Scorched: Burn Me Once...

Tyler Zahn #3

by Cam Torrens

"The wait is over! Tyler Zahn is back, trapped in a mountain lodge with a raging fire outside and a murderer inside." -Gail Ward Olmsted, bestselling author of the Miranda Quinn Legal Twist series

After his over-zealous efforts to find his missing Search & Rescue partner fail, Air Force veteran Tyler Zahn is on the outs with Chaffee County law enforcement. When valuable oil paintings are stolen during a heist on a high-altitude pass in the Colorado Rockies, Zahn is ordered to steer clear of the investigation.

But when Laura Coker Long--the artist he's trying to date--has her most famous work stolen too, Zahn can't help but get involved. Trapped by a wildfire in a mountain retreat with a group of art patrons, Laura and her family, and an FBI agent, Zahn's search for the thief is hindered by more heinous crimes.

Zahn can't afford to screw up again. But he has no choice. If he doesn't step forward and lead, people may die.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2024

About the author

Over a 30-year Air Force career, author Cam Torrens delivered combat supplies and personnel across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. He piloted the first mobility aircraft into Iraq during the Iraq War, served as the United States Air Attaché at the US Embassy in Beijing, China, and spent four years as the Professor of Aerospace Studies at Virginia Tech.
A father of six, Cam and his spouse live in Buena Vista, Colorado, where he serves as the Vice President of the Central Colorado Writers, and volunteers with the Chaffee County Search & Rescue team.
Cam has published four books in the Tyler Zahn series about an Air Force vet saving lost hikers and tracking down bad guys in the Colorado Rockies. The fifth book in the series, HAVOC, will come out in December 2025.
Be sure to follow Cam on BookBub as well at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cam-t...

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Colorado Rockies, Air Force veteran Tyler Zahn is recovering from injuries sustained from a previous Search and Rescue (SAR) investigation that failed to find his missing SAR partner Kristee Li. He is on command desk duty in Buena Vista until his bosses decide that he is ready to resume his duties again.

That’s when a call comes in that Team 1 is at Cottonwood Pass and they found a bloody panel van and a gunshot victim, Bruce Davis. Bruce claims he and his partner were transporting high-priced art when they were robbed. Several of the oil paintings were stolen, and one of those paintings belongs to Laura Coker Long, an artist whom Tyler wants to date. He hesitates, but Tyler can’t help but get involved.

Laura has an upcoming art exhibition at The Lodge, and despite the nearby fires, it goes on as planned. The Joint Fire Team believes it is safe enough, but halfway through the event, Deputy Sheriff Rick Perez calls Tyler and orders an evacuation. That’s easier said than done, so now Tyler is trapped by the wildfire along with Laura, her three sisters, FBI Agent Emma Frazier from the Art Crimes Division, and other art supporters. After one of them dies, Tyler must work together with the FBI Agent to get everyone to safety before it’s too late.

Art heist novels usually involve a murder or two, but if you think you know who the culprit is, you are in for a surprise. Such is the case in “Scorched: Burn Me Once…” by Cam Torrens, the third novel in The Tyler Zahn series. He is caught in a no-win scenario – trapped in a remote mountain lodge as a wildfire rages outside and a murderer lurks inside. It starts simple enough as an art exhibition but quickly spirals into an out-of-control situation involving an art heist, a dysfunctional family, a potential romance, and the rages of Mother Nature.

I was drawn to this novel because it combines the unpredictable forces of nature in the form of wildfires and a suspenseful murder mystery and art heist. It’s the third book in the series, and since the action starts right from the beginning and Kristee Li’s mysterious disappearance from the previous one resurges, it feels like a continuation. By the second chapter, when the investigation into the art heist is in full swing, I was hooked. Tyler’s friction with his friend Deputy Sheriff Rick Perez makes the story more interesting because it hints that Deputy Perez is not being forthcoming with all the information. Understandably so, considering that Tyler went rogue during the last case.

This fast-paced and suspenseful mystery successfully combines a natural disaster with the treachery of the human condition. The tension builds with each turn of the page, with the approaching fire serving as a physical and psychological pressure cooker. Tyler is a complex but relatable character, as he tries to tackle the physical dangers of the fire with the unpredictability of those who surround him. With every revelation the stakes grow higher, and the line between ally and enemy blurs.

Readers gain access to Tyler’s internal struggles through a first-person point of view narrative. The mountain setting is claustrophobic and haunting, and the threat of the fires is always present in the background with the constant smoke, smells, and sights that come with it. There are plenty of plot twists. The language is vivid and descriptive:

Sipping my drink, I take in the view of Mt. Princeton dominating the western side of our river valley, the summer winds wisping the north-side snow from the top as if Mother Nature was spinning cotton candy.

Overall, “Scorched: Burn Me Once…” is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that fans of the series—and newcomers alike—won’t be able to put down because it works well as a stand-alone novel. Cam Torrens proves once again that Tyler Zahn is a force to be reckoned with. It explores themes of guilt, redemption, family dynamics, and resilience under fire—literally and figuratively. It is recommended for fans of mystery novels set in remote places with a motley crew of strangers, each with their own selfish intentions.

I survey this odd gathering of strangers. It’s like I’m living a cliché. As if we’re trapped in an Agatha Christie novel where everyone knows someone in the room is guilty, but only the villain knows who it truly is.

[Grant Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Count me in as a new fan of Tyler 'Z-Man' Zahn. While I haven't read the first two novels in Torrens's oeuvre, it made no difference, because this was a tightly plotted, realistic, medium-stakes whodunnit that can be enjoyed as a standalone story. If I had to sum it up, I'd describe it as "Murder on the Orient Express set in a forest fire in the Colorado mountains". That sounds pretty good to me.

The plot revolves around the theft of a trio of paintings and the bloody, smoke-filled road that Zahn has to walk in order to uncover who stole them. Along the way, he faces three warring sisters, a Ritalin-addicted art collector, an FBI investigator and a colleague who isn't sure if he can still trust the Z-Man in the wake of the events of the previous novel (that'd be False Summit: The Truth is Hard to Face....). The narrative moves at a rapid tick, yet has enough space to accommodate a few side quests, which indicates deft writing. At no point, either, did it feel as though any of the secondary elements were detracting from the main thrust.

The dialogue and characterisations are especially rich, helped (I assume) in no small part by the fact that the author's life as an SAR volunteer and ex-forces veteran somewhat mirrors Zahn's. It makes for very natural-sounding prose, with humorous little asides from Zahn and internal observations that flesh out our hero and make him real. The descriptions of the mountainous Colorado wilderness, too, read as effortlessly genuine, as does Zahn's excursion to Arizona later on in the novel.

This one kept me guessing until the end, with plenty of deception and realistic character motivations that elevate this from a page-turning suspense novel into something quite special.

[Kay Smith-Blum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new fan of Torrens, I became enrapt in the tale (the third of the series) from the first swivel of Zahn’s chair. Z-man is the hero you can’t help but root for, self-deprecating, naïve at times, and uncommonly savvy at others. Vivid metaphors – like “winds wisping the north-side snow as if Mother Nature was spinning cotton candy “ and “fire swirls like a matador who’s lost sight of the bull” – root you in place. Snappy dialogue - intertwined with meaningful character reveals and insights into the SAR (Search and Rescue) mostly volunteer operations - propels the twisty-turny plot. So many possibilities for whodunnit, that I kept guessing to the end, which I got to in record time as I kept staying up late to turn pages. You will too! Well done, Mr. Torrens! Now I must go back and read the other two – can’t wait! - Kay Smith-Blum, Author, debut novel, TANGLES, coming December 2024

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fire of truth burns hottest in Cam Torrens' third Tyler Zahn book and will keep on burning until the last page.

[Vickie Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is his best book to date! Loved all three of Cam Torrens’ books. Quite the adventure in Buena Vista, Colorado. The author is great at building suspense.

[Tim Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Tyler Zahn page-turner by Cam Torrens!

I loved the first two Tyler Zahn books! Many of the charachters and many of the places in the stories were familiar to me, so both books really resonated with me. They were action-packed and full of page-turning anticipation of what Tyler was going to get himself into (and out of!) next. I couldn't wait to read "Scorched" because I knew it was going to be more of the same. It turns out that it was even better than I thought it would be! I found myself totally immersed in the adventure and wishing that I could jump in and help the good guys solve some of their problems and get out of the tight situations that they were in. Fortunately, they didn't need my help after all, but I sure enjoyed the ride! Outstanding. Can't wait for the next one!

[Derek Cisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book in the series. Thanks to Cam and Once Upon a Trapeze in BV for making it available before the official release date. The word that keeps coming to mind for the book is rhythm. A lot is happening with the plot and new character development, yet the story flows so well while balancing the advancement of existing characters and storylines. As another reviewer pointed out, the Murder on the Orient Express approach in the second act was creative and entertaining.

The "couldn't put it down" cliché definitely applies as I started reading it in the morning and finished it early evening of the same day.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens once again proves he is the master of suspense. Scorched incorporates the best of Tyler Zahn's SAR abilities and out-of-the-box thinking with an art heist, a new cast of characters, and the FBI, all while an out-of-control forest fire advances.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by Cam Torrens! I love his style that keeps you guessing until the very end! He weaves the characters throughout the series so you feel like you know them! Can’t wait for book 4!

[Gin Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is smokin’!
You’d better take an oxygen tank with you. And a fire suit! It’s fast and furious at high altitude. Cam Torren’s SAR (Search and Rescue) experience shines through, lending authenticity (or maybe I should say “authortensity”) to this story of a good man doing what he does best—what he’s trained to do and more. It will keep you guessing…and hoping. I hope if I ever get stuck at the tree-line of a 14er in Colorado that Tyler Zahn shows up to rescue me. I highly recommend Scorched to anyone who loves a good murder mystery. You will want to read the whole series. I’ve already ordered mine.
Gin Coleman, Author. (Black Rose Writing)

[LyndaIn Oregon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam Torrens’ third entry in his Tyler Zahn mystery series deftly juggles murder, an art heist, a raging forest fire, a budding romance (maybe two) and Zahn’s continuing obsession with the apparent death of a Search and Rescue team member, carried over from the last book.

The opening finds Zahn babysitting the SAR command post instead of leading a team in the field, as he recovers from physical and emotional injuries related to the disappearance of friend and teammate Kristee Li. The situation quickly morphs from standard rescue to crime scene when a body is found in a vehicle near the rescue site and it’s determined that both are related to the theft of valuable Frederick Remington paintings bound for a local show. Left behind in the heist is a large painting done by Zahn’s new romantic interest.

Trying to help his lady friend salvage the remnants of the exhibit puts Zahn on the scene at a picturesque mountain lodge when her previously-unstolen painting goes missing just as the show opens. Now we have the set-up for Torrens’ homage to the classic Country Manor mystery, with a small group of suspects and a crime to be solved, and it doesn’t take long for someone to turn up dead. But the stakes are raised when a raging forest fire traps the group on the property, knowing there’s a murderer among them. Zahn’s Hail-Mary attempt to get everyone out alive is the strongest part of the novel.

Things get increasingly complex toward the end, especially when Torrens re-introduces the search for the missing Kristee Li into the mix. Zahn’s insistence that she could have survived a supposedly-fatal landslide in the last book, ‘False Summit’, may be a delusion or it may be an heroic refusal to admit defeat, but the issue continues to resonate through this book, and will almost certainly be re-visited in future series entries.

When the ashes finally settle, multiple layers of deception, internal double-crosses, and a couple of red herrings need to be untangled. Torrens can be forgiven for falling back on straight-up exposition here, though a more experienced writer might have kept the setup simpler. At least the answers don’t come from a gloating villain moments before the hero prevails.

The Tyler Zahn series continues to grow and improve. This is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Note: I was provided an advance copy of this book for review.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third installment of Tyler Zahn author Cam Torrens departs ever so slightly from the search and rescue (SAR) operations we’ve come to love. While SAR, and Zahn’s work with them remains ever present, “Scorched” departs in a manner that finds us searching for missing artwork while trapped amidst raging wildfires, instead of finding missing people, and rescuing hikers from the mountains that we’ve quickly become so familiar with.

“Scorched” once again brings the action, the suspense, and the thrilling whirlwind of adventure as readers find Tyler Zahn courting a romantic interest for the first time in eight years. But navigating alone time with Laura Coker Long has proven difficult as she gears up for her art show alongside famous works of art. However, when the transport van is attacked, leaving one security guard dead and another wounded with several famous pieces stolen, Zahn is called to the scene. Tangled between Laura and her sisters’ deep-seated history, the desire to continue the gallery exhibition as planned, and the ever-nearing wildfires leaves readers on the edge of their seat.

Fresh off the heels of Kristee Li’s disappearance and presumed death, Zahn is still reeling. Refusing to believe she is dead without the discovery of her body; Zahn seems to be the only one holding on to her survival. Straining his remaining friendships, Zahn can’t lose anyone else.

“Scorched” brings an element of a trapped room mystery to this latest in the series as guests of the art exhibit are trapped in a mountain lodge. As death and disappearing art seem to follow them the unforgiving wildfires creep ever closer. With communication to the outside world cut off Zahn shoulders the massive responsibility of working to get everyone out alive.

“Scorched” will have your heart pumping, blood boiling, and mind racing as time runs out for Tyler Zahn and the missing artwork. Torrens uses his love of Colorado and inside knowledge of SAR to craft yet another realistic psychological thriller. Set amongst the 14ers of Colorado, in the heart of wildfire season, this picturesque landscape rears its deadly teeth.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of Cam Torrens’ latest novel scorched,slowly reveals characters through a combination of conversation, reflection and observation. The conversation is as humorous as it is shrewd, creating tension as it entertains. It’s some of the best I’ve read.

A man who has mostly in the company of other men struggles to untangle the co-dependencies among sisters of a woman he is interested in. As the story continues, the criminal element disguise their work realistically in ways that appear innocent. The interplay of wildfires, firefighters,criminals, and victims amplifies the drama and sparks plot shifts

As the madcap as the story gets with braided plot lines, it collectively makes sense and seems realistic.

I especially liked the many authentic examples of how people change and communicate when they’re under stress. The whole book peers into the head of law enforcement and search and rescue in a way that only the personal experience of the author could provide. As the story concludes disclosure of all the law enforcement efforts there is good-natured, but pointed ribbing that balances their individual contributions leavened by the modesty required for ongoing collective efforts. The debriefing also fills in some details that seemed illogical or mysterious earlier in the story. It’s a Colombo moment without the awkward social skills.

Cam Torrens portrays camaraderie and teamwork better than anyone I’ve read. The the superb narrative reveals the complexity of the characters in a way that I felt I was an immediate witness to what was happening. The recap at the end filled in my many gaps in the knowledge of SAR, law enforcement, and psychology. Scorched is riveting entertainment and educational without being pedantic. I highly recommend this book!

[T R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking incoming Search and Rescue (SAR) calls, Tyler Zahn, listens to a bloody scene described as he tries to juggle the incoming radio message while on the phone with his date for tonight, a date that he needs to cancel to tend to work. But oddly enough, the date, Laura-an artist-factors into the crime scene for the driver was transporting her award winning art and Remington paintings. Discussing the scene with his close friend, Deputy Rick Perez, we get a little info about the art robbery gone back. The scenes seamlessly flow from one encounter to another and soon in the book we meet Laura and her two sisters from a well-known family, are introduced to someone named Duane who Laura doesn’t trust, and find out that Tyler, a retired Air Force vet lost a son. He has one child, a daughter, Doria, at Colorado University. As the characters are being introduced, the reader learns that Tyler got caught up trying to find a missing woman named Kristee, a decision that cost him a position in the Law Enforcement Academy. He’d been working with the Sheriff’s Dept. for the last couple of years. Into the first several chapters, I have a lot of questions, things I’m wanting to know, and I can’t read fast enough to discover that the more involved in the story I become the more intriguing things get, such as an art heist, a fire surrounding the event building, an auto crash blocking the bridge exit, and another fire being set blocking the rescue route, trapping all involved. As the twists and turns mount up, I’m trying to figure out how it will end. None of my guesses hit the mark, a sign this author knows how to write and steer the reader into the story and hold attention without giving too much away. To those readers who like Agatha Christie, this one’s for you! A great read for anyone.

[Gojan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Befitting its high altitude mountain setting, this breathless mystery-thriller has more nimble twists and turns than a Nordic ski run in the dark in a snowstorm down Buena Vista’s Cottonwood Pass, the Colorado locale for Torrens’ third novel in the Tyler Zahn series. 

This book reads fast, and its likable hero (he even volunteers at the local library) and believable characters fit deftly into a satisfying puzzle that doesn’t get solved until the very end.

When former military vet and street-smart search & rescue volunteer Zahn is forced to be the adult in the room following an art heist at a mountain lodge, he gets more than he bargained for. And things get super heated when the theft of a painting has deadly, far-reaching consequences. Add a simmering relationship between the protagonist and one of the main characters, most of whom already qualify as crime suspects, and you have a classic manor murder whodunnit vaguely in the tradition of the board game, Clue. The only thing missing is Colonel Mustard.

Oh, and there’s a raging wildfire that threatens to toast everybody unless Zahn can get them off the mountain.

The book’s dialog is tight and authentic, each character fully-formed as the relentlessly evolving plot carries the story forward. “Scorched: Burn Me Once” reads in places like a speedy movie script, full of implication and clever deception. The lead character’s own past emotional baggage and amiable, flawed personality keeps this tale alive and humming from beginning to end. 

Hopefully, this won’t be the last we hear about Tyler Zahn and his adventures. I have not read the author’s other two books, but this one makes it likely that I will.

[Marlis Broadhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scorched delivers the full force of the life-and-death decisions, and consequences, that are the daily business of the world of Search and Rescue. Set in the beautiful, but sometimes deadly, mountains of Colorado, a sophisticated game of art theft plays out in an isolated lodge in the middle of a wildfire that traps both the good and bad players on the smoke-blanketed mountain side.

Torrens once again serves up edge-of-your-seat excitement and sophisticated twists that keep the reader guessing what the next calamity will entail—or hopefully reveal—but I was also caught up in the fully developed humanity of his main characters. At one point, Zahn, who has been reflecting on his past failures and losses, reaches out from his swivel chair to embrace the sobbing Laura sitting opposite whose professional and private lives have imploded, but situated as they are, he can only manage to press his knees against hers and lace his fingers at the back of her head as she rests her forehead against his.

This awkwardly poignant moment mirrors his ongoing struggles with his own insecurities pitted against his burning desire to save others from harm while striving to become the man he believes he could and should be. These are characters well worth following and caring about as they struggle to find their way through the profound evil and deadly smoke engulfing them to the other side of the mountain.

–Marlis Manley, IS THAT YOUR MOTHER CALLING? Advice that Echoes Down Through the Ages and Trophy Girl

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Com Torrens has created a story that grabs the reader's interest from the first few pages and doesn't let go until the end. And what an ending it is. I did not see it coming at all, which isn't surprising with Mr. Torrens as he has been able to surprise me with the conclusion of all his stories. The characters here are realistic and down-to-earth. Z-man, as our main character is called, is a bit of a troubled, slightly broken hero, but he believes in what he does and won't give up, even if the odds are stacked against him. None of Mr. Torrens's characters are overblown and his storylines always suck me in. It's one of the best kinds of stories; those you don't want to put down once you start.

Plenty of twists and turns keep the reader engaged and quickly turning pages, as do unexpected revelations and intense suspense. I hope the series runs for quite some time because I am addicted to these characters.

One thing I do want to recommend to new readers; the books don't have to be read in order, but I think you will enjoy and understand this one much better if you have read False Summit first. Just my opinion.

I received a review copy from the author via BookSirens and this review is my honest opinion.

[Lisa Febre · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is with the third installment in the Tyler Zahn Series that best-selling author Cam Torrens hits his writing stride. Taking us directly into a scenario straight out of an Agatha Christie novel, we spend an intriguing episode with all the suspects involved in an art heist-murder mystery- whodunnit.

As a wildfire rages, trapping our cast together after an art exhibition, we are immersed in the ongoing family drama of the mysterious Coker Sisters. No one is immune from suspicion when a murder happens right under the FBI’s nose during the lockdown. Zahn finds himself elbows deep in the rescue efforts as well as working out the details of the crimes going on in this confinement.

Possibly the best written, most thoroughly fleshed out plot line in the Zahn series, I could not put the book down—just one more chapter led to five more chapters and before I knew it I was finishing the book. I was just as surprised by the outcome as Zahn. Torrens also manages to weave in the overarching mystery of the disappearance of Kristi Li, leading readers to imagine a fourth installment. With excitement, I’m looking forward to more Zahn books. No pressure, Cam!

[Diane Nagatomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens has another winner in the third book of his Tyler Zahn series. As with his other two books, Scorched: Burn Me Once… is set in the Colorado mountains with the very likeable Air Force veteran and search and rescue volunteer as the protagonist. Tyler, also known as Z-man, has a new person in his life—the artist Laura. Things haven’t progressed far yet, but he’s hoping they will. But pesky things get in the way—Laura’s problematic sisters, an art heist, a major forest fire, and a murder. Will their relationship survive all of this?

As with the others in this series, I was reeled into the story on the first page. I love that they are full of suspense with fully developed characters, but not overly violent, graphic or disturbing. Just a good old fashioned mystery with tones of Agatha Christie. While it isn’t entirely necessary to read the first two books to enjoy this one, I highly recommend that you do, especially since some of the unsolved mysteries of carry over into this book. I am a real fan and cannot wait for the next Tyler Zahn adventure.

[Troy Hollan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Zahn, member of a small town Colorado Search and Rescue Team, is struggling to keep his head down and out of trouble, but trouble, in the form of an attractive local artist and the theft of some valuable artworks, has Tyler in a chokehold. Still smarting from the fallout of a rogue investigation following the disappearance of one of his Search and Rescue team, Tyler Zahn finds himself swept into a “locked room” mystery, trapped by a wildfire raging nearby, and an even more explosive drama unfolding within. Author Cam Torrens’ inside-knowledge of first-responder protocols and obvious love for the geography and people of Chaffee County, lend a refreshing authenticity to this quick-paced thriller. Part psychological suspense, part action-adventure, Scorched thrusts our reluctant, still-grieving hero into a web of intrigue where he will begin to question everything - including himself. A highly recommended, fast-moving read that blends hair-raising adventure, a touch of romance, and more twists and turns than a switch-backing Colorado mountain pass.

[Travis Tougaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torrens has done it again. Scorched, the third book in the Tyler Zahn series, is a must-read mystery/thriller that takes the reader inside the world of art heists, NFTs, and Colorado wildfires.

Tyler Zahn has a fledgling relationship with an artist, whose painting is left behind in a highway robbery. The painting disappears two weeks later at an art show at a mountain lodge. Zahn, the woman, and a handful of other guests get stranded at the lodge, cut off from the rest of the world by a series of wildfires raging through the mountains. As they work to discover what happened to the artwork, the mystery takes a deadly turn.

Scorched is part locked-room mystery and part outdoor rescue adventure. Filled with unexpected twists, the plot will keep you guessing all the way to the surprising finish. Torrens is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors; read Scorched and you’ll see why!

[Barbara Luker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scorched reminds me very much of an Agatha Christie novel of the likes of And Then There Were None, but as I got into the book, it became so much more. The author does an excellent job of giving each of the very large cast of characters their own identity and I found myself rooting for the good guys as if they were friends. Although this is the third book of the series, it was the first one I had read, but author Cam Torrens' skill in retracing the important parts of the previous books in the series made having read the first books a moot point as it didn't take much to get up to speed. If you like a good "who done it", you’ll enjoy this book with all its twists and turns before it successfully concludes with a hint of what may be the next book in the series. Well written, intriguing and certainly an author that I hope to read more of. ~ Barbara A. Luker, author of I Carry Your Heart and The Right One

[Haris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A TERRIFYING AND TWISTY LOCKED-ROOM MYSTERY SET IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Scorched creates a lot of heat with a locked-door mystery set in a mountain retreat being threatened by an out-of-control wildfire. There’s danger inside and outside and the eponymous protagonist of Cam Torrens’ third Tyler Zahn novel is right in the middle of it. There’s art theft and murder and mystery and adventure in the great outdoors. The characters are all vivid and idiosyncratic and the dialogue really pops. Best of all, Tyler Zahn isn’t some indestructible hero, but just a decent, capable guy in over his head, battling self-doubt as he tries to solve the mystery and lead everyone to safety. I haven’t read the first two in the series, but this worked fantastic as a stand-alone. I now need to read books one and two.

[Brian Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Zahn has been ordered to stay out of the investigation of an art heist. (He's not on good terms with law enforcement.) But he's dating an artist whose work was stolen, and he can't help himself.

Enter a pair of wildfires threatening a mountain retreat, trapping Tyler and others - one of whom is a murderer. As expected with an anyone-might-have-done-it thriller, there are enough twists and turns to please any mystery and suspense fan.

Multiple elements make this a superior read. First, Tyler Zahn is a likeable character who uses his wits and knowledge to negotiate the plot. Second, the pacing moves like the wildfires that threaten the resort, thanks to a smooth prose style and a triphammer plot.

This is the third book in an excellent series, but it works as a stand-alone, too. Highly recommended.

[Kellie Whittam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the mix of very different characters in this book.
The fire scenes were intense and honestly a bit triggering for me, having been through bad fires before (and with multiple bushfires burning in my state while I was reading). That said, it also made everything feel very real, so I think it shows how well written those parts were. Cam Torrens clearly writes what he knows - the fire, the SAR work, and the settings all felt authentic.
There were plenty of twists to keep things moving and hold my attention. Like the previous books, it could probably use a bit tighter editing, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
Overall, this is another good read, and I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the free review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gary Gerlacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Torrens sets a new standard with his third Tyler Zahn novel. Zahn is used to coordinating search and rescue for others, but finds himself in need of help when he is trapped by wildfires. Set against a backdrop of an art heist, everyone is a suspect when one of their companions is found dead. Zahn has to coordinate a rescue with limited resources, and one of the members of their party may be a murderer.

Eccentric characters with diverse backgrounds weave multiple plot lines into a single story. Zahn puts it all on the line to solve the murder and art heist, and Torrens will leave you guessing until the final pages who is guilty, and who is an innocent victim caught up in horrific circumstances.

[Sherry Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story and brilliantly written. This is the third book Cam Torrens has penned about the Search and Rescue Team in a small Colorado town. SAR is a volunteer group that performs dangerous and sometimes life-threatening feats to rescue wayward climbers. The protagonist, a likable but flawed character named Tyler Zahn, or Z-Man, as his friends call him, is featured in each book, and each can be read as a standalone. Scorched: Burn Me Once is by far my favorite. This brilliantly concocted tale combines art theft, NFTs, psychotic sibling rivalry, and murder when a group of people are trapped in a cabin in the path of two voracious fires that are rapidly closing in on them. The story keeps you guessing and glued to the pages. It is a definite five-star sizzler.

[Niamh McAnally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, our hero Tyler Zahn finds himself embroiled in another mystery murder mayhem in the Colorado Rockies. What I love about this series is how well we get to know Buena Vista and scenic environs but are always left guessing ‘whodonit’. This is the fourth Torrens novel I have read and the stakes get higher in each one. As Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pit is to the oceans Tyler Zahn is to the mountains. Still haunted by the loss of his son, a failed marriage, and the disappearance of a close friend, Tyler is about to dip his toe in the dating pond when a series of events puts everything on hold. Despite racing against the threat of wildfires blowing his way, and not knowing who to trust, Zahn takes us over the summit. Another great read from adventure writer Cam Torrens.

[Kristin Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cam Torren's heart-pounding mystery thriller Scorched kept me turning pages well into the night. This is the third book in the series, and hero Tyler Zahn's flaws, good heart, and pursuit of romance have landed him smack in the middle of an art heist investigation, murder, and a trio of dysfunctional sisters. The book becomes a classic whodunit when ragging forest fires trap Zahn in a mountain lodge with the potential suspects. He's been told to curb is investigative tendencies, but that's like telling Tyler Zahn to quit breathing. This story is filled with fun twists and turns and takes readers on an emotional roller coaster until the very end.

[P.L. Jonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspenseful drama by Cam Torrens. SCORCHED is a complex and intriguing murder mystery/art heist set amid a dangerous forest fire in the Search & Rescue theme of this Tyler Zahn series.

Torrens has proven once again to masterfully write an emotionally charged page-turning story with compelling characters. I love the main character Tyler as he struggles with his demons and self-doubt, yet charges ahead to always do the right thing. A true hero.

I highly recommend this book and the series. But hold on to your hat … there’s more of Tyler Zahn yet to come. I can hardly wait!