Review: It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle

 

It Takes a Psychic (Harmony #17) by Jayne Castle

Publication Date: June 3rd 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 320

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

It Takes a Psychic takes place in Jayne Castle’s fun, futuristic world of Harmony. People came from Earth after interstellar travel opened up, and those who colonized ended up with paranormal abilities awakened by the planet’s energy.

 

Ms. Castle does a fantastic job introducing and explaining the world of Harmony at the beginning so even though this is book seventeen in a series it works well as a standalone.

 

Leona Griffin is called into an elite event to authenticate alien artifacts but is amazed to discover she feels a connection to one of the items, Pandora’s Box. It could unlock information about her and her sister’s psychic abilities.  The event takes a dangerous turn and is helped to flee by Oliver Rancourt, a man interested in that particular Object of Power. In their escape they stumble upon a dead body.

 

Their investigation into the history of Pandora’s Box leads them to the town of Lost Creek, a place full of followers of the missing cult leader Vincent Lee Vance.

 

Both Oliver and Leona have paranormal abilities they use to help solve the mystery. Teaming up brings them closer, and they can’t help but act on the immediate attraction they felt upon meeting. This is a low angst romance, with the majority of the conflict coming from the mystery and danger they encounter in their investigations.

 

One of my favorite parts about the series is the dust bunnies! Leona gets attached to Roxy when she helps her in the beginning. These dust bunnies can go from “full on adorable mode” to “sleeked out” attack mode in the blink of an eye. Roxy “the licensed emotional support dust bunny” cracked me up always ready to defend or up for an adventure! Never ask “What could go wrong?” when a dust bunny is involved!

 

This was a fun combination of mystery, romance, humor, sci-fi with paranormal elements mixed in. 

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two unlikely allies search for the secrets of their pasts while on the run within the Alien world of Harmony in the thrilling new novel by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Castle.

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Photo credit: Marc von Borstel

About the Author

Jayne Castle, the author of People in Glass Houses, Sweetwater and the Witch, Guild Boss, Illusion Town, Siren's Call, The Hot Zone, Deception Cove, and more, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.