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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Who By Fire by Greg Rhyno is the first book in the Dame Polara Mysteries. Dame spent her childhood assisting her father with his PI business and learning valuable skills like trailing suspects and picking locks. She spent her life trying to put her father’s profession behind her. She has found a calling for herself to save heritage buildings but, lately, nothing seems to be working out for her such as caring for her father who had a stroke, struggling to start a family, and facing eviction. However, as she’s facing losing her home days before Christmas, she also receives an opportunity to avoid eviction when she learns her landlord thinks his wife is cheating. As she works the case, she stumbles on an investigation into a serial arsonist targeting the buildings she’s trying to protect. To solve the case, Dame must rely on what her father taught her and return to the world she left behind.
The mystery has multiple layers with each one as a catalyst that takes you to another thread. There is a delicate balance between the mystery, Dame’s personal life, and her childhood which pays off well by the end. Dame’s struggles are a significant part of her journey and impact her decisions throughout the narrative. The story has a lovely character-driven tone with her unresolved feelings at the root of it, helping steer the investigation. Her relationship with her father is an important aspect of who she is as her childhood both shaped her and pushed her to run from it. Their dynamic has altered since he had a stroke and Greg Rhyno does a nice job of exploring this while creating emotion that moves you. The mystery takes a fun twist as it goes from trailing a woman to chasing after a serial arsonist which steadily ups the suspense. Adding charm to the investigation is a rivalry she has with PI Anton, which creates friction and levity. A quick and exciting read, Who By Fire is a fun mystery with humor, heart, and realism that makes it highly recommended.
