WORKING FIRE appealed to me originally because it is
set in small town Illinois and the best-selling author, Emily Bleeker, lives in
suburban Chicago. As such, it seems to fit nicely with ideas expressed in “Keep Summer Reading Alive All Year” (appearing in yesterday’s Wall Street
Journal) wherein Will Schwalbe extols the benefits of reading a variety of
titles, especially those chosen randomly. WORKING FIRE was a fun surprise
to read because it involved action, tension, mystery and a clever shift in time
to tell the story of two sisters, Amelia and Ellie. The latter is a paramedic
who answers a 911 call at her sister’s home – finding gunshot victims and the
start to a traumatic few days. Amelia,
much older, is seemingly defined by her role as mother (to Katie and Cora) and
wife to Steve. Amelia’s high school
boyfriend, Caleb, and a newcomer real estate investor, Randy, also feature in
the story which is told in flashbacks beginning about six weeks prior to the shooting.
Dealing with issues of family loyalty and trust, WORKING FIRE delves
into complex relationships and is filled with secrets, suspense and
manipulation in a contemporary setting.
