Read for a cross-country challenge - set in New Hampshire. Really quite good ( )

Winslow Falls is every small town in New Hampshire, filled with all the characters you could meet on the streets, in the shops, and just passing through. As deputy fire chief, the last thing Gwen expects to be put in charge of is a murder investigation. But, dressed in her sushi pajamas, that’s exactly where she finds herself.

As the snow piles up and Christmas speeds along like a sled on an ice hill, she has to poke her nose into everyone’s lives to try to figure out what’s going on. In a town where everyone knows everything about everyone, but that no one wants anyone to uncover their secrets, it’s not something that wins her any brownie points with the locals.

Overwhelmed with her sister’s arrival, faced with more fires, a state fire marshal with hair as red as the fires that have been plaguing the town, it’s all Gwen can do to wrap everything up with enough time to wrap some presents.

http://www.theconcordinsider.com/article/concord-public-library-book-of-the-week... ( )

When an older woman is found dead in a burning building in tiny Winslow Falls, New Hampshire and the fire chief collapses at the scene, assistant fire chief and postmaster Gwen Fifield reveals her suspicions of arson in a string of recent fires to the fire investigator who just happens to be rather attractive. The locals want to pin it on the son of a South American immigrant, but Gwen doesn't believe he's guilty. This is a mystery with a touch of romance. The local police chief is not that smart so the investigation remains in the hands of the fire investigators. I actually found that I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was refreshing to have a slightly different type of investigation. It definitely depicts the ethnic prejudice in the townspeople while showing that is wrong by having the lead character recognize it for what it was. If the author writes additional installments, I'm sure I'll try to read them because it was a refreshing change from so many cozy mysteries. ( )

Themes: crime, romance, immigrants, prejudice
Setting: small town New Hampshire

Fun cozy set in a town so small, there's not even a fast food restaurant. Gwen is the assistant fire chief and the local string of arsons has her worried. This time, the fire claimed a victim. The town know-it-alls are happy to blame to the new immigrant family, figuring anyone who doesn't speak English must be guilty of something. Gwen's not buying it. And the hot (sorry!) state fire investigator thinks she's right.

This one was fun. It was a dollar or something for the Kindle, and I did enjoy it. Unfortunately, it looks like the only one this author has out right now. Worth a try! ( )