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Set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, J. J. Cook’s thrilling new mystery series features Fire Chief Stella Griffin, who solves crime with the help of her predecessor, who just happens to be a ghost…
NO MATCH FOR MURDER
After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.
As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.
INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!
“Dark family secrets, a delicious mystery—and a ghost! What reader could ask for more?”—Casey Daniels, author of the Pepper Martin Mysteries
chefdt
Posted Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013
That Old Flame Of Mine is the first book in A Sweet Pepper Mystery series by J. J. Cook(Joyce and Jim Lavene)
For me, this was a wonderful story. A well plotted mystery, interesting characters, some you will love and some you may not like so much, and a ghost that you have to enjoy. I can't leave out Hero, the fire station's Dalmatian puppy.
Stella Griffin is on medical leave from the Chicago Fire Department and has decided to head to Sweet Pepper, TN to organize and train their volunteer fire department. Shortly after arriving Tory Lambert gives Stella a file she has put together over the years on her husbands alleged accidental death by fire. A lot of residents feel that Ben Carlson, the owner of the pepper plant, forced the finding so that the Sweet Pepper Festival could go on without the residents and visitors worrying about a killer being around. Then Stella learns that Ben Carson is her grandfather, that she never knew she had.
The next day a call comes in that Tory's house in on fire. While the fire fighters are attacking the fire, Stella and John start searching for Tory. They find her in a closet, dead. Stella sees things that point to murder and not death related to the fire while investigating the fire scene.
One evening as she is riding her Harley home one night she crashes it and doesn't know if she was hit or hit someone. She wakes up in s strange home and is being cared for by a private nurse. She soon learns that the home is her grandfather's. The grandfather that she didn't know she had. The grandfather is none other than Ben Carson.
With all of this going on, Stella also has the ghost of Eric Gamlyn to deal with. Eric was the previous fire chief and died in a silo fire, losing his life to save another fire fighter. Stella is learning to deal with having a ghost around, but then it is nice to have the lights on when you come home and have the door magically open for you.
With a little help from Eric, Stella and John, they start looking for clues to help solve Tory's mysterious death and that of he ex-husband. John has a problem with the Carson being Stella's grandfather, but are able to put those feelings aside and are able to work together to solve the mystery.
I think this is going to be a fun series and am looking forward to the next.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TessT
Posted Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013
This is the best book I have read so far this year! I don't think you will regret buying this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.aAfter knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small town’s fire chief. When her dear friend Tory Lambert dies after her gingerbread-style house is set ablaze, Stella suspects arson and foul play.
As Stella investigates, she gets help from a most unlikely source—the ghost of Eric Gamlyn, Sweet Pepper’s old fire chief. And if that isn’t enough to rattle her, attractive police officer John Trump seems to have taken an interest in her. But Stella’s got to stay focused if she hopes to smoke out a killer before her own life is extinguished.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As the daughter of a firefighter I was thrilled with this book. My dad passed away 25 years ago and it still seems like yesterday. I wish he would haunt his old firehouse, maybe he does? He did not die on “a scene” but he was a chief too just like Eric Gamlyn and I so wanted to be a firefighter and work side by side with him. At that time female firefighters were few and far between. Ladies were on the auxiliary and handled bake sales and delivered food and drink to the big fires. I would have loved Stella’s life even with the crummy boyfriend.
The story is so well written and full of wonderful real characters. The drill/practice sessions ring true to me as someone who has observed many. Chief Eric’s haunts struck my heart. Another firefighter lost too soon with so many plans and dedication. Stella has a lot on her plate in Sweet Pepper and with a bit of “help” she comes out on top. A sassy, smart, sleuth that this reader plans to enjoy tagging along with for a very long time.
J.J. Cook has written an extraordinary debut. This book will be burning up bookstore shelves. It’s hotter than a 5 alarm fire!! Respond and extricate your copy as soon as possible.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.wswkins1954
Posted Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013
It was sort of interesting but since it is the first it had to introduce everyone.
Maybe they will get better.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2013
Good i smi,e warmly towarss her ~alli
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Apr 08 00:00:00 EDT 2013
I guess.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Apr 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Set in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, J. J. Cook’s thrilling new mystery series features Fire Chief Stella Griffin, who solves crime with the help of her predecessor, who just happens to be a ghost…
NO MATCH FOR MURDER
After knocking the lights out of her boyfriend when she catches him cheating on her, Chicago fire fighter Stella Griffin hops on her Harley and heads for Sweet Pepper, Tennessee, where she ends up becoming the small ...