Reading right now:

            G. M. Ford’s “Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca?” which is the first book in his Leo Waterman series. Waterman is a PI in Seattle who tries to help an elderly mobster’s granddaughter, but only finds trouble. I’m about half way through and really enjoying the Waterman character and the Seattle location. This is a series that has been around for a while, but I just hadn’t read it. Since I like it, I may have to continue on with the other six books that he’s written so far in the series.

On hold right now:

            “Let Me Go” by Chelsea Cain is her sixth novel in the Archie and Gretchen series. This unusual series centers on Portland Detective Archie Sheridan and his arch nemesis serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Cain’s other books have been fantastic and I’m looking forward to the latest. It is always interesting to see how Gretchen is dragged back into Archie’s life in each novel.

Other Mysterious things:

            With all the fires burning right now in the western United States, it’s easy to worry about the safety of those fighting the fires and the devastation left behind. Several mystery writers have chosen to write about fire fighters, arson investigators, etc. Suzanne Chazin wrote a three part series about New York rookie fire marshal Georgia Skeeham (“The Fourth Angel” is the first book in the series). While Earl Emerson is a writer, he is also a lieutenant in the Seattle Fire Department. Emerson has written many mysteries including a series starring Mac Fontana an arson investigator in Staircase, Washington. Shelly Reuben’s early books included two about fires where a retired fire marshal is called in to help solve the mystery (“Origin & Cause” and “Spent Matches”). Nancy Baker Jacob writes about arson investigator Susan Delancey in “Flash Point.” Doug Corleone’s “Night on Fire” is worth the read. Dave Hugelschaffer has a firefighter series (main character Porter Cassel, see “Day Into Night”). Linda Bingham’s series centers around Houston arson investigator John Bolt (start with “Up in Flames”). Finally don’t miss Kurt Kamm’s books about firefighters.