J.J. Cook – Playing with Fire

The second book in the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade series, published January 7, 2014
Genre: cozy mystery
Cover: nice. The dog in the picture is Hero, who is training to be a rescue dog, helping find victims in houses on fire.



Welcome to Sweet Pepper, Tennessee. Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, it's home to the hottest and sweetest peppers in the world—as well as at least one ghost and a hotbed of secrets…
GETTING WARMER
Fire Chief Stella Griffin is working to solve the mysterious death of her predecessor, Eric Gamlyn—who also haunts her cabin. Yet the more she learns, the more burning questions she must answer. Just as Stella thinks she has a lead from Deputy Chum, someone snuffs her hopes—and the lawman.
Adding fuel to the fire, Stella's parents soon arrive—with her ex-boyfriend—hoping to persuade her to return to Chicago. Now Stella is torn between the life she left behind and uncovering what happened to her ghostly friend. But she'd better think fast or more than her investigation could go up in flames…


It took me a very long time to get into the first book in the series, and only the ending made me decide to buy the next book. And I am glad I did, as this book captured my attention from the start. Fire Chief Stella Griffin is trying to find out who killed former Fire Chief Eric Gamlyn, her ghostly houseguest, 40 years ago. Slowly she gets to the bottom of the truth, but her parents really want her to move back home, to Chicago, and even fly out to Sweet Pepper to persuade her. But why they brought her cheating ex-boyfriend with them, she doesn’t know. She is really not interested in him anymore. She is casually dating a forestry pilot at the moment, and is enjoying life in Sweet Pepper. Especially spending time with Eric...

I really enjoyed the mystery, it sure was exciting and dangerous at times, and I still want to think the sheriff is the bad guy, with how he is behaving towards Stella. The whole town seems to think her rich grandfather is behind it though, but so far, there is no evidence about that.

The daily life leading the fire brigade and training her volunteers is very interested as well, as are the real fires they have to fight. And then there is the intrigue at her grandfathers’ mansion. Ben is over the moon that his daughter has come back home for a visit, even if she refuses to stay with him. His second wife and her son are less thrilled of course, they still hope to inherit when he dies, but he seems to ignore them mostly, and really despise his stepson.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, and I certainly want to read the next book.
8 stars.

© 2014 Reviews by Aurian