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Montana Series #1
Burn You Twice
Fire can destroy the past. It can also uncover secrets in this novel of searing suspense by New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.
Ten years ago as an undergrad, Joan Mason escaped an arsonist’s fire. Shaken, she fled the small collegiate Montana town, leaving behind friends and not looking back. Now a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan’s trying to put her traumas to rest. It’s not easy. Elijah Weston, the classmate who torched her house, is out of prison and returning to Missoula. Gut instinct tells Joan he’ll strike again. To stop him, she must return to the past as well. To face not only the man she fears but Detective Gideon Bailey, too. The man she loved and left behind.
When a local woman dies tragically in another fire, it can’t be a coincidence. Can it be Elijah? He has a solid alibi for the night of the blaze. Reunited by the tragedy, Joan and Gideon have their doubts. So does Gideon’s sister, Ann—Joan’s old college roommate.
The investigation draws Joan and Gideon together, but it also sends them down a dangerous path—into a troubling history that Joan, Elijah, and Ann all share. As more lives go up in flames in Missoula, this town’s secrets are just beginning to rise from the ashes.
Ten years ago as an undergrad, Joan Mason escaped an arsonist’s fire. Shaken, she fled the small collegiate Montana town, leaving behind friends and not looking back. Now a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan’s trying to put her traumas to rest. It’s not easy. Elijah Weston, the classmate who torched her house, is out of prison and returning to Missoula. Gut instinct tells Joan he’ll strike again. To stop him, she must return to the past as well. To face not only the man she fears but Detective Gideon Bailey, too. The man she loved and left behind.
When a local woman dies tragically in another fire, it can’t be a coincidence. Can it be Elijah? He has a solid alibi for the night of the blaze. Reunited by the tragedy, Joan and Gideon have their doubts. So does Gideon’s sister, Ann—Joan’s old college roommate.
The investigation draws Joan and Gideon together, but it also sends them down a dangerous path—into a troubling history that Joan, Elijah, and Ann all share. As more lives go up in flames in Missoula, this town’s secrets are just beginning to rise from the ashes.
Audio CD
First published September 29, 2020
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About the author
Mary Burton
68 books4,103 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
August 13, 2021
romantic suspense is such a niche genre, i feel like. so not only is it difficult to find a book that falls under the category, but to find a book that fits the bill AND is actually good.
the story has to have the right balance between romance and suspense, with a convincing connection between the characters, as well as a thrilling plot. by combining two genres, i feel like twice as much is required to make it a well-written book and a story worth reading. its been a lot of trial and error finding such a book. and unfortunately, this one is leaning more towards error.
i didnt find any of the characters enjoyable. i didnt dislike any of them, but there was nothing about them that made want to connect with them. not to mention the romance is pretty dull. it definitely takes a back seat, and what little glimpses there are of it, its all tell, no show, which is a bummer. and while i did find the idea of the crime and investigation intriguing, i started to lose interest the longer it went on. maybe its just the way the author wrote about it, but i had no idea arson could be so boring.
overall, this wasnt quite what i was looking for, but i didnt hate it either. its good for what it is, i suppose.
↠ 3 stars
the story has to have the right balance between romance and suspense, with a convincing connection between the characters, as well as a thrilling plot. by combining two genres, i feel like twice as much is required to make it a well-written book and a story worth reading. its been a lot of trial and error finding such a book. and unfortunately, this one is leaning more towards error.
i didnt find any of the characters enjoyable. i didnt dislike any of them, but there was nothing about them that made want to connect with them. not to mention the romance is pretty dull. it definitely takes a back seat, and what little glimpses there are of it, its all tell, no show, which is a bummer. and while i did find the idea of the crime and investigation intriguing, i started to lose interest the longer it went on. maybe its just the way the author wrote about it, but i had no idea arson could be so boring.
overall, this wasnt quite what i was looking for, but i didnt hate it either. its good for what it is, i suppose.
↠ 3 stars
September 30, 2020
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I think by now it is no surprise that I love Mary Burton's books and I'm a huge fan of hers. Her stories never fail to deliver the best intrigue, passion, and mystery. Burn You Twice was just as amazing as I was expecting and I was captivated by the very start of this story. I actually guessed pretty early into the book at what would be revealed by the end but I still didn't lose any of the suspense. That's one of the things I love about Ms. Burton's stories, no matter when you guess the reveal or the murderer you will still have that mystery and fun reading experience of trying to figure out if you're theories are correct and if they are there's still a good chance you'll have some surprises along the way.
It was also very easy for me to fall in love with these characters and their lives so I'm really hoping we'll see more of them in the future. Bottom line, this was a brilliant book and one I definitely recommend reading.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
I think by now it is no surprise that I love Mary Burton's books and I'm a huge fan of hers. Her stories never fail to deliver the best intrigue, passion, and mystery. Burn You Twice was just as amazing as I was expecting and I was captivated by the very start of this story. I actually guessed pretty early into the book at what would be revealed by the end but I still didn't lose any of the suspense. That's one of the things I love about Ms. Burton's stories, no matter when you guess the reveal or the murderer you will still have that mystery and fun reading experience of trying to figure out if you're theories are correct and if they are there's still a good chance you'll have some surprises along the way.
It was also very easy for me to fall in love with these characters and their lives so I'm really hoping we'll see more of them in the future. Bottom line, this was a brilliant book and one I definitely recommend reading.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2021
3.5 Stars, rounded up.
Burn You Twice is free through Amazon Prime right now.
A decade ago, while Joan was in her final year of college in Montana, a fire burned down the house she’d been living in with her best friend, nearly killing them both. Joan is now a detective in Philadelphia but when she hears the news that the convicted arsonist is being released, she returns to Missoula for the first time since that night.
Get ready for even more fires, mystery, suspense, unexpected twists, and romance. (I could have done without the romance...)
I enjoyed reading about the friendship shared by Joan and Ann, and I have to say that what goes on in the mind of an arsonist was interesting - and scary! Joan's behavior stretched credibility more than once, in my opinion.
Burn You Twice is free through Amazon Prime right now.
A decade ago, while Joan was in her final year of college in Montana, a fire burned down the house she’d been living in with her best friend, nearly killing them both. Joan is now a detective in Philadelphia but when she hears the news that the convicted arsonist is being released, she returns to Missoula for the first time since that night.
Get ready for even more fires, mystery, suspense, unexpected twists, and romance. (I could have done without the romance...)
I enjoyed reading about the friendship shared by Joan and Ann, and I have to say that what goes on in the mind of an arsonist was interesting - and scary! Joan's behavior stretched credibility more than once, in my opinion.
August 11, 2021
Good except for the fact that the "bad guy" was completely obvious from the moment you were introduced to the person.
March 26, 2024
I've given this a C+ for narration and a B for content at AudioGals
I’ve read and listened to a number of Mary Burton’s romantic suspense titles, and have enjoyed their well-constructed plots, engaging characters and atmospheric writing. Burn You Twice is a standalone story, a gripping mystery with a bit of psychological suspense thrown in as listeners follow detective Joan Mason as she tries to find out the truth behind the arson attack that almost killed her and her best friend a decade earlier.
Not long after the fire, Joan left the small town in Montana where she grew up and went to live and work in Philadelphia. Now a homicide detective, she’s been put on a temporary suspension because she made an… unfortunate … arrest (her prime suspect was the daughter of a judge) while working an arson case, and decides to use that time go back to Missoula to see if she can finally get some answers to the questions about the night of the college fire that have continued to plague her over the intervening years.
It’s a fortunate coincidence for Joan that the beginning of her period of suspension coincides with the release from prison of Elijah Weston, the man convicted of setting that fire, and who has always, throughout ten years of incarceration, maintained his innocence. Unbeknownst to all, Joan has been corresponding with Weston for years, hoping he would eventually confess his guilt to her, but he never has; and now he’s been released, she’s convinced he’ll strike again and is determined to do whatever she can to stop that happening.
She’s only just arrived in town when a massive fire at a local beauty shop destroys the place completely – and the remains of a young woman are found amid the debris. Elijah Weston is the obvious suspect – but he has an iron-clad alibi for the night of the fire, and the extent of the destruction leaves the investigators very little to go on.
The author has crafted an intriguing story that moves at a good pace and has plenty of twists, turns and red herrings at the same time as it explores the relationships between Joan and some of the people she left behind when she fled to Philly. Her best friend, Ann is now the mother of a ten-year-old boy; she was pregnant at the time of the fire but didn’t know it, and married her long-term boyfriend, firefighter Clarke Mead, soon after Joan left. Even though they had been really close, their relationship dwindled to Christmas cards and the odd phone call, a situation probably not helped by the fact that when Joan ran out on Missoula and Ann, she also ran out on her boyfriend Gideon – Ann’s brother. All Joan really knows about Gideon is that he married another woman not long after Joan left, that he’s now a widower and he also has a ten-year-old son – and that he’s a detective in Missoula.
So Joan and Gideon team up (reluctantly at first on Gideon’s part) to investigate further and as they do so find themselves unexpectedly delving back into the history that they – and Ann and Elijah – share. And as they work to find the arsonist, Joan starts to question some of her long-held convictions – and she and Gideon begin to realise that ten years apart hasn’t lessened their mutual attraction or erased their feelings for one another.
The best thing about this book is the mystery and the author’s ability to slowly ratchet up the tension as the story proceeds. I liked most of the characters, although I never really warmed (!) to Joan and the most interesting and best developed of all is Elijah, who is an unsettling – and oddly captivating – mix of quirky and creepy.
On the downside, I had no trouble figuring out who the villain was and Gideon was pretty ineffectual as a hero; Joan seemed to take over the investigation even though she had no real authority; she put people in danger and broke rules which could have jeopardised a conviction. And speaking of Gideon and Joan, if you like your romantic suspense to have an actual romance in it, then this book is unlikely to work for you. Some of the reviews I’ve read were delighted there were no romance cooties all over it, but if you’re going to categorise a book as romantic suspense, then it’s misleading when there is NO romance until the last few pages, and even when there IS an attempt to include one, it’s so awkwardly unbelievable and obviously shoe-horned in at the last minute that I’d rather it hadn’t been there at all. Even more unbelievable is Joan’s last-minute (almost literally) one-eighty about returning to Montana, when previously she’d been all about getting away and back to her life in Philadelphia.
A quick search at Audible reveals that Melissa Moran has over 200 titles to her credit, but she’s new-to-me, and while her performance is more than decent, there were a couple of things that didn’t work that well for me. Her narration is perhaps a little on the slow side, but not so much that it was a problem, her voice is a comfortable-to-listen-to mezzo, and her character differentiation is good across the board, with believable male voices. Her vocal acting is pretty good, but occasionally – and this was mostly in the narrative – her articulation is very ‘deliberate’, so that she sounds almost robotic. It is particularly noticeable in phrases where the author does not use a contraction (see what I did there?); I know that narrators are often asked to reproduce the text with 100% accuracy, and perhaps that was the case here, but unfortunately, it’s detrimental to the listening experience because it sounds so unnatural. Another odd thing is the way Ms. Moran pronounces words with a “t” in them; instead of pronouncing the “t”, she inserts a glottal stop, so she pronounces the author’s last name as “Burʔen”, and that’s far from the only example. (Is this a characteristic of her accent maybe?)
So, the audiobook of Burn You Twice is a mixed bag with middling results. In spite of my criticisms of Joan and the lack of romance, I did enjoy the suspense story, and will probably read or listen to the sequel when it comes out in 2021. As for Melissa Moran – she wasn’t terrible by any means, and I may listen to her again, but I can’t say she’s going to make my list of go-to narrators just yet.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
I’ve read and listened to a number of Mary Burton’s romantic suspense titles, and have enjoyed their well-constructed plots, engaging characters and atmospheric writing. Burn You Twice is a standalone story, a gripping mystery with a bit of psychological suspense thrown in as listeners follow detective Joan Mason as she tries to find out the truth behind the arson attack that almost killed her and her best friend a decade earlier.
Not long after the fire, Joan left the small town in Montana where she grew up and went to live and work in Philadelphia. Now a homicide detective, she’s been put on a temporary suspension because she made an… unfortunate … arrest (her prime suspect was the daughter of a judge) while working an arson case, and decides to use that time go back to Missoula to see if she can finally get some answers to the questions about the night of the college fire that have continued to plague her over the intervening years.
It’s a fortunate coincidence for Joan that the beginning of her period of suspension coincides with the release from prison of Elijah Weston, the man convicted of setting that fire, and who has always, throughout ten years of incarceration, maintained his innocence. Unbeknownst to all, Joan has been corresponding with Weston for years, hoping he would eventually confess his guilt to her, but he never has; and now he’s been released, she’s convinced he’ll strike again and is determined to do whatever she can to stop that happening.
She’s only just arrived in town when a massive fire at a local beauty shop destroys the place completely – and the remains of a young woman are found amid the debris. Elijah Weston is the obvious suspect – but he has an iron-clad alibi for the night of the fire, and the extent of the destruction leaves the investigators very little to go on.
The author has crafted an intriguing story that moves at a good pace and has plenty of twists, turns and red herrings at the same time as it explores the relationships between Joan and some of the people she left behind when she fled to Philly. Her best friend, Ann is now the mother of a ten-year-old boy; she was pregnant at the time of the fire but didn’t know it, and married her long-term boyfriend, firefighter Clarke Mead, soon after Joan left. Even though they had been really close, their relationship dwindled to Christmas cards and the odd phone call, a situation probably not helped by the fact that when Joan ran out on Missoula and Ann, she also ran out on her boyfriend Gideon – Ann’s brother. All Joan really knows about Gideon is that he married another woman not long after Joan left, that he’s now a widower and he also has a ten-year-old son – and that he’s a detective in Missoula.
So Joan and Gideon team up (reluctantly at first on Gideon’s part) to investigate further and as they do so find themselves unexpectedly delving back into the history that they – and Ann and Elijah – share. And as they work to find the arsonist, Joan starts to question some of her long-held convictions – and she and Gideon begin to realise that ten years apart hasn’t lessened their mutual attraction or erased their feelings for one another.
The best thing about this book is the mystery and the author’s ability to slowly ratchet up the tension as the story proceeds. I liked most of the characters, although I never really warmed (!) to Joan and the most interesting and best developed of all is Elijah, who is an unsettling – and oddly captivating – mix of quirky and creepy.
On the downside, I had no trouble figuring out who the villain was and Gideon was pretty ineffectual as a hero; Joan seemed to take over the investigation even though she had no real authority; she put people in danger and broke rules which could have jeopardised a conviction. And speaking of Gideon and Joan, if you like your romantic suspense to have an actual romance in it, then this book is unlikely to work for you. Some of the reviews I’ve read were delighted there were no romance cooties all over it, but if you’re going to categorise a book as romantic suspense, then it’s misleading when there is NO romance until the last few pages, and even when there IS an attempt to include one, it’s so awkwardly unbelievable and obviously shoe-horned in at the last minute that I’d rather it hadn’t been there at all. Even more unbelievable is Joan’s last-minute (almost literally) one-eighty about returning to Montana, when previously she’d been all about getting away and back to her life in Philadelphia.
A quick search at Audible reveals that Melissa Moran has over 200 titles to her credit, but she’s new-to-me, and while her performance is more than decent, there were a couple of things that didn’t work that well for me. Her narration is perhaps a little on the slow side, but not so much that it was a problem, her voice is a comfortable-to-listen-to mezzo, and her character differentiation is good across the board, with believable male voices. Her vocal acting is pretty good, but occasionally – and this was mostly in the narrative – her articulation is very ‘deliberate’, so that she sounds almost robotic. It is particularly noticeable in phrases where the author does not use a contraction (see what I did there?); I know that narrators are often asked to reproduce the text with 100% accuracy, and perhaps that was the case here, but unfortunately, it’s detrimental to the listening experience because it sounds so unnatural. Another odd thing is the way Ms. Moran pronounces words with a “t” in them; instead of pronouncing the “t”, she inserts a glottal stop, so she pronounces the author’s last name as “Burʔen”, and that’s far from the only example. (Is this a characteristic of her accent maybe?)
So, the audiobook of Burn You Twice is a mixed bag with middling results. In spite of my criticisms of Joan and the lack of romance, I did enjoy the suspense story, and will probably read or listen to the sequel when it comes out in 2021. As for Melissa Moran – she wasn’t terrible by any means, and I may listen to her again, but I can’t say she’s going to make my list of go-to narrators just yet.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
September 29, 2020
Just when I thought that Mary Burton couldn’t get any better with her suspense thrillers, she proved me wrong by writing this book. It was a total thrill ride from the beginning to the satisfying conclusion! It includes a cast of characters that are a motley crew of suspects for current fires in the college town of Missoula, Montana. Joan Mason has left behind her job as a homicide detective in Philadelphia to return to Missoula when arsonist Elijah Weston is released from prison. Joan is determined to prove that Elijah is still setting fires and should not have been released. Joan also encounters her college sweetheart Gideon Bailey and her former roommate Ann. The interactions between the characters is absolutely electric! The entire book consumed me because the story was mesmerizing, with all kinds of twists and rabbit-hole leads. I enjoyed going along with Joan on her journey to discover the truth. My heart raced when more fires were set and more people were endangered or killed. I just wanted to find out who the fire bug was and why this seemed to be such a necessity for his/her life. Mary Burton is an absolute master of moving a story along quickly with action and descriptions that are as fiery as this book was. I highly recommend BURN YOU TWICE to anyone who loves suspense thrillers and who wants entertainment that will not disappoint or leave you hanging. I was actually sad to see the story end because I want more of Joan and the other inhabitants of the little town of Missoula, a town with a personality of its own. What a thrill ride you are getting on when you pick up this book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
July 28, 2021
Ten years ago, Joan Mason and her roommate survived an arson fire on their rented home. Their classmate, Elijah Weston, was arrested and convicted of the crime. When Joan learns that Elijah has recently been released from prison, she plans a trip to Montana to confront Elijah who has always sworn that he was innocent. Joan has just arrived in Montana and is staying with her former roommate Ann Bailey, when a new arson fire burns down a local business. When a body is found in the destruction, Detective Gideon Bailey, Joan's former boyfriend and Ann's brother, investigates. Both Gideon and Joan want to know if Elijah was behind this fire. She convinces Gideon to let her tag along and help him with the arson case.
I've read a handful of Mary Burton's books. This romantic suspense story was just okay. I guessed the killer immediately and continued reading the book to see if I was right and if the author gave the reader enough clues to deduce the villain. Thankfully she does.
Joan was not an easy person to like. She pushed her way into the investigation, sometimes finding clues but not passing them on to Gideon. Their relationship was tepid. I don't see them as a couple who would stay together. Overall, this story was mediocre, but I will try the next in the series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
I've read a handful of Mary Burton's books. This romantic suspense story was just okay. I guessed the killer immediately and continued reading the book to see if I was right and if the author gave the reader enough clues to deduce the villain. Thankfully she does.
Joan was not an easy person to like. She pushed her way into the investigation, sometimes finding clues but not passing them on to Gideon. Their relationship was tepid. I don't see them as a couple who would stay together. Overall, this story was mediocre, but I will try the next in the series. My rating: 3.5 Stars.
October 1, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was a very enjoyable police procedural sort of story around arsons. Joan is on leave from her job in Philadelphia and goes out to Montana where she attended college. She left after a fire and the convicted arsonist, Elijah, is getting out of prison now. She learns a lot of interesting things about her old roommate, Ann, Elijah, and her old boyfriend, Gideon.
There is a new fire right after she, and Elijah, arrive in town. Gideon and Joan, both police detectives start researching the fire. There are some other fires and a variety of diverse evidence. Gideon and Joan each have different perspectives which makes the investigation fascinating. Joan has the advantage of looking at things with a fresh view having been out of the town for 10 years. She also has some big city arson case experience.
I worried some for both Joan and Ann as possible targets of the arsonist. They each took some chances with being independent. They both have some issues from the college days fire to work through.
Joan and Gideon still have feelings for each other. I was happy to see them working together without romance becoming the focus of Burn You Twice. I wonder if there will be another book because there is still something happening in town.
Narration:
This narrator was new to me and she had some words she enunciated very distinctly, like beauty. That caused a tiny disruption in listening. Her male and female voices were comfortable, though. I did end up listening at 1.25x speed, which is a little slower than normal.
Listen to a clip: https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-aud...
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was a very enjoyable police procedural sort of story around arsons. Joan is on leave from her job in Philadelphia and goes out to Montana where she attended college. She left after a fire and the convicted arsonist, Elijah, is getting out of prison now. She learns a lot of interesting things about her old roommate, Ann, Elijah, and her old boyfriend, Gideon.
There is a new fire right after she, and Elijah, arrive in town. Gideon and Joan, both police detectives start researching the fire. There are some other fires and a variety of diverse evidence. Gideon and Joan each have different perspectives which makes the investigation fascinating. Joan has the advantage of looking at things with a fresh view having been out of the town for 10 years. She also has some big city arson case experience.
I worried some for both Joan and Ann as possible targets of the arsonist. They each took some chances with being independent. They both have some issues from the college days fire to work through.
Joan and Gideon still have feelings for each other. I was happy to see them working together without romance becoming the focus of Burn You Twice. I wonder if there will be another book because there is still something happening in town.
Narration:
This narrator was new to me and she had some words she enunciated very distinctly, like beauty. That caused a tiny disruption in listening. Her male and female voices were comfortable, though. I did end up listening at 1.25x speed, which is a little slower than normal.
Listen to a clip: https://soundcloud.com/brilliance-aud...
October 20, 2020
Oooooh, I love a good mystery! Especially in the month of October. Spooky season is halfway through and it would not be complete without the incomparable Mary Burton. Released back in September, Burn You Twice brings Joan Mason back to her small Montana town. Time has passed and the person she is now will help solve not only a current case but possibly traumas from her past.
Burn You Twice is a thrilling suspense novel sure to set the reader's imagination on fire! Perfect for keeping you warm as the nights get progressively colder this fall.
~Tanja
*Thank you to Montlake Publishing and Amazon Publishing for sending this my way!
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April 7, 2021
Burn You Twice was a fast-paced read with a suspenseful and intriguing plot about the past coming back to haunt you.
Ten years ago Joan Mason barely escaped an arsonist's fire with her life, fleeing the small Montana town she called home and never looking back. Now a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan learns the man who set fire to her home has been released from prison and has returned to Missoula. Knowing Elijah Weston will strike again, Joan returns to Montana to stop him forcing her to confront all she left behind including Gideon Bailey, the man she loved. After a local woman dies in a terrible fire, Joan and Gideon work together to uncover who is responsible. When Elijah appears to have a solid alibi, the two expand their search sending them down a dangerous path they may not survive.
The fires proved to be an intriguing plotline as while there's initially a lot of evidence to suggest Elijah is responsible, it quickly becomes apparent that may not be the case. I liked how the author used POV changes to keep the killer's identity hidden. Soon after Joan and Gideon agree to work together, they begin to link other fires in the area that may have been set by the killer, meaning the person responsible may have been at this a lot longer than they thought. After the fires begin to be set closer and closer to Joan, it becomes clear she is once again a target. With time running out, her and Gideon must dig into the past and the original fire to determine who has it out for Joan. I will say I figured out who was behind the fires long before their identity was revealed. But I still liked how the reveal was done and found the ending to be suspenseful and action-packed.
Joan was an interesting character from the start and the college fire definitely shaped her into who she is in present day. After the fire, Joan moved back to Philadelphia and became a cop. But she didn't just become a cop, she became a homicide detective who specialized in arson. I liked that Joan took a bad experience from her past and turned it into a strength. But despite mostly overcoming what happened to her, Joan does still have moments where she struggles which I appreciated as it made her more relatable. I enjoyed Joan's connection to Gideon and I liked that while initially wary of trusting each other again, they were able to overcome that to work together. Throughout the book we get some great moments between the two plus I'm a huge fan of a second chance romance. But overall their romance was a very slow burn and doesn't really materialize until close to the end of the book. So for readers looking for a more suspense focused novel than a romance focused one, this book would work very well.
Overall Burn You Twice was a fantastic read and I'm looking forward to reading Ann's story, Gideon's sister, in Near You soon.
Ten years ago Joan Mason barely escaped an arsonist's fire with her life, fleeing the small Montana town she called home and never looking back. Now a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan learns the man who set fire to her home has been released from prison and has returned to Missoula. Knowing Elijah Weston will strike again, Joan returns to Montana to stop him forcing her to confront all she left behind including Gideon Bailey, the man she loved. After a local woman dies in a terrible fire, Joan and Gideon work together to uncover who is responsible. When Elijah appears to have a solid alibi, the two expand their search sending them down a dangerous path they may not survive.
The fires proved to be an intriguing plotline as while there's initially a lot of evidence to suggest Elijah is responsible, it quickly becomes apparent that may not be the case. I liked how the author used POV changes to keep the killer's identity hidden. Soon after Joan and Gideon agree to work together, they begin to link other fires in the area that may have been set by the killer, meaning the person responsible may have been at this a lot longer than they thought. After the fires begin to be set closer and closer to Joan, it becomes clear she is once again a target. With time running out, her and Gideon must dig into the past and the original fire to determine who has it out for Joan. I will say I figured out who was behind the fires long before their identity was revealed. But I still liked how the reveal was done and found the ending to be suspenseful and action-packed.
Joan was an interesting character from the start and the college fire definitely shaped her into who she is in present day. After the fire, Joan moved back to Philadelphia and became a cop. But she didn't just become a cop, she became a homicide detective who specialized in arson. I liked that Joan took a bad experience from her past and turned it into a strength. But despite mostly overcoming what happened to her, Joan does still have moments where she struggles which I appreciated as it made her more relatable. I enjoyed Joan's connection to Gideon and I liked that while initially wary of trusting each other again, they were able to overcome that to work together. Throughout the book we get some great moments between the two plus I'm a huge fan of a second chance romance. But overall their romance was a very slow burn and doesn't really materialize until close to the end of the book. So for readers looking for a more suspense focused novel than a romance focused one, this book would work very well.
Overall Burn You Twice was a fantastic read and I'm looking forward to reading Ann's story, Gideon's sister, in Near You soon.
October 1, 2020
10.1.20- ETA a detail I forgot. :)
What worked for me:
1) The engaging storytelling style of Mary Burton.
2) The mystery was solid and the suspense was thrilling without giving me nightmares.
3) A heroine who isn't a puddle of hormonal goo around her ex.
4) There was no intimate scenes which I really appreciate.
What didn't work for me:
1) I'd forgotten that I need to stop reading this author's book hoping for a good romance. This was not good at all. I don't know why the heroine decided to give the hero another shot. He treated her like all the other women in his life. I didn't feel like she was special to him at all.
2) The Bailey siblings: the hero and his sister. Safety
3) The identity of the perpetrator was a little easy to guess.
4) The heroine, of course, hasn't had a regular relationship since she broke things off with the hero. She does have hookups, rather often, it seems, but that's it.
Overall, I just need to remember not to read this author's work for romance and then I think I'll be ok. :)
What worked for me:
1) The engaging storytelling style of Mary Burton.
2) The mystery was solid and the suspense was thrilling without giving me nightmares.
3) A heroine who isn't a puddle of hormonal goo around her ex.
4) There was no intimate scenes which I really appreciate.
What didn't work for me:
1) I'd forgotten that I need to stop reading this author's book hoping for a good romance. This was not good at all. I don't know why the heroine decided to give the hero another shot. He treated her like all the other women in his life. I didn't feel like she was special to him at all.
2) The Bailey siblings: the hero and his sister. Safety
3) The identity of the perpetrator was a little easy to guess.
4) The heroine, of course, hasn't had a regular relationship since she broke things off with the hero. She does have hookups, rather often, it seems, but that's it.
Overall, I just need to remember not to read this author's work for romance and then I think I'll be ok. :)
August 10, 2020
A slight change of direction for Mary Burton. This time the story is about arson, death and the twisted mind of the person who sets the fires and their glee as the fire takes on a life of its own.
Joan Mason, Philadelphia Detective, is suspended from duty for her mishandling of a case. At the same time she receives word that Elijah Weston, a convicted arsonist who was jailed for 10 years for setting fire to the house where Joan and her best friend Ann were sleeping, is being released. Joan reluctantly decides to go back to Montana to find the truth as Elijah is still denying setting the fire, even writing to Joan denying his involvement. Once Joan arrives, more fires are started and people begin to die and suspicion falls naturally on Elijah. Joan joins forces with her ex lover Gideon Bailey (much against his will) and together they set out to find the arsonist as yet more people die.
I enjoyed this book, twists and turns abound and there are disturbing insights into the mind of a deranged killer
Joan Mason, Philadelphia Detective, is suspended from duty for her mishandling of a case. At the same time she receives word that Elijah Weston, a convicted arsonist who was jailed for 10 years for setting fire to the house where Joan and her best friend Ann were sleeping, is being released. Joan reluctantly decides to go back to Montana to find the truth as Elijah is still denying setting the fire, even writing to Joan denying his involvement. Once Joan arrives, more fires are started and people begin to die and suspicion falls naturally on Elijah. Joan joins forces with her ex lover Gideon Bailey (much against his will) and together they set out to find the arsonist as yet more people die.
I enjoyed this book, twists and turns abound and there are disturbing insights into the mind of a deranged killer
October 12, 2021
3.5 stars. The mystery part of this one was interesting enough but I feel like the author tried to tie up a romantic happily ever after at the end way too quickly. It felt inauthentic and kinda soured the whole book for me. I'm good with romantic suspense but the romance here just really felt like an afterthought and it wasn't necessary in the first place.
October 31, 2020
The mystery was really good and I like Joan- she is a strong lady. Gideon was ok, but I really didn’t like their past together.
May 2, 2021
Great mystery/suspense, with an awesome romance woven in!! I figured out the villain pretty early but it was still fun to see how it all unraveled.
September 29, 2020
"Burn You Twice" is a compelling read from a master of suspense--author Mary Burton. Readers are taken on an involving thrill ride as this well-paced story grabs hold and doesn't let go--even after the last page is turned. After surviving an arson fire which nearly took her life and the life of her college roommate, Ann, Joan Mason had left Missoula, Montana behind. Ten years later, while working as a Philadelphia homicide detective, Joan receives word that Elijah Weston, the man convicted of setting the fire that she and Ann so narrowly escaped, is being released from prison. Temporarily on suspension due to her intense involvement with a current controversial arson-murder case, Joan follows her instincts and heads back to Montana. She is reunited with her friend, Ann, and with Ann's brother, Detective Gideon Bailey, who had been Joan;s sweetheart. When the arsonist strikes again, Joan and Gideon are drawn together by old feelings and new dangers. Are the fires the work of the obvious suspect, or is there a new evil to be feared? Author Mary Burton is a must-read for lovers of thrilling romantic suspense. Her extensive research in police procedure and crime scene investigation and her captivating characterizations make for page-turning, all-in-one-sitting reads. Highly recommended.
Book Copy Gratis Author
Book Copy Gratis Author
October 15, 2020
Hmm... I have mixed feelings for this one. When I read the synopsis I did not hesitate to get the audiobook but it wasn’t as suspenseful as I expected it to be. There were moments where I would find myself dazing out because of how slow scenes were moving and sometimes I thought the book was going to take a different direction.
I did rather enjoy how certain facts were dropped out of nowhere for the element of shock. And I also appreciate the “confessions of an arsonist” scenes. Those were some of the moments I would find myself so deep into the book I would stop what I’m doing just to listen.
I wish we would’ve gotten more on Gideon and Joan, personally I need more depth with them.
And Elijah.... I have so many questions...
The book come together pretty well at the end but, I felt certain things were left unanswered. Nevertheless, I was interested enough to the point where I couldn’t press pause, I finished the audiobook in one seating.
I did rather enjoy how certain facts were dropped out of nowhere for the element of shock. And I also appreciate the “confessions of an arsonist” scenes. Those were some of the moments I would find myself so deep into the book I would stop what I’m doing just to listen.
I wish we would’ve gotten more on Gideon and Joan, personally I need more depth with them.
And Elijah.... I have so many questions...
The book come together pretty well at the end but, I felt certain things were left unanswered. Nevertheless, I was interested enough to the point where I couldn’t press pause, I finished the audiobook in one seating.
August 5, 2020
A scorching suspense with a side of psychological thriller. Fire is front and center in this book. From how it effects the survivors, to those it kills and how the arsonist mind is obsessed with it. This was a captivating read that is so much more than just a suspense novel.
December 18, 2020
Please tell me
Please Amazon, tell me how to get this stupid thing to exit a book without forcing me to write a review
Please Amazon, tell me how to get this stupid thing to exit a book without forcing me to write a review
August 6, 2022
It was ok. The characters kind of lacked depth. Their interactions, feelings and trauma seemed perfunctory. But it was enjoyable.
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January 24, 2021
4 stars!
*
Burn You Twice was an interesting read! The beginning packed quite a punch and set the tone for the rest of the story. I'd never read a mystery novel where fires were the central point of the plot, but I quite liked how Burton used them to set things in motion.
Joan and Gideon were complex and intriguing characters. I loved that they had a previous personal connection and how that affected their interactions and the rest of the plot. The romance really really wasn't the focus of the book, but the layer of tension between them worked so well to balance out the conflicts regarding the investigation.
With the plot, I did guess pretty early on who was behind everything? I'm not sure if it was because it was really obvious or because I was just suspicious lol It really didn't bother me and it was fun to read along and connect even more evidence to see if I was right.
One thing I loved throughout was that Burton made sure to establish threads involving Elijah that will be explored in the next book. I was so curious about him as a character and I cannot wait to see what will come of him being back to Montana!
*
Series: #1 in the Montana series.
POV: Told mostly from Joan and Gideon's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: No steamy scenes.
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: Near You.
*
"Long time no see. Sorry it took me so long."
Burn You Twice was an interesting read! The beginning packed quite a punch and set the tone for the rest of the story. I'd never read a mystery novel where fires were the central point of the plot, but I quite liked how Burton used them to set things in motion.
Joan and Gideon were complex and intriguing characters. I loved that they had a previous personal connection and how that affected their interactions and the rest of the plot. The romance really really wasn't the focus of the book, but the layer of tension between them worked so well to balance out the conflicts regarding the investigation.
With the plot, I did guess pretty early on who was behind everything? I'm not sure if it was because it was really obvious or because I was just suspicious lol It really didn't bother me and it was fun to read along and connect even more evidence to see if I was right.
One thing I loved throughout was that Burton made sure to establish threads involving Elijah that will be explored in the next book. I was so curious about him as a character and I cannot wait to see what will come of him being back to Montana!
*
Series: #1 in the Montana series.
POV: Told mostly from Joan and Gideon's POVs.
Content Warnings:
Instalove:
Steam: No steamy scenes.
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
Cliffhanger: No.
HEA:
Up Next: Near You.
February 16, 2021
This book was a scorching' hot ON FIRE read for me!!! I have really enjoyed every book of Mary Burton's that I have read and Burn You Twice was no exception!
Boy fire did seem to gravitate toward the main character Joan. Fire is the subject that is front and center throughout this entire book, from the affects the fire has on it's victims (LASTING, LIFELONG), to the way it grabs and captures the arsonists, to the way it affects the community.
THAT ENDING....I never saw that coming. The whodunit, a few different characters crossed my mind a time or two throughout the book, but I kind of just laughed at myself when I thought about it, so when I read/listened to the ending, it left my mouth hanging wide open. I may have even had to manually shut it! This type of books are the books that I live to read! The ones that keep you guessing clear until the end, the ones that make you laugh when you think of the outcome, only for that outcome to really happen!
I was super impressed by the narrator, Melissa Moran. I don't recall ever listening to her before, but I can assure you that I'll look out for her in future books after this one! She really made wrapped this book up in a nice little bow!
Overall, Mary Burton does it again!! I can't wait to read her next book!!
Boy fire did seem to gravitate toward the main character Joan. Fire is the subject that is front and center throughout this entire book, from the affects the fire has on it's victims (LASTING, LIFELONG), to the way it grabs and captures the arsonists, to the way it affects the community.
THAT ENDING....I never saw that coming. The whodunit, a few different characters crossed my mind a time or two throughout the book, but I kind of just laughed at myself when I thought about it, so when I read/listened to the ending, it left my mouth hanging wide open. I may have even had to manually shut it! This type of books are the books that I live to read! The ones that keep you guessing clear until the end, the ones that make you laugh when you think of the outcome, only for that outcome to really happen!
I was super impressed by the narrator, Melissa Moran. I don't recall ever listening to her before, but I can assure you that I'll look out for her in future books after this one! She really made wrapped this book up in a nice little bow!
Overall, Mary Burton does it again!! I can't wait to read her next book!!
Read
August 20, 2020Received an ARC of book in exchange for an honest review. This author of one of my favorites. Detective Joan Mason goes back to Montana and the friends she left behind, 10 years ago after the College Fire which almost took her and Ann Bailey's lives. The arsonist, Elijah Weston, has always proclaimed his innocence even tough traces of his DNA was found at the scene of the arson. Ann is currently separated from Clarke, her firefighter husband and is staying at her parents' ranch with their son Nate. Shortly after Joan's arrival and Elijahs' release from prison, an arson fire destroys the Beau- T- Shop. There is a fatality with one of the stylists inside. Was she the arsonist or was Elijah working with someone else? Meeting back up with Gideon, her ex-boyfriend and Ann's brother is tension filled but Joan is determined to figure out Elijah's agenda and hopefully find the current arsonist. It seems Joan's arrival has stirred up the arsonist, as the shed in Ann's back yard is burnt down. Also, in checking into recent past fires, a pattern appears. Clarke becomes angry and tries to get Joan to go back to Philadelphia, but she moves to Gideon's instead where this mystery is finally solved. This is a good story with many twists and turns with a surprise ending. I give it a 4 1/2 star rating. A must read for fans of Mary Burton.
November 5, 2020
This was a good book with lots of interesting characters. Joan probably stayed a little bit too stubborn and independent for my liking. I thought she needed to soften a bit more to make me appreciate that she and Gideon ended up back together.
I worked out the bad guy very early on, and while I can appreciate that no one thought of him as a suspect, I thought it was at least obvious that Elijah wasn't the one they wanted. They kept either trying to make evidence fit with him that didn't fit or kept ignoring important bits of information because it didn't fit the theory that he was the one. Not exactly good police work but a bit understandable given the circumstances.
Overall it was a little less about the police investigation about more about everyone's personal feelings/struggles. Many would probably like it for that, but I prefer some of Burton's other books.
I worked out the bad guy very early on, and while I can appreciate that no one thought of him as a suspect, I thought it was at least obvious that Elijah wasn't the one they wanted. They kept either trying to make evidence fit with him that didn't fit or kept ignoring important bits of information because it didn't fit the theory that he was the one. Not exactly good police work but a bit understandable given the circumstances.
Overall it was a little less about the police investigation about more about everyone's personal feelings/struggles. Many would probably like it for that, but I prefer some of Burton's other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2021
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; FEBRUARY 18, 2021
Narrator: Melissa Moran
I went in with low expecations after reading Jennifer's review but turns out the things that bothered her didn't bother me.
I liked that the romance was firmly in the background and the focus remained on the murder mystery and suspense at all times. Though the book ends with an HFN for Joan and Gideon, I never had to deal with the couple's hormones or UST. The suspense/mystery thread was engaging, as was Elijah, the man believed to be behind the fires, and who had just been released from prison.
I'm looking forward to the second book, Near You.
Narrator: Melissa Moran
I went in with low expecations after reading Jennifer's review but turns out the things that bothered her didn't bother me.
I liked that the romance was firmly in the background and the focus remained on the murder mystery and suspense at all times. Though the book ends with an HFN for Joan and Gideon, I never had to deal with the couple's hormones or UST. The suspense/mystery thread was engaging, as was Elijah, the man believed to be behind the fires, and who had just been released from prison.
I'm looking forward to the second book, Near You.
January 7, 2022
I’ve been a fan of Burton for many years. Love the mix of romance and suspense she adds. Has the perfect flair. This one I pegged the villain pretty early on but I always enjoy when I sleuth it myself. Loved reading about fires and Joan and Ann’s decades’ long friendship and the rekindled romance of Joan and Gideon.
March 24, 2023
Still one of my favorite authors
January 27, 2025
A formular book but been a long time since I read one so I really enjoyed it. Easy to read and simple story.
October 3, 2020
Outstanding!
Another Mary Burton novel that is absolutely outstanding!
Every one of her books I have read have been attention grabbing, and fast paced. UnPutDownAble!!!!
Another Mary Burton novel that is absolutely outstanding!
Every one of her books I have read have been attention grabbing, and fast paced. UnPutDownAble!!!!
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