Lauren is cautious of the government ever since her late husband, a firefighter, died in a wildfire and the investigators ruled him at fault for getting trapped in the fire. But despite her reservations Lauren calls the FBI.

Brad Hale, an FBI agent in the arson department, goes to Vermillion to check out the possible sighting of the serial arsonist. Brad Hale spent years working to get into the FBI's arson department since he feels the need to atone for past wrong doings. Brad's father was an extremist for the environment who burned buildings in protest, such as companies exploiting the earth.

Lauren assists Brad by showing him around the area and introducing him to the townsfolk. When Lauren's son goes missing, Brad figures out there's a connection. Can they find Lauren's son and stop the arsonist from destroying the town?

Inferno has several issues making it a two star book. First Brad keeps Lauren included in every aspect of the investigation. Since when do FBI agents include civilians, especially ones angry at the government, in every little detail of investigations? Supposedly he includes her since she's an expert on the town and the surrounding area. It still didn't seem plausible for a civilian to be that involved.

Secondly, most of the story is Brad and Lauren talking to townsfolk to determine who the arsonist is. The story dragged while I kept waiting for something to happen. Even the portions of the story told of the arsonist were mostly about his thoughts and not actions.

Thirdly, several times Lauren says she's putting aside her feelings about the government to save her hometown. However, she doesn't seem to think too much about the danger she could be putting her son into. Instead she just goes off into the wilderness every day with Brad while her friends watch her son.

And lastly there is supposed to be a budding romance between Brad and Lauren. Yet there is a complete lack of sparks between the two from the reader's perspective. Having a character think about how much she respects a man's convictions or how much he admires her determination does not make a romance.

Inferno's slow pace and improbable character interactions make this romantic-suspense book neither romantic nor suspenseful.

--Terry Lawrence