Tracy, now a hot television actress, is marrying smoke jumper Jack Packard, a man who has kept Carnegie wondering “what if” since Sun Valley. Carnegie is uncertain about making the trip, but the death of her cousin, also a smoke jumper, pressure from B.J., along with mixed signals from boyfriend newsman Aaron, convince Carnegie to go.

Once in Idaho, Carnegie is not surprised to hear that Tracy’s wedding planner is having conflicts and the family would be very grateful if, for old times’s sake, Carnegie would step in and lend a hand.

Carnegie is easily welcomed by the locals, especially the smoke jumpers, especially when they learn she was Brian’s cousin (though she repeatedly and inexplicably reminds everyone she was not close to Brian). With an eye and ear for detail, Carnegie begins to suspect Brian’s accident was not an accident but murder and that there was something that happened in the Kane family many years before that may have had something to do with his death. Another death and a raging forest fire not only jeopardize Tracy’s star-studded wedding, but everyone’s life.

There are plenty of lavish wedding plans to provide a light, fun atmosphere, in stark contrast to the seriousness of the fires and smoke jumpers. A jittery, self-centered bride, a studly, flirty groom and a cast of rugged forest firefighters provide even further contrast. The group of smoke jumpers is more believable and developed than Tracy and her gang, providing even more delineation between the two groups: the locals who have a deep respect for and care for the natural resources and environment and the newer, wealthy residents who build resorts around views, hot springs and ski slopes.

While Carnegie has a feeling that Brian’s death wasn’t entirely an accident, she is too busy checking on her missing florist and a high strung, over-extended planner to spend too much time on investigating and motives and suspects never really take front stage to the impending nuptials. Carnegie also finds herself spending a lot of time wondering what might have been with Jack as she is uncertain where she stands with Aaron.

As a fire approaches and the guests scramble for safety, all the loose ends are tied together a bit too quickly. An abrupt ending that is much darker that the rest of the easy going, wedding centered plot, may be off-putting, though the cliff hanger is sure to guarantee repeat readers for Carnegie’s next mystery.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry