Fire and Fog

Fremont Jones #2

by Dianne Day

"With her independent spirit and youthful determination, Miss Jones is virtually invincible," raved The New York Times Book Review upon meeting Dianne Day's spunky and appealing new heroine in her debut, The Strange Files of Fremont Jones. Now Fremont Jones returns, awakened by a terrible rumbling, and nearly crushed by a falling armoire, to find herself in the midst of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.

In the confusion and devastation that ensues, Fremont volunteers for the Red Cross, and learns to drive an automobile to transport supplies and handsome doctors, sparking romances along the way. Her sleuthing cohort, the elusive Michael Archer, vanishes, leaving Fremont alone to sleuth the mysteries uncovered by the earthquake and to wrestle with her romantic feelings for Michael. A smuggler's cache unearthed by the disaster leads Fremont straight into danger: kidnapped by murderous Ninjas, Fremont must find her way to safety—thwarted at every turn, as even friends become suspect. Alone Fremont picks her way through the menacing ruins of San Francisco and narrowly escapes with her life.

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Cozy

257 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1996

About the author

Dianne Day was born in Mississippi in 1938.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of torn on this one. Fremont stumbles upon several mysteries in this one, but is, understandably, entirely caught up with the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire so there's not all that much of an attempt to solve anything. Well, she puts a great deal of effort into solving one mystery, which gives her the answer to a mystery that she didn't know existed until she solved it. I guess this whole book was something like a mystery slight-of-hand.

Overall, not bad. But I was getting a little annoyed with Fremont's obliviousness to danger, both to herself and to those around her. She's so caught up in wanting to be independent and not accepting the charity of friends that she tends to do stupid things.

[Sarah Sunshine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I mean when you forget that you’re reading a “mystery” book because Fremont is “dodging” all the men falling in love with her, this rating is only fair. The fact that she acts like such a child aka her “stubbornness” and I just realized it not worth wasting my time leaving a review.

If you read it, you’ll get it

[Kristina Coop-a-Loop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire and Fog by Dianne Day, the second book in the Fremont Jones Mystery series, is not bad. It’s short and zippy and kept me entertained. The mystery is kind of so-so, but the book is so short (257 small paperback pages) that I didn’t fuss about that too much. I was looking for a somewhat intelligent, entertaining novel and Fire and Fog satisfied that.

Fremont Jones is violently woken up one morning by yet another San Francisco earthquake. However, this one is different—much more widespread and devastating than any in the past and it results in a massive fire that destroys much of San Francisco. With the help of her mysterious friend Michael Archer, Fremont is able to move her personal belongings from both her office and her apartment before the fire sweeps into the area and burns up everything. While Fremont is volunteering for the Red Cross, she runs into a former client, a woman named Alice Lasley. Alice is hurt and confused and Fremont takes care of her, which leads Alice to offer Fremont a place to stay in her home. Grateful, Fremont moves in and sets up her typewriting business in her new rooms. However, Fremont is disturbed by Alice’s behavior and thinks she is lying about having a husband and soon it’s clear that someone doesn’t like Alice—or Fremont—and is doing their best to scare the women. Undaunted, Freemont pursues answers, even though it becomes it clear the answers are endangering her life.

Fremont is a likeable and brave heroine. She’s very young (22, 23) and headstrong so I’ll give her some leeway when she makes dumb decisions and isn’t as cautious as she should be. But I like her determination to be independent and make her way in the world. I also enjoy the early 20th century San Francisco setting. It is easy to forget that certain technologies don’t exist yet because even the lowly flashlight would have been helpful for her nighttime investigating. There are actually two separate mysteries in this novel and the answer to at least one of them was rather slapdash and not very well thought out. The first mystery is the disappearance of the Sorensons, the couple whom she rented her office space from. When Fremont looks for them, she discovers crates of Oriental jeweled daggers, clearly smuggled into the United States. That is dropped for the mystery of Alice Lasley and her lies and expensive home and clothes. This second mystery is solved in a way that makes sense (although it’s left up to the reader to decide if Alice had a male partner or not), but the first mystery is rather hastily finished up with ninjas and double-dealing Irishmen. Not a lot of thought went into that one.

Fire and Fog is the second in this series and I’d say if you didn’t read the first one (The Strange Files of Fremont Jones) you may be left puzzled by some aspects of the characters’ lives and relationships because Day doesn’t provide any summations of past events. So, definitely read these novels in order. I enjoyed this novel and the shenanigans of Freemont enough to continue reading the series. If you like female sleuths and early 1900s San Francisco mysteries with merely a hint of romance (no heaving bosoms or extensive love blah blah blah), you may enjoy this series.

[Minh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's the sign of a well written mystery novel, when the mystery is subtle and not in the form of a dead body which the main character just happens to stumble upon.

Bringing back Fremont Jones, the story is featured during the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. With her home destroyed Fremont temporarily sets up a new office with a previous client, Alice whom she stumbles upon while driving for the Red Cross.

Anonymous threats lefts at her doorstop, amorous suiters who refuse to take no for an answer, the mysterious deaths of her previous landlords the Sorensons, ninjas? Ok, the last one was a little over the top but I respected Fremont throughout the book and lauded her decisions.

Dianne Day has done a very smooth job of integrating real life events with this series in a way that keeps the momentum going, easily setting up the next few novels.

[Goose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in Fremont Jones Mystery series by Dianne Day. This time typist and amateur sleuth Fremont Jones not only has a couple of mysteries to solve but she must do so in the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. What happened to the owners of the building in which Fremont had her professional typist office? Why did they have so many odd things hidden the building which the earthquake uncovers? Who is the mysterious woman that Fremont finds wandering the streets after the earthquake? Who is telling the truth? Who is out to harm her? Again Day gives Fremont more men who find her unbearably attractive and compelling and who feel the need to protect her from the world. In 1906 that probably was the case with many men. Still it makes for a "romance novel" edge to this book which at times was almost laughable. Over all though, this book, even more than the first Fremont Jones book, was so fast paced and Fremont such an interesting and fun character that I didn't mind the fawning men or the mysteries that at times just seemed inconsequential. Not only is Fremont a great character but Day surrounds her with well drawn supporting characters who at times may be cliche, but are still enjoyable. Maybe it's the well thought out period details that make this book work for me. Not sure but still a fun read and well worth the read if you like your period mysteries to have a bit of romance mixed in.

[Cyn McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

San Francisco has been struck by what must be the biggest earthquake on record, and the city is burning. Fremont becomes a transport driver for the Red Cross, looks for her missing landlady among the homeless in Golden Gate Park, and tries to help a bewildered but affluent young woman. She is also pursued romantically by (a) a young and handsome doctor, (b) a young and handsome Army private, (c) the not-so-young but still handsome Michael, and, not so romantically, (d) Ninjas.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so, still not the most amazing of books, but I really love this one anyway. It takes place during the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and I just love the setting so much. And, of course, still love that mysterious Michael Archer!
—————
Reread: Sooooooo, there are definitely parts of this book that have not aged well. And I had totally forgotten about the love…square? Yes, there are three different dudes following Fremont around, so love square seems accurate. Also, reading this as a middle-aged woman (I think when I last read it I was probably still in my twenties), I find I have way less patience and understanding for Fremont’s behavior than I used to. She seems…kinda dumb most of the time.

But! I still enjoyed it anyway for all it’s ridiculousness, ha!

[Green Turquoise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare to find the second book in the series to be better than the first, but I loved it even more. How is that possible? Great characters, gripping narrative, careful research, interesting mystery and engaging characters that you respect and understand. Plus social commentary on the times, an intricate but clear plot and a romantic subplot. This book is just sheer fun!

Fremont Jones is an amazing woman character, you will find yourself rooting for her and looking forward to more!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun book in this series about Freemont Jones a victorian woman making her way in San Francisco and solving mysteries to boot. In this book the mystery centers around a series of events related to the great SF earthquake. Interesting little bits of history add to the fun.

[RachelAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the main character, and I relished the description of life during and just after The Great Quake. However, the mystery seemed a bit too convoluted in its solution to me this time.

[Chazzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fremont Jones— an unusual name for a woman, but then it was an unusual time and place — San Francisco in 1906.

Fremont has her own business, a typing service, and is doing fine but the San Francisco earthquake changes all that. She salvages her typewriter from the ruins of her business and her few possessions from where she lives.

While salvaging what she could at her office, she notices a broken crate in a store room. The contents were items you’d expect to see in a museum. Why would her landlords have such items? Smuggling? This is the beginning to some very strange happenings in Fremont’s life.

She takes up an offer of a place to live from a woman she had done some typing for in the past. What the woman presents as her life turns out to not be actually true.

Fremont also helps her friend, Meiling Li, search for a pouch of perarls that are somewhere in the ruins of her family home. A gift from her grandfather she plans to use to finance a college education and provide an independent life for herself. It is a dangerous project, given the looters that are about.

Fremont is a fan of Sherlock Holmes and patterns her investigative style after him. She still manages to get herself in some bad situations, even when she tries to be logical.
It’s an enjoyable read with an interesting cast of characters, interesting setting and a touch of romance and humour.

[Jennifer Klenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes this book memorable is that the characters experience and live through the San Francisco earthquake and the fires that followed and destroyed most of the city. Fremont relocates to a tent in a park and learns to drive an auto so she can assist the Red Cross efforts to care for people after the earthquake. She has lost virtually everything but her typewriter. As before her friendliness serves her both well and ill and plunges her into a mystery. However the book is dominated by people trying to survive this disaster and that is what is most interesting. Another book that tackles this in the mystery genre is Locked Rooms by Laurie King. The mystery in Laurie Kingʻs book has so much more tension and you really really want to know what happened, whereas with Fremont Jones it is all "lighter" at least where the mystery is concerned. And to me that was fine. I was in the headspace to want to read something not very demanding before bed each night. This fit the bill perfectly.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting historical touches about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Fires in the aftermath. Other than that, this was such a wildly improbable story that even knowing it was fiction, I could not suspend my disbelief. I am afraid that's it for me on this series.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting but slow moving. My mind kept wandering and thinking about other books. I ended up stopping to read two other books before finishing this one. It finally picked up at the end and I was glad.

[Lori Tart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fremont is back and in the middle of the San Francisco earthquake. I found it so interesting to see how people reacted before, during, and after the quake. Humanity and sympathy/empathy are rife among those affected and the mystery isn't half bad either.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect start to the power relax. And I learned about the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco and the fire that ravaged the city afterwards.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the descriptions of life in San Francisco after the earthquake and fire of 1906. Much more mysterious goings on in this one.

[Livia Komosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the series. Like the setting and Freemont is entertaining.

[Mica P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Mkotch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting setting - right after the earthquake and fires in San Francisco, 1906. Fun characters, too. I hope to read the rest of the series.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series is getting better - still some mixing of genres, but the character development is coming along nicely!

[Zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

simple but fun little read

[Wise Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this gem of a book in a pile of withdrawn books at the library. I see it is the second book in the Fremont Jones series, so I missed some backstory.

Fremont is a cross between Kinsey Millhone of Sue Grafton's books, and Sherlock Holmes of Arthur Doyle's books. A smart, practical, way ahead-of-her-time, unconventional, amateur sleuth! She has guts, along with a witty sense of humor.

I once lost track of time reading this for an hour, as I couldn't put it down. She kind of reminds me of Dr. Quinn, from the 90's TV shows about a woman doctor from the East who goes West to make a life of her own.

Fremont is from the East as well, and she has her own business---in 1906 San Francisco not long after the quake. Her Chinese friend is also unconventional, determined to be independent---defying her family's wishes. VERY DARING and dangerous, in a way, for that time.

As for the mystery, things did not tie together the way I thought they would. Some things had nothing to do with the mystery at all, and mistaken identity played a part. Also, the culprit really shocked me, as I never suspected him at all!!! Quite a few red herrings in this one, so enjoy the ride and try not to think about how this ties in. It usually does not!

I found the ending a bit rushed, like Day has to hurry up and solve this mystery/crime. Still, after reading this, I want more of Fremont Jones!!! Someday I'm going to read the first book, The Strange Files of Fremont Jones.

It's also a good book to read if one is weary of modern life. This is the turn-of-the-century, and things we take for granted were in the works of being invented. Life sounded simpler back then though. People talked to one another; there was a lot of face-to-face interaction.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Day must do really meticulous research. Add to that her considerable talent as a writer and the reader will understand what it must have been like for citizens of San Francisco on April 16, 1906. That was the date of the most famous earthquake on this continent. Any writer of historical fiction, has among other interesting challenges, the task of making comprehensible to contemporary readers the period in which the story is set. The author must do that without losing the reader who can never fully realize or understand the language, the mores, the motivations, and the times. History, like fiction, like our own memories, is selective and owes greatly to interpretation.

In Fire and Fog and her other Fremont Jones mysteries, the author has done an admirable job of evoking the times without losing readers through over use of non-essential details and authenticity. Here we have just the right balance. The story of murder and chicanery, confused by the destruction of the earthquake is clever, as is our independent, feisty protagonist. The characters are interesting and stay in character; they are nicely developed as are some of the important relationships.

Fremont Jones, possessed of more than her share of impetuous curiosity, discovers the contents of locked storeroom. This as the result of the earthquake when she attempts to rescue her typewriting business. Murder, terror and the ever-mysterious Michael Archer stalk the pages of this most excellent novel.

[Olivermagnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having previously read Dianne Day's first book (The Strange Files of Fremont Jones) featuring the feisty sleuth/typist, I decided to pick up the second of the series. The book starts out with the great earthquake of 1906 in San Francisco. Mrs. O'Leary's house is evacuated and Fremont's office has been destroyed. Handsome and mysterious Michael Archer has been called out of town on business and leaves his room at the Presidio and his automobile in Fremont's care. While working for the Red Cross Disaster Relief team, she meets Alice Lashley who seems very confused about what's going on in her life. Alice invites Fremont to stay with her and that's when she discovers various dead things keep appearing on the front steps. With Michael away and Mrs O'Leary missing, she has no one to consult, and the situation becomes very dangerous.

The story of murder and chicanery, confused by the destruction of the earthquake is clever, as is our independent, feisty protagonist. The characters are interesting and nicely developed, and the relationship between Fremont and Michael is progressing slowly. I find this series so entertaining and the time period set in San Francisco is filled with possibilities. It's not a tightly written suspense/thriller novel, but if you're in the mood for a 1Cspunky 1D heroine, Fremont is a woman who knows her own mind and can definitely keep you entertained.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

After San Francisco's 1906 earthquake and the fires that followed leave Fremont Jones without a home or office, she tries to rebuild her life while also running errands for the relief effort. But between the strange behavior of a new friend and Fremont's discovery of an inaccuracy in the list of quake victims, it doesn't take long for her inquisitive nature to get her into trouble.

This book is similar to the first in that there's more than one mystery going on. They seem a little more successfully woven together in this case, but I wasn't crazy about the fact that so many things relied heavily on coincidence. Some plot elements set up additional misunderstandings and conflicts in heavy-handed ways, for example, there's one minor character whose sole purpose in the story seems to be keeping Fremont out of communication with the largely absent Michael Archer for a few extra days.

I would have been less bothered by the coincidences and overdone twists if Michael had been around more, the best moments of both books are when he's playing Watson to her Holmes. I think I'd like these stories better if they were more of a constant team.

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire and Fog is the second book in Dianne Day's Fremont Jones series. Everything gets disrupted when the earthquake hits San Francisco. Fremont lives for a while at The Presidio, in a tent in Golden Gate Park, and with another woman in her house. And of course there is a murder and other adventures come her way, including driving a Maxwell car around the city to help out with the earthquake aftermath. Michael Archer is barely in the book. Fremont wears pants and discovers she likes the freedom they give.

I wanted to read this to learn about the SF earthquake. Dianne Day researches her books thoroughly.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been trying to get book 1 so I could start at the beginning (series was recommended by a friend), but apparently one library in the entire valley has it. So I went with book two. It is a fun series, even with starting with the second one. I like the main character, her independence and desire to be a modern woman, even though she wouldn't know that phrasing yet. I also like the experience painted of those who lived through the San Francisco earthquake and its impact on day to day living. Some of her experiences were unrealistic, but isn't that why we read fiction? I'll be reading more of Fremont Jones.

[Amy Eller Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a tight and solid mystery, the Fremont Jones books are not for you. However, I really don't care. I love Fremont Jones so much, and the care Day takes with historical and emotional detail, makes this wackadoo story just the ticket for me. I love that she has her own business, I love that she doesn't wear a corset. So often in Historical Heroines of all genres, she's very restricted in her movements, in her choices. And we say, "well, that's okay, because that's how women were. It was The Times". But so many women were outliers in their own times. These are who I want to read about. These are great.

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fire and Fog is set in 1906 San Francisco, as earthquake and fire ravage the city by the bay.

An interesting counterpoint to Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King - the latter being the superior book in my opinion.

The trauma and dislocation of the earthquake was not conveyed as well as in Locked Rooms. And the love triangle was a heavy-handed cliche!