Fire and Fog (Fremont Jones Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Dianne Day (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Awakening to find herself in the middle of the Great San Francisco Earthquake, Miss Fremont Jones struggles to escape the ensuing chaos while learning how to drive, avoiding ardent suitors, and investigating two murderous smugglers.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I have something of a wild streak in me" says Fremont Jones, the heroine of Fire and Fog. First seen in The Strange Files of Fremont Jones, she returns here a survivor of the great 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. After rescuing her typewriter from the rubble, Jones goes to work helping out the Red Cross, typing letters in the home of a woman she saved during the tremor, hunting for illegal artifacts and investigating a murder. She even gets kidnapped by a ninja. That might seem like a bit much, but then, who's to say that there were no ninjas back then? Besides, the early 20th century was a busy time, and Fremont Jones is a busy, busy woman. She's also a great sleuth and an irrepressible and enjoyable adventuress.

From Booklist

Fremont Jones is the epitome of the strong-minded, independent, ahead-of-her-time woman. Slipping the restrictive bonds of her conservative Boston upbringing, Fremont has moved to San Francisco, set up her own typewriting service, and determined to make her own way in the world. But the disastrous earthquake of 1916 changes her plans, at least for the moment, and turns Fremont into a Red Cross nurse and amateur detective. In the aftermath of the quake, Fremont offers her services as a nurse, rents a room from a mysterious librarian, and winds up in the middle of a complex mystery involving a double murder, the theft of two invaluable samurai swords, and an illegal import-export business. Fortunately, the intrepid Fremont has the help of her faithful admirer Michael Archer, who not only helps her unravel the puzzling case but encourages her independent spirit and even--wonder of wonders--gives her a horseless carriage. Humorous, cleverly plotted, and thoroughly engaging. Emily Melton

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 241 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday; 1st edition (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385475500
• ISBN-13: 978-0385475501
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whole lotta shakin' goin' on!, August 29, 2000

By 

MLPlayfair (Ravenna, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fire and Fog: A Fremont Jones Mystery (Fremont Jones Mysteries) (Paperback)

It's the Great Quake in San Francisco and there's our Fremont Jones with the mysterious Michael Archer in the midst of it all. Dianne Day instantly became one of my favorite mystery writers when I read "The Strange Files of Fremont Jones." (Start with that one, by all means!) This one is just as "can't put it down, can't turn the page fast enough" as that one was. I can't find proof, but I'm of the opinion that Dianne Day is Laurie King. (Start with "The Beekeeper's Apprentice" and see what I mean.) At any rate, they write in a similar manner, and both are excellent. TRY THEM!

Oh, yeah. ... She lives through the Quake. Hence, sequels abound! .

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good follow up to the first book!, May 18, 2000

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fire and Fog: A Fremont Jones Mystery (Fremont Jones Mysteries) (Paperback)

Having previously read Dianne Day's first book (The Strange Files of Fremont Jones) featuring the feisty sleuth/typist, I couldn't wait till I returned to San Francisco to find out what Ms. Jones was up to. And Dianne Day ceratinly amused this reader with her next tale set during the San Francisco Earthquake.

Because of severe damage to the boarding house where they lived, fremont and her friend Michael must find other living arrangements. Elusive Michael, who Fremont suspects is a spy retires to the Presidio where he has a room, while Fremont finds herself living with a new acquaintance with a rather strange story. As the city returns to its former vitality, Fremont discovers an assortment of valuable antiques in a storage area of her office builkding, is kidnapped by a Ninja, learns more about Michael and even manages to eke out a living as a typist.

Much as I enjoyed the first book, I found this read to be even better. As I read this book, I felt as though I was there in San Francisco and could not only feel the rumbling but see the fog and smell the smoke.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gutsy New Heroine AND Making History Come Alive!, December 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Fire and Fog: A Fremont Jones Mystery (Fremont Jones Mysteries) (Paperback)

This book, a sequel to the debut "The Strange Files of Fremont Jones" was a true page-turner. I literally read it all in a single day, finding every opportunity and staying up MUCH too late in order to finish it. Day's sleuth, Fremont Jones, lives in San Francisco, CA, around the time of the Great Quake, which takes place during the setting of this book. Her recounting of the mysteries which unfold in the chaos resulting from the quake renders the events of that time and the reality of what it must have been like to live through the quake compelling and real. Her characters are likeable and frustratingly real -- all the more so because they react in ways we have all seen ourselves react. I can't wait to read her subsequent novels featuring the intrepid Fremont.