Kristina A. reviewed on 2/22/2017 + 1528 more book reviews

Fatality by Firelight by Lynn Cahoon is the second book in A Cat Latimer Mystery series. Cat Latimer is welcoming a new group of writers to her second writer's retreat in Aspen Hills, Colorado. After inheriting the beautiful Victorian from her ex-husband, Michael, Cat turned the home into the Warm Springs Writers Retreat. On the first full day of the retreat Cat and her boyfriend, Seth (he is also the handyman) take the writers up the mountain for a day of skiing. After enjoying the slopes, Cat and Seth enter the lodge to find the writers enjoying the bar. Christine, one of her guests, is in a clench on the sofa with local, Tommy Neil. It will not go well for Tommy when his fiancé, Brit finds out. Upon arriving back home, Cat tries to warn Christine, but she does not wish to listen (feels he is the one). The next day the group tours the local library. When they are finished, Christine takes off with Tommy. Cat is awoken in the middle of night by the arrival of her Uncle Pete, Chief of Police. Tommy was found murdered and the last person seen with him was Christine. Christine is not in her room, but she soon stumbles in cold, crying and with blood on her top. Christine insists that Tommy was alive when she left. Cat does not see Christine as a killer and starts asking questions around town. In addition to the murder, Uncle Pete is investigating the theft of a signed Hemingway book stolen from the library (and the librarian is pushing him to find the book). Cat thought that writer's retreats would be quiet and leave her plenty of time to write! Cat is in for a surprising week in Fatality by Firelight.

I thought that Fatality by Firelight was better than A Story to Kill (the first book in the series). I found the story easy to read and it has a beautiful setting. The book has far more going on in it than I summarized above. I do, though, believe Fatality by Firelight could do with a little rewriting and editing. The romance between Seth and Cat is do prominent for my tastes. Especially when Cat has yet to resolve her feelings regarding her ex-husband and his secrets. It started in the first book and continued in Fatality by Firelight. The murder and Michael's mystery shared the spotlight in this book. I hope Ms. Cahoon does not continue to drag it this particular storyline out for many more books. I am curious, though, to see how the mob ties in with Michael's demise (you have to read the book to find out what I mean). I give Fatality by Firelight 3.5 out of 5 stars. I wish the murder mystery has been a little more challenging. I could identify the culprit early in the book (there might as well have been a neon sign over the killer's head). I am having some trouble liking Cat. She is not happy with how much time she must spend interacting with her retreat guests. Cat did not realize how much time she would spend socializing and helping her guests. Cat seems to have formed the idea that writers would come and spend all their time hiding in their rooms writing. It just seemed a little odd to me. Cat also conscribes to what I call the âScarlett O'Haraâ theology. Tomorrow is another day. If you do not get it done today, there is always tomorrow. In Cat's case, she hopes Shauna will do it for her. I am a fan of the housekeeper, Shauna (I wish she was the main character). Fatality by Firelight is best read after A Story to Kill (first book in series). I will be reading the next book in A Cat Latimer Mystery series. I am curious to see what happened with Michael and what role Dante Cornelio (a handsome mob guy) will play in the next book.

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