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When the House Burns
When death comes home, is nowhere safe?
The quest for love and home becomes deadly when Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger search for the killer of an adulterous real estate agent.
A volatile real estate market, unrest in a homeless encampment, jealousies among would-be lovers, a case of arson—these circumstances thwart G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger as they investigate the murder of an adulterous woman. The victim’s estranged husband has holes in his alibi. A property developer grieves too much over the death of the woman while his wife shuts him out. The developer’s assistant resents his boss and suspects that the developer was not only involved with the victim but is being scammed by the arsonist. A sexy young widow, friend of the victim, has past traumas triggered by the case and turns to the developer for protection. A homeless man stalked the dead woman and now stalks the young widow. All may hold secrets about the past burning of an apartment complex and the man who died there.
Before the clues come together, Erik Jansson is trapped in an abandoned house as Deb Metzger hunts for a sharpshooter at a remote construction site. The case will burn down around them unless they can scheme their way out of lethal surroundings.
The quest for love and home becomes deadly when Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger search for the killer of an adulterous real estate agent.
A volatile real estate market, unrest in a homeless encampment, jealousies among would-be lovers, a case of arson—these circumstances thwart G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger as they investigate the murder of an adulterous woman. The victim’s estranged husband has holes in his alibi. A property developer grieves too much over the death of the woman while his wife shuts him out. The developer’s assistant resents his boss and suspects that the developer was not only involved with the victim but is being scammed by the arsonist. A sexy young widow, friend of the victim, has past traumas triggered by the case and turns to the developer for protection. A homeless man stalked the dead woman and now stalks the young widow. All may hold secrets about the past burning of an apartment complex and the man who died there.
Before the clues come together, Erik Jansson is trapped in an abandoned house as Deb Metzger hunts for a sharpshooter at a remote construction site. The case will burn down around them unless they can scheme their way out of lethal surroundings.
242 pages, Paperback
Published February 14, 2023
4 people are currently reading
3255 people want to read
About the author
Priscilla Paton
5 books73 followersWHEN THE HOUSE BURNS, the third in my Twin Cities Mystery Series, will be available February 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 17 reviews
October 8, 2023
This is the third installment in this series - I am SO wishing I would have read the first two!
I felt like this novel did a great job at almost being a standalone, there were only a few times I was wondering if I was missing something (I am pretty sure I was).
This was a decent paced mystery novel with two detectives on the case. I liked the witty banter back and forth between the two detective partners and quickly became invested in their lives and what they were going to uncover. As we follow them through their investigation in the Twin Cities, we wait for them to uncover a a murderous plot of a successful real estate agent. This was a ‘by the book’ detective novel and felt very true to police investigations (well, as far as my non-police self could tell).
Filled with every descriptive detail you can image (if you like that sort of thing), you will feel as if you are almost there. For me, this was a little overdone and slightly distracting from the bulk of the story but if you like every nitty gritty detail, this book will apease the imagination station.
ARC was provided by Coffeetown Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I felt like this novel did a great job at almost being a standalone, there were only a few times I was wondering if I was missing something (I am pretty sure I was).
This was a decent paced mystery novel with two detectives on the case. I liked the witty banter back and forth between the two detective partners and quickly became invested in their lives and what they were going to uncover. As we follow them through their investigation in the Twin Cities, we wait for them to uncover a a murderous plot of a successful real estate agent. This was a ‘by the book’ detective novel and felt very true to police investigations (well, as far as my non-police self could tell).
Filled with every descriptive detail you can image (if you like that sort of thing), you will feel as if you are almost there. For me, this was a little overdone and slightly distracting from the bulk of the story but if you like every nitty gritty detail, this book will apease the imagination station.
ARC was provided by Coffeetown Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2023
Being a detective has not made life easy for Detective Deb Metzger or her partner, the handsome Erik Jansson, as the pair see lots of bodies and murders don’t bode well in conversations with others. While people may be curious, anything said always turns a person off. As for their partnership, there is never a need to worry about romantic entanglement as Deb has her mind set on the “female persuasion”. However that's just fine as they both get along great, in fact, they are more like best friends (though they wouldn’t even realize it), always having the other’s back. But, that’s what happens when you spend so much time working and the job that they do, solving murders. And, Erik might just meet someone and quite soon!
Things get hard for Deb, it seems the people in her life, as simple as her real estate agent, are chased off when she says she finds dead bodies and solves the crime of how they got that way. The fact that Deb hasn’t had a home since before the pandemic doesn’t help her situation, as she has no one in her life she feels she can ask to stay with and every place she seems to find falls through. Deb, even for the small amount of people she has in her life, really does not like to ask for favors or get close to others, it seems. A loner. When the female detective takes the lead on a case of a local woman murdered, Jean Nerstrand, found dead outside a home that is for sale from the reality company she works for, Lake & Isles Realty; the cast of characters involved, well, it seems like all of them have their issues and secrets but, Deb cannot, initially, find any real motivation for the murder. However, in time, bodies will begin to pile up.
With all the evidence washed down the drain, because of the weather, and the possibility that the gun could have been the victims, took off Jean and then turned on her, shot with her own gun, Deb and Erik very much believe this could have happened, but can find no evidence of the theory. Then they find a slight connection with an old, unsolved case in which a property associated with Lake & Isle Reality had been burned down, a homeless man dying in the fire. The owner of the property, Dominic Novak is a big man, not just physically but also, in the development world. Specializing in making problem sites profitable, and everything else problematic, he was the owner of the property that had burnt down and had always claimed that Jack Cardenas, a contractor, had been the one to commit the arson. Jack it seems had vowed revenge on Novak.
The police who worked the case at the time claim it was thoroughly investigated, that Jack was not the culprit. And, with all that had been going on during the time of the fire, COVID being one of them, the case may have been overlooked. Especially since the only one who paid with their life during the crime was a homeless man. To most people, a man like that doesn’t count as a human and normally, men and women like this, their deaths are overlooked. Because the arson case has remained unsolved and now, the murder of a woman with children and people who care, has occurred (rather than another homeless person), Deb and Erik are out to investigate this matter too and hopefully catch that culprit too. Especially since the cases may be linked and it could be the same person(s). However, the fact that the cases may be connected, keeps the arson in the forefront of the investigation. Seemingly, a link giving the pair a starting point for Jean’s murder. Also, the fact that the pair have nothing much to go on, any lead, any evidence, it seems necessary if they want to find the killer, to work this case, too.
This was a great stand alone mystery book as I have never read the first of the series, written in 2018 titled Where Privacy Dies. A finalist for several awards, I am quite curious to find out what happened previously, what the beginning of the Twin Cities Mystery series was like. With this sizzling second book I became convinced that Paton is a suspense/ mystery writer outside the norm, diverting from the storylines I (and other readers) may be too used to. Priscilla focuses on getting deeper into the lives of many of the characters in the plot of the book, rather than the view of one or two, just staying with one or both detectives, or one involved in the crime, the other investigating. In When the House Burns, you get to learn much more about the people in Jean’s life that could have murdered her, than you would have if someone else had written this mystery/ suspense thriller.
Readers will find chapters devoted to many of the characters in the book to carry the story, which gives you a better depth into the lives of all those who surround the case and, in the end, may be the one who-done-it! Hearing what makes a character tick, thoughts from the past shared and things which are hinted at, but in their totality, stay hidden until the end, are divulged which leaves readers with no idea who has done what. And, as the book comes to a close I know I will miss some of the characters involved in the crime investigated here, as they will probably not appear in the next book in the series, disappearing into their fictional world forever. Hopefully, I think, there may be one who stays. One, at least, for Erik. Only the writer will know and control that, though.
Of all those who are introduced, Karma, a realtor employed with Jean, is the woman who is called to identify the body found outside (discovered to be Jean) the realty’s property which is up for sale, coming out during a storm to do this, was my favorite of all. While I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, it may have been that the writer devoted much of the book to her and yet I was still left to question what was really going on with the woman, who she really was, in life, and what her past had been like. And, some of the thoughts she had throughout the book might make readers question, as I did, if this woman, in some way, might be the person who did her co-worker in. But had she, it must have been for some deeply distorted mentality that I felt lingered under the surface of this character, waiting to see if it ever emerged. In the end, when you find out the truth of Karma, however, I never felt I had read anything so wrong as I had done here and throughout the book.
There are also some unique parts of the book like the reference, by characters, to the pandemic time as the “Time of Terrible Living” and, while I am unaware as if that is a thing that is said amongst more people than just the writer and the characters in the book, it was a unique definition of the time spent during the COVID pandemic and what to call it. But, depending on your experience, at the time, I assume that’s how a person would label that time. Also, “The Great American Moment” is shared, during a scene between Karma and Detective Jansson (of which there are many). The moment is when you wake up on a Saturday morning and the husband wants sex, the dogs wants a walk, the kids want pancakes and cartoons and all the female of the scenario wants….is to escape to the mall.
Sadly, readers will find much of the reason why Jean and her husband, Bruce, were in the midst of a divorce which are shared with Deb, later in the book. All the time Jean and her husband spent together during “The Terrible Time”, they had seen too much of the things you couples don’t want to know about their spouse; things like their daily interaction with a “work wife” was pretty much the icing on a cake, in a marriage that couldn’t withstand that much contact even with Jean doing an “essential job” much of the time, placing people, selling homes, that were “necessary”. This was one of my first reads in which many of the effects of COVID were talked about and were currently working themselves out, in the story. However, had Jean lived, that very night, her husband had something he wanted to divulge, which now haunts him as he never would know what her answer would have been to what he wanted to propose.
Much of the detective's time was spent searching for the mysterious homeless man, the one whom Jean’s children had seen on one too many occasions, thought he had been stalking their mother. And through encampments, the detectives learn much more of the truth than they thought they would find and that Jean was someone they knew nothing much about, at all. No one, it seems, really did. A.k.a. Homeless Ulysses is like any other homeless person you would find and, when wanting to make a police report on how the man had been following her, with too little information, was only able to make a report, including the fact that his “grody” backpack had a dreamcatcher hanging from it. The one time he had approached Jean he had said, “You need,” but she was able to get away before he finished. Regardless of what he had to say, Jean was not going to listen.
But, what this homeless man wanted, would be an integral part of the story. After all, why would he waste his time watching the woman when he could have been doing anything else? However, Deb and Erik do not think he is capable of the crime and, how would he get access to a gun? Whatever one’s personal thought may be the fact remains that for the homeless, unless he was to luck out and find one, he’s not gonna get one.The detective’s worst fear was that, in following Jean, he had seen something, might have picked up the gun and then, if it was found on him, may find himself charged with a murder someone else committed. It was nice to be presented with two police officers who acknowledged that the homeless were often held responsible for things they didn’t do, because of who they were and what they didn’t have, the support or care from any person. Sad, really, when you think about it. And, if he witnessed the murder and was seen, Deb and her partner, Erik know they must find him, Homeless Ulysses, before he finds himself in hot water, whomever’s pot he ends up in. Because if he saw something they know he may end up dead.
And, when homeless men begin to die off, the detectives wonder what it is that the homeless know, what is causing their deaths? Does this have to do with Ulysses? As the bodies begin to pile up, the homeless in extreme danger, Erik and Deb must find out why all this is happening. Not only left to solve an arson, Jean’s murder and now, the murder of many others, they come up with more pieces to the puzzle but no complete picture. And, if the two are to close the case one of the detectives may end up putting themself right into the line of fire (and not fire from a gun, it seems , during the investigation which could cause one of the pair to lose their life. Or, maybe both.
To find out if Deb and Luke can prevent further deaths and close the case on all this destruction, to find out, in the end, if the pair is still a pair at all, if only one will survive to make the third in installment of the series, pick up When The House Burns, which you can find in your local bookstore or order from numerous sites online. And, along with the mystery the story contains the sad, desperate, plight of the overlooked homeless, a very real reality.
That the murder of one, the homeless man in the arson was passed over, remained unsolved, until now, a shame. To think, that possibly, wanting to discover who is doing all this now, if there is one culprit behind all of the crimes Deb and Erik are trying to solve, had that one homeless man been cared enough that the arson had been solved, all the rest would have been prevented and only one dead instead of many.
Happy Reading!
**P.S. One very small scene in the book, a debacle between the detective and a witness, and the witnesses pet’s, which are, a cat, a fish and a bird; what happens during the debacle however, shows that when the heart has a desire for something, anything else, worthless. The results of the short action scene, just amazing and quite cute! And, for a reader like me to be so dazzled over such a seemingly insignificant point in the book, not even necessary to the plot of the story, goes to show just how good the book is!!**
Things get hard for Deb, it seems the people in her life, as simple as her real estate agent, are chased off when she says she finds dead bodies and solves the crime of how they got that way. The fact that Deb hasn’t had a home since before the pandemic doesn’t help her situation, as she has no one in her life she feels she can ask to stay with and every place she seems to find falls through. Deb, even for the small amount of people she has in her life, really does not like to ask for favors or get close to others, it seems. A loner. When the female detective takes the lead on a case of a local woman murdered, Jean Nerstrand, found dead outside a home that is for sale from the reality company she works for, Lake & Isles Realty; the cast of characters involved, well, it seems like all of them have their issues and secrets but, Deb cannot, initially, find any real motivation for the murder. However, in time, bodies will begin to pile up.
With all the evidence washed down the drain, because of the weather, and the possibility that the gun could have been the victims, took off Jean and then turned on her, shot with her own gun, Deb and Erik very much believe this could have happened, but can find no evidence of the theory. Then they find a slight connection with an old, unsolved case in which a property associated with Lake & Isle Reality had been burned down, a homeless man dying in the fire. The owner of the property, Dominic Novak is a big man, not just physically but also, in the development world. Specializing in making problem sites profitable, and everything else problematic, he was the owner of the property that had burnt down and had always claimed that Jack Cardenas, a contractor, had been the one to commit the arson. Jack it seems had vowed revenge on Novak.
The police who worked the case at the time claim it was thoroughly investigated, that Jack was not the culprit. And, with all that had been going on during the time of the fire, COVID being one of them, the case may have been overlooked. Especially since the only one who paid with their life during the crime was a homeless man. To most people, a man like that doesn’t count as a human and normally, men and women like this, their deaths are overlooked. Because the arson case has remained unsolved and now, the murder of a woman with children and people who care, has occurred (rather than another homeless person), Deb and Erik are out to investigate this matter too and hopefully catch that culprit too. Especially since the cases may be linked and it could be the same person(s). However, the fact that the cases may be connected, keeps the arson in the forefront of the investigation. Seemingly, a link giving the pair a starting point for Jean’s murder. Also, the fact that the pair have nothing much to go on, any lead, any evidence, it seems necessary if they want to find the killer, to work this case, too.
This was a great stand alone mystery book as I have never read the first of the series, written in 2018 titled Where Privacy Dies. A finalist for several awards, I am quite curious to find out what happened previously, what the beginning of the Twin Cities Mystery series was like. With this sizzling second book I became convinced that Paton is a suspense/ mystery writer outside the norm, diverting from the storylines I (and other readers) may be too used to. Priscilla focuses on getting deeper into the lives of many of the characters in the plot of the book, rather than the view of one or two, just staying with one or both detectives, or one involved in the crime, the other investigating. In When the House Burns, you get to learn much more about the people in Jean’s life that could have murdered her, than you would have if someone else had written this mystery/ suspense thriller.
Readers will find chapters devoted to many of the characters in the book to carry the story, which gives you a better depth into the lives of all those who surround the case and, in the end, may be the one who-done-it! Hearing what makes a character tick, thoughts from the past shared and things which are hinted at, but in their totality, stay hidden until the end, are divulged which leaves readers with no idea who has done what. And, as the book comes to a close I know I will miss some of the characters involved in the crime investigated here, as they will probably not appear in the next book in the series, disappearing into their fictional world forever. Hopefully, I think, there may be one who stays. One, at least, for Erik. Only the writer will know and control that, though.
Of all those who are introduced, Karma, a realtor employed with Jean, is the woman who is called to identify the body found outside (discovered to be Jean) the realty’s property which is up for sale, coming out during a storm to do this, was my favorite of all. While I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, it may have been that the writer devoted much of the book to her and yet I was still left to question what was really going on with the woman, who she really was, in life, and what her past had been like. And, some of the thoughts she had throughout the book might make readers question, as I did, if this woman, in some way, might be the person who did her co-worker in. But had she, it must have been for some deeply distorted mentality that I felt lingered under the surface of this character, waiting to see if it ever emerged. In the end, when you find out the truth of Karma, however, I never felt I had read anything so wrong as I had done here and throughout the book.
There are also some unique parts of the book like the reference, by characters, to the pandemic time as the “Time of Terrible Living” and, while I am unaware as if that is a thing that is said amongst more people than just the writer and the characters in the book, it was a unique definition of the time spent during the COVID pandemic and what to call it. But, depending on your experience, at the time, I assume that’s how a person would label that time. Also, “The Great American Moment” is shared, during a scene between Karma and Detective Jansson (of which there are many). The moment is when you wake up on a Saturday morning and the husband wants sex, the dogs wants a walk, the kids want pancakes and cartoons and all the female of the scenario wants….is to escape to the mall.
Sadly, readers will find much of the reason why Jean and her husband, Bruce, were in the midst of a divorce which are shared with Deb, later in the book. All the time Jean and her husband spent together during “The Terrible Time”, they had seen too much of the things you couples don’t want to know about their spouse; things like their daily interaction with a “work wife” was pretty much the icing on a cake, in a marriage that couldn’t withstand that much contact even with Jean doing an “essential job” much of the time, placing people, selling homes, that were “necessary”. This was one of my first reads in which many of the effects of COVID were talked about and were currently working themselves out, in the story. However, had Jean lived, that very night, her husband had something he wanted to divulge, which now haunts him as he never would know what her answer would have been to what he wanted to propose.
Much of the detective's time was spent searching for the mysterious homeless man, the one whom Jean’s children had seen on one too many occasions, thought he had been stalking their mother. And through encampments, the detectives learn much more of the truth than they thought they would find and that Jean was someone they knew nothing much about, at all. No one, it seems, really did. A.k.a. Homeless Ulysses is like any other homeless person you would find and, when wanting to make a police report on how the man had been following her, with too little information, was only able to make a report, including the fact that his “grody” backpack had a dreamcatcher hanging from it. The one time he had approached Jean he had said, “You need,” but she was able to get away before he finished. Regardless of what he had to say, Jean was not going to listen.
But, what this homeless man wanted, would be an integral part of the story. After all, why would he waste his time watching the woman when he could have been doing anything else? However, Deb and Erik do not think he is capable of the crime and, how would he get access to a gun? Whatever one’s personal thought may be the fact remains that for the homeless, unless he was to luck out and find one, he’s not gonna get one.The detective’s worst fear was that, in following Jean, he had seen something, might have picked up the gun and then, if it was found on him, may find himself charged with a murder someone else committed. It was nice to be presented with two police officers who acknowledged that the homeless were often held responsible for things they didn’t do, because of who they were and what they didn’t have, the support or care from any person. Sad, really, when you think about it. And, if he witnessed the murder and was seen, Deb and her partner, Erik know they must find him, Homeless Ulysses, before he finds himself in hot water, whomever’s pot he ends up in. Because if he saw something they know he may end up dead.
And, when homeless men begin to die off, the detectives wonder what it is that the homeless know, what is causing their deaths? Does this have to do with Ulysses? As the bodies begin to pile up, the homeless in extreme danger, Erik and Deb must find out why all this is happening. Not only left to solve an arson, Jean’s murder and now, the murder of many others, they come up with more pieces to the puzzle but no complete picture. And, if the two are to close the case one of the detectives may end up putting themself right into the line of fire (and not fire from a gun, it seems , during the investigation which could cause one of the pair to lose their life. Or, maybe both.
To find out if Deb and Luke can prevent further deaths and close the case on all this destruction, to find out, in the end, if the pair is still a pair at all, if only one will survive to make the third in installment of the series, pick up When The House Burns, which you can find in your local bookstore or order from numerous sites online. And, along with the mystery the story contains the sad, desperate, plight of the overlooked homeless, a very real reality.
That the murder of one, the homeless man in the arson was passed over, remained unsolved, until now, a shame. To think, that possibly, wanting to discover who is doing all this now, if there is one culprit behind all of the crimes Deb and Erik are trying to solve, had that one homeless man been cared enough that the arson had been solved, all the rest would have been prevented and only one dead instead of many.
Happy Reading!
**P.S. One very small scene in the book, a debacle between the detective and a witness, and the witnesses pet’s, which are, a cat, a fish and a bird; what happens during the debacle however, shows that when the heart has a desire for something, anything else, worthless. The results of the short action scene, just amazing and quite cute! And, for a reader like me to be so dazzled over such a seemingly insignificant point in the book, not even necessary to the plot of the story, goes to show just how good the book is!!**
May 15, 2023
When the House Burns by Priscilla Paton is the third in the Twin Cities police procedural series.
First, let me thank both Ellen Whitfield and Layne Mandros from BooksForward, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning: May contain spoilers from previous books)
The series is set in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Detective Erik Jansson and his partner, Deb Metzger (who describes herself as 6'2" and lesbian), work in the Greater Metro Investigative Unit (G-Met). Erik is a runner, a top marksman, divorced, has a young son named Ben, and is somewhat reserved. Their boss is Chief Ibeling (known as Almost Allwise Ibeling), and whose wife is rumored to be black ops.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
A real estate agent is found dead in the driveway of a listed house. Jean Nerstrand was both loved and hated, which apparently is the norm for the rather volatile real estate industry. Competition can be nasty.
It looks like Jean may have stole some clients from another agent, Karma.
Jean worked for Lake & Isles but also worked with contractor Dominic Novak, a property developer. He is in the midst of a number of jobs that have been rife with problems...a recent arson on one of his properties, a homeless encampment which is being run out because of his development across the street, and his relationship with his assistant Rafe is volatile. Of course, then there is Renee, his wife...who used to be friends with Jean. Perhaps once of his "problems" killed Jean. It looks like Jean may have had a stalker....perhaps once of the homeless.
Jean's ex-husband, Paul, may have lied about his alibi. Jean, may have been having an affair.
The relationships between the parties involved are problematic, and that is where Erik and Deb come in....trying to solve Jean's murder, while trying to separate the lies and secrets that everyone is telling. Before it's over, there will be a number of trips to the emergency department.
My Opinions:
This book moved slowly....again. Very "wordy". I admit to skimming - a lot, and still didn't miss any of the mystery.
The plot was good (although a book about real estate agents is not my thing -- it's personal). A lot of strange characters, and as much as I have liked Erik and Deb in the past, their banter drove me nuts in this one -- just too antagonistic.
There are actually a lot of things I disliked about the book....the length, the topic, most of the characters, the endless pursuit of romance, the idiotic banter. Throughout it all, I kept thinking when will it end? and this is the last book I am reading in this series...and then....
After all that, I'm not going to say I loved this book, but it was a good mystery. The overall story was really good, and it was all tied up really nicely. I loved Rafe, and hope to see Maria again....yes, I'm going to continue reading these books. Although I really feel the author is too wordy, there is no doubt that she can write. As well, her characters are deep and entertaining. Both Deb and Erik are passionate about their jobs, and that makes a good character.
So....until next time!
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
January 7, 2023
WHEN THE HOUSE BURNS, by Priscilla Paton, is a character-driven murder mystery with a dynamic, quirky cast. I loved the relationship between the two main detectives, Deb Metzger and Erik Jannson. The everyday events in the lives of these two main move the story along and keep the reader engaged. The author develops her characters well, breathing life into each of them. Rafe, one of the lesser characters, was actually my favorite. And then there’s Ferret and Tree. And wait until you meet Karma. (Where does she get these names?) Each one is unique and interesting, perhaps slightly off center, but they contribute to the hilarious cast, Most of all, they’re real. There is plenty of social commentary about real issues that everyone faces, like affordable housing, homelessness, violence against women, and the Covid19 pandemic. This is a mystery plus book, much more than I expected.
The most engaging part of this book, and what swept me away, is the language. Paton’s humor is subtle but constant in the characters’ dialogues and thoughts. And she never lets up. It’s a sharp-tongued but dry humor that a casual reader may miss. This is a well-written novel with excellent prose, witty bantering, and an off-beat brand of humor. Most of all, it’s a break from all that is wrong in this world and a chance to laugh. Ms, Paton, may I have another?
The most engaging part of this book, and what swept me away, is the language. Paton’s humor is subtle but constant in the characters’ dialogues and thoughts. And she never lets up. It’s a sharp-tongued but dry humor that a casual reader may miss. This is a well-written novel with excellent prose, witty bantering, and an off-beat brand of humor. Most of all, it’s a break from all that is wrong in this world and a chance to laugh. Ms, Paton, may I have another?
January 21, 2023
This mystery is all about housing. The victim is a real estate agent found shot outside one of the properties she's listing.
Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger are assigned the case. Deb is in the middle of her own housing crisis as her place in a long-stay hotel is no longer available and she just can't find a place that she can afford that is large enough for her 6' 2" self. And the detectives' agency is facing a housing crisis of its own as their current location has become unusable and they need to build another. This adds to the investigation as the detectives must work out of their cars and in borrowed space in the county courthouse.
Jansson and Metzger look into the realtor's agency and find a group of best, back-stabbing friends. They also find a property developer who seems way too close to some of them and who's also involved in some questionable practices. One of his properties was recently burned in what looks like arson and resulted in the death of a homeless man. He's currently trying to develop housing - some affordable - on the grounds of an old munitions plant. His assistant, who has a major crush on one of the realtors, is secretly investing his finances.
While checking into the arson investigation, they discover that a homeless guy might have been stalking the victim and spend a lot of time in a homeless encampment across from one of the developer's properties looking for him.
One I got used to the writing style which seemed a lot like stream of consciousness but, thankfully, with punctuation, I found the story interesting. I certainly enjoyed the Twin Cities setting.
Detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger are assigned the case. Deb is in the middle of her own housing crisis as her place in a long-stay hotel is no longer available and she just can't find a place that she can afford that is large enough for her 6' 2" self. And the detectives' agency is facing a housing crisis of its own as their current location has become unusable and they need to build another. This adds to the investigation as the detectives must work out of their cars and in borrowed space in the county courthouse.
Jansson and Metzger look into the realtor's agency and find a group of best, back-stabbing friends. They also find a property developer who seems way too close to some of them and who's also involved in some questionable practices. One of his properties was recently burned in what looks like arson and resulted in the death of a homeless man. He's currently trying to develop housing - some affordable - on the grounds of an old munitions plant. His assistant, who has a major crush on one of the realtors, is secretly investing his finances.
While checking into the arson investigation, they discover that a homeless guy might have been stalking the victim and spend a lot of time in a homeless encampment across from one of the developer's properties looking for him.
One I got used to the writing style which seemed a lot like stream of consciousness but, thankfully, with punctuation, I found the story interesting. I certainly enjoyed the Twin Cities setting.
February 26, 2023
When the House Burns by Priscilla Paton is the third book in the Twin Cities Mystery Series. Featuring
G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger. Erik is recently divorced with a son and Deb is still looking for her significant other of the female persuasion. Neither is having success in their love lives. Deb is currently without a permanent home but is offered a basement apartment by her boss. It works on a temporary basis.
When a woman real estate agent, Jean Nerstrand is found dead in the driveway of a home for sale, it is up to the detectives to find the killer. Jean had worked for Lake & Isles Realty. The detectives find that this is not a straightforward murder.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, Dominick Novak, a real estate developer, Karma, who works for the same real estate company as Jean, Rafe of the crooked nose works for Dominick, Ulysses, a homeless man who definitely has a connection to the murder as do all of the characters I mentioned. Now it is up to Detectives Erik and Deb to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Not everyone is who you might think they are, everyone has their own story, some with secrets that they do not want to be exposed, thus making the case difficult to solve. Now throw in some dry wit into the storytelling and you have a story that is both compelling and hang on to your hat thrilling. Plus there is an element of romance throughout the story.
I have not read anything by this author and I think I need to remedy that and go read the first two books in the series. I love a good mystery and this one is one that I did enjoy. I think that the wit and quirkiness of the characters are what kept my attention. This book takes place in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, of which I have been numerous times and recognized some of the areas that were mentioned, including areas in Wisconsin, where I live.
I give the book 5 stars!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
G-Met detectives Erik Jansson and Deb Metzger. Erik is recently divorced with a son and Deb is still looking for her significant other of the female persuasion. Neither is having success in their love lives. Deb is currently without a permanent home but is offered a basement apartment by her boss. It works on a temporary basis.
When a woman real estate agent, Jean Nerstrand is found dead in the driveway of a home for sale, it is up to the detectives to find the killer. Jean had worked for Lake & Isles Realty. The detectives find that this is not a straightforward murder.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, Dominick Novak, a real estate developer, Karma, who works for the same real estate company as Jean, Rafe of the crooked nose works for Dominick, Ulysses, a homeless man who definitely has a connection to the murder as do all of the characters I mentioned. Now it is up to Detectives Erik and Deb to get to the bottom of the mystery.
Not everyone is who you might think they are, everyone has their own story, some with secrets that they do not want to be exposed, thus making the case difficult to solve. Now throw in some dry wit into the storytelling and you have a story that is both compelling and hang on to your hat thrilling. Plus there is an element of romance throughout the story.
I have not read anything by this author and I think I need to remedy that and go read the first two books in the series. I love a good mystery and this one is one that I did enjoy. I think that the wit and quirkiness of the characters are what kept my attention. This book takes place in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, of which I have been numerous times and recognized some of the areas that were mentioned, including areas in Wisconsin, where I live.
I give the book 5 stars!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.
February 23, 2023
When the House Burns is part of a series but I haven’t read the others in the series and still understood the plot of this book. The characters were well developed and I felt I knew who they were and their individual storylines. The book follows two detectives as they investigate a murder. The secondary characters are all part of the real estate world and the murder involved a real estate agent murdered in a property she was selling. The detectives and their partnership was entertaining. I particularly loved Deb’s no nonsense dialogue.
As a Twin Cities native, I loved the local references made through out the book. Knowing the area really helped me visualize the setting of the book.
The mystery and storyline were fine and I overall enjoyed the book. An easy read with a typical murder mystery plot.
As a Twin Cities native, I loved the local references made through out the book. Knowing the area really helped me visualize the setting of the book.
The mystery and storyline were fine and I overall enjoyed the book. An easy read with a typical murder mystery plot.
November 26, 2022
When the House Burns by Priscilla Paton has a murder mystery at its center, but it’s ultimately a character-driven story featuring real people with real problems.
Amazonian-size Detective Deb Metzger of Greater Metro Investigations (G-Met), a specialized regional Minnesota’s Twin Cities police agency, has her desperate search for a permanent home interrupted when dispatched to the scene of a homicide. She meets her partner, Detective Erik Jansson, in the driveway of a house for sale where a dog walker had discovered the body of a late-forties realtor with a gunshot wound to her head. At Jansson’s suggestion, Metzger takes the lead on the case since she is the expert on violence against women. After ruling out a carjacking or robbery gone wrong, the detectives settle on the theory the killer is probably someone who was close to the victim, maybe a past or present intimate partner, given the murder seemed personal. Lacking much in the way of physical evidence since the body was exposed to heavy rains for hours before discovery, they begin the tedious process of interviewing the victim’s circle of close associates, checking alibis and looking for motive. They interview the woman’s ex-husband, her boss, and co-workers. While authentic, this wearisome process slows the investigation to a glacial pace, but not so the story since this is more a character-driven story than your typical plot-driven whodunit. At the heart of that story is Metzger and Jansson, two likeable central characters made relatable because they are real people with real problems. Besides attempting to avoid becoming homeless by finding a place to live before her current arrangements with a long-stay rental unit expire, Metzger is also lovelorn. The woman who is the object of Metzger’s affections has been in Paris for months, caring for her aged employer, and Deb feels the relationship is slipping away. Jansson has relationship problems of his own as he tries to come to grips with a recent divorce he didn’t want and desperately wants a woman in his life. The ongoing dramas in the lives of the two main characters keep the story moving and the reader engaged. Paton’s impeccable characterization impressed me. She not only breathes life into Metzger and Jansson, but offers a full slate of fully developed, interesting characters to round out the cast, and even fleshes out incidental roles enough to make the characters feel real. The other thing that made this book an engaging read is Paton’s wry humor that permeates the story through the dialogue and characters’ inner thoughts. She sustained this from beginning to end, no mean feat. It’s the kind of deadpan humor I most appreciate and fits the genre to perfection. Humor aside, there are of course weightier themes in the novel as Paton critiques topics like the lack of adequate affordable housing, homelessness, and violence against women. This is a well-crafted novel with excellent writing, witty dialogue, and plenty of humor. There’s a murder mystery at its center, but it’s ultimately a character-driven story featuring real people with real problems. When the House Burns is a worthy addition to the stacks of those who enjoy reading detective mysteries featuring a cast of compelling characters.
Amazonian-size Detective Deb Metzger of Greater Metro Investigations (G-Met), a specialized regional Minnesota’s Twin Cities police agency, has her desperate search for a permanent home interrupted when dispatched to the scene of a homicide. She meets her partner, Detective Erik Jansson, in the driveway of a house for sale where a dog walker had discovered the body of a late-forties realtor with a gunshot wound to her head. At Jansson’s suggestion, Metzger takes the lead on the case since she is the expert on violence against women. After ruling out a carjacking or robbery gone wrong, the detectives settle on the theory the killer is probably someone who was close to the victim, maybe a past or present intimate partner, given the murder seemed personal. Lacking much in the way of physical evidence since the body was exposed to heavy rains for hours before discovery, they begin the tedious process of interviewing the victim’s circle of close associates, checking alibis and looking for motive. They interview the woman’s ex-husband, her boss, and co-workers. While authentic, this wearisome process slows the investigation to a glacial pace, but not so the story since this is more a character-driven story than your typical plot-driven whodunit. At the heart of that story is Metzger and Jansson, two likeable central characters made relatable because they are real people with real problems. Besides attempting to avoid becoming homeless by finding a place to live before her current arrangements with a long-stay rental unit expire, Metzger is also lovelorn. The woman who is the object of Metzger’s affections has been in Paris for months, caring for her aged employer, and Deb feels the relationship is slipping away. Jansson has relationship problems of his own as he tries to come to grips with a recent divorce he didn’t want and desperately wants a woman in his life. The ongoing dramas in the lives of the two main characters keep the story moving and the reader engaged. Paton’s impeccable characterization impressed me. She not only breathes life into Metzger and Jansson, but offers a full slate of fully developed, interesting characters to round out the cast, and even fleshes out incidental roles enough to make the characters feel real. The other thing that made this book an engaging read is Paton’s wry humor that permeates the story through the dialogue and characters’ inner thoughts. She sustained this from beginning to end, no mean feat. It’s the kind of deadpan humor I most appreciate and fits the genre to perfection. Humor aside, there are of course weightier themes in the novel as Paton critiques topics like the lack of adequate affordable housing, homelessness, and violence against women. This is a well-crafted novel with excellent writing, witty dialogue, and plenty of humor. There’s a murder mystery at its center, but it’s ultimately a character-driven story featuring real people with real problems. When the House Burns is a worthy addition to the stacks of those who enjoy reading detective mysteries featuring a cast of compelling characters.
January 15, 2023
When the House Burns by Priscilla Paton is a mystery/thriller set in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area. The novel begins with a murder of a realtor in front of one of her properties. Following the opening scene, we are introduced to a slew of characters, including the two main detectives: Deb Metzger and Erik Jansson. Several characters, including a rival realtor, the owner of a construction business, and a homeless man are introduced as possible suspects for the murder. While the plot develops, readers are introduced to Detectives Deb and Erik’s personal lives. Deb is on the hunt for a permanent residence while Erik is in search of a relationship. While their personal lives are secondary to the murderous plot, there is some overlap between the parallel narratives.
As the plot developed, I began to like both detectives. In the beginning, I was skeptical of them and their relationship. However, they have a good working relationship and seem to balance each other in the field. Overall, When the House Burns was enjoyable, I recommend this book to any fan of mystery! Thank you to Netgalley and Coffeetown Press for an advance copy of this book.
#WhentheHouseBurns #NetGalley
As the plot developed, I began to like both detectives. In the beginning, I was skeptical of them and their relationship. However, they have a good working relationship and seem to balance each other in the field. Overall, When the House Burns was enjoyable, I recommend this book to any fan of mystery! Thank you to Netgalley and Coffeetown Press for an advance copy of this book.
#WhentheHouseBurns #NetGalley
Want to read
September 7, 2023A murder mystery, say no more, I am hooked!
The novel begins with a a realtor who was murdered in front of one her properties. We are then introduced to the two many detectives: Deb Metzger and Erik Jansson. Which BTW have the greatest banter and are kinda quirky. Then comes the many suspects: is it the rival realtor, owner of a construction business, or a homeless man possibly? As we continue to dive into the plot we are introduced into the detectives personal lives. Deb is on the hunt for a permanent residence while Erik is in search of a relationship. I really enjoyed getting to know the detectives as well as figuring out how this would be solved.
The novel begins with a a realtor who was murdered in front of one her properties. We are then introduced to the two many detectives: Deb Metzger and Erik Jansson. Which BTW have the greatest banter and are kinda quirky. Then comes the many suspects: is it the rival realtor, owner of a construction business, or a homeless man possibly? As we continue to dive into the plot we are introduced into the detectives personal lives. Deb is on the hunt for a permanent residence while Erik is in search of a relationship. I really enjoyed getting to know the detectives as well as figuring out how this would be solved.
October 18, 2022
Very well written mystery with dynamic characters. Loved the relationship between the two main detectives and how the author has developed that relationship over the course of the Twin Cities Mysteries! I also enjoyed the social commentary in this book about real issues that people face, it didn't seem like just a murder mystery in a vacuum, there was depth and discussion of the world in which the characters inhabited.
October 18, 2022
WHEN THE HOUSE BURNS is a thrilling murder mystery that ties in societal issues that make this more that your typical whodunit. I appreciate how Paton comments on the housing issue that our country faces, especially the crisis with housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The settings in this book are rich and clearly well researched.
April 30, 2023
This is Paton’s 3rd mystery and is every bit as compelling as the first two. You have to respect the effort it took to research the real estate industry to create such a convincing narrative, but that is her trademark. Her comprehensive understanding of not just the twin city’s geography but it’s culture only adds to both the plot and the dry humor she displays in all three books.
September 23, 2024
3rd book is the best in the series, flowing more smoothly than the first two.
Set during “the time of terrible living”, aka 2020. Surrounding a a crooked developer, homeless and the metro housing market.
Much better on the “who done it” twists and turns.
Set during “the time of terrible living”, aka 2020. Surrounding a a crooked developer, homeless and the metro housing market.
Much better on the “who done it” twists and turns.
December 6, 2022
Well-written detective story. The pacing is terrific, the dialogue memorable. Would recommend
Thank you to Priscilla Paton, NetGalley and Coffetown Press for the arc of this book.
Thank you to Priscilla Paton, NetGalley and Coffetown Press for the arc of this book.
February 5, 2024
I just couldn’t get into this one. I tried for the first 100 or so pages but ended up skimming the rest. Not my style.
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