A Walk Through the Fire

"A Walk through the Fire" is the 20th Sharon McCone novel. ...I think this is one of the best of the Sharon McCone novels. Glenna Stanleigh, a friend of McCone's, is filming a documentary on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It appears that someone is trying to sabotage the project and Glenna fears that someone is trying to kill her. She asks McCone to come to Hawaii and investigate. She and her lover, Hy Ripinsky, go to Hawaii. Glenna's project focuses on the Wellbright family, a wealthy family with quite a few dark secrets. Sharon almost becomes involved with helicopter pilot Russ Tanner, and her relationship with Hy is put to the test. This is a different kind of McCone novel. I did miss the San Francisco crew, but all in all I thought this was an excellent novel.

I have read all of Marcia Muller's books and this one was one of the best. I am never disappointed but A Walk Through Fire kept me on the edge of my seat. I sent this one to my sister and now she is a Muller fan. Sharon McCone is a great character and just grows better and better with each new book. I love the way Muller takes us through McCone's changes in lifestyles and boyfriends. I almost feel like I know this woman and could call on her to help me in any situation. She is not as flippant as Grafton but I can hardly bear to put the books down to go to sleep or to work. Muller is one of the best writer's of the mystery/private eye genre that I have come across and I have read quite a lot. This one was all the better because it took us out of the usual setting of San Francisco to Hawaii. Love it!

Some Sharon McCone readers may be put off by the plot for this book. Set in Hiawaii, it has many elements not commonly found in the McCone series. The storyline somehow manages to become McCone, herself, since many readers will figure out the ending before they reach it. The book does introduces the reader to some interesting characters. As McCone romantically teeters back and forth, fans will be tempted to pull for one suitor over the other. I found the author's different approach to this book a good read once I decided I liked the plot. I am glad things ended the way they did. Like McCone, I hate things left unresolved.

"A Walk Through the Fire" is my favorite Marcia Muller book to date. And that is saying a lot. If you've never read the series, now is the time to start. Along with adults, I would especially recommend this book to girls, Junior High School age and older. It has a Gothic feel - a little like "Rebecca" - and is thoroughly modern and romantic. A great book for developing good reading habits, it's well-written with smooth fast pacing. The ending will not let you down! You'll just want to read MORE.

San Francisco-based filmmaker Glenna Stanleigh is in Kauai shooting a documentary involving island legends and myths in accordance with the works of Elson Wellbright. Elson's son Peter is Glenna's partner on the film. However, accidents have plagued the set. Glenna asks private investigator Sharon McCone to fly in from California to investigate the strange happenings. Though she is not licensed to practice in Hawaii, Sharon sees the trip as a combination vacation-business outing and accepts. Her lover Hy Ripinsky accompanies her, which allows Sharon to use his company's security assets already located on the islands. Even as she falls in love with Kauai, Sharon begins her inquiries, not yet realizing the danger she now must face. The Sharon McCone mysteries have been a fan favorite for many years. Her twentieth tale, A WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, is a very fresh who-done-it that invigorates Sharon and her audience. The change of location provides Marcia Muller the opportunity to sprinkle her novel with Island magic as well as native resentment to the influx of outsiders. Ms. Muller is at the of her top game, which is somewhere in the stratosphere, with this marvelous mystery.Harriet Klausner