The Burning

July 19, 2021
It’s wildfire season in Northern California, a time of “million-acre fires, killing winds, and weeklong blackouts,” in the Kellermans’ intriguing fourth mystery featuring Clay Edison, Alameda County’s deputy coroner (after 2020’s Half Moon Bay). Kitted out in a respirator mask, Clay makes his way to a crime scene on the sprawling estate of wealthy Rory Vandervelde, a collector of all things expensive, from sports memorabilia to rare automobiles, who has been shot dead. In the victim’s garage, Clay is shocked to find a late-’60s Camaro, painted a searing shade of green, which he identifies as belonging to his problematic younger brother, Luke. His suspicions mount when he can’t locate Luke. Faced with the need to protect his brother, Clay decides to run a clandestine investigation of his own. In doing so, he crosses ethical and professional borders, and soon his lies are “piling up like bad debt.” The troubled familial relationships play an integral part in the unraveling of the whodunit and the why, adding pathos to the riveting finale. Once again, the bestselling Kellermans provide food for thought along with a tidy mystery.

September 15, 2021
When coroner Clay Edison is called to the scene where wealthy businessman Rory Vandervelde has been brutally murdered, he has no idea this case will have dangerous repercussions for him and his family. Clay is stunned by the victim's vast collection of vintage cars, but after he sees a familiar green Camaro, he's puzzled, then disturbed. His brother, Luke, who's had a troubled life, including drug addiction and a prison term, owns an identical Camaro. But if this one is Luke's, how did it end up in Vandervelde's garage? Clay tries to contact Luke but discovers he's disappeared. Could Luke have been involved in Vandervelde's murder? As Clay tries to discover the truth, he realizes that both he and Luke are in danger, and he may need to circumvent the law to set matters right. This is another superb crime thriller from the prolific and talented father-and-son Kellermans. Set in the San Francisco Bay Area during one of the state's terrible wildfires, the story is vintage Kellerman(s): a riveting page-turner of a mystery with pulse-pounding action, and a compelling look at family dynamics and loyalty. The shock ending doesn't hurt, either.

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September 24, 2021

Deputy coroner Clay Edison's fourth case (after Half Moon Bay) hits close to home. A raging wildfire blankets the San Francisco Bay Area in thick smoke. A lengthy power outage makes things worse. When Clay arrives at a well-hidden mansion, he finds the body of Rory Vandervelde, a wealthy man with valuable collections of cars, sports memorabilia, and more. An inventory of these collections leads Clay to his brother Luke, an ex-convict with substance abuse issues. When Luke's wife calls to say that her husband is missing, Clay knows that he needs to find him. As his own pregnant wife and young daughter are visiting family in Los Angeles to escape the smoke, he can spend more time on his undercover search. He discovers ties to past crimes, bends enough rules to get himself in major trouble, and endangers his life in the process. VERDICT As always, the Kellermans guarantee that readers will turn pages rapidly to enjoy the complex characters and intricate plot turns. It's another winner for mystery readers.

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