INFERNO

Author: Karen Harper ISBN: 0778324044 1/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: MIRA

EVIL SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE Bush pilot Lauren Taylor knows better than most the devastation fire can leave in its wake: two years ago she lost her husband to a raging wildfire. But when she flies a stranger into her isolated hometown of Vermillion, Montana, her actions may be the spark that starts an inferno. Because the mysterious passenger bears an undeniable resemblance to a serial arsonist wanted by the FBI—and he's disappeared in t the tinder-dry woods... FBI agent Brad Hale doesn't have time to fly into picturesque towns based on one woman's vague suspicions, but Lauren Taylor seems desperate. And when her young s on goes missing, he realizes the little boy may hold the key to his investigation. Hot on the stranger's trail, Lauren and Brad will do anything to stop a man bent on destruction... even if that means rushing headlong into the flames.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Too much. That is the best, and the nicest way, I can sum up my feelings about INFERNO. Too much overacting, unnecessary drama, and even too much fire. Yeah, I know the book is called INFERNO, but too much is still just too much.

The abused-as-a-child villain, who craves his fire expert daddy's attention and wants to be an actor, torches places and women while quoting Shakespeare to himself. He is over the top and way too theatrical for my taste. I suspect he is supposed to appear maniacal, but instead comes off like he belongs in a cheesy Steven Seagal movie. Truly, as I read certain scenes, particularly one involving a ski-lift, I pictured exactly what a corny moment the scene would resemble on the big screen.

The book goes on too long and has so many near misses, and near catches, that I swear it still isn't over. One really silly point I still cannot believe is toward the end, where the hero takes so long to decide what to do while the villain is in the midst of trying to kill two people, that he lets him get away, again. The book really should have been over at that point, but nope, there is more bad drama to come.

The only bright spot I find is that the author writes well enough that I can see this one as an action movie with Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone as the hero.

Shannon Johnson