It’s been a while since I read one of Jayne Ann Krentz’ psychic books, but now that I read The Shop on Hidden Lane, I’m going to have to go back and pick up the books in her Fogg Lake Trilogy. It’s Bruce, the dog in this one, who is sending me back to the earlier series.

The Harper and Wells family have had a feud for four generations, although younger members of the family don’t know the complete story. While the Harpers went with the psychic connection, the Wells family built a security empire. However, there’s a pact that unites them, forcing them to help each other in case of trouble. When Sophy Hunter’s Aunt Bea and Luke Wells’ Uncle Deke disappear, it introduces the two in not such comfortable circumstances. They are both shocked to learn their relatives were sleeping together. But, Luke hires Sophy for her psychic ability to read a murder scene. And, he’s afraid of what may have happened at Deke’s cabin.

Sophy is leery of working with Luke and his “hellhound”, Bruce. But, Bruce falls in love with Sophy even faster than his owner does. At the cabin, Sophy “witnesses” a murder, although it’s not of the couple. She sees one man shoot another. However, she only finds vestiges of Bea and Deke’s presence at the cabin, and knows they’ve vanished. Deke did leave behind two reservations to a mysterious art colony in Arizona, one located on a vortex. As Mr. and Mrs. Ainsley, with their dog, Bruce, Luke and Sophy head to Fool’s Gold Canyon Art Colony.

Once there, they find themselves in the honeymoon suite in a setting that appears to trap visitors. And, they also find a hologram that Deke left, indicating he and Bea are in trouble. Someone has stolen old weapons and crystals from the Wells’ family vault, and they plan to use them for power. While Sophy and Luke explore, looking for their relatives, they find their own connection linked even more closely by their auras and their past family history.

Although Krentz tends to delve a little too much into the power of crystals and the mysterious weapons, she’s an expert at suspense and romance. Sophy and Luke are likable characters, and the villains are well-developed lunatics. I enjoyed the sexual tension in the book. Then, there’s Bruce, a fascinating dog. There’s a glimpse of his background in the last chapter, with more about the dogs of Fogg Lake promised in the next book. While I appreciated the story of the Harper and Wells families, I’m really looking forward to learning more about the dogs.

Jayne Ann Krentz’ website is https://jayneannkrentz.com/

The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz. Berkley, 2025, 321p.

FTC Full Disclosure – Krentz’ publicist sent a copy of the book with no expectation of a positive review.