Amethysts and Arson

Gems and Espionage #6

by Lynn Gardner

When Allison married Bart, she knew theirs would be no ordinary marriage. Bart works undercover for Interpol’s anti-terrorist agency, Anastasia, and Allison is already more familiar with danger and near death than she’d like to be. Now this intrepid and charming duo encounters their most challenging mystery yet.

Bart’s uncle, an arson investigator, has been receiving anonymous and mysterious clues to crimes planned but not yet committed. Allison and Bart must call upon all of Anastasia’s resources to stop this madman from killing hundreds of innocent people and destroying a dozen significant historical sites out of some twisted and unexplainable drive for revenge. A dozen bombs have been hidden in sites across the southern United States, and in a race against time, Allison and Bart must find and disarm them before they explode. Can they do it?

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Lds, Romance, Suspense, Adult, Adventure

283 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Anne (Booklady) Molinarolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interpol Agents Bart and Allison Allen have just returned from a stressful and risky mission. Alli is hoping to make their cottage a home, and she has a lot of work ahead of her. But the telephone call from Bart's Uncle puts everything on hold. An anonymous arsonist has sent Uncle Joe 17 "Clues". He will set off fires in different Southern cities in a week unless Joe can find his bombs.

Revenge and Amethysts. Allison must use her talent to solve the clues before it's too late. And she and Bart are working together for the first time.

You guessed it, problems emerged in their working relationship because they're married. And readers who don't like Christian Fiction might want to stay away from this novel. The Southern Cities they visit and it's sites are spot on - I've lived in a couple and visited several. I figured out whom the arsonist was very early though.

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I'm not sure if my negative opinion of the book is because it took me so long to read it, or if it took me so long to read it because I didn't like it, but I almost gave up part way through. The girl in this series really bugs me. She is a magnet for disaster, and not just accident prone, in practically every book there is some monumental natural disaster (in this case a tornado) that just "happens" to land right where she is. I guess I just didn't get sucked into the story enough that I could enjoy the "coincidences" instead they just bugged me. I also don't even enjoy the romance side of the book because her and her husband have such a strange relationship, I can't relate to it at all. There were a few things I did like but overall not much.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn't ANYONE get tired of Bart calling Allison "Princess"??? It drives me nuts!! It's so corny and cheesy and lame. I really enjoy these books, but her nickname bothers me more and more with every book.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the view into American heritige. This plot was fun and for once I thought Allisons fears natural and reasonable, though I'm glad she got the better of them in the end.

[Lydia Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay this book was really good. I loved watching them try and figure out what the words meant and where the bombs were. Allison is such a funny character and I love her and Bart to pieces! Bart is such agood husband even though he might not be there all the time. It was heartbraking to read when Allison lost her baby that she didn't even know that she had. Which is so ironic becuase Bart and Alli were arguing about wether or not to have kids for many days, but she was already pregnant. And then to make it even worse, since one of her flopian tube burst she is less likely to become pregnant. Which is so so sad cause I think thats what they need to be a more balanced normal family. Bart most likely would want to be home more often than out in the field. I loved figuring out who was making the threats along with Bart, Alli, Emma and Joe... and guess what I was right! THESE BOOKS ARE MY FAV!!😘

[Shae Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had gotten the whole series to read in order but I did read the first one first so I have the foundation for the series. The others are ordered and on the way! If that tells you what I think of the series then it's obvious I think they are worth the money and time! The first one hooked me but this one took so much research and had so much detail it was a thrill to read! I figured out the arsonist first thing but finding the bombs and where and what kind.... now THAT was fun!

[Traci Sessions · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it a 3.5 if I could give half stars. I don’t know if is because I have read so many of these books or if this story was just more obvious. I figured out a lot of what was going to happen before it did and even pegged the villain early on in the story. That’s really the only reason I rated this one a little lower.

[Charly Troff (JustaReadingMama) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read these books in middle school, I loved them! I couldn't get enough. Coming back to reread them, I see their flaws, but I still think they're worth the read. They are fast paced, clean, educational, and easy, quick reads.

[Lugene Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this writer. Can't wait for the next one.

[Terrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With each succeeding book in this series, I feel the author has developed more as a writer. Very enjoyable characters.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

See review for E & E. :)

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story and lots of variety. I like that the gushy romance is less prominent. Good story.

[KYLEE WEST · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that she doesn't care what other people say, she just goes out tries her best and makes her family proud.

[Hailey Fackrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good!

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

See review for #7 in series.

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple. Fun. Cheesy. I was surprised how fast and enjoyable it was (reminiscent of the Hardy Boys). Some of the narrative didn’t exactly age well but not too bad.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Amethysts and Arson I want to take the Lynn Gardner "deep south" tour of all the great places her characters Allison and Bart visited. They were in hurry to save beautiful historical buildings and museums from being leveled by a madman. They rushed through these tourist spots but you really feel like you were there. Lynn says she does her best research by going to the places her characters visit. On Lynn's website I found out that she indeed visited all these places in her book. "Research for this book took me solo six thousand miles, from coast to coast, through sixteen states." You can tell she was really there by the description of every place. There was plenty of mystery and intrigue through-out the whole book. Allison is spunky and smart but very accident prone. Her husband Bart is sweet and very in love with his wife. During all this life and death events we experience the struggles of a newly married couple and the decision of bringing children into an uncertain world. This is my kind of book, plenty of mystery and action but a great love story.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHH! I'm OBSESSED! I LOVE this book! She's a genius! Kind of...
Ok reasons WHY I love this book...
1- Allison FINALLY does something PRODUCTIVE! :-O
2- She has her first actual mission with Bart!
3- She doesn't totally depend on Bart (she isn't an airhead anymore! :)
4- It wasn't completely predictable!
Reasons why I was kind of disappointed... (SPOILER ALERT!)
1- She doesn't get to shoot people and mostly isn't on edge (still highly addictive)
2- I totally knew she was pregnant the WHOLE TIME! Get a clue lady! I was literally WAITING for her to announce that she was pregnant! (I did not guess the Fallopian tube part though!)
3- Bart did practically NOTHING! I mean ya he did the dirty work but other than that he just sat there and waited for Allison to figure it out! :-P stupid stupid stupid! Bart isn't As good as we thought!

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a bit of a disappointment after Sapphires and Smugglers. Maybe part of the problem was that I was in a hurry to finish it so I could start Mockingjay, but I felt like the "bad guy" was obvious from the get go, and the mysteries were solved so easily. And, Allison's condition was pretty obvious too.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to outwit an arsonist and doing it within just a few days, is not only stressful, but tests Allison's and Bart's limits. This is the first time it seems that they are at odds with each other. The chance for a normal life will never be in their future and they know it. Before the story ends, there's plenty of tension between them.

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, fun read. Not as suspenseful as some of the others. I pretty much had the villain figured out early on, but the plot structures of solving the clues and finding all the different kinds of explosives kept me reading. This one seemed like it would have been fun to write--or at least, fun to go to all the landmarks in the south and research for the story.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A madman has been taunting police with information about the destruction of famous historical landmarks before the acts are committed. In come Allison and Bart, determined not to let it happen. Again Gardner does an excellent job of describing the beautiful and historical landmarks that are threatened. Allison is actually more helpful than usual and the puzzles are intriguing.

[Demorie DeSpain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first book from an LDS author that I have read. I actually really liked it and though the story was good. Allison is so funny and I love her and Barts relationship. I hate how Bart calls her 'princess' all the time, but their love is so cute. I rated it 3 stars because I fell like from the very beginning I knew who the arsonist was.
Overall, I'm glad i read it.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite in the series, with Bart and Allison visiting places throughout the South I've never even heard of. I love the concept of the story, the vivid descriptions of the locales, and the clever ways the arsonist rigs his targets. Fun to revisit this tale again.

[Jenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite one out of all the "gem books"!

[Tangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

great suspense book.

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book in this series!

[MaDiSoN_RaNaE · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite book in the series! i loved all the historical points in it!

[Kailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire!! LOVE IT!!!!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great one because you learn a little american history about this one a random cities in the U.S that you don't really know a whole lot about.