On Fire

by Carla Neggers

A year after a tragic accident destroys Emile Labreque's research ship, killing five people, Riley St. Joe, Emile's granddaughter, joins forces with FBI Special Agent John Straker to help clear her grandfather's name.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Contemporary, Modern

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.

A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.

Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.

Reviews

[Jessica {Litnoob} · Rating 2 out of 5]

A down the middle 2.5 because legit the first half of this book I hated and the second half was a fun read. It was sold to me as smut but there's no smut, and the 180 the characters take from beginning to end took me from wanting to stab them to rooting for them.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 Book Hoarders Challenge: From the library

Two very unlikely people investigate the murder of a ship's captain whose boat sank at sea a year earlier. Secrets hidden are revealed placing the two in danger.

This is an earlier novel by Neggers, but it is as great as ever! I couldn't put it down.

[Ns · Rating 2 out of 5]

On Fire is one of those books I really wanted to like, even expected to like; the premise was promising and I have enjoyed many books by the same author. Except, regretfully, I did not like it all that much and not for lack of good writing or bad plotting either. The writing was good and the plot was decent and yet I found something was lacking.

The mystery surrounds a tragic boating accident involving a famed oceanographer Emile St. John. Fast forward a year, and it appears the explosion of the Encounter is suspected to be more than a mere accident but a deliberate act of sabotage. When Riley St. John, Emile's granddaughter discovers the body of the Encounter's former ship captain, old suspicions come to light and is cast on Emile. Her grandfather disappears, and an FBI agent appears. John Straker is no stranger, the ever exasperatingly boy from her childhood. As Riley involves herself in the mystery, determined to prove her grandfather's innocence, John is right next to her. Falling for her, just as she is falling for him.

While Emile is still the only suspect in sight, new danger lurks and Riley realizes that she needs John's help if she is to not only save Emile's life but her own as well.

Riley and John's relationship was exasperating and irritating from the start until the end. The tension and sarcasm was overdone so the point it made their falling for each other unbelievable. Their interaction was too argumentative and sarcastic than it was affectionate. There were many characters but their presence was more functional than substantial having small parts. I did not connect or care for the characters and similarly, the plot failed to capture my interest. It wasn't a bad mystery but it also wasn't as good as it could have been.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and had a great blend of romance and suspense and a dash of thriller too. Plus, the Maine coastal setting was so real to me, it really leapt off the pages of the book. I liked that the main characters butted heads since childhood, and I especially enjoyed the heroine being such a gutsy tomboy. Just can't say enough wonderful things about this author. I plan to read more by her -- soon!

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This author repeats, repeats, repeats and repeats. She wears the reader out. Perhaps she also wears herself out and then brings it all to an abrupt end. I stuck the book out to the end, but, believe me it was not easy. Thumbs down!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great romantic suspense story with FBI agent, oceanographer on the Maine coast involved in a tug of war with each other and trying to solve the reason for a fire and death on board a discovery boat. Many strong, complicated characters. Fast reading.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Αυτό είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο που διαβάζω της Neggers, και με απογοήτευσε αρκετά.Περίμενα καλύτερη ανάπτυξη χαρακτήρων.

Γενικά,οι χαρακτήρες σ'αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν σαν να τους έλειπε κάτι.Η σχέση ανάμεσα στους πρωταγωνιστές δεν είχε την κατάλληλη εξέλιξη για να φτάσουν στο "σ'αγαπώ" όπως θα έπρεπε.Ήταν περισσότερο εριστικοί από ότι έπρεπε και υπήρχε μια εχθρότητα και τάση για προσβολές που δεν βασίζοταν σε αληθινές αιτίες(παρα μόνο μια δυσαρέσκεια αναμέσά τους όταν ήταν παιδιά,και που θα έπρεπε να είχε ξεπεραστεί).Η ηρωίδα επέμενε να κάνει του κεφαλιού της και να ανακατεύεται σε πράγματα που δεν έπρεπε,και ταυτόχρονα γκρίνιαζε για την παρουσία του ήρωα,που ήταν εκπαιδευμένος σε εγκληματικές καταστάσεις.Για γυναίκα 30 χρονών συμπεριφερόταν σαν κακομαθημένο 5χρονο,αν και η συγγραφέας προσπαθούσε να το διακαιλογήσει επανηλειμμένα μέσω τρίτων προσώπων,πως είχε υποτίθεται ισχυρή προσωπικότητα.Οι υπόλοιποι χαρακτήρες ήταν είτε πολύ χλιαροί σχετικά με την πλοκή,είτε ανακατεύοταν και αυτοί σε γελοίο βαθμό.

Υπήρχε υπέρμετρη τάση για επανάληψη,όπου μαθαίναμε ξανά και ξάνα τι είχε γίνει πιο πριν και γιατί η ηρωίδα δεν συμπαθούσε τον ήρωα που καταντούσε κουραστικό.Το τέλος δεν είχε το δράμα που του άρμοζε και που θα μπορούσε να του δώσει μια πιο ενδιαφέρουσα νότα.

Θα μπορούσε να ήταν ένα υπέροχο βιβλίο,καθώς το θέμα στο οποίο βασίζεται η πλοκή είναι αρκετά πρωτότυπο κατά τη γνώμη μου,αλλά δεν αξιοποιήθηκε με καλό τρόπο.Κρίμα.Επειδή έχω και άλλα βιβλία της συγγραφέως θα της δώσω και άλλη ευκαιρία,αλλά το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο δεν αξίζει τον κόπο του διαβάσματος.

Δεν το προτείνω.

[Heather Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had started another book by this author once before, not realizing it had been a series. Instead of jumping into an author I wasn't familiar with with a series I decided to give this standalone a go. I will admit that the writing felt a bit... clunky to me. Perhaps it's because I've read more in depth books where this was hard for me to find the smooth sailing aspect of it. While I didn't hate the book per se, I didn't love it either. I do think some of this could've been fleshed out more. That maybe, in my opinion, it would've benefitted being a series instead of a standalone and/or a couple more pages longer. But that could've been a slog to get through, more so than it already was, if it turned into a series or a couple more pages longer. I did enjoy the Riley and John intensity - yet it didn't engage me enough to care half way through. Overall I don't think I want to pick up anymore from this author sadly.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good mystery, suspense story. Riley is so headstrong and so is Straker. They have been at odds since they were children. Now Riley needs his help, and she doesn't want to ask for it. Her grandfather is accused of murder and Riley knows he had nothing to do with it. A year before, they were on a boat that blew up and the captain blamed her grandfather for killing 5 people on that boat. It now seems as if everything is falling apart. There is murder and arson with plenty of suspects, but Riley can't see any of those people doing all this. Straker will do anything for Riley. He is recuperating from gunshot wounds, but he has had 6 months of isolation and is ready to help. Can he find the person and keep Riley safe. She has a tendency to act first and think second. Just like her grandfather.

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Carla Neggers books

This is another great Carla Neggers book and filled with suspense, keep you on your toes action, and finding love. Riley is a marine biologist and works for the same oceanic institute as her father and grandfather. A year after their research vessel exploded and sunk, Rileys grandfather is still being considered responsible for the ships sinking. While visiting her grandfather, Riley finds a dead body on the family's small island. This sets off a lot of mystery and suspense surrounding the sinking and deaths from the research vessel. Can Riley and FBI agent John Straker find out what's going on before someone else dies?

[Deborah Tomlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced action thriller. Neggers at her best

I really liked how real, down to earth the characters were. And descriptions of the areas in Boston and Maine. The plot seemed intricate with vignettes of action woven through great dialogue and passages dedicated to giving information and moving the story along. My 4th time reading. No finished it in an afternoon/evening

[Jill Harman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble getting through this book, there were so many characters to keep track of. The relationship between Straker and Riley was exhausting. I found myself skipping pages to get to the end. I always finish a book once I start it but this one wasn’t easy. Felt like there was a lot of stuff that could have been left out and not changed the plot.

[Drew Rosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It felt like watching one of those old grainy films your parents or grandparents put on and you stand there watching it unintentionally and gotta stay to find out what happens. I enjoyed the characters and suspense trying to pin point blame and guilt on who I thought the culprit was. I'd recommend if you want an easy read.

[Songia Shambrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betrayal, Family and Love

I've always enjoyed Carla Neggers books and this one didn't disappoint. Great characters pushed to protect and defend their family and their business. How far would you go...

[laurel jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed lots of twists and turns

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. I have read others by this author and this wasn’t her best but was still a good read. It started slowly but got better as it went on. Overall glad I read it

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 2 out of 5]

First book from this author I have read. Took a long time for me to get into this book, it didn't catch me really ever.

[Leah Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who blew up the boat?

Who blew of the explorer vessel that killed five men? A man named Emile is blamed. His grandson by marriage is certain he did as well as the captain.

[Linda Baron · Rating 4 out of 5]

great combination of romance and suspense

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book I struggled reading from start to finish. DNF

[KerryO · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is 25 years old, but it could have been more interesting if it focused a bit more on the oceanography aspect of Riley's life. (That is the reason I picked this book to read.) The story was a bit of a slog, but could have been better.

[Katelyn Bird · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn’t horrible but….i definitely wouldn’t recommend it. The pov’s were super hard to track, the story line got confusing and overall, meh. The ending was lokey lame too.

[Penny Evenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Carla Neggers' books. They are all very good! This was really good! Lots of twists and turns.

[Jan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay; it was also hokey. It's difficult for me to believe that a woman, five months pregnant with twins, could keep that fact a "secret" from her family, including her estranged husband, and goes canoeing with hubby when they've reconciled, oohhh, about a month later, when she's SIX months pregnant with twins. She also climbed out of a window and jumped off the shed roof to escape a fire with only scraps, bruises and a little dehydration. Sig is definitely Riley's wonder sister.

The plot was okay but the only growing tension I experienced was the desire to have this book be over. Had John Straker's "six month exile" been referred to one more time, I would have tossed the book across the room.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riley St. Joe has always adored her famous oceanographer grandfather. Even after an accident last year which killed five men, and which most people blame her grandfather for, Riley is still attached to the old man. Now, Riley is trying to get herself back out on the water, kayaking to Labreque Island. When she gets there, she discovers not only her lifelong nemesis, FBI agent John Straker, but also a dead body. It turns out to be the captain who was driving the boat when the deadly accident occurred.
When her grandfather disappears, he immediately becomes suspect number one in the eyes of the police. Luckily, John Straker is on her side and the hunt to find the real killer is bringing them closer together than ever.

[Pattianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Fire - Investigative Series #4 - (Riley and John Straker) - Riley finds a body near where John is recovering from injuries as an agent.

When the owner of a sunken research ship is suspected of murdering his captain, his granddaughter asks one of his friends, an FBI special agent, to help clear his name. Riley and Straker are total opposites, but they share a determination to find the truth--and a passion they're finding harder to ignore.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

For an author that is traditionally published, I am very disappointed in the ebook formatting. It has some major issues like not separating out paragraphs when there is a new person speaking or not flowing well into another paragraph, where I have to go back and reread to see what the heck happened and why we are at point B instead of point A, which we were just at.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

First read from this author. Started out interesting and enjoyable to read. Straker character was a good one and I'd probably read a series surrounding his character. Things got repetitive, characters running through what they know or suspect, over and over to the point where I was losing interest. Ending started out good and abruptly puttered out.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it will be my last too. I almost quit numerous times, but stuck with it. The story was ok, but the writing drove me nuts. The way she kept mentioning certain things OVER AND OVER!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! I very much enjoyed this book. The book had a great story line and I felt like I was a part of the characters. Love the story line, the amount of romance and suspense and enjoyed how the book ended.