Frankie has just arrived home from her relief work in Africa, unsure of her next step, and immediately she is sucked into the drama of both her parents’ lives and of the small New England town they now inhabit year-round. What everyone seems to be caught up in are the fires – fires being set in peoples’ homes. First in homes of those not yet up for the summer, then gradually in homes of those who were up but not at home at the time, and then, most frighteningly, a few set when people were home. As Frankie becomes more involved because of her parents’ involvement, she also becomes more involved in the newspaper reporter who is reporting on the fires – and this may disrupt her usual lifestyle of keeping herself unencumbered. Will she change her pattern for him? Will she change her pattern to help her more needy parents? And who is setting these fires?
There is just enough suspense and character development to keep interest in this story, although it is only just enough. It seems as though the author herself has only just enough interest in the story itself. There is good character development and I liked each of the characters, particularly Bud, the newspaper reporter, who has given up the big city, political reporting for the small town, local newspaper gig. He is down-home, and down-to-earth, and he connects to people genuinely with his heart. She also creates a side story of Frankie’s parents and their tragic aging, which is painful and harsh, but also realistic and relatable.
I think the point is that the story is about relationships and not what is actually happening/the plot. Maybe that is what the author intends all along.
Maybe that is life?
kindread spirits 