Count to Ten - Karen Rose

Yep, I read another Karen Rose book, I'm on a roll here! And I already ordered Don't Tell (the only one I needed to complete her back list) and I'm waiting for an ARC of her next book on loan.

In all his years in the Chicago Fire Department, Lieutenant Reed Solliday has never experienced anything like this recent outbreak of house fires – devastating, vicious and in one case, homicidal. He has another problem – his new partner, Detective Mia Mitchell. She’s brash, bossy, and taking the case in a direction he never imagined.

Mia’s instincts tell her the arsonist is making this personal. And as the infernos become more deadly, one look at the victims’ tortured faces convinces her and Reed that they must work closer to catch the killer. With each new blaze, the villain ups the ante, setting firetraps for the people Reed and Mia love. The truth is almost too hot to handle: This monster’s desire for death and destruction is unquenchable … and for Mia he’s started the countdown to an early grave.

As usual she delivers an intelligent plot with attractive characters. I am however detecting a trend in her books that makes a bit uneasy. Most of them have to deal with child abuse either in the present or in the past, being them heros or villains. I wouldn't have a problem with it as plot device but in almost every book is a bit too much. However A. already told me that wont happen in the next book so I'm even more eager to read it.

In this book Detective Mia Mitchell has to work with new partner Reed Solliday in discovering the truth behind a series of murders being covered up by arson. Mia has quite a few problems to deal with - partners being shot at, raised by an abusive father... - which make her having some difficulties in dealing with Reed and with relationships in general. Reed is a widower with a teenage daughter, in a way he lives for his wifes memory. After some initial distrust Mia and Reed start to feel very attracted to each other but both want a "no strings attached" relationship.

The murders they are investigating seem to be connected only by the same modus operandis at first. It will take them a thorough investigation of the victims past to find the connection and try to predict the next victim. Although we don't know who the killer is for half the story we do have his point of view and the truth of why he is seeking revenge is slowly revealed bit by bit.

The suspense is well done as usual making it a very fast read. One can't wait for the final clues to be revealed and Reed and Mia to resolve their differences.