Mary Burton tells a good story with some interesting characters and her plotting is fine. While in Missoula Montana for college, Joan and Ann were victims of an arson that could have killed them. Now, the brilliant, handsome man convicted of the crime is out of jail. Joan leaves town and her college love behind after the fire, but she is back for a bit from her job as a police officer in Philadelphia and he is now a police chief. More arsons happen. Deaths happen. Things get resolved. The mystery is solvable but not too obvious as to irritate. So why 3 stars? Because Mary Burton’s writing needs a much better editor. She is a best selling author, perhaps because of her storytelling skill, but her writing seems amateurish, jarring grammatically and often stilted. It feels like she could do better if she spent more time rewriting with an ear for what she is saying. I bought two of these books at one time and the next one, which I am about to review, had similar issues. It would be so easy to make this book four stars with a lot more discipline and red ink.
Burn You Twice (Montana Series #1) – Mary Burton
Published by Emily Leader
I have been an avid reader since Dick and Jane met Sally. At age 7, I read my parents' first edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I am a retired lawyer and so read almost only fiction for pleasure. I'm adding in nonfiction these days, largely on social justice matters but also history, biography, and weird topics that catch my imagination. I used to read only serially, one book at a time. Presently, I read paperbacks, hardcovers, listen to audible, listen to CDs and read online through Net Galley. Covid-19 has caused me to read a lot so I have re-upped my Goodreads challenge for 2021 and am starting to review at least my favorite finds annd, perhaps, some stinkers. View all posts by Emily Leader
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They Called me Bookworm 