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June Lyons #2
Flame Out: A Novel
June Lyons, the former FBI-agent-turned-small-town-cop introduced in the acclaimed Ice Shear must solve two connected cases whose roots stretch back decades in time—and dangerously touch the lives of those closest to her.
As a police officer in the rust belt town of Hopewell Falls, New York, June Lyons keeps an eye on the abandoned factories that line the Mohawk River. Spotting a slick of gasoline running across the parking lot of an old apparel factory, she quickly heads inside the building, where she discovers an unconscious woman too close to the flame. The fire destroys the building down to its sub-basements, and the badly burned woman June rescued is in a coma. No one knows who she is or how she got there.
Thirty years ago, June’s father made a name for himself when he arrested the factory’s owner, Bernie Mede, for killing his wife and child, though their bodies were never found. Sifting through the factory’s ruins, June and her partner Dave Batko discover a woman’s body sealed in a barrel. Surely, it’s Luisa Mede and the case file can be closed. But the body isn’t Bernie’s wife, it’s Dave’s mother, a troubled party-girl who disappeared when Dave was young.
As June and her neighbors discover, beneath Hopewell Falls’ charming façade lies some unbearably ugly truths—secrets that are only beginning to surface. With the case growing more complex, she teams with FBI Special Agent Hale Bascom to find answers—before everyone she loves, and the town itself, spin dangerously out of control.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2015
13 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
M.P. Cooley
5 books63 followersM.P Cooley grew up in upstate New York, living in both Auburn and Albany. She attended Barnard College and worked in publishing for over a decade, specializing in business books. She currently lives in Campbell, California. Ice Shear is her first novel, and will be released by William Morrow in July 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 19, 2019
Small Town mystery in the US, but nothing cozy about this story.
Hopewell Falls (what a misleading name) is a small town with a history of an industry location. The town used to have a textile factory that provided jobs for a large part of the population.
The story starts at a time, when the factory is closed down for many years, also involving economical problems for many people in the town.
What makes this book interesting is the fact, that the town is inhabitated largely by immigrants from Ukraine. I was fascinated how these people could be so typical American on the one hand, while they remained typical Ukrainian in parts of their behaviour.
The protagonist of the story is a local policewoman in a difficult family situation, but basically the stars of the story are the members of one Ukranian (gangster) family. The storyline leads us over 30 years (and even back to the Ukraine at the time of WWII), involves a lot of people and is pretty complex.
The book was not overwhelming, bu I enjoyed reading it.
Hopewell Falls (what a misleading name) is a small town with a history of an industry location. The town used to have a textile factory that provided jobs for a large part of the population.
The story starts at a time, when the factory is closed down for many years, also involving economical problems for many people in the town.
What makes this book interesting is the fact, that the town is inhabitated largely by immigrants from Ukraine. I was fascinated how these people could be so typical American on the one hand, while they remained typical Ukrainian in parts of their behaviour.
The protagonist of the story is a local policewoman in a difficult family situation, but basically the stars of the story are the members of one Ukranian (gangster) family. The storyline leads us over 30 years (and even back to the Ukraine at the time of WWII), involves a lot of people and is pretty complex.
The book was not overwhelming, bu I enjoyed reading it.
May 9, 2015
First Sentence: The rain was unforgiving.
Former FBI agent June Lyons is now a small-town cop in upstate New York where her family lives. An unidentified woman, critically burned in a warehouse fire, leads to finding another body sealed for years in a barrel within the warehouse. The question is not only who they are, but how they impact June’s family and that of her friend and partner.
Cooley begins with a good introduction of the protagonist, June Lyons, and concise information on her background. It’s nice when an author doesn’t assume readers have read previous books in the series. There is also an excellent description of the event and history of the building, including the building’s relationship to her partner’s family. Best of all is a very good, early plot twist.
When people think of New York, they automatically think of New York City. It’s a nice change to a story to depict a small, working-class factory town in the state instead. It would have been nice to have a greater sense of where the town, even if fictional, was located; a stronger sense of place. The author kept referring to being on “the island” but you never had an understanding as to what island and what mainland.
June, her daughter Lucy, and her mom were very strong characters; more so even than the rather annoying FBI agent, Hale. There were also a couple times I was caught off-guard and actually laughed aloud, which is always the sign of an author having a good voice. And Cooley does have a wonderful voice… “Between Tanya and these two, I felt surrounded by vigilantes. I was lucky they didn’t have gun permits. Oh wait! They did!”. It often adds just the right element of lightness to the story…”Hale gave a low whistle. “Dickens called. He wants his prison back.”” There were references June made about her daughter Lucy which even caused me to laugh aloud.
The use of the Hale was important and well done, however, in that he facilitated Lucy having access to resources and information she would not on her own as a police officer. The forensic information was fascinating and critical to the plot.
The author does do a very good job of capturing how difficult things can be between a parent and a child, particularly when they are very different as individuals. It’s nice that one character originally designed to be disliked, turns into one of the best characters in the story.
The characters and their relationships do enable some very good plot twists. However, there are so many characters, and even secondary names for some, that their relationships became confusing. It was difficult to keep them straight and to feel connected to them.
“Flame Out” was a good read with some major strengths and minor weaknesses. It will be worth watching this author progress.
FLAME OUT (Pol Proc-June Lyons-Hopewell Falls, NY-Contemp) – G+
Cooley, M.P. – 2nd in series
William Morrow – May 2015
Former FBI agent June Lyons is now a small-town cop in upstate New York where her family lives. An unidentified woman, critically burned in a warehouse fire, leads to finding another body sealed for years in a barrel within the warehouse. The question is not only who they are, but how they impact June’s family and that of her friend and partner.
Cooley begins with a good introduction of the protagonist, June Lyons, and concise information on her background. It’s nice when an author doesn’t assume readers have read previous books in the series. There is also an excellent description of the event and history of the building, including the building’s relationship to her partner’s family. Best of all is a very good, early plot twist.
When people think of New York, they automatically think of New York City. It’s a nice change to a story to depict a small, working-class factory town in the state instead. It would have been nice to have a greater sense of where the town, even if fictional, was located; a stronger sense of place. The author kept referring to being on “the island” but you never had an understanding as to what island and what mainland.
June, her daughter Lucy, and her mom were very strong characters; more so even than the rather annoying FBI agent, Hale. There were also a couple times I was caught off-guard and actually laughed aloud, which is always the sign of an author having a good voice. And Cooley does have a wonderful voice… “Between Tanya and these two, I felt surrounded by vigilantes. I was lucky they didn’t have gun permits. Oh wait! They did!”. It often adds just the right element of lightness to the story…”Hale gave a low whistle. “Dickens called. He wants his prison back.”” There were references June made about her daughter Lucy which even caused me to laugh aloud.
The use of the Hale was important and well done, however, in that he facilitated Lucy having access to resources and information she would not on her own as a police officer. The forensic information was fascinating and critical to the plot.
The author does do a very good job of capturing how difficult things can be between a parent and a child, particularly when they are very different as individuals. It’s nice that one character originally designed to be disliked, turns into one of the best characters in the story.
The characters and their relationships do enable some very good plot twists. However, there are so many characters, and even secondary names for some, that their relationships became confusing. It was difficult to keep them straight and to feel connected to them.
“Flame Out” was a good read with some major strengths and minor weaknesses. It will be worth watching this author progress.
FLAME OUT (Pol Proc-June Lyons-Hopewell Falls, NY-Contemp) – G+
Cooley, M.P. – 2nd in series
William Morrow – May 2015
March 2, 2015
This was a really strong novel--in fact, I even thought it could have led off the first of this series, primarily because of the connection of the events in this novel to the case that made her father's career some 30 years ago. The way June observes her father reexamining everything he thought he knew--and starts to look at her own life under the same lens--made this book much more than a straight mystery novel, to me. As in Ice Shear, the human elements of June kept me turning the pages as much as the discovery of new pieces of evidence.
The victims and suspects in this novel are part of Hopewell Fall's Ukrainian community, and Cooley draws out that culture and the interconnectedness of the families beautifully. Most of the Ukrainian-Americans in the town live on what's known locally as "the island," and they've kept their traditions and politics isolated from the larger community for generations. June's partner, Dave, comes from "the island" and is deeply wrapped up with the victims and suspects of the crimes and cover-ups that occur. So, in addition to trying to suss out the truth, June must handle Dave deftly and also manage her father, who is about to see the sentencing a man he put behind bars for decades overturned.
Add to the mix the arrival of June's chakra-cleansing mother, who left the care of June and her sister to their father and disappeared off to Florida when the girls were small, and who has since handled June's tragic loss of her young husband to cancer in a way that's far from helpful. But she is here in Hopewell Falls now, and she seems to be truly seeking amends: could June not take a cue from what's just happened with her father and his former arch-rival and open herself up to the possibility of reconciliation?
Flame Out is a pleasure from beginning to end, rich with three-dimensional characters and places. The pace picks up very quickly near the climax of June solving the case--perhaps too quickly for this nouveau crime reader, for I had to re-read a couple of scenes to pick up turns I had missed. The ultimate actions by one critical character was a true surprise--I did not see that coming! That is always a delight when that happens.
Highly recommend.
The victims and suspects in this novel are part of Hopewell Fall's Ukrainian community, and Cooley draws out that culture and the interconnectedness of the families beautifully. Most of the Ukrainian-Americans in the town live on what's known locally as "the island," and they've kept their traditions and politics isolated from the larger community for generations. June's partner, Dave, comes from "the island" and is deeply wrapped up with the victims and suspects of the crimes and cover-ups that occur. So, in addition to trying to suss out the truth, June must handle Dave deftly and also manage her father, who is about to see the sentencing a man he put behind bars for decades overturned.
Add to the mix the arrival of June's chakra-cleansing mother, who left the care of June and her sister to their father and disappeared off to Florida when the girls were small, and who has since handled June's tragic loss of her young husband to cancer in a way that's far from helpful. But she is here in Hopewell Falls now, and she seems to be truly seeking amends: could June not take a cue from what's just happened with her father and his former arch-rival and open herself up to the possibility of reconciliation?
Flame Out is a pleasure from beginning to end, rich with three-dimensional characters and places. The pace picks up very quickly near the climax of June solving the case--perhaps too quickly for this nouveau crime reader, for I had to re-read a couple of scenes to pick up turns I had missed. The ultimate actions by one critical character was a true surprise--I did not see that coming! That is always a delight when that happens.
Highly recommend.
July 7, 2015
I could not for the life of me keep the people straight in this book: who was related to whom, which generation were they, who went to prison, how old were they, whose murder was being investigated, and so on. There were just too many characters and their relationships to one another were too convoluted. I needed a chart to keep everyone straight and since I didn't have one, I got hopelessly confused. I could just be a lazy reader--I do tend to read quickly--so I hesitate to put other people off the novel. The writing wasn't bad and the main character was pretty interesting. I didn't read the first book of this series, Ice Shear, so I can't say what the author achieved with that one. But since there are so many books in the world (and not enough time), I probably won't look it up.
April 20, 2017
As with her debut thriller, Ice Shear, M.P. Cooley transports the reader into the Rust Belt town of Hopewell Falls. A prosperous textile center in the 19th century, now the thriving factories and once-resplendent Victorians sit empty, graying and decaying. It’s most certainly not a vacation destination, but once inside the pages of Flame Out, you don’t want to leave. Cooley’s insightful descriptions of the depleted city and its inhabitants take the reader exactly where they want to be—a world outside their own.
The story begins with police officer June Lyons coming upon a burning factory and a woman in flames. Later, as the crime scene is investigated, another woman’s body is discovered jammed inside a barrel and hidden in the subbasement of the now burned-out factory. Who are these women? And who murdered one and tried to kill the other is the crux of the story. It’s a hell of a hook, but the book’s slow revelation of the June Lyons behind the badge is equally compelling. In Ice Shear you learn that June was a rising-star FBI agent whose husband’s illness and subsequent death sends her back to her hometown to raise her young daughter with the help of her father, the retired police chief. As the town has stagnated, so has June.
In Flame Out, Cooley starts to peel the onion, revealing the woman, daughter, mother and widow. The scene between June and her absentee mother is particularly adept and sure to prick the nerves of many daughters and mothers.
The story is teeming with suspicious characters and plot twists sometimes making for a challenging read, but what fun would a crime thriller be if it was easy to figure out ‘who done it.’ And, as one hopes, it’s a heck of a surprise.
So what’s next for June? Will she go back to the FBI? Isn’t it time for a love interest? Will she find a way out of Hopewell Falls? Come on, Cooley, you’ve given us meth labs, biker gangs, suspicious fires and family intrigue, what will June wrestle with now?
June 23, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it suspenseful until the very end. It's rare that I do not correctly guess the "killer" at some point in the story, and I was pleasantly surprised. Again, I am from upstate NY so I appreciated all of the local references but I am also happy with the direction I can imagine this character moving in. I hope to read more books by this author, especially about June Lyons.
April 3, 2016
This book started out slow.Then it became a page turner.Stick with it, it is worth the wait.The characters are many,the beginning of the book gets you to know who they are.Once you get past that,you want to keep reading to find out how all of the situations happened and who did what. It isn't what you will expect.Thanks to the author and Goodreads for this chance to read it.Will look for more books by this author.
June 26, 2018
Flame Out, by M.P. Cooley (@MP_Cooley) was a great weekend read. Once I was able to get a firm grasp on the interesting characters (there are several) and how they're connected (who's related to who), I settled in and enjoyed the intriguing storyline, especially the unexpected twist at the end. Bravo!
December 13, 2020
Fast paced and well plotted
April 1, 2015
The second entry in author M.P. Cooley's Officer June Lyons series is entitled FLAME OUT. The first novel, ICE SHEAR, introduced us to the former FBI Agent now defending the law in the upstate New York town of Hopewell Falls.
ICE SHEAR was a decent debut and middling thriller. More importantly, it was another example of the growing sub-genre I like to call Upstate New York Noir. There has been such an influx of thrillers set in Scandinavia (thank you, Stieg Larsson) that we needed a domestic equivalent. The cold and often stark landscape of the areas north of Westchester County, New York are perfect setting to match their European counterparts.
However, FLAME OUT is long on character examination and regrettably short on Upstate New York landscape. It is a decent novel but one that could have been set in any part of the country. In this story, P.O. Lyons and her partner, Dave Batko, are faced with a Jane Doe burn victim found at one of the many abandoned factories that litter the Mohawk River valley.
What is ironic is that the building is owned by an infamous family --- the Lawler's. Decades earlier, Bernie Lawler was imprisoned for allegedly killing his wife and daughter --- even though no bodies were ever found. Suspicion fell on Bernie Lawler's factory which was a hotbed of strange activity often involving fellow Ukrainian immigrants who worked in the plant.
June Lyons' father is the cop who brought down Bernie Lawler --- but investigation into the Jane Doe and a second body found stuffed in a basement container of the burned factory may shed new light on that old case. Without giving too much away, the body is someone closely related to June's partner, Dave Batko. Dave is summarily pulled from the investigation and Lyons is paired up with a Fed named Hale Bascom.
Bascom obviously has a thing for Lyons (which sometimes gets in the way of the plot) but more importantly wants her to come back to Federal service. The newly formed investigative pair immediately look at the members of Lawler's family --- his brothers, cousins and nephews. Further inspection reveals one glaring fact --- Bernie Lawler may have spent thirty years behind bars for a crime he was wrongly imprisoned for.
Bernie Lawler has gone the way of Zen and bears no ill will against anyone. He knows he was not an angel --- just not a murderer. When he is freed after three decades behind bars there is speculation as to what will happen next and if Bernie will be in danger as a potential target of the actual killer.
FLAME OUT is highly readable --- even though it gets bogged down with too many characters at times (I made a similar comment in my review of ICE SHEAR) --- and makes for a decent mystery that is not predictable. Cooley just falls a bit short of other authors who have series set in Upstate New York and I hope he can elevate his next entry to the next level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
ICE SHEAR was a decent debut and middling thriller. More importantly, it was another example of the growing sub-genre I like to call Upstate New York Noir. There has been such an influx of thrillers set in Scandinavia (thank you, Stieg Larsson) that we needed a domestic equivalent. The cold and often stark landscape of the areas north of Westchester County, New York are perfect setting to match their European counterparts.
However, FLAME OUT is long on character examination and regrettably short on Upstate New York landscape. It is a decent novel but one that could have been set in any part of the country. In this story, P.O. Lyons and her partner, Dave Batko, are faced with a Jane Doe burn victim found at one of the many abandoned factories that litter the Mohawk River valley.
What is ironic is that the building is owned by an infamous family --- the Lawler's. Decades earlier, Bernie Lawler was imprisoned for allegedly killing his wife and daughter --- even though no bodies were ever found. Suspicion fell on Bernie Lawler's factory which was a hotbed of strange activity often involving fellow Ukrainian immigrants who worked in the plant.
June Lyons' father is the cop who brought down Bernie Lawler --- but investigation into the Jane Doe and a second body found stuffed in a basement container of the burned factory may shed new light on that old case. Without giving too much away, the body is someone closely related to June's partner, Dave Batko. Dave is summarily pulled from the investigation and Lyons is paired up with a Fed named Hale Bascom.
Bascom obviously has a thing for Lyons (which sometimes gets in the way of the plot) but more importantly wants her to come back to Federal service. The newly formed investigative pair immediately look at the members of Lawler's family --- his brothers, cousins and nephews. Further inspection reveals one glaring fact --- Bernie Lawler may have spent thirty years behind bars for a crime he was wrongly imprisoned for.
Bernie Lawler has gone the way of Zen and bears no ill will against anyone. He knows he was not an angel --- just not a murderer. When he is freed after three decades behind bars there is speculation as to what will happen next and if Bernie will be in danger as a potential target of the actual killer.
FLAME OUT is highly readable --- even though it gets bogged down with too many characters at times (I made a similar comment in my review of ICE SHEAR) --- and makes for a decent mystery that is not predictable. Cooley just falls a bit short of other authors who have series set in Upstate New York and I hope he can elevate his next entry to the next level.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
September 22, 2015
The second June Lyons mystery has all of the strengths of the first one ("Ice Shear"): A strongly etched local setting (a small town not far from Albany that is gradually contracting due to the death of the old industrial base), interesting main and secondary characters, and a complicated enough crime to keep both the local police department (where Lyons works) and the FBI (her former employer) busy. It also features Lyon's believable family situation (divorced parents, dead husband, cop family single parenting), and describes believably her being torn between being a small town cop and working for the FBI again.
The crime is rooted in the local Ukrainian community (much as Stephen Talty's Abbie Kearney books are rooted in Buffalo's Irish community). A derelict factory is set on fire. Lyons saves a woman who was caught in the fire and badly burned. The woman, whose identity is unknown, spends weeks in a coma in a burn unit. Her fingers are too badly burned to allow fingerprinting, but a stolen rental car at the center of the fire leads to New Mexico. The day after the fire, toxic waste is found at the site, and a body is found in one of the barrels of waste. A long-dead body. Given that the factory's former owner has been in prison for thirty yeas for the murder of his son and wife (whose bodies were never found), it is assumed by almost everyone that the body belongs to the convicted man's wife. As a side point, the murderer was convicted b'y a jury following a thorough police investigation conducted by Lyons's father, the former chief. There was strong secondary evidence (blood of the wife's blood type found in the convicted man's trunk, plus bloody handprints on the inside of the trunk lid). Given that the husband was a confirmed philanderer, and a heavy drinker his conviction was assured.
But the body is not that of his former wife. It is the body of a woman who has been missing for almost as long as the wife was. And they are not the only missing women. One of the husband's other one-time girl friends is missing too; maybe more than one. June Lyons's fellow cop, Dave, is one of the missing woman's sons. Now enter Dave and his brother plus the whole family of the convicted man plus a retired former judge plus the relatives of the burn victim. And then things get complicated.
The various pieces mesh together effectively enough if you're willing to give the book time. That's where the strength of the secondary characters comes in. And there is a moment when a single discovery ties together the various pieces. Cooley writes so well that what might have been a three-star book in someone else's hands is worth four stars. I like reading about strong women.
The crime is rooted in the local Ukrainian community (much as Stephen Talty's Abbie Kearney books are rooted in Buffalo's Irish community). A derelict factory is set on fire. Lyons saves a woman who was caught in the fire and badly burned. The woman, whose identity is unknown, spends weeks in a coma in a burn unit. Her fingers are too badly burned to allow fingerprinting, but a stolen rental car at the center of the fire leads to New Mexico. The day after the fire, toxic waste is found at the site, and a body is found in one of the barrels of waste. A long-dead body. Given that the factory's former owner has been in prison for thirty yeas for the murder of his son and wife (whose bodies were never found), it is assumed by almost everyone that the body belongs to the convicted man's wife. As a side point, the murderer was convicted b'y a jury following a thorough police investigation conducted by Lyons's father, the former chief. There was strong secondary evidence (blood of the wife's blood type found in the convicted man's trunk, plus bloody handprints on the inside of the trunk lid). Given that the husband was a confirmed philanderer, and a heavy drinker his conviction was assured.
But the body is not that of his former wife. It is the body of a woman who has been missing for almost as long as the wife was. And they are not the only missing women. One of the husband's other one-time girl friends is missing too; maybe more than one. June Lyons's fellow cop, Dave, is one of the missing woman's sons. Now enter Dave and his brother plus the whole family of the convicted man plus a retired former judge plus the relatives of the burn victim. And then things get complicated.
The various pieces mesh together effectively enough if you're willing to give the book time. That's where the strength of the secondary characters comes in. And there is a moment when a single discovery ties together the various pieces. Cooley writes so well that what might have been a three-star book in someone else's hands is worth four stars. I like reading about strong women.
April 29, 2015
I have not read the first book, but after reading this, I really want to go read it. You don't need to read the first one before this, it doesn't take away from following the story.
I really loved the characters, especially the main one June. She is a great cop. The main story line flowed well and it was an easy read. I had a few guesses on the bad guys and how they played a part in the crime. Some I got right and others I didn't.
I consider it a good story if I didn't get bored, the characters are well created, the mystery is natural and not crazy, and if I don't figure out what happened and who did it, early on in the book. Overall I'm pleased with what I wrote.
I'm looking forward for the third book.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Goodreads giveaways.
I really loved the characters, especially the main one June. She is a great cop. The main story line flowed well and it was an easy read. I had a few guesses on the bad guys and how they played a part in the crime. Some I got right and others I didn't.
I consider it a good story if I didn't get bored, the characters are well created, the mystery is natural and not crazy, and if I don't figure out what happened and who did it, early on in the book. Overall I'm pleased with what I wrote.
I'm looking forward for the third book.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Goodreads giveaways.
June 25, 2015
4 1/2 stars!!! Once again M.P. Cooley keeps me totally engrossed in the 2nd of the June Lyons series! The story constantly moves and each of the characters has great depth to them. This story focuses on the connections of a Ukranian family that flees the Red Army and moves to Hopewell Falls, New York. A thirty year old crime, solved by June's father, divides this family and findings from a warehouse fire with two victims in the present, being investigated by June, brings greater separation to an already dysfunctional family. Lives are found and lives are lost leaving happiness and devastation in it's path!! Can't wait for June Lyons 3rd adventure!!!
April 11, 2015
I won this book on Goodreads.
It was a great read. A mystery with real people and a complicated ending that I did not guess. I really liked the style of writing too. It was easy to read but kept me engrossed and moving on. I would sit up at night reading and say to myself, "ok, I'm going to bed now" and then I had to keep going into the next chapter!
I would love to read more by this author especially with June as the main character.
It was a great read. A mystery with real people and a complicated ending that I did not guess. I really liked the style of writing too. It was easy to read but kept me engrossed and moving on. I would sit up at night reading and say to myself, "ok, I'm going to bed now" and then I had to keep going into the next chapter!
I would love to read more by this author especially with June as the main character.
March 23, 2015
Flame Out was incredibly easy to read, I read the entire book in one sitting. Every chapter left me wanting to know more and the result was be finishing the book very quickly.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
May 23, 2015
This is the second book to the June Lyons series. Story line was a real twister. Had to really pay attention to the characters and the role they played.
June 12, 2015
It is so rare to not be able to figure out whodunnit, that it thrills me when I am stoked to the end. So far this series is two for two!! Looking forward to the next.
June 11, 2015
Immaculate story pacing continues... the second in a series following crime fighting protagonist June Lyons. A real page turner.
July 21, 2015
I found it hard to follow who was who in this book.It was hard to follow the relations.
September 8, 2018
I would have rated this 2.5 if possible. It's not a bad book, it's just not my cup of tea. This Cooley book is the 2nd in the series but according to other reviews you don't need to read the first to enjoy the second. This is a police crime story with the female lead, Lyons, trying to solve a 30 year old murder. It's set in a small town and there are a lot of characters to become familiar with; maybe too many. It's hard to keep track of everyone and how they are all related and connected to one another. It started out pretty interesting (even while trying to get all the characters straight) but then it fell flat for me. I found it becoming boring and I wasn't really interested in how it concluded. There were so many possible suspects (not the best of people) that could be the murderer that it didn't really matter to me which one had really done it. Perhaps this will be the only Cooley read for me.
October 4, 2017
I enjoyed this second novel better than the first in series. I think the author's skill improved. I hope she writes a third, which I look forward to reading.
April 13, 2018
pretty good read, got kind of confusing
June 7, 2020
I like June Lyons and I like a crime novel that is not laced with second guessing and insecure rambling thoughts but sound reasoning. I will read more of Juniper’s cases.
October 17, 2022
this had so much potential but it was just so bad, and there were way too many characters who had literally no purpose, don’t read this lol
October 10, 2015
After Cooley's excellent debut novel Ice Shear I was looking forward to a long series of mysteries with excellent writing. Sadly, this is not to be. Flame Out is a major drop in quality. The author's gift for description is still on display, and barely nudges the overall rating into 3-star territory, but the plot is way too convoluted and implausible. There are so many characters with confusing family relationships that I lost track of who was connected to whom and how early on. The last 100 pages or so were more like a homework assignment than a pleasure. I suggest starting a spreadsheet and a genealogical chart when you begin this one.
The author's lack of actual law enforcement knowledge was all too evident in this book. I found it telling that the acknowledgments in Ice Shear included two police officers by name, but there were none in this book other than "all the people that lent their expertise in law enforcement." I wouldn't want my name associated as police advisor on this one, either.
Both books have a recurring FBI character who is supposed to be the SAC of Albany Division. As an FBI agent retiree I found Cooley's lack of FBI knowledge in Ice Shear slightly distracting, but in Flame Out, it's positively ludicrous. In both books this SAC is trying to recruit June, the lead character and a former agent, to come back into the FBI. He rides around with her on interviews and other mundane investigation. Neither one of these things would ever happen with an SAC. He's both too high up and too low down for either task. SAC Albany is a mid-management position about equal to the colonel of an army base. You won't find him cleaning the latrines and doing KP (below his pay grade) nor would he be the one to appoint the first openly gay Muslim to pilot Air Force One (above his pay grade). Allowing a resigned agent back in has never been done and would take FBI Director approval, and then only if that person had very unique (i.e., only person in the country) skills that were badly needed. There wasn't even any FBI jurisdiction in this case, at least not at the point the SAC became involved. His whole presence is a puzzling and pointless irritation. I thought he might turn out to be a love interest, but that hasn't happened either. C'est la vie.
The author's lack of actual law enforcement knowledge was all too evident in this book. I found it telling that the acknowledgments in Ice Shear included two police officers by name, but there were none in this book other than "all the people that lent their expertise in law enforcement." I wouldn't want my name associated as police advisor on this one, either.
Both books have a recurring FBI character who is supposed to be the SAC of Albany Division. As an FBI agent retiree I found Cooley's lack of FBI knowledge in Ice Shear slightly distracting, but in Flame Out, it's positively ludicrous. In both books this SAC is trying to recruit June, the lead character and a former agent, to come back into the FBI. He rides around with her on interviews and other mundane investigation. Neither one of these things would ever happen with an SAC. He's both too high up and too low down for either task. SAC Albany is a mid-management position about equal to the colonel of an army base. You won't find him cleaning the latrines and doing KP (below his pay grade) nor would he be the one to appoint the first openly gay Muslim to pilot Air Force One (above his pay grade). Allowing a resigned agent back in has never been done and would take FBI Director approval, and then only if that person had very unique (i.e., only person in the country) skills that were badly needed. There wasn't even any FBI jurisdiction in this case, at least not at the point the SAC became involved. His whole presence is a puzzling and pointless irritation. I thought he might turn out to be a love interest, but that hasn't happened either. C'est la vie.
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August 10, 2015The smell of gasoline creeps through the air as ex-FBI, turned small-town police officer, Juniper “June” Lyons drives past the old Sleep-Tite Factory; the Factory is in flames. As the fiery scene erupts in chaos, a mysterious and badly burned woman emerges from the building. Who is this woman, and what is she doing in the abandoned factory?
In the charred aftermath of the fire, the investigation for arson and of “Jane Doe” begins, where officers soon find barrels of Tris, a toxic chemical banned in the 1970’s, behind a false wall. With the help of June’s partner Dave and forensic specialist Annie, the barrels prove to hold more than just toxic chemicals as they discover the mangled body of a woman.
DNA results reveal that the “Jane Doe” burn victim is in fact Louisa Lawler, local woman believed to have been murdered by her husband in 1983; the same infamous murder case that June’s fathered worked as the lead investigator at the time. With Louisa confirmed alive, the reader is left with many questions. If Louisa is alive, then where has she been all these years? Who is the dead woman in the barrel? Could Louisa be a murderer?
As the pieces begin to fall into place, June is faced with unwavering loyalties, hidden political agenda’s, and bloody family ties. Flame Out will leave readers hanging on the edge of their seats. This novel proves unforgiving in its plot, but is just too good to put down.
Reviewer: Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile and is currently a student of English Literature and Drama. Like any book reader she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the Mystery Genre, caffeine is required.
Killer Nashville's Review of Flame Out
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
In the charred aftermath of the fire, the investigation for arson and of “Jane Doe” begins, where officers soon find barrels of Tris, a toxic chemical banned in the 1970’s, behind a false wall. With the help of June’s partner Dave and forensic specialist Annie, the barrels prove to hold more than just toxic chemicals as they discover the mangled body of a woman.
DNA results reveal that the “Jane Doe” burn victim is in fact Louisa Lawler, local woman believed to have been murdered by her husband in 1983; the same infamous murder case that June’s fathered worked as the lead investigator at the time. With Louisa confirmed alive, the reader is left with many questions. If Louisa is alive, then where has she been all these years? Who is the dead woman in the barrel? Could Louisa be a murderer?
As the pieces begin to fall into place, June is faced with unwavering loyalties, hidden political agenda’s, and bloody family ties. Flame Out will leave readers hanging on the edge of their seats. This novel proves unforgiving in its plot, but is just too good to put down.
Reviewer: Briana Goodchild is on the verge of becoming a bibliophile and is currently a student of English Literature and Drama. Like any book reader she enjoys a strong cup of tea and an enticing story to match. Occasionally, when diving into the Mystery Genre, caffeine is required.
Killer Nashville's Review of Flame Out
Killer Nashville's Past Book Reviews
November 10, 2015
First I have to let you know that I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Now I'm going to let you know I have to get the first book in this series, this is the 2nd.
June Lyons is a police officer in Hopewell Falls, NY, and on a routine patrol of the town she smells gasoline. Upon checking it out, she traced the odor to the Sleep-Tite factory, which had been closed for 25 years. As she approached, she noticed the flames and the blazing woman approaching her. Since June had already called for help, the paramedics and fire department arrived momentarily, and the burned woman was transported to the hospital. She fell into a coma and the police were unable to identify her due to the severity of her burns.
This problem would be enough of a mystery, since the Sleep-Tite factory had been owned by Bernie Lawler, a man who convicted of killing his wife Luisa and his son Teddy back in 1983, although their bodies had never been found. June's father had been the arresting officer and the main reason that Bernie was behind bars. Then another mystery surfaced when the clean up of the torch factory had begun. Barrels were discovered behind a sham wall, and a woman's body was in one of the barrels. Of course, the hope was that they had discovered Luisa's body, but that was not the case and the search began.
The FBI was brought in and June is teamed with Special Agent Hale Bascom. As they investigate the case, they discover that her small town has several nasty secrets, and people aren't afraid to kill to keep them secret.
June Lyons is a police officer in Hopewell Falls, NY, and on a routine patrol of the town she smells gasoline. Upon checking it out, she traced the odor to the Sleep-Tite factory, which had been closed for 25 years. As she approached, she noticed the flames and the blazing woman approaching her. Since June had already called for help, the paramedics and fire department arrived momentarily, and the burned woman was transported to the hospital. She fell into a coma and the police were unable to identify her due to the severity of her burns.
This problem would be enough of a mystery, since the Sleep-Tite factory had been owned by Bernie Lawler, a man who convicted of killing his wife Luisa and his son Teddy back in 1983, although their bodies had never been found. June's father had been the arresting officer and the main reason that Bernie was behind bars. Then another mystery surfaced when the clean up of the torch factory had begun. Barrels were discovered behind a sham wall, and a woman's body was in one of the barrels. Of course, the hope was that they had discovered Luisa's body, but that was not the case and the search began.
The FBI was brought in and June is teamed with Special Agent Hale Bascom. As they investigate the case, they discover that her small town has several nasty secrets, and people aren't afraid to kill to keep them secret.
December 30, 2015
Officer June Lyons works for the small town of Hopewell Falls, New York. While on patrol in the abandoned factory area, she discovers a fire. In it is a badly burned woman. The shocker is that when the woman is IDed—she was presumed murdered over thirty years ago. June’s father was also an officer on the Department at that time and investigated the crime. Obviously there’s been some mistake which he wants to rectify. As June and her police partner Dave Barko search through the ruins of the factory they find a body sealed in a barrel. It takes a while before the victim is IDed—as another murdered woman. Again the crime happened over thirty years ago.
Interviewing those who are still around, checking factory records, June IDs this body also. The family of the badly-burned woman includes law-abiding relatives and those on the other side of the legal fence—which makes for interesting interviews. All are hiding something. June tries to keep her father and Dave from doing investigating, as Dave is off the case officially. But they are two bloodhounds--like she is--and both men have a vested interest in the outcome. Her father may have caused an innocent man to spend thirty years in prison. June does an excellent investigation. A good look at a small town where everyone knows everyone and secrets are old and well-kept. William Morrow
Interviewing those who are still around, checking factory records, June IDs this body also. The family of the badly-burned woman includes law-abiding relatives and those on the other side of the legal fence—which makes for interesting interviews. All are hiding something. June tries to keep her father and Dave from doing investigating, as Dave is off the case officially. But they are two bloodhounds--like she is--and both men have a vested interest in the outcome. Her father may have caused an innocent man to spend thirty years in prison. June does an excellent investigation. A good look at a small town where everyone knows everyone and secrets are old and well-kept. William Morrow
March 3, 2015
A fairly straight-forward, police procedural revolves around an arson/murder in a small town in upstate New York, connecting two generations of police, immigrants and factory workers. The protagonist and her own family dynamics are fairly interesting, as are the claustrophic dealings in this very small town. Unfortunately, the dramatic place-setting and character development falls by the way when the story is overburdened by too many characters with overlapping and indiscernible family connections. It is quite difficult to keep track of the relationships, the backstories, the feuds, the love affairs and illegitimate births. And too easy to suddenly spring entire new sets of each when the story needs a new twist to propel it forward. I received this ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2015
This is a very talented and descriptive writer. I mentioned same in my review after reading her debut novel, Ice Shear.
Although there were far too many characters, who were mostly related, in this follow-up novel about June Lyons, a police officer in Hopewell Falls, NY, I tried to look at it as more possibilities in attempting to solve a whodunnit. She gave us many to consider (which I did) - all the way up to the final pages.
It was interesting the unique way Natalya chose to end her life using hemlock - and simultaneously tried to end the life of another who deserved to die. She must have done a bit of research on this.
I look forward to reading more from this author. In the last page she hinted as to what her next book may be about - June's return to the F.B.I. and the drama associated with same.
Although there were far too many characters, who were mostly related, in this follow-up novel about June Lyons, a police officer in Hopewell Falls, NY, I tried to look at it as more possibilities in attempting to solve a whodunnit. She gave us many to consider (which I did) - all the way up to the final pages.
It was interesting the unique way Natalya chose to end her life using hemlock - and simultaneously tried to end the life of another who deserved to die. She must have done a bit of research on this.
I look forward to reading more from this author. In the last page she hinted as to what her next book may be about - June's return to the F.B.I. and the drama associated with same.
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