Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Burn You Twice by Mary Burton Narrator: Melissa Moran
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 29, 2020
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 8 hours, 56 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible
Ten years ago as an undergrad, Joan Mason escaped an arsonist’s fire. Shaken, she fled the small collegiate Montana town, leaving behind friends and not looking back. Now a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan’s trying to put her traumas to rest. It’s not easy. Elijah Weston, the classmate who torched her house, is out of prison and returning to Missoula. Gut instinct tells Joan he’ll strike again. To stop him, she must return to the past as well. To face not only the man she fears but Detective Gideon Bailey, too. The man she loved and left behind.
When a local woman dies tragically in another fire, it can’t be a coincidence. Can it be Elijah? He has a solid alibi for the night of the blaze. Reunited by the tragedy, Joan and Gideon have their doubts. So does Gideon’s sister, Ann—Joan’s old college roommate.
The investigation draws Joan and Gideon together, but it also sends them down a dangerous path—into a troubling history that Joan, Elijah, and Ann all share. As more lives go up in flames in Missoula, this town’s secrets are just beginning to rise from the ashes.
This was a very enjoyable police procedural sort of story around arsons. Joan is on leave from her job in Philadelphia and goes out to Montana where she attended college. She left after a fire and the convicted arsonist, Elijah, is getting out of prison now. She learns a lot of interesting things about her old roommate, Ann, Elijah, and her old boyfriend, Gideon.
There is a new fire right after she, and Elijah, arrive in town. Gideon and Joan, both police detectives start researching the fire. There are some other fires and a variety of diverse evidence. Gideon and Joan each have different perspectives which makes the investigation fascinating. Joan has the advantage of looking at things with a fresh view having been out of the town for 10 years. She also has some big city arson case experience.
I worried some for both Joan and Ann as possible targets of the arsonist. They each took some chances with being independent. They both have some issues from the college days fire to work through.
Joan and Gideon still have feelings for each other. I was happy to see them working together without romance becoming the focus of Burn You Twice. I wonder if there will be another book because there is still something happening in town.
Narration:
This narrator was new to me and she had some words she enunciated very distinctly, like beauty. That caused a tiny disruption in listening. Her male and female voices were comfortable, though. I did end up listening at 1.25x speed, which is a little slower than normal.
Listen to a clip:
About Mary Burton
Mary Burton loves writing suspense, researching law enforcement and forensic procedures, morning walks, baking, books, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her and USA Today bestselling novels of suspense and romance. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top twenty writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, and her recent novel The Last Move claimed the number ten fiction slot in the Kindle eBooks Store.
Research is a favorite part of Mary’s day. She never tires of learning more about police work, evidence collection and analysis. She’s known for taking a hands-on approach, whether it means interviews with professionals in the field, forensic seminars or lessons at the firing range.
A Richmond native, Mary has lived there for most of her life. She is a graduate of Virginia’s Hollins University and worked in marketing before she began writing full time. Her first book was published in 2000 and she’s now the author of thirty-four published novels, five novellas and four works of contemporary women’s fiction written as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters, such as her recent The Forgotten Files novels. Her new book, Her Last Word, and The Last Move, break that mold.
When not traveling for research or visiting with readers at bookstores, book festivals and conferences, Mary remains very much a homebody. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying and lamenting their empty nest and spoiling their four-legged babies Buddy, Bella and Tiki.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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This sounds really good! Excellent review, Anne? This author makes a habit of connecting her books so I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be one in the future.
I enjoy this author as they are interesting without being too heavy somehow.
I’ve never read Mary Burton before, but I think I’d like her. Although with all the fires in California right now, I probably won’t pick this one up. Thanks for sharing!
Yes this is not the time for arson stories although I might read firefighter stories for inspiration.
Oh I enjoyed the books I tried by the author! I haven’t read this one though
Well this one is brand new this week.