When FBI profiler Kaely Quinn’s mother is diagnosed with cancer, Kaely takes time off work to go to Dark Water, Nebraska, to help her brother care for their mother. Upon her arrival, she learns of a series of fires in the small town, attributed by the fire chief to misuse of space heaters in the frigid winter. But Kaely is skeptical, and a search for a pattern in the locations of the fires … bolsters her suspicions.
After yet another blaze devastates a local family, Kaely is certain a serial arsonist is on the loose. Calling upon her partner from St. Louis, Noah Hunter, and her brother’s firefighter neighbor who backs Kaely’s suspicions, Kaely and her team begin an investigation that swiftly leads them down a twisted path. When the truth is finally revealed, Kaely finds herself confronting a madman who is determined his last heinous act will be her death.
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Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl is an edge-of-your-seat, nail-biting kind of read. I very much enjoyed my time again with Kaely Quinn; she is an even more endearing and compelling character in this sequel. It was also good to see Noah Hunter, Kaely’s FBI partner, back in full force. It’s fun to watch him do all he can to protect Kaely while she is myopically trying to profile and find a serial arsonist/murderer. The slight romantic tension between Kaely and Noah kept me up late into the night turning pages. While the fireworks currently are minimal, they are there and that makes me super excited to see what Mehl has in store for us readers with book #3. I also really enjoyed the mystery and suspense. While I did figure out who-dunnit earlier on in the read, there are enough shockers at the end of the story to make me feel like I definitely got my money’s worth!
At the heart of this novel is the issue of family. Specifically, Mehl deals with families and the broken people that make them up. At one point, the word dysfunction is used, and I could not agree more. The families in this story are all uniquely dysfunctional and hurting. Some people see family as everything — a source of love, comfort, and stability even through the bad times. Some see family as a nuisance. And some see nothing but the ugly brokenness of the people within. Kaely has reason to see tremendous negative in her family and allows that to color her relationships with her mother and brother. And, for a moment, it looks like Kaely will revert back to her old ways and abandon them. There is a moment when Kaely prays to God, “Why them?” God, in His infinite awesomeness, shows Kaely her truth and fills her brain with images of the way she has treated her family in the past. Kaely realizes she isn’t the innocent victim. God’s message to Kaely is clear. She needs to stop judging her family and spend a minute in their shoes instead. When we take the focus off our selves, when we spend a minute looking at something through someone else’s perspective, we can see others and their actions/choices in a better light. They still might not be the right actions or choices, but at least we can understand our loved ones better. I very much appreciated this reminder.
Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl is a highly engaging, fast-paced read that I highly recommend. If you are a fan of Romantic Suspense and you are looking for a good read, then this is definitely the novel for you.
I received a copy of this novel in paperback form from the publisher, Bethany House, in order to review. I also received an eBook review copy of this novel from NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Oh, my word! How can I adequately describe my feelings about Fire Storm? I became fascinated with Kaely Quinn when I read Mind Games but this book has made her even more intriguing. As I read Fire Storm I thought that I knew who was setting the fires that were claiming property and lives in Darkwater, Nebraska, but author Nancy Mehl managed to throw just enough curves to keep me off base. The final chapters showed that while I was partially correct I was also very wrong!
Kaely Quinn is a FBI Behavioral Analyst, aka profiler, and she isn’t always accepted by other law enforcement agencies. Her very torturous past that was introduced in Mind Games continues to leave Kaely with tremendous emotional baggage and numerous hurdles to overcome and it’s obvious that even though she needs her FBI partner Noah Hunter to help her, she often resists his help. Their close working partnership hints that an attraction could be possible but their past histories seem too difficult to overcome. Kaely doesn’t want to let her guard down and Noah is still holding on to the life that he shared with his now-deceased wife. Kaely is also dealing with an extremely fragile relationship with her very-ill mother and she isn’t certain that she can ever enjoy a loving family unit again.
I was unaware of the concept of profiling and profilers until I began this series and I find it all so very intriguing. Fire Storm is a roller-coaster ride and I was glad to see Kaely Quinn, Profiler in action again. I’m also looking forward to the next story to see if Noah and Kaely can enter into a deeper personal relationship and I am anxious to see if her broken family ties can he repaired. Kaely’s brother Jason is a wonderful character and I would love to see him get his own story. This series offers so much potential and I want to see it explored! Kaely has shown growth as a Christian and I am rooting for this to continue.
If you love mystery and drama, if you like psychological drama, and if you enjoy romantic suspense, you will want to read Fire Storm.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Bethany House but I am voluntarily sharing this review. These are my honest thoughts.
This is an incredible suspense novel with lots of twists!
I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Kaely. She is an amazingly deep character. It was nice to see her trying to figure herself out as well as her personal relationships. It can be so easy to just blame others for the problems.
Noah is a fantastic character. He is the perfect partner for Kaely. He is willing at accept her where she is at while at the same challenging her to improve. I enjoyed finding out that they become friends.
The string of fires and the mystery about how they were being started was wonderful. It was fun seeing all the different personalities and how they interacted with each other as they worked to solve it. The twists and turns throughout this book really kept me guessing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I loved getting to learn more about Kaely Quinn’s mother and brother. It does help to know that everyone can have problems within their family but sometimes they can be overcome. I loved the suspense throughout this whole book. I recommend that you read each of these books in order to enjoy them the most. I loved the characters and look forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Kaely faces a storm of fire on all fronts…
OK, breathe and gather your thoughts. Wow, Fire Storm is one chilling and thrilling story! But what else do you expect from Kaely Quinn Profiler, author Nancy Mehl’s very unique heroine? This time Kaely is taking on a serial arsonist, and….her own family. If there’s one thing most of us know it’s that family relationships are messy and not always perfect. But Kaely’s got it in spades, after all, the effects of having a serial killer for dad and a husband are bound to affect you. A lot. And there’s an arsonist in town just to make things interesting.
Well, if you are into stories with more twists and turns than a psycho’s mind have I got the book for you! There are suspects galore and yet none of them could possibly be guilty. I had my eye on one character from the very beginning, had the whole scenario laid out, and then I was shocked when I was totally wrong…but I was also right… Trust me, Nancy Mehl’s twisted imagination will leave you going “Huh, what?!” But, oh, that’s what makes Fire Storm, and its predecessor, so good!
I enjoyed the fact that romance is not the main thread in this book, the hint of it is there, though, so the psychological elements are allowed to be front and center. While dark and chilling, as all such stories are, the light of faith is also allowed to shine, which, as a Christian reader I appreciated.
So, tell me, what are YOU waiting for? Just make sure you check behind the doors tonight and leave your light on…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
4.5 stars. Fire Storm continues to capture readers’ minds following its predecessor, Mind Games. In this sophomore title of the Kaely Quinn Profiler series, readers will dive more into Kaely’s mind and emotions with her past and her family. Though it doesn’t pack the same punch in terms of suspense as Mind Games does, it is a necessary and relevant process in building well rounded characters with depth and substance for a continuing series as a whole.
The case on hand is an interesting one and the pace on par with overall development. I do think it was easy to figure out and somewhat anti-climatic to a seasoned suspense reader. However, as an entertainment, it fills all gaps from story to romance to character growth.
I will suggest reading this series in order, starting with Mind Games to really experience who Kaely Quinn is, and the various relationships she has. Though Fire Storm can be read as a stand alone title, it wouldn’t provide readers the satisfaction it will experiencing the series as a whole. Fire Storm is a good story on its own, but a great one as part of the series.
Last, may I just add how GORGEOUS that cover is?!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
Fire Storm by Nancy Mehl is a compulsive Christian contemporary thriller suspense that will keep you gripped and guessing. It is the second book in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series but can be read as a stand-alone.
Cold case crimes are resurrected in present day as there appears to be copycat crimes. Kaely Quinn tries to piece together the clues to solve the mystery. “Ghosts of the past whirled around her.” As her job dominates, there seems to be no time for family. “Your job is just something you do. Not who you are.” We must live a balanced life and make time for those who love us. We will never find our true worth in our jobs, we are worth so much more than that.
Family is important. Fractured families need to come together to heal the rifts of time. Forgiveness must be given even though some things feel too big to be forgiven. We must extend the hand of grace to those around us.
Guilt links to the theme of forgiveness. Guilt is a heavy burden to carry. “Feeling guilty never made me better. Never made me stronger.” Guilt weighs us down. It is not ours to carry. We need to release it to God and walk into our future.
Jealousy is a terrible master. It pollutes relationships and actions. It is toxic.
Sometimes we feel motivated to earn our earthly parents love. This is in contrast to the love of our heavenly Father which is freely given.
Nancy Mehl has created a wonderful eclectic mix of characters. There are some partnerships begun in book one. Loyalty amongst work colleagues is priceless. The leading lady is not your conventional heroine with her hang-ups and unusual way of solving crimes. But she is likable and realistic and the reader instantly warms to her.
Fire Storm was a thrilling read. I cannot wait to read much more in this marvellous Kaely Quinn series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
This was a fairly new author for me and this series is incredible, it sucks you in with so many twists and turns.
You do NEED to read book 1, first it will give you more insight into the characters present.
Kaely.getting a call from her brother Jason, telling her their mother was really sick. He had been there now it was her turn, would they even be able to communicate. After the betrayal of her father, it was hard for her to trust anyone. Noah an agent, thinking the possibility of being close friends was there. She still had Georgie who really wasn’t a real thing. Mr.Hoover a cat that had been abandoned she has taken in. Sometimes a behavioral analyst with the FBI, scared of her mother, and that was just a beginning of the list. Getting gas, she picks up a newspaper, and reading about the fires, her suspicion were they were not accidental. Noah being loaned out and with Kealy have a surveillance job to do. Then in their own time could check out the fires. A plot that centers around a family that was broken,trust was broken, and lines of communication were not open. This deals a lot with Kaely her job, and her friend Georgie, would she ever be willing to be vulnerable again and open up to someone.
I’ve been reading Nancy Mehl’s novels for awhile now and can honestly say every one I’ve read has captured my attention!
Fire Storm is the second in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series, and is just as stunning as the first, Mind Games. An FBI profiler, Kaely Quinn has some most unusual methods for investigating and capturing a suspect; ways that are beginning to cause her FBI partners and supervisor to question her stability.
Regardless of her methodology, Kaely is usually spot on, in the end, but the path to stop and capture the suspect often leads her into becoming a target herself.
At her brother’s request, Kaely returns to Darkwater, Nebraska to help him care for their critically ill mother. A series of house fires captures her attention, and soon Kaely is unofficially investigating whether the fires are the result of a serial arsonist. When she comes to the attention of the arsonist, she and her family become targets themselves.
Her partner, Noah Hunter, joins her in the investigation but soon finds himself protecting Kaely. Question is will Kaely and Noah be able to stop the arsonist before he completes his ultimate goal?
Murdering Kaely…
This book will have you on the edge of your seat for sure. I will I did not read the first book in the series and part of me wants to just to go back and see what I missed. I would also say to me this book is not a romance book, while the characters do express feeling its never to each other. This book deals with some tough subjects and keeps you wondering what is going to happen next, The keeps it clean so that was a plus in my book. I did also enjoy that the author seem to hold nothing back in this book. If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end then grab this book you won’t be disappointed. Oh I will say this though the book ends in a cliffhanger of sorts.
I love Nancy’s books. This was a good sequel to the first (Mind Games) in the series.
Fire Storm is the second book in Nancy Mehl’s Kaely Quinn Profiler series.
Mind Games introduced us to Kaely Quinn, daughter of a notorious serial killer and now a talented FBI profiler specialising in profiling and catching serial killers. But she’s a damaged person, and most of her colleagues find it difficult to work with her and her unconventional methods.
In Fire Storm, Kaely’s mother is dying of cancer, and her brother has persuaded her to visit their mother in her new hometown of Darkwater, Nebraska. Kaely and her mother don’t have the best of relationships, as her mother basically checked out of motherhood when she found out her husband was a serial killer. In Marcie’s defence, I can’t say I’d be all rainbows and unicorns if I found I was married to a serial killer and had two children with him.
But Kaely hasn’t even arrived at Marcie’s house before she discovers all is not well in the town of Darkwater. There have been a few recent fires, which the fire chief says were caused by cheap space heaters. But Kaely immediately sees a pattern in the locations.
Kaely believes there is a serial arsonist at work.
It’s not a spoiler to say that the fire chief doesn’t believe her … and that the fire chief is wrong. Kaely’s challenge is to get the fire chief or police or FBI to believe her before there are more fires and more people die.
I have to say that the first chapter of Fire Storm isn’t gripping (although the Prologue certainly was). Chapter one has a lot of backstory, describing Kaely’s history and her personal problems. As such, those who haven’t read Mind Games will have no trouble picking up Fire Storm. (Those who have read Mind Games may well find themselves skimming this first chapter).
But the story soon picks up, and turns into a white-knuckle ride with lots of twists and turns.
There’s plenty of conflict in the arson story, and there’s also plenty of conflict at home. Kaely and her mother have never been close, which provides an added layer. And there’s the nice vet and volunteer fireman next door to consider.
I found Fire Storm a quick and fact-paced read, perfect for any time when you’re worried your nails might be getting too long. Recommended for fans of Carrie Stuart Parks, Terri Blackstock, and other Christian thriller authors.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
Note: I received an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.
Fire Storm delivers a new mystery and dangerous twists and turns for FBI profiler, Kaely Quinn. Follow Kaely on her journey to uncover the story and track down the perpetrator.
Nancy Mehl is a new favorite author of mine. I thoroughly enjoyed Mind Games, Book one in the Kaely Quinn Profiler series, so I was excited to begin this second book. Fire Storm brings us the story of Kaely’s family and her mom’s current cancer diagnosis. As Kaely visits to help care for her mother and bridge the gap in their relationship, she’s drawn to a case of mysterious fires that begin consuming and terrorizing the town where her mother lives.
I enjoyed following Kaely as she tracked down the perpetrator and uncovers the mystery. I like Kaely’s character and her backstory; she’s strong, independent and fierce. Fire Storm reads more as a Nancy Drew mystery to me than a suspense/thriller which is what I was anticipating after reading the synopsis. Regardless, the story flows well with suspense and dramatic scenes inserted appropriately throughout and holds a readers interest. Kaely learns more about herself and her faith along the way, and her relationship with Special Agent Noah Hunter is definitely growing. I would have loved to have seen more flourish there but that wasn’t the main focus of this book. The only thing that kept me from a higher rating was how this story gave away the ending. Once I felt certain who the culprit was, I felt myself rushing the end of the story. I would have loved a bit more of a twist personally, but there were elements of the ending that still surprised me. While this second book isn’t as good as the first, in my opinion, it still is good and worth a read! I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
After I read the first book in the “Kaely Quinn Profiler” series, I knew that I would want to read the second. The main character is a bit quirky and quite interesting as far as her approach to life.
Once I read this book was to be set in Nebraska, this title bumped up high on my #TBR list. As a Nebraska travel writer, I am always intrigued to see how well my state is represented in fiction. I would say that the author did a good job overall. Darkwater is obviously a made up town. (At the moment, I am not sure if the author states that part or not. So that would be a negative if she does not include that fact). But she did also include North Platte and Omaha in the book, and what she included was realistic. Her description of the Nebraska winter weather being intense was definitely accurate.
As for the novel itself, the author did a good job of handling complex family issues. The relationships seemed realistic. While I almost could predict parts of the ending, there was definitely a major unexpected twist. The relationship between the two FBI agents is only starting to be established, so that definitely made me want to read book three in the series. I like the suspense concept that the author is developing.
Nancy Mehl has been a hit-or-miss author for me, but I fell in love with Mind Games, the first book in her newest series, Kaely Quinn Profiler. So, of course, I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of the second book in the series.
Unfortunately, in many respects, Fire Storm didn’t hold up to the stellar quality of story that its predecessor did.
Fire Storm focuses a lot more on Kaely and her family than the suspense\mystery aspect of the story. And while I liked that fact at times, I wish the suspense had played a larger role in this book, as it did in Mind Games. That being said, there was still a goodly amount of suspense, just not as much as I expected. Also, considering the amount of air time the storyline with Kaely and her family got, the resolution was quite disappointing in that regard, as not much was resolved.
The romance between Kaely and Noah picked up a bit more in this book, although it still played a very backseat role, which I very much liked. This is not your typical romantic suspense novel. Still, I was hoping for some resolution between these characters by the time the story ended, but that didn’t really happen either.
Mehl did a great job building up the storyline to and through the climax, but after the climax, we had less than 10% of the book to wrap the story up, which was nowhere near enough. If more time and care had been taken to ensure that all of the many storylines Mehl had running were wrapped up, my rating would have been 4 or 5 stars, but because I was left feeling so disappointed by the end, I had to lower my rating to 3. I understand that this is a series and there must be some storylines left open to continue on in book 3, but everything was left too open, in my opinion.
One other aspect I was disappointed with: the spiritual themes. Mehl brings up some very intriguing, and even somewhat controversial themes in book one, so I was excited to see what she would do with those themes in book two. Unfortunately, nothing much was done in that regard. I would have loved to see the author attribute these themes to spiritual warfare, but instead, they were never really addressed. There is still room to do that in book three, I suppose, so I’m still hoping that will happen.
All in all, this story is a very fascinating story, it just ended poorly, in my opinion. I still look forward to continuing Kaely’s story in book three. I don’t mean to bash this story, as there are still a lot of elements I appreciated in it. This review is simply my opinions, so take them with a grain of salt and check out Fire Storm for yourself! 🙂
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
This is the second book in the Kaely Quinn series, but it can be read as a standalone. It could be romantic suspense, but there is not a lot of romance, so I would just call it suspense. In this book, I found out a lot more about Kaely’s background, where she came from and why she has such a difficult time with her mother. Kaely goes home to Darkwater, Nebraska, to help her brother Jason care for their mother Marcie, a cancer patient who is dying. In this little town, FBI profiler Kaely manages to discover that the repetitive fires occurring around the town are the work of a serial arsonist. At this point, her partner and romantic interest, Noah Hunter, appears to help out with the arson cases. Although Noah loves Kaely, there is no real declaration of love here nor any really romantic scenes. They are just working together to solve the mystery of the fire starter. There is not enough suspense for me in this novel and not enough resolution at the end. The family troubles still exist and the relationship between Noah and Kaely is still up in the air. Nevertheless, it is a good, clean read that will entertain fans of Christian suspense. I am looking forward to the next book in the series because Mehl does know how to tell a story that enthralls her readers.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Nancy Mehl is back with Kaely Quinn Profiler series and let me tell ya! It was well worth the wait for this one. Once again, Mehl brings her characters to a fantastic setting and a gripping plot line filled with perfectly chiseled characters.
As a daughter of a cancer survivor, I really felt like I connected with Kaely so much in this novel. As the wife of a firefighter, the story line really hit home with me. The intensity of the suspense is incredible. Learning of each fire with Kaely, learning of the reasoning behind them, was fast paced, gripping and had me turning the pages long into the night.
The way that Kaely faced all of this investigation and seeing her interact with her partner, Noah, was really captivating. I felt like I was in the middle of the story, help them with their investigation of who’s doing what and why. That is an awesome feeling when you get to be that close to the book.
If you want a story that is filled with messages of trust, understanding, letting go and facing the future with an understanding of hope, love, and renewal, then this story is for you. If you want a 4 star novel that is intense, fast paced, and filled with awesome characters that will become a part of you, then look no further. This is a perfect addition to Kaely’s story and I am absolutely looking forward to book 3! Well done, Mehl. Well done!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Nancy Mehl
In Fire Storm, once again Nancy Mehl brings the reader into the mind of Kaely Quinn, an FBI profiler. The second book in this series is just as good as the first. You are cheering for Kaely not just to catch the bad guy, but to also work through some of her own issues that are holding her back from deepening her relationships. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat with plenty of twists and turns along the way. You don’t want to miss this one!
Kaley Quinn profiler is a very compelling character and series. Kaley is not the usual FBI agent nor is her past a run of the mill type. Kaley is introduced to readers in the first book titled, Mind Games, which is a fascinating tale and will definitely grab the reader, pull them in with the suspense not letting up even after you close the book! Kaley is a unique woman with very unusual gifts and procedures that help her identify suspects and the FBI close some cases, but not everyone is a fan of Kaley.
I think it would help readers enjoy the second book if they start with book one because of the developing backstory of Kaley. The tale in Firestorm isn’t just filled with suspense but also a touch of romance. Neither overshadows the other; it’s a good blend. I enjoyed Kaley being a woman who must face her past or be threatened to be overtaken by it. Kaley wants to not feel anything toward another FBI agent named Noah, and he doesn’t want to be drawn to Kaley either. I am not sure they can control the chemistry that sparks between them!
Kaley originally goes home at the behest of her brother to help take care of their sick mother, but it is the last thing Kaley wants to do. She finds it hard to keep her walls up when she faces her mother, and there is a firebug on the loose in the very small town where her mother resides. The tension within Kaley comes from various sources, one is her family and the other is her job. It is a very compelling read as these two worlds collide within and outside Kaley.
I hope you enjoy the series as I did, and maybe soon another installment with Kaley will be out for us to lose ourselves in for a few hours! Until then, enjoy Mind Games and Firestorm and maybe share with others about this unique character and series.