Wednesday, April 10, 2013

That Old Flame of Mine-J.J. Cook

That Old Flame of Mine


J.J. Cook

Berkley Prime Crime, Apr 2 2013, $7.99

ISBN: 9780425252048



Stella Griffin left the Chicago Fire Department after catching her now ex-boyfriend cheating to become the fire chief of the Sweet Pepper, Tennessee volunteer fire department. Before she reaches town, Deputy Chum pulls her over for speeding on her motorcycle. When she removes her helmet, he looks like he is having a seizure as he calls her Abigail and flees the scene.



Tory Lambert welcomes Stella to town by giving her a file on her husband’s alleged accidental death by fire that she and others believe that pepper plant owner Ben Carson arranged so that people will not fear a killing arsonist amongst them while the annual Sweet Pepper Festival occurs. The next day the firefighters put out a blaze in Tory’s house. Stella and police officer John Trump later find Tory’s dead body inside with the fire chief believing the arson covered a homicide. When she is injured in a biking incident, she meets the grandfather she never knew existed before, Ben. As she investigates Tory’s death, Stella receives help from her predecessor Eric Gamlyn, who died in the line of duty before she came to town.



The first Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade mystery is a Great Smokey Mountains whodunit starring a tough dedicated woman and a town where everybody knows everyone personally, yet many of the locals (including her kin) keeps dark secrets. Fast-paced from the moment Chum sees Stella, fans will enjoy this entertaining paranormal investigative thriller as the protagonist with her ghostly advisor works the case that involves her family.



Harriet Klausner





No comments: