A quick announcement before you read the post: Summer of Suspense was #28 on the USA Today Best Seller list! Thank you for helping us reach it! Now onto the review of Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl, who also had a story in our anthology!
Nancy Mehl is back with another excellent fast-paced story featuring FBI profiler Kaely Quinn. Her first book in this series is Mind Games, and while this is the second book, you don’t have to read the first one since they are both stand-alones–but you’ll want to.
In Firestorm, we get to learn more about what made Kaely the person she is as she works to find a serial arsonist when she goes home to help take care of her mother, who has cancer. I love the parts with her brother whom she clearly loves. The struggle she and her mother have relating to each other shows a different side to Kaely. It’s much easier for Kaely to find the arsonist than to deal with her mother. And then there’s Noah Hunter who is in love with Kaely and she is him…except neither is ready to embrace the fact.
Mehl has done a great job creating characters who are real and the town of Darkwater is a perfect backdrop for the story. I love the interaction between Kaely and her imaginary friend, Georgie. It’s her conversations with Georgie that help her solve the crime. I think romantic suspense fans will enjoy this book. Mehl had me guessing to the end who the arsonist was.
You can purchase it at:
Or you might win it if you leave a comment telling me if you usually figure out who the villain is in a suspense. Make sure you leave a comment by Sunday night. If you comment, you’ll also be entered in a drawing for a book from my library for August.
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Comments 43
Most of the time, I’m taken by surprise who the villain is. I’d make a terrible detective.
I usually have an idea but most times I am off lol
Author
Yeah, I know, Carole. 😉 I love stumping you. lol
Author
I think I’d make a pretty good detective, Mindy, although I am the least observant writer I know. I just don’t always pay attention to things. lol Thanks for stopping by.
I would say I figure it out about half of the time.
Author
That’s a good average, Nicole. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Often I can figure out whodonit. It depends on how much the author wants the reader to work it out. Some will even tell you at the outset, and it’s a game of cat and mouse to see how justice is given.
I just finished “Fire Storm”, so please don’t enter me this time. I echo your comments on this book and author, Pat. It’s one of the best I’ve ever read in this genre! Kaely is a very complex character, and Ms Mehl really does a superb job of making all of the characters seem very real. In the side stories, they are all dealing with real life problems. Oh, and with this book, it wasn’t until very near the end that I figured out the arsonist, but there was another surprise that took me, well, by surprise!
Author
Me, too, Tim. Nancy does a great job of keeping the reader in suspense with all the twists and turns. 🙂
I read this fantastic book, so I already own a copy. I usually figure out the culprit by half way into a book. I had three different scenarios in my mind. One of which was not even in Nancy’s cache of possibles. But I really loved the way it all came together. Can’t wait to see what Kaely gets up to in the next book.
paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
Author
I so agree with you, Paula. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
I often suspect who the culprit is, but I am frequently surprised with a second one or I miss the culprit all together…lol Looking forward to what happens in Fire Storm! Thanks for the giveaway. bettimace at gmail dot com
Author
Yeah, that second villain will surprise you sometimes, Betti. I love writing two villains. 😉
First of all Congratulations!!! FireStorm sounds like a very good read, like a real page turner that I would love to read! I’ll just have to add it to my TBR list, I also think that the cover is Beautiful!! For me sometimes it is easy to tell who the villain is, but I do have to be observing them, and at other times I just get stumped! I also love books or shows that have to do with forensics, I love forensics. 🙂 Thank you so much for this post, I enjoyed reading it. Have a Great weekend. God bless you.
Author
Thank you, Alicia! And I love the cover, too. I love forensics, as well. You would enjoy the Writers Police Academy, I believe.
I usually have a good idea but not always positive. Sometimes, I know but not why. I would rather be totally surprised but whichever, it doesn’t take away the enjoyment of reading suspense. I am reading Colleen Coble’s Strand of Truth and it is really good. Not sure how it is going to turn out. Congrats on the Best Sellerlist!
Author
Thanks, Gloria! I love Colleen’s books! And she’s such a nice person!!
I enjoy trying to figure out who the villain is. Most of the time I can, but I like it when I am surprised. I enjoy reading your books and Nancy’s.
Author
Thanks, Trish! I like to put enough clues that if the reader is paying attention, they can figure it out, maybe. 🙂
Yes,I usually do, but not always. Sometimes it’s easy! Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Author
You’re welcome, Faith. I love trying to figure out who the villain most of the time, and others I just enjoy the read. 🙂
This is on my TBR list! I loved Mind Games and the novella was supreme! I may be girl crushing on Kaely slightly, lol.
Congratulations to wonderful ladies being on the list!! ❤️
Author
I really like Kaely! And thank you for helping get the word out!
I forgot to answer the question! It’s rare I guess the right person. It could be that I’m a terrible sleuth but it’s probably that the authors are that great!
Sometimes if they are really exhilarating, I just enjoy and don’t make much effort to figure it out, even though my mind is subconsciously makes a suspect list.
Author
I often take that approach, Jessica, especially when I get caught up in the book. Thanks for stopping by!
My pleasure
I wonder if I’ll get lucky this time. Your random generator hasn’t shown me any favor in quite a while. I read Mind Games by Nancy and really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading this one. Kaely Quinn is quite interesting. As far as figuring out the villain, a lot depends on the way the author tells the story. I finished a book last night and started getting suspicious about an unidentified mole early in the story. I had no idea what the person’s motive could be until near the end. I have read books by the same author and didn’t pick up on any clues until just before the reveal. As you know, often the author will drop a clue but then in the next paragraph write something that eliminates the suspicion. Then there are the ones where the villain is known throughout the book but there are many other unanswered questions. Such fun!
Author
Goodness, Edward, I didn’t realize I hadn’t answered these comments! But I’m staying at the hospital with a friend and my mind has been a little scattered.
Sorry Mr. Random.org hasn’t shown you favor in a while. 🙂 But thanks so much for stopping by. I’m glad you like the way we drop clues. 😉
Some times I am taken by surprise as to who the villian and sometime I figure it out before I get to the end of the story.
Author
That’s me, Patricia. Thanks for stopping by!
I can usually figure it out. Some authors are easier than others.
Author
Most of the time if readers pay really close attention to the clues, they’re all there, Cindy. But they’re usually disguised. 🙂
most of the time I can but sometimes I am stumped until the very end.
Author
I know what you mean, Shelia! Thanks for stopping by.
For me, it really depends on how many clues the author gives whether I can figure out the villain in a book. I don’t like it if I can figure it out too soon!
I’m looking forward to reading this book!
Author
Me, either, Jeanna! And sometimes I have a suspicion about a character, then dismiss them only to discover that’s the killer. 🙂
I usually don’t figure out who the villain is until the end! 🙂
Author
Guess what, MS Barb? Sometimes I don’t know who the villain is in my own books until the end. lol Thanks for stopping by.
More often than not, I’m surprised to discover the villain.
You’re my favorite kind of reader, Caryl!
I’d say I usually figure it out but sometimes I am completely off!
Author
That sounds like me, Joan!
Whoohoo on the Summer of Suspense being #28 on the USA bestseller list!! I bought my copy on release day and was pleasantly surprised it was still only 99 cents. Now it’s waiting for me to be able to get to it 🙂
I absolutly fell in love with the first book in this series “Mind Games” and I loved Kaely’s imaginary friend 🙂 While there wasn’t a lot of romance in the book, there was enough of a hint between her and Noah and I can’t wait to see it continue in Firestorm! I loved everything about the book and am excited to read Firestorm soon. She sure knows how to write suspense, doesn’t she?
Sometimes I figure out who it is, sometimes it’s a complete surprise to me, and sometimes the author tells us who it is so just trying to stay out of danger is tense! I like when I can’t guess best, because you just never know who to trust and that ups the tension. Either way, I do love a good suspense story with romantic undertones 🙂
Author
Thanks, Trixi. I’m so happy Summer of Suspense hit the USA Today list!! And I love Kaely, Nancy Mehl’s character and yes, she really knows how to write suspense!