Customer Reviews

Blue Smoke

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(23)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

I read all the reviews of Blue Smoke BEFORE I read the book, something I usually do not do...so I was expecting a real mess. To my surprise, I liked the book a great deal. I'm not saying it's Nora's best, but I am surprised by some of the vehemence of those who did not like the plot line.

Yes, this is the story of an arsonist cum serial killer who, like most serial killers I have heard and read about, escalates his crimes and violence with each killing. And yes, there are some brutal descriptions of him in action, one in particular, which takes place shortly before the end of the book. But this is not Nora's first foray into murder when she is writing as herself. "Sanctuary" comes immediately to mind; the descriptions of the dead mother in that book are scary and gruesome to the max.

I think that for an author as prolific as Nora, to be expected to churn out romance after romance after romance, with no twists or no new material, is too much to ask. This is a murder mystery with the patented Nora love interest thrown in. Is it perfect? No. Should the main character, Reena, have figured out on the first page who the perpetrator was, as so many reviewers suggest? Well, maybe, but having watched "Cold Case Files" (the real one on the A&E Channel) for years, I know that it doesn't work that way in real life. Sometimes the obvious is simply not all that obvious.

In sum, I thought Blue Smoke was a heck of a good read; that's my opinion. Yes, if you abhor violence, either skip the violent parts (there really aren't all that many) or skip the book. But otherwise, I think Nora deserves a bit of praise for a well-told tale.

BLUE SMOKE begins on the night Catarina Hale becomes a woman. Awoken by the unmistakable pains of female adolescence, Reena goes downstairs for a ginger ale in the late hours of an August night. When she steps outside for some fresh air, she notices a beautiful light coming from her family's pizza shop, Sirico's. What she at first believes to be a reflection of the streetlights in the windows of the shop turns out to be licking flames of orange fire. In the days that follow the fire, the arsonist responsible for the destruction of the restaurant is arrested, and the community covers the Hale family like a warm blanket during their trying times, working with them to rebuild Sirico's until the restaurant is even better than it was before. But 11-year-old Reena can't get the flames, the overwhelming heat and destructive power of the fire, out of her mind. She wants to study fires, to understand the arsonists who are obsessed with setting them.

Years later, Reena is an arson investigator for the Baltimore Police Department. And while her professional life thrives and she has plenty of fires to study and arsonists to arrest, her personal life is less impressive. She has had a string of failed relationships, ones that ended in tragedy and violence, ones that simply ended, anticlimactically. And now, at 31, Reena has just bought her first home and is ready to welcome love into her life. It comes in the form of the man next door, a carpenter named Bowen Goodnight, who spotted Reena at a college party 13 years ago and has been enchanted with his "Dream Girl" ever since.

But just when things couldn't get any better, they abruptly start to get much worse. Reena finds herself being courted by a psychotic killer, a pyromaniac and arsonist who has a personal vendetta against Reena and her family. And even more chilling is Reena's slow understanding that he has been stalking her for a long, long time, gradually getting closer and closer to exacting his revenge on her family for a long-ago event. And his next victim may be much closer to home: a member of her family, her new love...or Reena herself.

Before reading BLUE SMOKE, I had only read one other Nora Roberts novel (NORTHERN LIGHTS) and no J.D. Robb books. After looking at the other reviews here, I think this was a distinct advantage for me when reading BLUE SMOKE. It seems that authors as prolific as Nora Roberts are often pigeonholed, expected to write certain ways and about certain topics; and if they waver from their usual course, it's to the detriment of their fans' enjoyment of the novel. Judging from the other reviews here, this is the case with BLUE SMOKE. It seems that the majority of Roberts' fans who have responded to the novel here are disappointed with this offering because it's not what they expected out of a Nora Roberts book; some have indicated that BLUE SMOKE is more like a J.D. Robb book, what with all the grisly description and gory detail.

Since I am not really familiar with Nora Roberts' writing, I am not comparing this book to other Nora Roberts novels. I was able to read BLUE SMOKE with a clear head, not one clouded by expectations of the kind of novel it was. So what did I think? I loved it, and let me tell you why.

First of all, Nora Roberts is a very good writer. For someone who churns out as many books as she does, you'd think she'd get a little careless with her writing style (like Mary Higgins Clark, whose writing I believe has suffered greatly from increased production). But that's not the case at all. BLUE SMOKE is well-paced; the prose is distinctive and thoughtful; the bantering dialogue between the characters is fun and realistic. The romance is not overwritten and is expertly entertwined with the rest of the plot. Roberts' descriptions are breathtaking in many instances; her images of fire are particularly lovely and haunting. BLUE SMOKE is not just an exciting novel; it's also surprisingly well-written and lacks that churned-out feel I was expecting it to have.

Secondly, Roberts' characterization is phenomenal. Even the most minor characters are finely-wrought in Roberts' expert hands; she uses small, thoughtful details to help readers get to know them--and as a result, readers react when these characters meet harm. Reena's large Italian family is particularly accurate. From the love of food to the importance of the family unit, from the swearing in Italian to the beautiful women, Roberts hits the nail on the head with her descriptions of a modern Italian family. Reena's family is one that any person would be lucky to have; and again, each member of the Hale family is well-sketched-out. Reena herself is a thoroughly likable heroine, a woman who loves "the poetry of baseball" and is tough enough to fight fires for a living. But she's also sensitive and caring; she laughs, she cries; she's an independent woman who won't admit how much she really needs the support of her loving family. She's well-wrought, finely-tuned, thoroughly believable.

Contrary to other reviewers' opinions, I found the antagonist to be well-developed as well. His motives are clear, his mental state apparent. In BLUE SMOKE, Roberts gives readers the opportunity to actually get inside the villain's head, which ups the suspense of her story even more. He is an exciting and dangerous adversary, and Roberts' writing does him justice.

Yes, the novel is full of grisly descriptions. No, the novel is not centered on the romance between the main character and her perfect man. It's about something much deeper than that. It's about one woman's strength in the face of insurmountable odds, about one woman's determination to seek the truth and keep her family safe from harm. It's about the importance of family, and how wonderful it feels to find someone after years of searching who fits into your life like a glove. It's about how the decisions we make can affect the rest of our lives and about the consequences of our actions. Apparently, BLUE SMOKE isn't "typical Nora Roberts"--but it's still a wonderful novel in its own right.

I guess I'm not surprised by the number of bad reviews on here. People tend to put other people into categories, and are rarely happy when someone tries to step out of the little box that's been created for them. Personally, I see it as a good thing that Nora Roberts can write both tender, sweet romances and dark, grittty suspense novels. It's a testament to her talent that she can do both, and do them both competently. Because, yes, this was a very well written suspense novel, despite what some of the reviews here have said. No, this wasn't a mystery. It wasn't supposed to be a mystery. Yes, we were supposed to know who it was from the beginning. That was, IMO, the point of the book: to follow the life of Reena, and see how this one person touched it on so many levels. This was more a book about relationships...and relationships are Nora's specialty. She didn't disappoint me at all in that area. Coming from a big Catholic family, I saw her portrayal of Reena's family as very realistic. I loved Bo. A good departure from the typical "alpha" male who remains cool and emotionally distant from the love of his life, Bo jumped in with both feet, enthusiastic enough so that it freaked Reena out, he was so enthusiastic. I loved that he embraced the whole relationship with open arms instead of standing back thinking, "I love her, but I must not allow her to see" like many "romantic heroes" do. Did we need the graphic descriptions? Hell yes. That's part of what made the book spooky and uncomfortable, and it was supposed to be spooky and uncomfortable. That's what a suspense story is. That so many of Nora's loyal fans were uncomfortable to the point where they couldn't read the story, or were so horrified by it that they gave it one star, only tells me that Nora did her job well. Bottom line is that if you're looking for a flowery romantic read with a little bit of suspense mixed in, this is the wrong book for you. If you like Nora's dark and gritty side, you'll probably like this one. Her best? No, but as someone here stated, I've read much worse. Here's hoping Nora doesn't allow the critics to put her back into her limited little romance box. I, for one, am looking forward to Nora's next suspense novel. You go, Nora.

Reena Hale learned at an early age what fire could do. She was a small child when she had to watch her family's' restaurant burn to the ground thus beginning her love/hate relationship with fire. As she grew up she devoured everything possible to expand her knowledge because she continued to be tortured to fire. In college, her boyfriend was burned to death, and this is just another event that directs her to her career as an arson investigator.

Renna feels content with her life when she becomes a member of the police department, and buys her first home. She is surprised when she meets neighbor Bo Goodnight to find out he has been trying to find her since college. He saw her at a party across the room and has been trying to find her since. As they grow closer and fall in love, Renna is horrified when Bo's life is threatened again with fire. As they investigate further, it is revealed that two of her other boyfriends were touched by fire, and it is all perpetrated by the same person.

I loved this story. It is definitely one of my favorite NR tales. The characters were phenomenal. Reena and Bo are a good match, but all the supporting characters were an important part - from her loud obnoxious loving family to the creepy villain.

i don't understand where the "horror" of the previous reviews come from. unlike the NR romantic suspense, in this one i see crime novel. and an excellent one it is. yes, there is romance (and excellent it is too)but there is also the gritty who-done-it. i loved the book. the hero is so wonderfully into the heroine. the family is great. the relantionship between friends is great. my only problem is that the heroine didn't suspect who the bad guy was sooner. but that would have made for a shorter story. if you enjoy the "in death" series, i would highly recommend this book.

I have only become a Nora Roberts fan in the last eight or nine years but I have read a good many of her books (however, I can't seem to get into the books she writes as JD Robb - go figure - might have something to do with that whole futuristic thing; don't much care for that). She's done crime drama before, obviously, but this book was, without question, the best one of that genre she's done so far, at least of the ones I've read, and I always tend to gravitate toward crime dramas. Other books that she's written that have dealt with crime drama still managed to be a bit schmaltzy or a tad farfetched with a heavy emphasis on the romance (why not? She is a romance writer, after all!), but this one was more drama with some romance tossed in. I found the characters to be totally believable and typical of a big, close-knit family, complete with laid-back brother and bitchy sister. I liked Bo, who was so completely bowled over by Reena's moving in next door to him, after he'd fantasized about her for thirteen years. His first conversation with her was both bizarre and hilarious. I thought Reena herself was a tough, smart cookie and I have to disagree with the reviewer who said she should have realized who the pyromaniac was from the outset. The incidents involving men she knew happened far enough apart and under enough different circumstances where one might not have readily connected the dots. Besides, who would want to believe that they've been stalked by a fire-starting monster for going on twenty years? Plus, I was convinced it was someone else close to her until Bo's encounter with the pyromaniac himself (of course, Bo didn't know it at the time!). If it had been who I thought it was, Bo would have recognized him. (Don't mean that to be confusing - read the book, you'll understand what I mean.)

I also have to vehemently disagree with the reviewer who gave this book one star and called it horror. Obviously, this person has never read Stephen King or Clive Barker. Those masters of horror write stuff that will have you squirming for days. "Blue Smoke" is certainly graphic and raw (Nora, such language!), but it is realistic and in no way comes close to fitting the horror genre. I had to question why this person continued to read this book if it so completely offended her sensibilities. No, this is not the typical Nora Roberts romance novel and to this I say, You go, Nora. You dared to try something really different and you succeeded. I've always been a fan, but now I'm a bigger fan and I would love to see more of this type of book from you.

When I read Nora Roberts, I tend to just drift along and go with her flow. She's a gifted writer who can sweep you away on a romantic wave. You don't have to think; you don't have to break a sweat, and that's the beauty of reading a Nora Roberts novel. I just want to curl up in bed with my dog warming my feet and lose myself in one of her books. However, this book kept me on my toes, and I found that to be both a pleasant and seriously welcomed surprise.

If you're looking for the typical Nora romance, try some of her older stuff. If you want to read something different, something edgier, rawer, creepier, "Blue Smoke" is it. It is a genuinely good read. Keep 'em comin', Nora!

It always amazes me when an excellent writer manages to slip under my radar and I "discover" her works after everyone else has been enjoying them for years. Such is the case with Nora Roberts and her latest, BLUE SMOKE. On the upside, I am delighted to know that I have at least 30 of her past works to read as well as her J.D. Robb series yet to explore.

While some may be disturbed by the level of violence in this story, the author uses her considerable skills to convey extreme brutality without resorting to gratuitous gore. The reality of a serial arsonist's lust for vengeance demands no less. There is no way to minimize the effects of fire on burning flesh, just as there is no gentle way to reveal the mind of a sociopath bent on revenge. However, the mayhem caused by the perpetrator is expertly contrasted with the lifestyle and caring displayed by those who are being victimized. Thus, the writer creates a varied and very interesting emotional environment for the reader.

The Hale family lives in a Baltimore row house and is the second generation to run Sirico's, an Italian pizzeria. The very Irish Gibson Hale married the lovely Bianca and was quickly assimilated into the family business and the growing Italian family that lived and loved richly in the neighborhood. Their children thrived, going to school and helping in the restaurant, learning the business that would one day belong to one of them. However, the attempted rape of 11-year-old Caterina Hale sets into motion a series of events that will span 20 years, leaving death and wreckage in its wake.

Contrasts again serve to highlight values and emotions as Nora Roberts depicts the two families involved. In this age where rudeness rules and civility is trumped by rampant "self-expression," it's almost unsettling to find a family that actually lives the love they profess for one another. As Gib and Bianca stand behind their children, as Reena's sister Fran is there for her as she is there for their sister Bella, as younger brother Alexander grows to be a dedicated father, you keep waiting for someone to snipe or swipe, but it never happens. Love and values prevail. Meanwhile, anger, defiance and evil pervade the other family as its arsonist acts out destruction.

In case the exciting hunt for the arsonist and the well-researched investigations are not enough, BLUE SMOKE also has a delightful love story that will bump up even the most non-committal heart a notch or two. In addition, Nora Roberts has a smart-aleck sense of humor that she imparts to her characters, making them sound just like people you know or wish you knew. As an example, my favorite quote: "I believe good overcomes evil, especially if good works its ass off." Me too.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She reviews for www.faithfulreader.com and www.womenonwriting.com. [...]

I have read all of the JD Robb series and all of Nora Robert's romantic suspense books. What I enjoy about the books is that they are all different. Blue Smoke is definately not a happy, feel good romance. And yes, it did remind a little bit of JD Robb, but I happen to love that series. I did enjoy the characters and the way the story developed.

The only resaon I gave 3 stars vs 5 stars was due to the beginning of the book. The segues between time periods was not always smooth. I found myself wondering when we were going to get to the present.

As for the violence, I personally did not find it offensive. I do not watch horror movies nor read horror books. I found the violence appropriate to the plot.

I hope that Nora continue's writing books that create interesting feedback!

Nora Roberts' latest effort is much different from anything I've read by her. This is a dark suspense with rather violent undertones. The violence is not used for shock factor but perhaps could have been toned down just a touch.

Renna Hale's life is changed dramatically one August night when her families' pizzeria is set aflame. The investigation that follows uncovers the arson and eventually the arsonist is arrested. Thinking that this part of her life is over and that she can move on, Renna focuses all of her effort on her long-term goal. She is going be a fire investigator. Fire has shaped the girl and the woman she has yet become. While trying to see to her dream of school and the job she wants Renna focus on school and not on a social life. But, when she finally finds "the one" she begins to think that she can have both, until a fire takes the life of her boyfriend. Once again fire plays a role in her life. This sets off a series of events one more horrific then the last. Will Renna be able to figure out who the psychotic serial-arsonist, killer is before he manages to take another life of a man Renna learns to care about?

This is a very dark read and the reader should be forewarned that the violence is rather...intensive. For the most part, character development is strong, although Renna could have been a tad sharper for all that she was an arson investigator, and she should have been able to put the puzzle together...a tad faster than she did. The "who" as far as the bad guy is not a huge surprise and the "suspense" portion of the read is really whether Renna will figure it out before it's too late. Although not one of her stronger efforts...I would not go out of my way to avoid this...but do not expect what this author has provided in the past for this read. It's dark and violent, and just a tad overwhelming as a result.

If you are a long-time Nora Roberts fan, please be aware that this book is quite different from her usual fare. If you don't like violence and cruelty mixed in with your romances, this book isn't for you.

On the other hand, if you don't know her work and are interested in a novel that evokes the Greek tragedies, give Blue Smoke a try.

The ancient Greeks believed that the Fates determined what happened to us and that the gods were romping like spoiled children interfering in the lives of humans for their own pleasure. The modern version of that belief is that our environments, our families and our experiences shape us almost totally. Scientists would disagree, pointing out that many traits are inherited. The truth is somewhere in between. Blue Smoke takes that idea of circumstances and inheritance, and develops how two people might turn out to be quite opposite.

As the novel opens, the key incident is already in the background. Joey Pastorelli has assaulted Reena Hale in the school yard, and she would have suffered worse if her younger brother hadn't intervened. Her angry father confronted Joey's father, and that meeting touched off fiery tinder in all of their lives. Awakened by her first period, she looks down the street to see in her horror that the family's restaurant, Sirico's, in Baltimore's little Italy, is in flames. She sounds the alarm, and lives are saved. Fascinated by the fire and the investigation into what turns out to be arson, she determines to become an arson investigator. When the miscreant behind the fire turns out to be Joey's father, the whole family is relieved when he's carted off to jail. But the episode isn't over yet . . . although the Hale family doesn't realize it.

In the rest of the book, we see the effects of those events from the perspective of three narrators, Reena, Joey and Reena's future fiancé, Bo.

As you can see from this set-up, the book delves into more serious subject matter than most novels do. I found the work was quite impressive. I only graded the book down because the violence was too much for me. There's one scene in particular near the book's end that seemed particularly gratuitous. I think this story could have been written effectively without being so focused on criminal psychology. Yes, there are a few monsters out there. But, no, I don't expect to find them in suspense stories without more warning than this book provides to potential readers. If you dislike violence more than I do, you'll grade the book down even more.

A particular strength of the book is the way that the tensions among the characters are developed. You can see where the story is probably going, and you'll find yourself carried along by the story telling into wanting to know the details.