Consuming Fire — Thomas D. Davis

P.I. Dave Strickland is called to Granite Valley, California, to investigate anonymous threats against John Havens, a local author of a book on grief and healing. At first, the case seems unrelated to a series of murders that have taken place in the area: Over the past eight months, three children have been kidnapped, knocked out, and burned to death. However, Strickland no sooner arrives in Granite galley than there is a radical change in the scope of his investigation - an anonymous caller has accused Havens of the child murders. While Strickland is trying to uncover any leads regarding the death threats, a fourth child is found murdered. Because he is on-site when the remains are found, the case becomes all too personal for Strickland, who must now sort through the confusing evidence if he has any chance of stopping the madman's rampage.