The Shop on Hidden Lane
by Jayne Ann Krentz
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Reviewed by PJ
The Harper and the Wells families have regarded each other with deep suspicion for four generations. The Harpers have been known to offer their psychic talents for less-than-legal purposes, and the powerful Wells clan has a reputation for playing both sides of the street. But for all the years of history and distrust between them, there is a mysterious pact binding the two. They share the responsibility for protecting a long-buried and very dangerous secret.
Sophy Harper and Luke Wells are shocked to learn that her aunt and his uncle have been sleeping together—and now they are both missing. Not only that, but the last traces of them are at the scene of a murder soaked in negative paranormal energy. Clearly, someone is willing to kill to obtain the secret their families have been charged with protecting. Despite their mutual distrust, which, as far as Sophy is concerned extends to Luke’s hellhound of a dog, they both know that the terms of the pact must be honored.
Their investigation uncovers a psychic trail leading to a bizarre desert art colony where nothing is as it seems. But Luke and Sophy are concealing a few secrets, too. By a strange twist of fate, a Harper and a Wells have no choice but to trust each other and the fierce attraction that is binding them as surely as the pact between the families.
PJ's Thoughts:
Jayne Ann Krentz is one of those authors who plunges me into her stories from the opening pages and never lets up until I turn the final page. The tightly-crafted, action-packed suspense, fully developed characters, and eerily realistic psychic obstacles and abilities all send me straight down the rabbit hole of Krentz's high-stakes stories.
In The Shop on Hidden Lane, Krentz pairs two unlikely characters in a race against time to find and rescue missing family members. Luke and Sophy are from enemy families forced to honor a long-standing pact that originated in the disaster of dangerous experiments, experiments that are now - two generations later- in the hands of very bad people. They don't know each other, or trust one another, but to protect his uncle and her aunt, they will travel to a secluded arts colony in the middle of the desert and work together to figure out what's really going on while trying not to blame each other's families for the predicament they are in. The twisty suspense portion of this book keeps the story flowing and the reader guessing. At least, it kept me guessing for most of the book. I love being surprised while also being on the edge of my seat. Krentz is superb at both.
The banter in the book is top notch. Initially rooted in mistrust and snark, it gradually softens a bit as Luke and Sophy begin to peel back layers and get to know one another. Of course, once they begin to feel more comfortable, their true personalities begin to surface and that makes their interactions even more fun. Sophy, in particular, is not shy about sharing her unfiltered opinions. Krentz really does excel at writing sharp, witty banter. Even Luke's dog (who, no, does not speak) has no trouble showing his feelings of humor, disdain, mistrust, and love. I adore him and am so happy to learn that there are more books planned with dogs like Bruce who gained special abilities from the mysterious Fogg Lake.
If you're a Krentz fan, you will no doubt enjoy the references and story tie-ins to Bluestone, Fogg Lake, Mirror Lake, The Foundation, and more. However, if you're new to Krentz's psychic universe, you can easily step into it with The Shop on Hidden Lane without missing a beat. Fair warning, though: once you've immersed yourself in a Jayne Ann Krentz story, you're likely to slide right down that back list rabbit hole. It's a fascinating, 5-star place to visit!
Do you enjoy animals in the books you read?
What books are you looking forward to reading this month? Is The Shop on Hidden Lane on your list?
One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, January 13 will receive a hard cover copy of The Shop on Hidden Lane.
*U.S. only
*Must be 18
Thank you for this review. I now have something to look forward to reading, after I finish The Correspondent!
ReplyDeleteYay! I look forward to every Jayne book, under any pseudonym, and have since the 1980s. They are much loved reads for me.
ReplyDeleteAnimals in books add so much enjoyment to the story. Looking forward to enjoying The Storm, Dark Humor, The Murder at World's End, and Skylark.
ReplyDeleteI love animals in books. Finishing up a Christmas romance right now. Also listening to a historical romance by Sarah Lamb. Working on gathering books for the rest of the books for the month. The Shop on Hidden Lane is not on my pile currently, but it certainly sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI love animals in books especially when they play a large part in the story. Animals are important in my life, so it is very natural for me to see them in books. Sadly, The Shop on Hidden Lane is still just on my wishlist.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy her books, but haven''t read one in too long. I got busy with too many other books and authors, leaving her books on the shelf. Her characters and story feel so real, they pull you in and you become part of it. This sounds like another good series. I have some catching up to do on the previous ones. Thank you for the review, and bringing this book to my attention.
ReplyDeleteI love animals in books as animals give me so much to live for and give me happiness. Books on my list for this month are All The Little Houses, The Retirees, The Last Woman of Warsaw and Hill of Secrets.
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