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An Amanda Doucette Mystery #1
Fire in the Stars
A former aid worker returns home haunted by her time in Africa and channels her pain into a murder investigation that’s all too personal.
After surviving a horrific trauma in Nigeria, international aid worker Amanda Doucette returns to Canada to rebuild her life and her shaken ideals. There, the once-passionate, adventurous woman needs all her strength and ingenuity when a friend and fellow survivor goes missing along with his son.
A trained first-aid and crisis responder, Doucette ― always accompanied by her beloved dog Kaylee ― joins forces with RCMP officer Chris Tymko to discover the truth about the disappearance. Their search leads them to the Great Northern Peninsula, a rugged landscape of Viking history, icebergs, whales, and fierce ocean storms. Elsewhere, a body gets hauled up in a fisherman’s net, and evidence is mounting of an unsettling connection with Amanda’s search for her friend. Fradkin writes evocatively of the beautiful, often hostile, Newfoundland landscape where Amanda soon finds herself fighting for her very survival.
After surviving a horrific trauma in Nigeria, international aid worker Amanda Doucette returns to Canada to rebuild her life and her shaken ideals. There, the once-passionate, adventurous woman needs all her strength and ingenuity when a friend and fellow survivor goes missing along with his son.
A trained first-aid and crisis responder, Doucette ― always accompanied by her beloved dog Kaylee ― joins forces with RCMP officer Chris Tymko to discover the truth about the disappearance. Their search leads them to the Great Northern Peninsula, a rugged landscape of Viking history, icebergs, whales, and fierce ocean storms. Elsewhere, a body gets hauled up in a fisherman’s net, and evidence is mounting of an unsettling connection with Amanda’s search for her friend. Fradkin writes evocatively of the beautiful, often hostile, Newfoundland landscape where Amanda soon finds herself fighting for her very survival.
328 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2016
58 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Fradkin
29 books162 followersBarbara Fradkin (nee Currie), an award-winning Canadian mystery writer and retired psychologist whose work with children and families provides ample inspiration for murder. She is fascinated by the dark side and by the desperate choices people make.
Her novels are gritty, realistic, and psychological, with a blend of mystery and suspense. She is the author of three series, including ten novels featuring the exasperating, quixotic Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green, and three short novels about country handyman Cedric O'Toole which provide an entertaining but quick and easy read. FIRE IN THE STARS is the first book in her new mystery thriller series which stars passionate, adventurous, but traumatized aid worker Amanda Doucette.
Fradkin's work has been nominated for numerous awards, and two of the Inspector Green books have won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from Crime Writers of Canada. Fradkin was born in Montreal but lives in Ottawa.
Series:
* Inspector Green Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2005): Fifth Son
◊ Best Novel (2007): Honour Among Men
Her novels are gritty, realistic, and psychological, with a blend of mystery and suspense. She is the author of three series, including ten novels featuring the exasperating, quixotic Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green, and three short novels about country handyman Cedric O'Toole which provide an entertaining but quick and easy read. FIRE IN THE STARS is the first book in her new mystery thriller series which stars passionate, adventurous, but traumatized aid worker Amanda Doucette.
Fradkin's work has been nominated for numerous awards, and two of the Inspector Green books have won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from Crime Writers of Canada. Fradkin was born in Montreal but lives in Ottawa.
Series:
* Inspector Green Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2005): Fifth Son
◊ Best Novel (2007): Honour Among Men
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
August 26, 2023
Amanda ist Mitte dreißig, war Entwicklungshelferin in Nigeria und liebt ihre Hündin Kaylee sowie ihr Motorrad. Zurück in Kanada möchte sie mit ihrem Kollegen Phil, der gemeinsam mit ihr in Nigeria war, eine Tour durch Kanadas Wildnis machen. Die Reise soll den beiden helfen, ihre traumatischen Erlebnisse als Entwicklungshelfer in Nigeria zu verarbeiten. Doch zum vereinbarten Treffpunkt taucht Phil nicht auf. Er und sein 11-jähriger Sohn Tyler gelten als vermisst. Amanda ist beunruhigt und macht sich auf die Suche.
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen! Der Großteil der Handlung spielt in der Wildnis Kanadas, was für mich neu und sehr interessant war. Die Beschreibungen der unberührten Natur haben mich dabei faszinieren können.
Die Krimihandlung konnte mich ebenfalls überzeugen. Einmal geht es natürlich um die Suche nach Phil und seinem Sohn Tyler, gleichzeitig wird aus dem Meer ein Toter gefischt. Es ist spannend zu verfolgen, welche Zusammenhänge sich nach und nach dem Leser offenbaren.
Amanda ist dabei eine sehr interessante Protagonistin. Sie ist eine sehr starke und eigensinnige Frau, die ihren eigenen Willen hat. Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, sie eine Weile zu begleiten.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist ebenfalls sehr angenehm. Das Buch hat sich leicht und flüssig lesen lassen. Die Story ist schlüssig, spannend und das Setting einfach grandios.
Ich kann diesen Kanada-Krimi auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen!
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen! Der Großteil der Handlung spielt in der Wildnis Kanadas, was für mich neu und sehr interessant war. Die Beschreibungen der unberührten Natur haben mich dabei faszinieren können.
Die Krimihandlung konnte mich ebenfalls überzeugen. Einmal geht es natürlich um die Suche nach Phil und seinem Sohn Tyler, gleichzeitig wird aus dem Meer ein Toter gefischt. Es ist spannend zu verfolgen, welche Zusammenhänge sich nach und nach dem Leser offenbaren.
Amanda ist dabei eine sehr interessante Protagonistin. Sie ist eine sehr starke und eigensinnige Frau, die ihren eigenen Willen hat. Mir hat es Spaß gemacht, sie eine Weile zu begleiten.
Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist ebenfalls sehr angenehm. Das Buch hat sich leicht und flüssig lesen lassen. Die Story ist schlüssig, spannend und das Setting einfach grandios.
Ich kann diesen Kanada-Krimi auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen!
September 3, 2016
I enjoyed reading this mystery/thriller. Amanda Doucette is a former aid worker who was in Nigeria during some of the worst massacres of innocent women and children. She is is still haunted by memories of those terrible times. But she has been gradually getting over her grief with the help of counseling. She gets an invitation from her friend Phil, another aid worker who is also suffering from the trauma of those days. Phil refused all counseling and has become moody and withdrawn from his wife and son. Phil decides to go on a camping trip with Tyler, his 11 year old son and Amanda. Amanda has driven up to Newfoundland from mainland Canada to meet Phil. But when she gets off the ferry, Phil is not there to meet her. She goes to Phil's house and finds that Phil has left with Tyler, leaving his wife, Sheri, with no idea of their destination, except someplace on the wild, rugged northern peninsula of Newfoundland.
Meanwhile, a fishing boat out of St. Anthony, almost at the top of the peninsula, has pulled up a dead body in its net. There are a couple more murders and they are all explained with a very good ending.
Pros: The author has done a lot of research on Newfoundland, including dialect, which sounds authentic(I have never been there), search and rescue procedures and police procedures/jurisdiction. The police officers are all from the RCMP and none from the RNC(Royal Newfoundland Constabulary) which is not a province wide police force. RCMP provides police services to most rural areas in Newfoundland.
Cons: Occasional formatting problems, i.e., split words and uneven line drops in the middle of a sentence.
One quote: "And the ocean...dancing, undulating, like onyx glittering with stars."
A solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dundurn the publisher and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.
Meanwhile, a fishing boat out of St. Anthony, almost at the top of the peninsula, has pulled up a dead body in its net. There are a couple more murders and they are all explained with a very good ending.
Pros: The author has done a lot of research on Newfoundland, including dialect, which sounds authentic(I have never been there), search and rescue procedures and police procedures/jurisdiction. The police officers are all from the RCMP and none from the RNC(Royal Newfoundland Constabulary) which is not a province wide police force. RCMP provides police services to most rural areas in Newfoundland.
Cons: Occasional formatting problems, i.e., split words and uneven line drops in the middle of a sentence.
One quote: "And the ocean...dancing, undulating, like onyx glittering with stars."
A solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dundurn the publisher and the author for this ARC in return for an honest review.
July 29, 2020
3.5 stars
January 19, 2018
Excellent book. I loved that it took place in Newfoundland, and I could follow the trip in my mind as I know where all the places are located. The author kept my interest right til the end. The characters are very realistic and this story could very easily have happened in real life. I recommend this book for sure.
July 4, 2018
3.5 stars
This is the first book in the Amanda Doucette series. It was enjoyable, fast paced and action packed, with a satisfactory conclusion. I have already started reading its follow up, the Trickster’s Lullaby, as I can’t wait to see where her next adventure takes her and in what dangers she finds herself.
Amanda is brave, determined and resourceful but tends to be impulsive and reckless. She was an aid worker in Cambodia and Northern Nigeria. There was a bloody slaughter in Nigeria and she has not entirely recovered from the massacre she observed. She has received counseling and is improving, unlike her friend, Phil, who suffers from PTSD and refused psychiatric help. They formed a bond and promised to help each other with the after effects of the trauma.
Phil writes Amanda, inviting her to go on a camping trip with him in his home province of Newfoundland. When she arrives from the mainland by ferry, Phil is not there to meet her as expected. There is no message and he does not answer his phone. His wife says he left several days earlier to go camping with their young son. She has no idea where they are and that he is unreliable and moody.
Amanda, with her faithful dog Kaylee, and befriended and helped by a Mountie, Chris, go in search of Phil and his son. Their search leads them to the Northern tip-off Newfoundland with its forests, spectacular coastline with small, isolated fishing villages. The setting with its rugged landscape, rough sea and cold, damp weather keeps the reader immersed in the locations. This is wonderful descriptive writing. I wish a map had be included to follow the places they visit.
As they search and question locals along the way, bodies start turning up. Those who have seen them describe Phil as angry and ignoring his promise to his son to see whales, puffins and ice bergs. He wants a boat to take them to most isolated areas. He was seen in the vicinity where an old hermit was brutally murdered. The RCMP suspect Phil and think he is on the run. Amanda has faith in Phil’s innocence but is concerned for the wellbeing of the boy. She is determined to locate him before the police do. She may be getting into a dangerous complicated case where she needs to be rescued herself.
I hope to read the subsequent books in the series.
This is the first book in the Amanda Doucette series. It was enjoyable, fast paced and action packed, with a satisfactory conclusion. I have already started reading its follow up, the Trickster’s Lullaby, as I can’t wait to see where her next adventure takes her and in what dangers she finds herself.
Amanda is brave, determined and resourceful but tends to be impulsive and reckless. She was an aid worker in Cambodia and Northern Nigeria. There was a bloody slaughter in Nigeria and she has not entirely recovered from the massacre she observed. She has received counseling and is improving, unlike her friend, Phil, who suffers from PTSD and refused psychiatric help. They formed a bond and promised to help each other with the after effects of the trauma.
Phil writes Amanda, inviting her to go on a camping trip with him in his home province of Newfoundland. When she arrives from the mainland by ferry, Phil is not there to meet her as expected. There is no message and he does not answer his phone. His wife says he left several days earlier to go camping with their young son. She has no idea where they are and that he is unreliable and moody.
Amanda, with her faithful dog Kaylee, and befriended and helped by a Mountie, Chris, go in search of Phil and his son. Their search leads them to the Northern tip-off Newfoundland with its forests, spectacular coastline with small, isolated fishing villages. The setting with its rugged landscape, rough sea and cold, damp weather keeps the reader immersed in the locations. This is wonderful descriptive writing. I wish a map had be included to follow the places they visit.
As they search and question locals along the way, bodies start turning up. Those who have seen them describe Phil as angry and ignoring his promise to his son to see whales, puffins and ice bergs. He wants a boat to take them to most isolated areas. He was seen in the vicinity where an old hermit was brutally murdered. The RCMP suspect Phil and think he is on the run. Amanda has faith in Phil’s innocence but is concerned for the wellbeing of the boy. She is determined to locate him before the police do. She may be getting into a dangerous complicated case where she needs to be rescued herself.
I hope to read the subsequent books in the series.
September 21, 2016
I read a book in Barbara Fradkin’s Inspector Green series some time ago. I enjoyed it a lot – impressed I was able to pick up a book mid-series and not feel as if I’d missed a thing.
The Canadian doesn’t have much of a profile here in Australia but her name recently leapt out at me and I eagerly requested her latest release, which is seemingly (from the subtitle) part of a new series.
Not only did it appeal because I was familiar with Fradkin’s work but the lead character, Amanda Doucette was a former aid worker and has returned to Canada to rebuild her life after a traumatic experience in Nigeria. Although I didn’t see death and first violence first-hand – which Amanda and her long-term friend Phil did – I spent several years of my life working in a similar setting so was drawn in immediately.
Amanda’s been back for a year and still struggling but meeting her friend Phil so they can share some memories and remain in touch. When she arrives however she discovers Phil’s already left on ‘their’ trip with his son. Phil’s wife doesn’t believe he’d harm their son, but Amanda sets off after them… concerned about Phil’s state of mind. She’s joined by RCMP officer Chris Tymko and naturally we wait with bated breath for the inevitable romance to blossom.
Thankfully Fradkin doesn’t fall into the cliché of a love / hate relationship… instead the pair work well together and the attraction is there but minimal.
However it’s not long before bodies start to mount and Amanda wonders if the Phil she knew would be capable of violence if under extreme pressure.
Fradkin creates a great character in Amanda. We’re mostly in her (and Chris’s) heads and both are likeable. Amanda’s very self-aware and – though still impacted by her experiences – she’s resilient and independent. Fradkin introduces a cast of quaint and amicable locals the pair meet as they scamper about the countryside; and there are a few bristling cop types, who don’t appreciate Chris’s interference…. Particularly given he’s officially on leave.
She doesn’t keep things light either… eventually sharing Amanda’s experiences in Nigeria and touching on refugees and illegal immigrants.
I’d definitely read more in this series though interested to see where Fradkin will take Amanda next.
I received a copy of this from the publisher for review purposes.
3.5 stars
The Canadian doesn’t have much of a profile here in Australia but her name recently leapt out at me and I eagerly requested her latest release, which is seemingly (from the subtitle) part of a new series.
Not only did it appeal because I was familiar with Fradkin’s work but the lead character, Amanda Doucette was a former aid worker and has returned to Canada to rebuild her life after a traumatic experience in Nigeria. Although I didn’t see death and first violence first-hand – which Amanda and her long-term friend Phil did – I spent several years of my life working in a similar setting so was drawn in immediately.
Amanda’s been back for a year and still struggling but meeting her friend Phil so they can share some memories and remain in touch. When she arrives however she discovers Phil’s already left on ‘their’ trip with his son. Phil’s wife doesn’t believe he’d harm their son, but Amanda sets off after them… concerned about Phil’s state of mind. She’s joined by RCMP officer Chris Tymko and naturally we wait with bated breath for the inevitable romance to blossom.
Thankfully Fradkin doesn’t fall into the cliché of a love / hate relationship… instead the pair work well together and the attraction is there but minimal.
However it’s not long before bodies start to mount and Amanda wonders if the Phil she knew would be capable of violence if under extreme pressure.
Fradkin creates a great character in Amanda. We’re mostly in her (and Chris’s) heads and both are likeable. Amanda’s very self-aware and – though still impacted by her experiences – she’s resilient and independent. Fradkin introduces a cast of quaint and amicable locals the pair meet as they scamper about the countryside; and there are a few bristling cop types, who don’t appreciate Chris’s interference…. Particularly given he’s officially on leave.
She doesn’t keep things light either… eventually sharing Amanda’s experiences in Nigeria and touching on refugees and illegal immigrants.
I’d definitely read more in this series though interested to see where Fradkin will take Amanda next.
I received a copy of this from the publisher for review purposes.
3.5 stars
November 8, 2019
This is a gripping thriller playing in the vastness of Newfoundland. It points out that post-traumatic needs can lead to great misfortune. On the one hand it affects two development workers who have experienced very bad things in Nigeria under the Boko Haram, on the other hand it shows the fate of the refugees who are being misused by human trafficker.
Amanda has agreed with Phil to take a tour of Newfoundland's vast expanse to work through their accomplishments in Nigeria. When she arrives in Newfoundland, Phil disappeared without a trace with his son Tyler. Amanda goes with the help of Chris Tymko in search. They experience nasty surprises.
The story is told exciting and makes you very thoughtful.
(4½)
Amanda has agreed with Phil to take a tour of Newfoundland's vast expanse to work through their accomplishments in Nigeria. When she arrives in Newfoundland, Phil disappeared without a trace with his son Tyler. Amanda goes with the help of Chris Tymko in search. They experience nasty surprises.
The story is told exciting and makes you very thoughtful.
(4½)
January 28, 2016
An exciting new series from Barbara Fradkin -- Set in the beautiful back country of Canada.
November 27, 2017
Sometimes stories are more complicated than they need to be.
September 13, 2018
First of a trilogy. This one set in Newfoundland. Very interesting.
January 2, 2023
This book was recommended by a friend who knew I loved mystery series and Newfoundland. I did enjoy the setting and while some of the references to the 'quaint cultures and customs' of NL were a tad overdone in my opinion, it was fun to have a mystery set in one of my favourite provinces. I found I was intrigued as to what happened until the end but, for me, I did find the storytelling and description a bit repetitive. However, it is a first novel in this series so I will certainly give the next one a try.
October 13, 2016
After a traumatic stint in Nigeria which has left Amanda Doucette with PTSD, she and her dog Kailey go to Newfoundland to meet Phil, her good friend and fellow aid worker in Nigeria. They were planning a trip into the wilderness to try and find some solace from each other and nature. Phil doesn't show and Amanfda finds out from his wife that he has taken their 11-year old son and disappeared.
What follows is a desperate search in the wilds of Newfoundland. The descriptions of the wild, untamed land and ocean are perfect, you feel you're there; with the threat of wild animals and being lost keeping you uneasy even in the safety of your bed. Wonderfully atmospheric, it's a mystery and adventure story that will keep you reading late into the night. Can't wait for the next adventure!
Thank you, Netgalley, Dundurn and Barbara Fradkin for the ARC.
What follows is a desperate search in the wilds of Newfoundland. The descriptions of the wild, untamed land and ocean are perfect, you feel you're there; with the threat of wild animals and being lost keeping you uneasy even in the safety of your bed. Wonderfully atmospheric, it's a mystery and adventure story that will keep you reading late into the night. Can't wait for the next adventure!
Thank you, Netgalley, Dundurn and Barbara Fradkin for the ARC.
February 25, 2020
cripes, read it straight through!
August 7, 2016
Amanda Doucette is recovering from her aid stint in Nigeria and the violence of the Boko Haram that ended it. She knows her friend Phil, who lived through the same harrowing time, is still struggling with the memories, so they've hatched a plan to head into the wilderness of Newfoundland and try to reconnect with nature. But when Phil doesn't meet her at the ferry, Amanda begins an ever more desperate search for her troubled friend.
An interesting mystery and cracking adventure, Fire in the Stars kept me engaged and reading fast to find out what happened next. The rugged island and people of Newfoundland feature prominently, and by the end of the book I felt like I'd visited this easternmost province of Canada. I found it an especially good read to take my mind away from a humid summer day.
I received this book as an electronic advance reader copy courtesy of Dundurn Publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
An interesting mystery and cracking adventure, Fire in the Stars kept me engaged and reading fast to find out what happened next. The rugged island and people of Newfoundland feature prominently, and by the end of the book I felt like I'd visited this easternmost province of Canada. I found it an especially good read to take my mind away from a humid summer day.
I received this book as an electronic advance reader copy courtesy of Dundurn Publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2017
I always look forward to a book by Barbara Fradkin, and this one did not disappointment. This is the first in a new series, which is always interesting. Not that I don't love Inspector Green!
Set in Newfoundland, the story stats out with Amanda Doucette setting out to meet an old friend Philip for a hiking/camping trip in the rugged interior. Both have been through a traumatic experience in Nigeria, where they were foreign aid workers , and they barely made it out alive. This sort of thing melds a deep bond.
But Philip does not show up. She finds out he has disappeared, taking her young son with him. Amanda is determined to find him, and little by little she works her way along his trail.
I loved the sense of place in this story, the smell if the salty air, the rocks and gorse and all! Some may think it is less mystery and more adventure, but it is a great read, and that is enough for me!
Set in Newfoundland, the story stats out with Amanda Doucette setting out to meet an old friend Philip for a hiking/camping trip in the rugged interior. Both have been through a traumatic experience in Nigeria, where they were foreign aid workers , and they barely made it out alive. This sort of thing melds a deep bond.
But Philip does not show up. She finds out he has disappeared, taking her young son with him. Amanda is determined to find him, and little by little she works her way along his trail.
I loved the sense of place in this story, the smell if the salty air, the rocks and gorse and all! Some may think it is less mystery and more adventure, but it is a great read, and that is enough for me!
June 15, 2018
I liked this book but just okay for me. The part I liked most was the scenery in Newfoundland. Especially since I am going to be visiting part of that country in the next year. The scenery was definitely the highlight of the story for me. Some of the characters I liked, but the last third of the book and how it all ended up didn't quite sit right with me. The story of refugees made my heart tender. The story of how these people sacrifice all to get out of their country is quite stirring. I never got the whole story (for me at least) of why Africa had become such an impact in the main character's lives. You hear bits and pieces of it, but I never felt like I got why it was so impactful. It was suspenseful which I enjoyed, but not sure it was memorable.
July 19, 2018
This was really good and satisfying. Amanda Doucette is a complex, fully-drawn character who's got flaws and courage and heart. I also really hope we see more of Chris Tymko in the next book. The police procedural pieces of the book were really well done (flaws in this will take me out of a mystery faster than anything else - yes I'm looking at you Louise Penny). And the setting and depiction of the wild Newfoundland landscape was really gorgeously done.
I got a little tired of the dog being an essentially plot device and the wandering around the wilderness just missing being found, but that's a fairly minor quibble. Moving right along to the next book in the series.
I got a little tired of the dog being an essentially plot device and the wandering around the wilderness just missing being found, but that's a fairly minor quibble. Moving right along to the next book in the series.
November 3, 2017
Entertaining mystery that takes place in Newfoundland. The author obviously had lots of help with the local geography and the local customs, which made the story more authentic and at times amusing. Covering issues that are important currently in the world added a nice twist to the plot. All in all a very good read.
May 8, 2017
The Newfoundland setting was both unusual and interesting. The heroine's backstory (aid worker in war-torn Nigeria) also added a different dimension. Other than that, your basic good detective story.
August 7, 2017
Enjoyed this book a lot and will look for other books by this author. Her description of Newfoundland landscape was vivid as is her sense of the place and people. The impact of PDST on the lead characters was a twist that added to the suspense. A good read!
August 30, 2020
Gave this an extra star, due to:
- vivid description of Newfoundland.
- treatment of human trafficking
- treatment of PTSD
- general humanity
Reading was quite stressful though. I may not be up for more like this.
- vivid description of Newfoundland.
- treatment of human trafficking
- treatment of PTSD
- general humanity
Reading was quite stressful though. I may not be up for more like this.
July 14, 2016
Another solid mystery from Barbara Fradkin. I like this new set of characters and hope to see them again.
January 24, 2018
This book needed a map!! It talks so much about geography and focuses a lot on travel that it would have been so great to have a visual of where this was taking place.
April 20, 2023
Amanda Doucette is a former aid worker. She and her friend Phil were in Africa when they were involved in a horrific event. Several of the children in their care were murdered and they barely escaped with their own lives.
They are now back at home in Canada attempting to pull their lives back together. They agree to go on a camping trip, but when Amanda arrives at their meeting point Phil is nowhere to be found. He has taken his son off on a bonding trip.
After meeting with Sherri, Phil's wife, Amanda is not much clearer on what is going on. She sets out to see if she can find Phil and his son somewhere on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland.
Amanda is always accompanied by her dog Kaylee. Amanda has a special trailer attached to her bike for the dog. The two immediately set-ou to try and locate Phil, but his trail is quite elusive. Though he initially promised his son, Tyler, that they would enjoy exploring and taking ocean tours that doesn't seem to be happening. Instead, Phil's behavior has gotten progressively more erratic.
Meanwhile a dead body has been found in the net of a shrimper. Sherri, it appears, has been having an affair with a member of the RCMP.
Amanda joins forces with a friend of Phil's, also a Mountie, Chris. The two seem to be developing a very close relationship as they try to find Phil and Tyler.
Amanda and Kaylee get separated from Chris after they follow Phil's trail to the secluded home of a hermit-like man. The man is dead, his boat is missing, and Phil is the primary suspect in the murder and the theft.
The harsh landscape of the Newfoundland peninsula is a major factor in this book. The descriptions are haunting.
The PTSD both Amanda and Phil suffer from figures into their decision making frequently. Amanda has accepted counseling to deal with her PTSD, but Phil did not. The impact of that decision is a driving factor in this story.
How the search evolves and the murder(s) are solved is done very well. At one point in the story Amanda says she is definitely going to get obedience classes for Kaylee when they return. She definitely needs to do that. Kaylee is a great addition to the story but there are instances when I was astonished that Amanda was yelling for the dog when she was on the run from dangers she could only guess lay ahead.
They are now back at home in Canada attempting to pull their lives back together. They agree to go on a camping trip, but when Amanda arrives at their meeting point Phil is nowhere to be found. He has taken his son off on a bonding trip.
After meeting with Sherri, Phil's wife, Amanda is not much clearer on what is going on. She sets out to see if she can find Phil and his son somewhere on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland.
Amanda is always accompanied by her dog Kaylee. Amanda has a special trailer attached to her bike for the dog. The two immediately set-ou to try and locate Phil, but his trail is quite elusive. Though he initially promised his son, Tyler, that they would enjoy exploring and taking ocean tours that doesn't seem to be happening. Instead, Phil's behavior has gotten progressively more erratic.
Meanwhile a dead body has been found in the net of a shrimper. Sherri, it appears, has been having an affair with a member of the RCMP.
Amanda joins forces with a friend of Phil's, also a Mountie, Chris. The two seem to be developing a very close relationship as they try to find Phil and Tyler.
Amanda and Kaylee get separated from Chris after they follow Phil's trail to the secluded home of a hermit-like man. The man is dead, his boat is missing, and Phil is the primary suspect in the murder and the theft.
The harsh landscape of the Newfoundland peninsula is a major factor in this book. The descriptions are haunting.
The PTSD both Amanda and Phil suffer from figures into their decision making frequently. Amanda has accepted counseling to deal with her PTSD, but Phil did not. The impact of that decision is a driving factor in this story.
How the search evolves and the murder(s) are solved is done very well. At one point in the story Amanda says she is definitely going to get obedience classes for Kaylee when they return. She definitely needs to do that. Kaylee is a great addition to the story but there are instances when I was astonished that Amanda was yelling for the dog when she was on the run from dangers she could only guess lay ahead.
June 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this story.
In this book we meet a young woman named Amanda Doucette. The author also has a series of books with this character.
Amanda Doucette is an international aid worker. They don’t actually say what organization she works for, but it is Canadian and she has just returned from a very volatile situation in Nigeria. Her life was at risk, and she had to do some unsavory things to protect the children she was to be helping.
In this story she has been back in Canada and home for almost a year. She lives in the Ottawa area and has been recovering from the ordeal in Africa. Her good friend Phil Cousins has invited her to go camping in the wilds of Newfoundland. He was also in Africa with her and is suffering from PTSD.
Amanda arrives in Grand Falls Newfoundland only to discover that Phil has taken his son and gone off camping leaving no information on where he was headed.
Amanda sets off looking for him. Now I have been to Newfoundland, and I did not venture too far off the beaten path but even I know it must be one heck of a chore to find someone in the bush of Newfoundland. Anyway, the author uses the topography and the ocean to great effect in telling this story of searching for someone.
Amanda meets an RCMP officer who is a friend of Phils, and he joins her in the search, and I like this guy. It helps that he is single and good looking and smart.
I like this story because Amanda rides a motorcycle, I think that is cool. She also has a dog named Kaylee who is a prominent character in the story. She tows Kaylee in a cart behind her motorcycle.
All kinds of nefarious things are going on in this story and Amanda and Chris must figure it out. It does not help that Amanda gets lost and that the RCMP will not let Chris be involved because he has a vested interest in that he is a friend of Phil’s who has gone missing and has possibly killed someone and has been involved with Amanda even if only for a few days.
I like that it was pure Canadian. I like that they comment how all over Africa you can get cell reception, but you can’t get cell reception all over Newfoundland. I like that they comment on hard life is in the fishing industry in Canada with foreign trawlers invading our waters.
This was a page turner and a very easy read. I will read this series of books and I hope they are as good as this one.
In this book we meet a young woman named Amanda Doucette. The author also has a series of books with this character.
Amanda Doucette is an international aid worker. They don’t actually say what organization she works for, but it is Canadian and she has just returned from a very volatile situation in Nigeria. Her life was at risk, and she had to do some unsavory things to protect the children she was to be helping.
In this story she has been back in Canada and home for almost a year. She lives in the Ottawa area and has been recovering from the ordeal in Africa. Her good friend Phil Cousins has invited her to go camping in the wilds of Newfoundland. He was also in Africa with her and is suffering from PTSD.
Amanda arrives in Grand Falls Newfoundland only to discover that Phil has taken his son and gone off camping leaving no information on where he was headed.
Amanda sets off looking for him. Now I have been to Newfoundland, and I did not venture too far off the beaten path but even I know it must be one heck of a chore to find someone in the bush of Newfoundland. Anyway, the author uses the topography and the ocean to great effect in telling this story of searching for someone.
Amanda meets an RCMP officer who is a friend of Phils, and he joins her in the search, and I like this guy. It helps that he is single and good looking and smart.
I like this story because Amanda rides a motorcycle, I think that is cool. She also has a dog named Kaylee who is a prominent character in the story. She tows Kaylee in a cart behind her motorcycle.
All kinds of nefarious things are going on in this story and Amanda and Chris must figure it out. It does not help that Amanda gets lost and that the RCMP will not let Chris be involved because he has a vested interest in that he is a friend of Phil’s who has gone missing and has possibly killed someone and has been involved with Amanda even if only for a few days.
I like that it was pure Canadian. I like that they comment how all over Africa you can get cell reception, but you can’t get cell reception all over Newfoundland. I like that they comment on hard life is in the fishing industry in Canada with foreign trawlers invading our waters.
This was a page turner and a very easy read. I will read this series of books and I hope they are as good as this one.
October 15, 2017
I'm always interested in crime fiction that is set in places around the globe that I've never visited, and Barbara Fradkin's Fire in the Stars fulfilled this part of my mission beautifully. Without going into long, lyrical descriptions of the landscape, Fradkin still brought the Newfoundland wilderness to life-- both its mountains and its small fishing villages clinging to the edges of the sea. In fact, the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland should be considered as a member of the cast of characters.
Speaking of characters, Amanda is the strong, beating heart of the story. Her work as a humanitarian aid worker has taken her all over the world, but her experiences in Nigeria were so horrible that she decided to return to her Canadian homeland. She travels by motorcycle, pulling a trailer that contains her camping gear and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Kaylee. Amanda has her own problems with PTSD, and when the book begins, she throws herself into the search for Phil and Tyler to such a degree that she's infuriating-- even though readers know everything she does is done for all the right reasons.
But as the story continues, Amanda's behavior becomes quite admirable for Fire in the Stars is a mystery built on shifting sands. It begins as a missing persons case. This changes subtly when a man's body is hauled up in a fishing net, and then it becomes an all-out fight for survival. Fradkin does a superb job of jerking the rug out from under the reader. Just as I thought I had a grip on what was going on or who did what, Fradkin added another piece to the puzzle, everything shifted, and I found myself back at square one.
When I'm reading about a strong, intelligent woman who always tries to do the right thing, and this woman is in a superb natural setting with her best canine buddy, I love it when an author can keep me constantly reevaluating the evidence. Barbara Fradkin drew me right into the middle of her story and wouldn't let me leave. I certainly look forward to meeting Amanda again.
Speaking of characters, Amanda is the strong, beating heart of the story. Her work as a humanitarian aid worker has taken her all over the world, but her experiences in Nigeria were so horrible that she decided to return to her Canadian homeland. She travels by motorcycle, pulling a trailer that contains her camping gear and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Kaylee. Amanda has her own problems with PTSD, and when the book begins, she throws herself into the search for Phil and Tyler to such a degree that she's infuriating-- even though readers know everything she does is done for all the right reasons.
But as the story continues, Amanda's behavior becomes quite admirable for Fire in the Stars is a mystery built on shifting sands. It begins as a missing persons case. This changes subtly when a man's body is hauled up in a fishing net, and then it becomes an all-out fight for survival. Fradkin does a superb job of jerking the rug out from under the reader. Just as I thought I had a grip on what was going on or who did what, Fradkin added another piece to the puzzle, everything shifted, and I found myself back at square one.
When I'm reading about a strong, intelligent woman who always tries to do the right thing, and this woman is in a superb natural setting with her best canine buddy, I love it when an author can keep me constantly reevaluating the evidence. Barbara Fradkin drew me right into the middle of her story and wouldn't let me leave. I certainly look forward to meeting Amanda again.
January 24, 2018
2.5. This book just needed a better editor. There are just a lot of little things that needed to be cleaned up and polished. There are a lot of similar descriptions in close proximity, especially with the softening of one's eyes.
I don't feel like I ever got a feel of any of the characters even though two of the characters were POVs. I want to say that I felt more of a connection with the very short POV of the ship captain and his family finding the dead body in their net than any of the main character's POV. Chris felt especially distant. I don't think we learned much more about him aside from country boy, had some kind of trauma, and he basically follows all of the rules when it almost seems like he shouldn't.
Paul's character annoyed me as well. We get this strange dissonance from Amanda who keeps describing him in one way before Nigeria, but because we never see him like this it made it really hard to care about him, especially when
I don't feel like I ever got a feel of any of the characters even though two of the characters were POVs. I want to say that I felt more of a connection with the very short POV of the ship captain and his family finding the dead body in their net than any of the main character's POV. Chris felt especially distant. I don't think we learned much more about him aside from country boy, had some kind of trauma, and he basically follows all of the rules when it almost seems like he shouldn't.
Paul's character annoyed me as well. We get this strange dissonance from Amanda who keeps describing him in one way before Nigeria, but because we never see him like this it made it really hard to care about him, especially when
June 10, 2021
After surviving a horrific trauma in Nigeria, international aid worker Amanda Doucette returns to Canada to rebuild her life and her shaken ideals. Upon returning home, she finds a fellow aide worker missing. Joining forces with a RCMP who is also her friend, Amanda begins the treacherous search for her fellow worker. Accompanied always by her faithful dog, Kaylee, Amanda's journey takes her across the rugged landscape of Newfoundland and beyond as she ends up fighting for her own survival.
I'm unsure if it is the amazing character development that Fradkin achieves with her writing or perhaps the stunning imagery of the Canadian landscape or, maybe, it's a combination of those plus the psychological drama of the terror in the rugged outdoors but, whatever it is, I was hooked from beginning to the end and continued all the way through the series. I love reading books that set in regions that are unfamiliar to me especially when the author makes those unfamiliar areas come alive as she does here. I highly recommend Fire in the Stars, as well as the entire Amanda Douchette series.
I'm unsure if it is the amazing character development that Fradkin achieves with her writing or perhaps the stunning imagery of the Canadian landscape or, maybe, it's a combination of those plus the psychological drama of the terror in the rugged outdoors but, whatever it is, I was hooked from beginning to the end and continued all the way through the series. I love reading books that set in regions that are unfamiliar to me especially when the author makes those unfamiliar areas come alive as she does here. I highly recommend Fire in the Stars, as well as the entire Amanda Douchette series.
January 20, 2022
Comincia bene anche se sottotono questo mystery/thriller ambientato nella provincia Canadese di Newfoundland, poi si allunga e si perde, si perde come il viaggio della protagonista nelle terre desolate del nord.
Amanda e Phil hanno deciso di andare in campeggio assieme nelle terre selvagge per riprendersi da un trauma che hanno vissuto assieme in Nigeria.
Phil non si presenta all'appuntamento e Amanda, alla ricerca di notizie, si presenta a casa di Phil , la cui moglie la accoglie con sospetto reputandola la causa iniziale del viaggio di Phil in Africa.
Phil è partito con il figlio 11enne e il resto del libro segue amanda (e una serie di personaggi comprimari) sulle tracce di Phil e dell'intricata quanto improbabile vicenda in cui è rimasto coinvolto.
Molte cose strane e improbabili ed una trama in cui sembra esserci "troppo" con il traffico umano a cui siamo abituati nel mediterraneo e dei curdi finiti in Canada per nave con un trafficante russo. Non convince, sembra surreale e le parti piacevoli del libro rimangono slegate dal contesto narrativo.
Amanda e Phil hanno deciso di andare in campeggio assieme nelle terre selvagge per riprendersi da un trauma che hanno vissuto assieme in Nigeria.
Phil non si presenta all'appuntamento e Amanda, alla ricerca di notizie, si presenta a casa di Phil , la cui moglie la accoglie con sospetto reputandola la causa iniziale del viaggio di Phil in Africa.
Phil è partito con il figlio 11enne e il resto del libro segue amanda (e una serie di personaggi comprimari) sulle tracce di Phil e dell'intricata quanto improbabile vicenda in cui è rimasto coinvolto.
Molte cose strane e improbabili ed una trama in cui sembra esserci "troppo" con il traffico umano a cui siamo abituati nel mediterraneo e dei curdi finiti in Canada per nave con un trafficante russo. Non convince, sembra surreale e le parti piacevoli del libro rimangono slegate dal contesto narrativo.
August 12, 2025
Spannendes Buch mit atmosphärischen Schilderungen der Landschaft Neufundlands. Eine ehemalige Entwicklungshelferin will mit einem früheren Kollegen eine Wanderung in die Wildnis unternehmen, um gemeinsam die Schrecken eines Milizüberfalls zu verarbeiten. Der Kollege wartet aber nicht am Treffpunkt, sondern ist mit seinem Sohn bereits los. Ein erweiterter suizid scheint möglich, so dass sie alles daran setzt, die beiden zu finden. Das ergibt eine spannende Handlung, die allerdings in Teilen unwahrscheinlich erscheint. Da der Verlag leider keine Karte der Gegend beigefügt hat, kann man sich nur schlecht orientieren. Mit einer Karte und etwas weniger Glück bei der Suche in endlosen Wäldern wäre es ein richtig gutes Buch.
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