Burning Paradise — Terry Hughes

"Five Murdered." That's the latest headline in beautiful Santa Marta, California, where an arsonist called Smoke has the oceanside city by the throat. Smoke is both smart and vicious, and the pyro's fires have already burned thousands of acres and hundreds of homes.Santa Marta's fire department can't stop Smoke, and the city council, led by the licentious Mayor Innis, is hiring outside help in the form of Monte Raleigh. He's an arson investigator who knows how it feels to be burned, and has the scars and nightmares to prove it. He's dedicated his career to catching arsonists, but the next target is already staked, and it will take his entire arsenal of technology, firefighting experience, and detection skills to ensnare Smoke before the arsonist strikes, and kills, again.Smoke doesn't plan to go down easily, and not everyone in Santa Marta is eager to help the investigation. This affluent city has its seedy side, and three competing fire departments are all pointing fingers at each other. A known torch is on parole in town, a wealthy mayoral candidate would just as soon see Innis fail, and some of the firefighters are prime suspects. Somewhere in Santa Marta is the answer to Smoke's riddles, and maybe the answer to Monte's haunting dreams.Welcome to a land where everyone has something to gain, and everyone has something-or someone-to lose. Welcome to Paradise.