Wild Inferno (Jamaica Wild Series #2) by Sandi Ault

From the Publisher

Wild Indigo introduced rough and ready Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild. Now she returns-deployed to a wildfire on the Southern Ute reservation, where a puzzling plea whispered by a burning man points to a mystery more menacing than murder.

Publishers Weekly

The dramatic background-wild fires spreading near Colorado's famed Chimney Rock at the same time Pueblo people are gathering there for an important ceremony-and a smoother blending of plot and Native American lore and rituals make Ault's sequel to her impressive debut (Wild Indigo, 2007) a richer novel than her first. Jamaica Wild, the Bureau of Land Management agent known for her wolf companion, Mountain, and her ability to attract trouble, enters a fire area to locate an old Ute called Grampa Ned. Instead, she finds a smoldering firefighter who can only utter "Save the grandmother" before he collapses. Later, the discovery of Grampa Ned's burned body and an unusual artifact provides more mystery. Readers will share the author's obvious admiration for the skill and bravery of the fire teams (many composed of Native Americans) as they battle fires in such rugged terrain. Ault credibly charts Jamaica's education and indoctrination into the ways of the Pueblo people, leaving her poised for the next phase of her promising career. (Feb.)

VOYA

Jamaica Wild is a resource protection agent for the Bureau of Land Management. Formerly a range rider, Jamaica is now the BLM liaison with the Tanoah Pueblo. When a wildfire breaks out in Colorado's Southern Ute Reservation, Jamaica works with the fire management team, coordinates evacuations, and performs other duties. In the midst of frantic attempts to put out the blaze, word goes out that Native American Grandpa Ned is missing in the fire area. When Jamaica is sent to investigate, she finds a badly burned firefighter and a scorched corpse. After the FBI takes over and enlists her help, Jamaica becomes a target; her tent is slashed and her Jeep's window is shot out. A cut brake line causes a wreck that almost kills her and her pet wolf, Mountain, forcing Jamaica to realize that her life is in danger. As the fire encroaches on the Chimney Rock archaeological area, concern grows for the group of Ute and Pueblo Indians who are currently there for the Major Lunar Standstill, which occurs once every 18.6 years. Jamaica's medicine mother, Anna Santana, is there with Mountain to take part in the ceremonies. In addition to her duties and the murder investigation, Jamaica must now rescue Anna and Mountain, the only family she has. A real page-turner, this fast-paced mystery provides fascinating insight into fighting wildfires and informs readers about Chimney Rock and Native American lore. Jamaica and Mountain are terrific characters who will appeal to readers in junior and senior high school. Reviewer: Rachelle Bilz

Jo Ann Vicarel - Library Journal

Following her successful debut, Wild Indigo, Ault sets her second series mystery on the Chimney Rock plateau of the American Southwest's Four Corners area, where a wildfire threatens the Pueblo Indians gathered for a sacred ceremony. For Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild, everything happens at once. An elderly Ute Indian dies in the fire, one of the Navajo hotshot firefighters is badly burned, and someone is trying to kill Jamaica. She must juggle a murder investigation, her relationship with her less-than-forthcoming boyfriend, her adopted Ute mother, and the ever-present threatening fire. Fans of Nevada Barr and Tony Hillerman will snap this up, but Ault is such a good writer that crime fiction buffs who enjoy a good mystery with plenty of action and great background detail will put this on their hold lists. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ10/1/07.]

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