Serial Burn by Lynette Eason

Serial Burn
by Lynette Eason

ISBN-13: 9780800741211
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Revell
Released: January 21, 2025

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
When Jesslyn McCormick was just seven years old, a devastating house fire killed her parents and two younger sisters. Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family. As the 25th anniversary of her family's deaths approaches, a string of fires--including at Jesslyn's church--brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past--one he'd prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she'll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive.


My Review:
Serial Burn is a Christian romantic suspense. While it's the 3rd book in a series, it works as a standalone. Jesslyn has dedicated her life to solving the arson that killed her family and to solve other arsons so people can have justice. As a child, Nathan made a foolish mistake which resulted in a fire that caused the death of his friend. While they shared an understanding of the grief that arson can cause, Jesslyn felt like she must solve her family's murder before she can have a future of her own.

The main characters were likable, capable people who reacted realistically to events. Jesslyn and Nathan worked well together and supported each other. The suspense remained high due to a serial arsonist setting buildings on fire even when people were inside. Someone was also attempting to kill Jesslyn. Nathan's brother struggled with accepting God's forgiveness of his guilt. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting story.

While I enjoyed the book, one attack worked when it shouldn't have. Jesslyn was driving her car at a decent speed when someone standing beside the road threw a bottle at her rear window. Rather than bouncing off (as the throw was unlikely hard enough to have much force against an object moving rapidly away from it, not to mention that the bottle would have bunt, rounded edges that would diffuse the force), the bottle smashed the rear window and fell inside the car. Suspense novels require enough suspension of disbelief, I'd prefer that basic physics were at least followed.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.