Diane Craver, A Fiery Secret

A Fiery Secret

Diane Craver

Samhain, Feb 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 1599983699

In Park City, Ohio, editor-in-chief and owner of the Messenger, Jane Gibbons informs her small staff, including investigative reporter Catherine Steel, that she is expanding the popular sports section and bringing in Jake Michaels as the sports editor. Catherine is unhappy with Jake coming home because he failed to show up to escort her to the prom when they were seeing one another in high school.

Jake never got over Catherine and wants to start over; Catherine never forgave Jake or any boy and chose virginity until she says I do. However, having Jake around makes her choices difficult as she still loves the rat. Meanwhile, in between supplementing her income writing fluff for women's magazines and fantasizing about Jake while avoiding him, Catherine investigates the recent death of high school janitor Max Hartman, officially ruled an accident, but she has found some contrary evidence that begins to imply homicide.

A FIERY SECRET is a wonderful, small-town, journalistic, investigative mystery starring two likable protagonists and a horde of eccentric Midwesterners. The whodunit is fun to follow as an over-worked Catherine begins to uncover long-held secrets that culminated in her mind with the janitor's murder though law enforcement believes au contraire. Her relationship with Jake is fascinating as they knew each other back then, but find refreshing surprises about each other. With a great cast, a strong final twist, a delightful investigation, and two fine prime time stars lead to a terrific, entertaining, romantic mystery.

Harriet Klausner