with Jack…
Untouchable is an entertaining read that brings the hunt for Quinton Zane to a satisfying conclusion. Jack and Winter are more cerebral characters which gives them and their romance a slightly different dynamic. They’re an interesting pair: a focused hunter haunted by the past who works cold cases and a skilled hypnotist with ghosts of her own. I loved watching how Jack’s mind worked through cases and he definitely fascinated me. Winter is the only person who can bring him back when he goes too far into his own head and her skills are interesting in their own right. They fit one another well, they have solid (if understated) chemistry, and there’s definitely passion. Yet while I liked them together, I won’t deny that there was a certain ineffable spark that was missing, thus making the love story feel a bit by-the-numbers. I’ll be honest and say that this didn’t bother me overmuch, but I do think it’s worth mentioning because other readers may not be as content.
As one might expect from the final book in the trilogy, the resolution of the Quinton Zane plotline shifts the balance more toward suspense. Zane has been the bogeyman of the series; the charismatic, pyromaniac cult leader who is a brilliant con man capable of eluding capture for decades. The problem with having such a powerful villain is that they work better as a shadowy, unseen figure than they do as a main antagonist. There’s so much buildup in When All the Girls Have Gone and Promise Not to Tell that there’s no way one human man could deliver when he ultimately appears (at least if you want him to be plausibly defeated by the heroes and heroines). For me, Zane was the weak point in Untouchable and I wished some of the much-touted charisma and cleverness had shown to make him a stronger villain. That being said, the action scenes were still exciting and the hunt itself was entertaining. Jayne Ann Krentz knows how to keep the pages turning and the story engaging, so I can forgive some of the weaker points in the story because I enjoyed it, flaws and all.
Untouchable is the third book in the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas series but it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed revisiting beloved characters and I got a kick out seeing Jack and Winter in towns from other Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick books (who doesn’t love a good Easter egg?). So while Untouchable has its flaws, it was still a solid read and a satisfying end to the Cutler, Sutter & Salinas trilogy.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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