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Quick answer: If you like Amanda Quick, read Deanna Raybourn, Elizabeth Peters, Tasha Alexander and Tessa Dare. All blend historical romance, wit and mystery, often with a clever heroine and a brooding hero.
Amanda Quick is a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz, who has written dozens of historical romances and mysteries with bold, unconventional heroines, dangerous secrets and a love story. Her fans like the brisk plots and the sense of adventure. The books below offer similar historical romance and romantic mysteries.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravished | Amanda Quick | Adult | more Quick |
| Silent in the Grave | Deanna Raybourn | Adult | Victorian mystery |
| Crocodile on the Sandbank | Elizabeth Peters | Adult | Egyptian adventure |
| And Only to Deceive | Tasha Alexander | Adult | Victorian detective |
| The Secret History of the Pink Carnation | Lauren Willig | Adult | spies and romance |
| The Spymaster's Lady | Joanna Bourne | Adult | spy romance |
| A Night to Surrender | Tessa Dare | Adult | Spindle Cove |
| The Devil's Bride | Stephanie Laurens | Adult | Cynster family |
| Devil in Winter | Lisa Kleypas | Adult | Wallflowers |
| Slightly Married | Mary Balogh | Adult | marriage of convenience |
| The Bride | Julie Garwood | Adult | Highland historical |
| The Raven Prince | Elizabeth Hoyt | Adult | dramatic Regency |
| Lord of Scoundrels | Loretta Chase | Adult | banter at its best |
| Rebecca | Daphne du Maurier | Adult | gothic classic |
| The Duchess War | Courtney Milan | Adult | clever heroine |
1. Ravished by Amanda Quick
A spirited heroine and a scholarly earl face a scandal and a thief. A classic from her early work.
Best for: more Quick.
2. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn
Lady Julia Grey investigates the death of her husband with a mysterious investigator. Witty and gothic.
Best for: Victorian mystery.
3. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters
Amelia Peabody travels to Egypt and solves mysteries. Funny and sharp.
Best for: Egyptian adventure.
4. And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander
A young widow uncovers the truth about her late husband. Elegant and atmospheric.
Best for: Victorian detective.
5. The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
A modern scholar finds the story of a Napoleonic-era spy. Light and clever.
Best for: spies and romance.
6. The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne
A French spy and an English agent meet in a dangerous game. Tense and romantic.
Best for: spy romance.
7. A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
A bookish woman and a soldier meet in an eccentric seaside town. Funny and warm.
Best for: Spindle Cove.
8. The Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens
A duke resists marriage until he meets the right woman. Passionate and fast.
Best for: Cynster family.
9. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
Evangeline Jenner marries the notorious Lord St. Vincent. Funny and tender.
Best for: Wallflowers.
10. Slightly Married by Mary Balogh
A woman marries a soldier to save her family. Tender and character-driven.
Best for: marriage of convenience.
11. The Bride by Julie Garwood
A Scottish laird weds an English noblewoman. Warm, funny and old-school.
Best for: Highland historical.
12. The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt
A widow hires a secretary who is not what he seems. Atmospheric and sensual.
Best for: dramatic Regency.
13. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
A prickly heroine takes on the notorious Lord Dain. A classic often called one of the best.
Best for: banter at its best.
14. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
A young bride is haunted by her husband's first wife. Moody and brilliant.
Best for: gothic classic.
15. The Duchess War by Courtney Milan
A shy woman with secrets meets a duke. Smart and emotional.
Best for: clever heroine.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Amanda Quick: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Quick begin with Ravished and her other early historicals. For romantic mysteries choose Deanna Raybourn, Tasha Alexander or Elizabeth Peters. For spy romance read Lauren Willig or Joanna Bourne. For pure historical romance pick Laurens, Kleypas, Garwood or Chase. For gothic romance try Rebecca. Quick's books tend to be short and fast, so these picks suit readers who like momentum. Amanda Quick has also written under the names Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle, so fans can explore contemporary and futuristic books too. Reading order is flexible for most Quick titles, and many can be found in second-hand shops. If you like her humour, Elizabeth Peters and Tasha Alexander are fun. If you like the romance, Kleypas and Laurens are steamier. If you like the gothic edge, Raybourn and du Maurier are darker. Audiobooks for many are narrated by skilled period-drama performers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amanda Quick?
A pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz, an American romance author.
Where should I start?
With Ravished or one of her popular Victorian mysteries.
Are the books standalone?
Many are, though she has series too.
Are they explicit?
They contain love scenes, but are mostly focused on plot and banter.
What genre are they?
Historical romance with mystery and suspense.
Is Amanda Quick similar to Julia Quinn?
Both write witty historical romance, but Quick leans more towards mystery.
Are they available as audiobooks?
Yes, for many titles.
What should I read next?
Try Silent in the Grave or Crocodile on the Sandbank.
What age are these books for?
They are written for adults, with mild to moderate romance scenes.
Is Amanda Quick the same as Jayne Ann Krentz?
Yes. It is one of several pen names used by the same author.