Smoke by Catherine McKenzie

Smoke

Smoke by Catherine McKenzie

Hardcover, 370 pages

Expected publication: October 20th 2015 by Lake Union

From the internationally bestselling author Catherine McKenzie comes an evocative tale of two women navigating the secrets and lies at the heart of a wildfire threatening their town.

After a decade-long career combating wildfires, Elizabeth has traded in for a quieter life with her husband. Now she works as the local arson investigator in a beautiful, quaint town in the Rockies. But that tranquil life vanishes when she and her husband agree to divorce, and when a fire started in nearby Cooper Basin begins to spread rapidly. For Elizabeth, containing a raging wildfire is easier than accepting that her marriage has failed.

For Elizabeth’s ex-friend Mindy, who feels disconnected from her husband and teenage children, the fire represents a chance to find a new purpose: helping a man who lost his home to the blaze. But her faith is shattered by a shocking accusation.

As the encroaching inferno threatens the town’s residents, Elizabeth and Mindy must discover what will be lost in the fire, and what will be saved.

My thoughts about Smoke ~~

I always love Catherine's stories because she writes about human relationships. She shows us the good as well as the bad. Smoke starts off pretty intense, with a fire that could quickly become out of control. We also see Elizabeth's relationship with her soon-to-be ex-husband starting to spiral out of control as well. 

'We've had this kind of standoff about a lot of things lately, communicating through the things not done, the words not said, our inaction as loud and grating as un unfixed faucet's slow drip'

Smoke takes us into the lives of those who live near Copper Basin, where a fire has started. Was it intentionally set? Or was it merely an accident? As the firefighters try to contain the fire and as the members of the community form their opinions of the cause, people start to question how well they know their neighbors and friends. And they start to discover what really is important. 

'"You always do what's right. That's who you are." "What if I don't want to be that person anymore?"'

The story is full of wonderful people and, as I mentioned before, relationships. Husband and wife, friends and former friends, nice people trying to do for those who are struggling, some not so nice people trying to make themselves appear to be nice. 

'Mindy and I wouldn't have been friends in other circumstances.'

But most of all, there is the fire and the impact that it will have on this community. It will either bring them together or drive them apart. 

'The fire goes as quickly as it came leaving nothing behind but ash and wisps of smoke.'

Catherine is one of my must read author and I love it when she has a new book out. Smoke is another wonderful story that captured my attention and my heart. 

'Life works on easy, smooths it down and wears it away until there's only the grit left between you.'

About the author

Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill University and McGill Law School, Catherine practices law in Montreal. An avid runner and skier, she's the author of the international bestsellers Spin, Arranged, Forgotten, Hidden and the novella, Spun. Hidden was a #1 Amazon bestseller and a Digital Bookworld bestseller for five weeks.

Catherine's newest novel, Smoke, will be published on October 20, 2015.

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