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Fire Angel
A malicious serial killer is out for revenge in Paradise. Using fire as his weapon, he strikes at random, and the bodies are piling up.
Criminal profiler Jake McKenzie has returned from Afghanistan minus a leg and afraid to trust his instincts. When the police ask for his expertise in identifying the killer, he agrees knowing this is his chance to prove he can still do the job.
Sixteen years ago, fiercely independent Alexis Michaels escaped an abusive uncle and a deadly fire to become one of the country’s top fire and arson investigators. Her uncanny ability to put herself in the arsonist’s place is the skill they need to find this maniac. She reluctantly accepts the assignment and returns home to lead the hunt for the killer, knowing she will have to confront the unpleasant memories.
When Jake discovers that his new partner is the girl who haunted his dreams all these years, he finds himself enthralled, but memories of his dead wife make him doubt his emotions. Alexis has few pleasant memories of Paradise, but Jake is one of them. Undeniably drawn to him, she longs for a deeper relationship but believes he isn’t ready to move on yet.
Until they catch the killer, they must set aside their conflicted emotions and work together. The clock is ticking, and the killer has made it clear: Alexis is next.
Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2013
15 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Susanne Matthews
140 books142 followersSusanne Matthews grew up as an avid reader of all types of books, but always with a penchant for happily ever after romances. In her imagination, she travelled to foreign lands, past and present, and soared into the future. Today, she has made her dreams come true. A retired educator, she now gets to spend her time writing, so she can share her adventures with her readers. She loves the ins and outs of romance, and the complex journey it takes to get from the first word to the last period of a novel. As she writes, her characters take on a life of their own, and she shares their fears and agonies on the road to self-discovery and love.
Susanne lives in Cornwall, Ontario with her husband. She has three adult children and five grandchildren. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, chatting on the Internet with her writer friends, and hearing from her readers.
Susanne lives in Cornwall, Ontario with her husband. She has three adult children and five grandchildren. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, chatting on the Internet with her writer friends, and hearing from her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 5, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Jake is a criminal profiler called in to help on a serial killer who plays with fire. Little does he know that Alexis, an old friend, is also being called in on the scene. She has an uncanny ability to put herself in the killer’s mind and a very high success rate. Sparks they never knew existed kindle between them, but the serial killer is not content to let himself be discovered. If he gets his way, the only Paradise Alexis will be staying is the one in the clouds.
Fire Angel is the type of romance that gives you warm fuzzies and ghostly chills simultaneously. Gently developing romance is combined with elements of mysteries and thrillers as Alexis and Jake piece together their serial killer.
Jake is sensitive, cautious, and hurting. He recognizes his feelings for Alexis early on but is hesitant to act on them, partly because of his previous failed relationship.
Alexis is headstrong, defensive, and unwilling to open her heart up for love. Work takes priority in her life, and now there have been attempts on her life, she’s determined to solve the case.
Matthews writes the Canadian setting beautifully and includes some picturesque descriptions. I loved the one about eyes like Moraine Lake. If you’ve ever been there, it’s this lake that is impossibly blue not because of the sky, but because of a specific type of sediment. I am honoured to have supported her in her querying process and to read an ARC of her first novel.
Jake is a criminal profiler called in to help on a serial killer who plays with fire. Little does he know that Alexis, an old friend, is also being called in on the scene. She has an uncanny ability to put herself in the killer’s mind and a very high success rate. Sparks they never knew existed kindle between them, but the serial killer is not content to let himself be discovered. If he gets his way, the only Paradise Alexis will be staying is the one in the clouds.
Fire Angel is the type of romance that gives you warm fuzzies and ghostly chills simultaneously. Gently developing romance is combined with elements of mysteries and thrillers as Alexis and Jake piece together their serial killer.
Jake is sensitive, cautious, and hurting. He recognizes his feelings for Alexis early on but is hesitant to act on them, partly because of his previous failed relationship.
Alexis is headstrong, defensive, and unwilling to open her heart up for love. Work takes priority in her life, and now there have been attempts on her life, she’s determined to solve the case.
Matthews writes the Canadian setting beautifully and includes some picturesque descriptions. I loved the one about eyes like Moraine Lake. If you’ve ever been there, it’s this lake that is impossibly blue not because of the sky, but because of a specific type of sediment. I am honoured to have supported her in her querying process and to read an ARC of her first novel.
June 19, 2013
At first I thought Fire Angel was a typical crime novel, but I was happily surprised with the introduction of Alexis. I found her smart, relatable and even funny. My favorite was when she said, "Who says candy isn't good for you?" referring to the man eye candy aka Jake. Susanne's detailed descriptions make you feel a part of the story. I look forward to reading more of Susanne Matthew's books!
June 1, 2013
Currently reading. I got a free copy on my Kindle, and so far I really like the two protagonists. Jake is former military and an amputee dealing with PTSD. He is now a consultant on cold cases ... though he takes on a case that is far from cold. Alexis is an arson investigator/profiler, who ran away to escape her physically abusive childhood. She is dealing with her own form of PTSD. I like that they are both functioning in stressful careers, and that they aren't afraid to talk about their issues. We'll see how the plot develops.
A few final thoughts: I liked the characters, particularly Jake. However, the arsonists confession fell into the category of "Let me tell you in exhausting detail how I committed all these crimes." This is a common flaw in many mystery novels, and it stops the story dead in its tracks. Some exposition is desirable, but sometimes it is just too much.
A few final thoughts: I liked the characters, particularly Jake. However, the arsonists confession fell into the category of "Let me tell you in exhausting detail how I committed all these crimes." This is a common flaw in many mystery novels, and it stops the story dead in its tracks. Some exposition is desirable, but sometimes it is just too much.
May 7, 2013
This is a page-turner. It is by turns sweet, gritty, alarming, and always tension-filled. It is also satisfying and compelling throughout. I love TV profiling and forensic crime dramas, and Ms. Matthews hits on all cylinders there, while adding the bonus of a great romance. As mentioned, there is a very realistic grit and darkness to this story, so if you don’t like that kind of thing, find something else to read. However, if you can handle it, and love a great, well-written tale, this should be just your cup of tea. Very well done.
This reviewer received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review, which is given as a professional courtesy and without monetary compensation.
This reviewer received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review, which is given as a professional courtesy and without monetary compensation.
October 5, 2014
I WAS READING THIS WHILE HOME ALONE I WAS SURPRISED IT WAS KINDA SCARY, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE JUST A SIMPLE SOMEONE SETTING FIRES THING. I STARTED HEARING (normal sounds were suspect) AND CHECKING THINGS AROUND MY HOUSE PLUS I WAS COOKING (using fire of course) I STARTED CHECKING THE STOVE AND THE FURNACE. FOR SOME REASON READING WHAT AND HOW THE FIRES WERE SET AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE CAUGHT IN IT, WOW IT WAS HORRIBLE. THE ROMANCE PART WAS VERY SMALL BUT HEAVY ON THE MANY FIRES BEING SET. I DID KNOW WHO WAS SETTING THEM WHEN FIRST INTRODUCED IN THE STORY, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY IT TOOK ALL THOSE EXPERTS SO DARN LONG TO KNOW WHO IT WAS. PRETTY GOOD LATE SATURDAY NIGHT READING. ;>
August 9, 2013
The evil, malicious killer in this book calls himself Fire Angel in the notes that he leaves for our heroine, Alexis Michaels. Alexis used to live in the small town of Paradise before she ran away as a teenager due to an abusive situation. She returns to this town after 18 years, thinking she won’t be recognized. She was in for quite a surprise when not only the residents remember her, but the killer puts her right in his crosshairs. Jake is the boy she left behind all those years ago, but he is all man now. Jake is a profiler and hires Alexis for her fire expertise to catch this killer before the body count rises any higher.
It seems that no time has passed for Alexis and Jake, the same chemistry that was there when they were teenagers, is still there today. To solve this mystery, it will take the two of them working together and fighting the attraction they have so that they can focus on getting the job done, before it does the both of them in.
This story was more of a crime solving story than anything, it went into just enough detail so that I really understood the true genius behind the crimes, but it wasn’t full of crazy jargon that most of us wouldn’t understand.
The love story between Alexis and Jake was secondary. I really liked the characters, even the supporting characters. Alexis and Jake both have pasts that are working against them, as the killer is working to try and destroy Alexis, so the odds are stacked against them. I can’t say that I identified with any of the characters, but I definitely lusted after Jake! I also wanted to see them both overcome their pasts and end up together. The story moved at a nice even pace, I was curious to know what would happen next, but not so involved that I lost track of time and didn’t get anything done. You will enjoy this if you like a good mystery that is laced with a sweet romance. It is suspenseful and romantic – heavy on the suspense, lots of twists and turns. This was a nice change of pace for me since I read a lot of contemporary romance, but I really did enjoy it. Ms. Matthews has a wicked mind to come up with the evil character in this story, I will be interested to see what she comes up with next. I give this story 3.5 stars!
Review was originally written for My Daily Romance blog.
It seems that no time has passed for Alexis and Jake, the same chemistry that was there when they were teenagers, is still there today. To solve this mystery, it will take the two of them working together and fighting the attraction they have so that they can focus on getting the job done, before it does the both of them in.
This story was more of a crime solving story than anything, it went into just enough detail so that I really understood the true genius behind the crimes, but it wasn’t full of crazy jargon that most of us wouldn’t understand.
The love story between Alexis and Jake was secondary. I really liked the characters, even the supporting characters. Alexis and Jake both have pasts that are working against them, as the killer is working to try and destroy Alexis, so the odds are stacked against them. I can’t say that I identified with any of the characters, but I definitely lusted after Jake! I also wanted to see them both overcome their pasts and end up together. The story moved at a nice even pace, I was curious to know what would happen next, but not so involved that I lost track of time and didn’t get anything done. You will enjoy this if you like a good mystery that is laced with a sweet romance. It is suspenseful and romantic – heavy on the suspense, lots of twists and turns. This was a nice change of pace for me since I read a lot of contemporary romance, but I really did enjoy it. Ms. Matthews has a wicked mind to come up with the evil character in this story, I will be interested to see what she comes up with next. I give this story 3.5 stars!
Review was originally written for My Daily Romance blog.
October 22, 2013
This was a wonderful debut novel by Susanne! It was full of action, suspense, love/friendships and more! It is told in dual POV's and loved that.
Jake is wounded and carries scars on the inside/outside. He agrees to take a position to try to help solve as case of fires. However, he can not figure it out by himself and asks for help. His boss calls the fire expert Alexis Michaels to come and help solve the case. When Jake sees Alexis he knows it is her, the her/she who left town 16 years ago!She captured his heart all those years ago and is happy to see her again! They are both partners now on this case and he doesn't want to allow her to get away this time. Can he allow them just be friends or will she leave once the case is solved?
Alexis left 16 years ago for good reasons. She loves her job but is lonely and longs for a family. She gets into this town and then sees "him" this man who her body is telling her she should remember.
Seeing him makes her think " WHO SAYS CANDY ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU?" However, when it comes out that he is her partner on the fire case and was JJ all those years ago.. she is giddy.
She enjoys his partnership and the security that he brings her. Can she realize that they are good together, that he has always wanted her or will her insecurities hurt her/them possibly as something more?
Jake and Alexis both have a past. It is wonderful to see their friendship blossom, trust shared and their ability to comfort one another.
I loved the action, suspense, love, friendships, growth and so much more with this Contemporary book!
Wonderful Job, Susanne! I will definitely read more books by this author in the future!
* Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Jake is wounded and carries scars on the inside/outside. He agrees to take a position to try to help solve as case of fires. However, he can not figure it out by himself and asks for help. His boss calls the fire expert Alexis Michaels to come and help solve the case. When Jake sees Alexis he knows it is her, the her/she who left town 16 years ago!She captured his heart all those years ago and is happy to see her again! They are both partners now on this case and he doesn't want to allow her to get away this time. Can he allow them just be friends or will she leave once the case is solved?
Alexis left 16 years ago for good reasons. She loves her job but is lonely and longs for a family. She gets into this town and then sees "him" this man who her body is telling her she should remember.
Seeing him makes her think " WHO SAYS CANDY ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU?" However, when it comes out that he is her partner on the fire case and was JJ all those years ago.. she is giddy.
She enjoys his partnership and the security that he brings her. Can she realize that they are good together, that he has always wanted her or will her insecurities hurt her/them possibly as something more?
Jake and Alexis both have a past. It is wonderful to see their friendship blossom, trust shared and their ability to comfort one another.
I loved the action, suspense, love, friendships, growth and so much more with this Contemporary book!
Wonderful Job, Susanne! I will definitely read more books by this author in the future!
* Received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
May 12, 2013
Fire Angel is a fast-paced romance that can also be read as a crime novel. Jake and Alexis grew up in Paradise, Ontario, but their budding young-adult romance short-circuits when Alexis’s alcoholic uncle forces her to get out of town quickly. Her unexpected departure leaves Jake devastated. Their careers as criminal investigators develop in parallel over the years in separate locations and both Jake and Alexis harbor nagging thoughts about what might have happened between them if Alexis had stayed.
When a serial arsonist brings havoc, fear, and chaos into Paradise, Jake requests professional assistance and Alexis, an arson specialist, returns home as Jake’s partner to investigate the gruesome arson/murders. I found myself speculating on who the arsonist could be – there are multiple choices here! – and wondering if and how Alexis and Jake could solve the case while entangled with each other in the throes of a re-born love affair.
Fire Angel is Susanne Matthews first novel. The story is exciting, kept me guessing, and swept me up in the romance of the hero and heroine. I look forward to Susanne’s future stories!
When a serial arsonist brings havoc, fear, and chaos into Paradise, Jake requests professional assistance and Alexis, an arson specialist, returns home as Jake’s partner to investigate the gruesome arson/murders. I found myself speculating on who the arsonist could be – there are multiple choices here! – and wondering if and how Alexis and Jake could solve the case while entangled with each other in the throes of a re-born love affair.
Fire Angel is Susanne Matthews first novel. The story is exciting, kept me guessing, and swept me up in the romance of the hero and heroine. I look forward to Susanne’s future stories!
May 4, 2013
This is a nice read from a new author. A romance with suspense, it is well paced and kept me engaged even though I don't read a lot of suspense these days.
The romance between the veteran amputee criminal profiler and the former victim of abuse fire investigator was well done. The issues were realistic enough and I was keen to see them get a happy ending.
The suspense element was well thought out and provided a good background for the romance. I'm not sure if I was supposed to guess the villain up front but I did. It didn't bother me too much as I enjoyed watching for the clues to prove I was right.
Altogether a good effort and I look forward to seeing how this author develops.
This is probably a 3 1/2 read. Due to the variance in the system with Amazon it's difficult to be consistent.
The romance between the veteran amputee criminal profiler and the former victim of abuse fire investigator was well done. The issues were realistic enough and I was keen to see them get a happy ending.
The suspense element was well thought out and provided a good background for the romance. I'm not sure if I was supposed to guess the villain up front but I did. It didn't bother me too much as I enjoyed watching for the clues to prove I was right.
Altogether a good effort and I look forward to seeing how this author develops.
This is probably a 3 1/2 read. Due to the variance in the system with Amazon it's difficult to be consistent.
April 19, 2013
I was lucky enough to get an early reading of Fire Angel by Susanne Matthews. Jake is a profiler and Alexis is the arsonist investigator they bring in. It turns out they both find themselves having feelings neither had expected. I found myself rooting for them to overcome their insecurities and fears about love and realize the strong connection and future they must have! I like to try to figure out who the bad guy is before I get to the end but Ms. Matthews did well to keep me guessing until the end. Fire Angel is a must read page turner!
May 11, 2014
This book in my opinion was terrible. I knew from about page 20 who the killer was. Some of the dialogue was so poorly written if one character hadn't apologized for being angry I wouldn't have known that they were. The hero of the story was supposed to be a highly respected criminal profiler but he couldn't figure out anything without the heroine's imput. It was boring and dragged on and it was cliched. It just plain wasn't any good. I forgot to even mention the far fetched ill-explained psychic powers that the heroine has. Yeah... Not good.
February 18, 2017
I'm in the process of reading this. I got it off Amazon for $.99. I'm glad I didn't pay any more for it. I'm trying to finish but not sure if I will.
I'm not a fire person so the writing on the fires/arson's seems good to me. However the buildup for the romance is really not good! I don't care who you are, you don't meet a childhood friend one day and want to be immediately jumping in his bed the next minute. I just roll my eyes every time I see this because please, any writer can write better than that!
Would not waste my time to read again!
I'm not a fire person so the writing on the fires/arson's seems good to me. However the buildup for the romance is really not good! I don't care who you are, you don't meet a childhood friend one day and want to be immediately jumping in his bed the next minute. I just roll my eyes every time I see this because please, any writer can write better than that!
Would not waste my time to read again!
June 23, 2015
I much prefer this author when she's writing suspense! The story flowed much smoother, though I had the killer figured out long before the story ended. It is a clean romance, and set in Canada, a setting that is unusual to me. I didn't like how readily Alexis settled back into the area, especially if she wanted to remain "dead" as she stated she had worked so hard to achieve. Jake was an overprotective hero, in my eyes, but it was rational, given his background. The characters were easy to connect to, given their flaws, and the book was an interesting read! A definite one to recommend!
May 7, 2013
New author, Susanne Matthews, has a real page turner here. I do not read a lot of suspense, but this book has changed my mind and wet my appetite for more. I appreciated the creativity and well-thought out details in Fire Angel. Instead of your typical murder mystery, the weapon of choice is fire, only adding to the unpredictability. But even amidst an intense investigation, romance reigns supreme! A great read!
August 9, 2013
Fire Angel is romantic suspense that has a straight forward, no nonsense style of writing. From start to finish I was drawn into the book and didn't want to put it down. I made speculations throughout and it kept me guessing. The tension of the build up made for some late nights just to read it! Well done, Susanne!
April 17, 2013
Review to follow
October 10, 2014
It was kind of nice but extremely simple. You could figure out who the killer was after the first chapter. Didn't have enough depth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2014
Meh. Too predictable. I almost gave up.
March 17, 2022
Paradise was a small town, and a crazed firebug made people nervous.
There were six bodies without any leads, they needed the eyes of a profiler, to get into this guy’s head and find him before he struck again. The recent string of fatal fires has kept the arson squad busy, when they finally made a connection between the cases, Jake (John Jacob McKenzie, Criminal Profile, aka Jake) was asked to help.
Jake agreed to work with them as a special consultant, profiling the felon. Jake soon realises based on the acceleration of fires, that they could benefit from the skills of a professional fire investigator.He had read an article in the newspaper, the investigator had apparently used unorthodox methods to solve supposedly unsolvable fires. She’d taken down members of the mob who’d been using fires to extort money. Perhaps with her help they could apprehend their arsonist.
He had worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as an independent criminal profiler; as a psychologist, trained in forensic and behavioural science. He was asked by the government to go to Afghanistan to help train the Afghani police force in profiling techniques. When he shipped out, his brother David decided to go as well; he’s always looked out for him. As an orthopaedic surgeon, he’s a member of a team of doctors who go where they’re needed. Security had been breached, and the insurgents managed to get the route his detail would take. They were on their way back to the base when a roadside bomb exploded, killing everyone except Jake, and several cases of vital medical supplies were stolen. He lost most of his left leg. If it hadn’t been for his brother’s skills, he would have died.
Riddled with memories of his Afghani wife assaulted him. She had been exotic and he had become enthralled. He had gone to Afghanistan to help, to make life better for the women and children. How could you help people who didn’t want to be helped? He had been there primarily as a profiler, teaching the local Afghani police how to identify potential terrorists in their midst. He had also provided security for medical and supply shipments. Irena’s father and brothers, members of a radical group whom no one had suspected, had seen his potential value and had used her to get to him. As his wife, Irena could come and go from the base with impunity. Had it bothered her in the least when he had been injured, and those men she had come to know had been killed by a roadside bomb her brothers had planted? She had walked into a restaurant packed with military and civilians alike and detonated the bomb strapped across her chest.
Alexis Michaels is one of North America’s finest fire and arson investigators, a woman in a man’s world, Alexis pushed herself to be the best. She had an exceptional understanding of fire and its behaviour. Usually called in when local fire and police officials requested help, Alexis did double duty: first, she identified the origin and cause of the fire, tracked its progress, and if there was one, identified the common threads that tied multiple blazes together. Captain Peters claimed she had a sixth sense concerning fire, and in some ways he was right. She had the ability to see beyond what other inspectors could see and frequently found that missing link to solve the crime. She had an uncanny way of seeing the fire through the eyes of the firebug and to think the way he or she did. If they were nearby, she could sense them, and know what they were feeling. It was that gift that was needed here. Once she concluded the fire part of the investigation, she would change hats and help the rest of the arson team narrow the list of suspects and nail the culprit.
Because of the extensive damage, it had taken over a week to stabilise the area. When the local arson team had gone in, they had found evidence that linked this fire to the others. There had been a fire in August; a second one late in September, and now a third in late October. It was almost the end of November. If the pattern held, there would be another fire within days; hence her need for speed. Time was running out. The sooner she examined the fire scenes, the faster she would be able to get into this maniac’s head. If she were lucky, the photographs and evidence collected by the forensic team would be complete enough to help her narrow her search at the crime scenes themselves. She gets caught in the killer’s crosshairs and she begins to get threatening warnings.
In the first case, spoliation, the intentional and unintentional destruction of evidence, had occurred at an isolated hunting camp and the owner had set about clearing the debris to rebuild.
The second one, a cheap boarding house, or flophouse, on the edge of town had taken place late in September, and five bodies had been recovered. Both police investigators and curiosity seekers would have contaminated the scene. As well, the very act of putting the fire out would have destroyed evidence.
The last fire at the end of October, a Friday night poker game at a popular service station, had turned deadly when a cigarette had ignited gasoline, solvents, and other flammable materials that had been improperly stored. Six bodies had been found — three poker players and three young men from the university in North Bay who had been doing an environmental study, and apparently had camped out in the garage’s main office for the night.
Alexis barely remembered her parents; their indistinct images were shadows on the periphery of her mind. They had died in a bush plane crash shortly after her tenth birthday. No one had been able to determine why the small plane had plummeted into Lake Huron. It was one of the forces that had propelled her into this line of work. Everyone deserved answers.
She spent her formative years from ten to fifteen being at the mercy of her sadistic, alcoholic uncle. She ran away because she was tired of being her uncle’s punching bag.
“At first, it was verbal abuse; as I got older it became sly innuendos, cheap shots, and eventually, punches. Aunt Emily and James were scared of him, but they never said a word; why would they? While he was beating on me, he wasn’t picking on them. He was very careful; he never hit Aunt Emily or me where it would show, and come Sunday morning he’d stand in the pulpit and preach about the seven deadly sins. James was well on his way to being as bad as his father, if not worse. I heard that Aunt Emily and James had died. Somehow Aunt Emily felt it was her duty to suffer in silence; I didn’t. I tried to get help, but no one believed me — I even went to the police, but my uncle told them that I was a shameless liar and troublemaker. He was a pillar of the community, a man of the cloth. I kept trying to get help. Do you remember when I broke my arm ‘falling out of a tree’? That happened after I spoke to a social worker in Calvin who suggested I go to an AL-ANON meeting there. Somehow Uncle Nick learned about my plan and he was furious. No one should have to tolerate that kind of abuse. As soon as my arm healed, I left”
She snuck out of the house that night and walked out of their lives. Earlier the same evening, James her incestuous cousin had grabbed her and tried to have his way with her; fighting back, she bit him. He punched her giving her a massive shiner, it actually helped her. She was able to get a ride to Toronto with a lady driver. She sympathised and gave her a couple of hundred dollars for food and arranged for a room at a hostel.
The love story between Jake and Alexis, factors in unfinished business each bearing emotional or physical traumas – their common cause helping to bring them closer, deepening their feelings. A slow-burn of second chances. Suspense and romance make a formidable combination. Add in a criminal mastermind and it’s a formula for intrigue.
He knew her years ago, before she disappeared from his life He’d been working up the courage to ask her out on a date, she was about to turn fifteen the following week, and he wanted to ask her to be his date for the spring dance. She said good-bye on Friday, and never came back. At sixteen he was crushed. If there was a chance that they could renew their friendship, then he wanted that chance.
It’s surprising that Alexis was unfamiliar with PTSD. There are a multitude of mixed signals, from believing Minette and Jake are involved, to his languishing from love for his dead wife, Irena.
The killer is someone they all personally knew, fixated on Alexis for sixteen years. Her uncle eventually apologises to her for his past actions.
There were six bodies without any leads, they needed the eyes of a profiler, to get into this guy’s head and find him before he struck again. The recent string of fatal fires has kept the arson squad busy, when they finally made a connection between the cases, Jake (John Jacob McKenzie, Criminal Profile, aka Jake) was asked to help.
Jake agreed to work with them as a special consultant, profiling the felon. Jake soon realises based on the acceleration of fires, that they could benefit from the skills of a professional fire investigator.He had read an article in the newspaper, the investigator had apparently used unorthodox methods to solve supposedly unsolvable fires. She’d taken down members of the mob who’d been using fires to extort money. Perhaps with her help they could apprehend their arsonist.
He had worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as an independent criminal profiler; as a psychologist, trained in forensic and behavioural science. He was asked by the government to go to Afghanistan to help train the Afghani police force in profiling techniques. When he shipped out, his brother David decided to go as well; he’s always looked out for him. As an orthopaedic surgeon, he’s a member of a team of doctors who go where they’re needed. Security had been breached, and the insurgents managed to get the route his detail would take. They were on their way back to the base when a roadside bomb exploded, killing everyone except Jake, and several cases of vital medical supplies were stolen. He lost most of his left leg. If it hadn’t been for his brother’s skills, he would have died.
Riddled with memories of his Afghani wife assaulted him. She had been exotic and he had become enthralled. He had gone to Afghanistan to help, to make life better for the women and children. How could you help people who didn’t want to be helped? He had been there primarily as a profiler, teaching the local Afghani police how to identify potential terrorists in their midst. He had also provided security for medical and supply shipments. Irena’s father and brothers, members of a radical group whom no one had suspected, had seen his potential value and had used her to get to him. As his wife, Irena could come and go from the base with impunity. Had it bothered her in the least when he had been injured, and those men she had come to know had been killed by a roadside bomb her brothers had planted? She had walked into a restaurant packed with military and civilians alike and detonated the bomb strapped across her chest.
Alexis Michaels is one of North America’s finest fire and arson investigators, a woman in a man’s world, Alexis pushed herself to be the best. She had an exceptional understanding of fire and its behaviour. Usually called in when local fire and police officials requested help, Alexis did double duty: first, she identified the origin and cause of the fire, tracked its progress, and if there was one, identified the common threads that tied multiple blazes together. Captain Peters claimed she had a sixth sense concerning fire, and in some ways he was right. She had the ability to see beyond what other inspectors could see and frequently found that missing link to solve the crime. She had an uncanny way of seeing the fire through the eyes of the firebug and to think the way he or she did. If they were nearby, she could sense them, and know what they were feeling. It was that gift that was needed here. Once she concluded the fire part of the investigation, she would change hats and help the rest of the arson team narrow the list of suspects and nail the culprit.
Because of the extensive damage, it had taken over a week to stabilise the area. When the local arson team had gone in, they had found evidence that linked this fire to the others. There had been a fire in August; a second one late in September, and now a third in late October. It was almost the end of November. If the pattern held, there would be another fire within days; hence her need for speed. Time was running out. The sooner she examined the fire scenes, the faster she would be able to get into this maniac’s head. If she were lucky, the photographs and evidence collected by the forensic team would be complete enough to help her narrow her search at the crime scenes themselves. She gets caught in the killer’s crosshairs and she begins to get threatening warnings.
In the first case, spoliation, the intentional and unintentional destruction of evidence, had occurred at an isolated hunting camp and the owner had set about clearing the debris to rebuild.
The second one, a cheap boarding house, or flophouse, on the edge of town had taken place late in September, and five bodies had been recovered. Both police investigators and curiosity seekers would have contaminated the scene. As well, the very act of putting the fire out would have destroyed evidence.
The last fire at the end of October, a Friday night poker game at a popular service station, had turned deadly when a cigarette had ignited gasoline, solvents, and other flammable materials that had been improperly stored. Six bodies had been found — three poker players and three young men from the university in North Bay who had been doing an environmental study, and apparently had camped out in the garage’s main office for the night.
Alexis barely remembered her parents; their indistinct images were shadows on the periphery of her mind. They had died in a bush plane crash shortly after her tenth birthday. No one had been able to determine why the small plane had plummeted into Lake Huron. It was one of the forces that had propelled her into this line of work. Everyone deserved answers.
She spent her formative years from ten to fifteen being at the mercy of her sadistic, alcoholic uncle. She ran away because she was tired of being her uncle’s punching bag.
“At first, it was verbal abuse; as I got older it became sly innuendos, cheap shots, and eventually, punches. Aunt Emily and James were scared of him, but they never said a word; why would they? While he was beating on me, he wasn’t picking on them. He was very careful; he never hit Aunt Emily or me where it would show, and come Sunday morning he’d stand in the pulpit and preach about the seven deadly sins. James was well on his way to being as bad as his father, if not worse. I heard that Aunt Emily and James had died. Somehow Aunt Emily felt it was her duty to suffer in silence; I didn’t. I tried to get help, but no one believed me — I even went to the police, but my uncle told them that I was a shameless liar and troublemaker. He was a pillar of the community, a man of the cloth. I kept trying to get help. Do you remember when I broke my arm ‘falling out of a tree’? That happened after I spoke to a social worker in Calvin who suggested I go to an AL-ANON meeting there. Somehow Uncle Nick learned about my plan and he was furious. No one should have to tolerate that kind of abuse. As soon as my arm healed, I left”
She snuck out of the house that night and walked out of their lives. Earlier the same evening, James her incestuous cousin had grabbed her and tried to have his way with her; fighting back, she bit him. He punched her giving her a massive shiner, it actually helped her. She was able to get a ride to Toronto with a lady driver. She sympathised and gave her a couple of hundred dollars for food and arranged for a room at a hostel.
The love story between Jake and Alexis, factors in unfinished business each bearing emotional or physical traumas – their common cause helping to bring them closer, deepening their feelings. A slow-burn of second chances. Suspense and romance make a formidable combination. Add in a criminal mastermind and it’s a formula for intrigue.
He knew her years ago, before she disappeared from his life He’d been working up the courage to ask her out on a date, she was about to turn fifteen the following week, and he wanted to ask her to be his date for the spring dance. She said good-bye on Friday, and never came back. At sixteen he was crushed. If there was a chance that they could renew their friendship, then he wanted that chance.
It’s surprising that Alexis was unfamiliar with PTSD. There are a multitude of mixed signals, from believing Minette and Jake are involved, to his languishing from love for his dead wife, Irena.
The killer is someone they all personally knew, fixated on Alexis for sixteen years. Her uncle eventually apologises to her for his past actions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2018
I loved this book! Sorry, it took me so long to finish as I had company and my time for reading was very limited. As it was I had a very hard time putting this book down, right from the git-go (for non-Southern folks, that means from the start).
A love long lost rekindled in a very bad situation. The characters are well developed, the story complex, twists, and turns, a great who done it or in this case who is doing it.
I have just started reading Susanne's work and I will not be stopping anytime soon. Thank you for a great read, Susanne.
A love long lost rekindled in a very bad situation. The characters are well developed, the story complex, twists, and turns, a great who done it or in this case who is doing it.
I have just started reading Susanne's work and I will not be stopping anytime soon. Thank you for a great read, Susanne.
August 23, 2022
I liked the premise and read the first four chapters. But the jumping of POV in the same scene, the forced familiarity between the hero and heroine, all the extra baggage from their past (they’re both so damaged in so many ways), and all the telling instead of showing bogging everything down – so much telling each other what’s going on, how they knew each other, and other stuff that’s essentially info dumping – made me roll my eyes and bored me to tears that I just couldn’t read further. And calling a moose a monster just irritated me.
So DNF.
So DNF.
March 4, 2026
This novel started quite captivating and realistically continues with each chapters however, as I got to the middle of this unpredictable story, I just lost interest. I couldn't this book. This author is new to me, therefore, I am happily prepared to read more of her books in the immediate future 😀 😄 😊...
Thank you 😊
Thank you 😊
August 5, 2013
Suspense and romance never cease to make a formidable combination. Add in a criminal mind, an assiduous investigation and lots of action and you’ve got an excellent story. S. Matthews has created all this in “Fire Angel” with her modern, sharp, straight-to-the point style of writing.
The dynamics of the story shifts between two main segments. One is constituted by the investigation to find the arsonist who terrorizes Paradise, where it becomes obvious that the author has done her homework and some serious research about the criminal mind, motivations and about procedural and technical details regarding arson.
The second and main segment of the tale is the love story between Jake and Alexis, which is gradually developing as the history of the characters becomes clear. A load of unfinished business simmers between them and the fact that they’re not flawless – each having emotional or physical traumas – makes them more human and believable. Their common cause helps bring them closer and deepens their feelings for each other.
Things, descriptions, characters features and history are suggested bit by bit rather than revealed all at once. That, along with suspense and a curious tension keeps us glued to the book and has us speculating on several levels.
Whether or not your speculations will prove to be correct, “Fire Angel” is more than a good read, it’s also a lesson to be learned…
The dynamics of the story shifts between two main segments. One is constituted by the investigation to find the arsonist who terrorizes Paradise, where it becomes obvious that the author has done her homework and some serious research about the criminal mind, motivations and about procedural and technical details regarding arson.
The second and main segment of the tale is the love story between Jake and Alexis, which is gradually developing as the history of the characters becomes clear. A load of unfinished business simmers between them and the fact that they’re not flawless – each having emotional or physical traumas – makes them more human and believable. Their common cause helps bring them closer and deepens their feelings for each other.
Things, descriptions, characters features and history are suggested bit by bit rather than revealed all at once. That, along with suspense and a curious tension keeps us glued to the book and has us speculating on several levels.
Whether or not your speculations will prove to be correct, “Fire Angel” is more than a good read, it’s also a lesson to be learned…
May 21, 2014
Blazing Brilliance
“Fire Angel” tears us from our complacency to view a quiet town scorched by a homicidal maniac. With superb mastery of her craft, Susanne Matthews drags us screaming into the horror of a forensic mystery. “Fire Angel” unravels the journey of her gorgeous but damaged hero, criminal profiler Jake and his arson expert partner Alexis. As they search to uncover the identity of the murderer and fire-starter, they begin to reveal the issues that their mutual past has dogged their lives.
Susanne’s “Fire Angel” weaves the various threads of suspicion and romance together so exquisitely with her descriptions that you can follow close behind, trying to warn her characters to beware. Alexis is so easy to relate to, a strong woman who has rebuilt her life from a broken childhood and her growing feelings for the emotionally and physically broken Jake, flowers naturally. As they seek the twisted mind behind the growing body count, dismissing suspects as their alibis hold up against examination, they are drawn closer together. A fast and exciting read which never lets the reader come up for air. I could find no faults whatsoever in Fire Angel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Fire Angel” and would unreservedly recommend it to other readers.
“Fire Angel” tears us from our complacency to view a quiet town scorched by a homicidal maniac. With superb mastery of her craft, Susanne Matthews drags us screaming into the horror of a forensic mystery. “Fire Angel” unravels the journey of her gorgeous but damaged hero, criminal profiler Jake and his arson expert partner Alexis. As they search to uncover the identity of the murderer and fire-starter, they begin to reveal the issues that their mutual past has dogged their lives.
Susanne’s “Fire Angel” weaves the various threads of suspicion and romance together so exquisitely with her descriptions that you can follow close behind, trying to warn her characters to beware. Alexis is so easy to relate to, a strong woman who has rebuilt her life from a broken childhood and her growing feelings for the emotionally and physically broken Jake, flowers naturally. As they seek the twisted mind behind the growing body count, dismissing suspects as their alibis hold up against examination, they are drawn closer together. A fast and exciting read which never lets the reader come up for air. I could find no faults whatsoever in Fire Angel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Fire Angel” and would unreservedly recommend it to other readers.
March 22, 2015
Reunited by Flames.
Sixteen years ago, Alexis Michaels escaped her abusive uncle and left the town of Paradise, Ontario behind. She never planned to return, but the local authorities have requested an expert fire investigator, and she’s the best in her field.
Jake McKenzie, returning to his role of criminal profiler after losing a leg in Afghanistan, welcomes an independent arson investigator. He’s surprised and pleased to discover it’s Alexis, the girl he admired in high school.
Alexis is greeted with a taunting note, assignment of Jake as her partner, and a fourth fire. It’s the most deadly yet, destroying a women and children’s shelter. It’s critical they catch the arsonist before he can strike again.
I enjoyed the layer by layer process in which Alexis and Jake share events of their pasts, establish a tentative trust, and collect evidence against the killer. The setting of a semi-isolated small city and resort enhanced this sweet romantic suspense. I’d encourage works by this author for weekend reading.
Sixteen years ago, Alexis Michaels escaped her abusive uncle and left the town of Paradise, Ontario behind. She never planned to return, but the local authorities have requested an expert fire investigator, and she’s the best in her field.
Jake McKenzie, returning to his role of criminal profiler after losing a leg in Afghanistan, welcomes an independent arson investigator. He’s surprised and pleased to discover it’s Alexis, the girl he admired in high school.
Alexis is greeted with a taunting note, assignment of Jake as her partner, and a fourth fire. It’s the most deadly yet, destroying a women and children’s shelter. It’s critical they catch the arsonist before he can strike again.
I enjoyed the layer by layer process in which Alexis and Jake share events of their pasts, establish a tentative trust, and collect evidence against the killer. The setting of a semi-isolated small city and resort enhanced this sweet romantic suspense. I’d encourage works by this author for weekend reading.
December 7, 2015
really enjoyed this book!
April 18, 2017
Good Read
The three stars instead of 5 are because I figured out who "done it" by Chapter 15. Characters real and believable.
The three stars instead of 5 are because I figured out who "done it" by Chapter 15. Characters real and believable.
Read
January 22, 2019Fire Angel had me from the word go. I liked the main characters, and their back stories were fed piece by piece so I slowly got to know more about them. I did guess the culprit pretty much from the start, but better that than having it be someone plucked from out of the blue. I liked the characters. They both had painful problems to overcome from their pasts, and were believable. Even when the discussion turned to fire starting and accelerators it was fed in a way I understood and enhanced the story, rather than lost me. I look forward to the next book from Susanne Mathews.
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