Linda S. Bingham, Who’s Burning Paloma Blanca

Who's Burning Paloma Blanca

Linda S. Bingham

Five Star, Dec 2004, $25.95, 242 pp.

ISBN: 1594142637

Houston's Union Fidelity Insurance hires arson investigator John Bolt to investigate a particular fire in Paloma Blanca, population of 327 in South Texas. However, though his client is interested in only one fire, a serial arsonist has burned several buildings, most of which have not been in use and are owned by wealthy rancher Jim Deveraux who married into money years ago, not long after his wife's parents died in a plane crash.

In Paloma Blanca, Jim makes inquiries and visits the sites of the fire. He learns a lot about how, but not who or why except someone must be angry with Jim. However, the latest fire while Jim is in town kills a woman. A befuddled Jim talks by phone with his wife Mary, who is performing in a play in Kansas City. Her comment on staying with loved ones provides Jim a paradigm switch that with a bit of luck will catch the deadly arsonist.

This enjoyable fire investigative tale contains a solid storyline starring a delightful lead protagonist. Jim struggles with the case as no one is eliminated from suspicion yet no motive seems to surface except a weird vendetta in which only his wife's octogenarian aunt would want but she lacks opportunity. Jim is further humanized by missing his wife. The final twist is a bit of a surprise, but fans will appreciate the investigation and want Jim to return except with Mary at his bird-watching side.

Harriet Klausner