Amanda Quick Books in Order: The Historical Romances

First, the identity puzzle. Amanda Quick is a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz. She uses "Amanda Quick" for historicals, her own name Jayne Ann Krentz for contemporary romantic suspense, and Jayne Castle for futuristic romance. A few of her worlds — most notably the Arcane Society — span all three names. This guide sticks to the Amanda Quick historicals. Nearly all of them stand alone, so you can jump in anywhere, but within a series, publication order reads best.

The Vanza series in order

Four Regency-era romances linked by the secret martial-arts society of Vanza — full of intrigue, hidden pasts and slow-burning courtship.

1. With This Ring (1998)
2. I Thee Wed (1999)
3. Wicked Widow (2000)
4. Lie by Moonlight (2005)

Lavinia Lake & Tobias March in order

A three-book run starring one of Quick's most beloved investigative couples, sharp and banter-driven:

1. Slightly Shady (2001)
2. Don't Look Back (2002)
3. Late for the Wedding (2003)

The Arcane Society historicals in order

The Arcane Society is a shared universe of psychic talents and a secretive scholarly order. It spans all three of Krentz's pen names; the Amanda Quick historical entries are:

1. Second Sight (2006)
2. The Third Circle (2008)
3. The Perfect Poison (2009)
4. Burning Lamp (2010)
5. Quicksilver (2011)

Note: the full Arcane Society series interleaves contemporary Jayne Ann Krentz titles and futuristic Jayne Castle titles between these. If you want the complete, cross-pen-name reading order, that is a separate (much longer) list; above are only the Amanda Quick historicals, which read perfectly well as their own set.

Ladies of Lantern Street in order

A Victorian-set trio featuring the psychic investigators of the Lantern Street agency:

1. Crystal Gardens (2012)
2. The Mystery Woman (2013)
3. Otherwise Engaged (2015)

Burning Cove, California in order

A change of era: these are set in a glittering 1930s seaside resort, mixing old-Hollywood glamour with romantic suspense. Read in publication order:

1. The Girl Who Knew Too Much (2017)
2. The Other Lady Vanishes (2018)
3. Tightrope (2019)
4. Close Up (2020)
5. The Lady Has a Past (2021)
6. When She Dreams (2022)
7. The Bride Wore White (2023)

Quick has also written many standalone Regency and Victorian romances beyond these series. We have listed the major series here rather than attempt an exhaustive title-by-title catalogue, to keep every entry verified.

Where to start

If you want the quintessential Amanda Quick — Regency, witty, faintly Gothic — start with the Vanza series or the Lavinia Lake and Tobias March trilogy, both classic and easy to fall into. If you love a paranormal edge, begin the Arcane Society historicals with Second Sight. And if you would rather trade ballrooms for Art Deco glamour, The Girl Who Knew Too Much launches the 1930s Burning Cove books beautifully. Because almost everything is standalone, you really can start with whichever premise grabs you.