Hot, Shot & Bothered - Book Review

The idea of a life consumed in fire that reflects in the standards of life lost can be a metaphor for many things depending on how the narrative reflects where the story wants to lead. This persistence helps in showing exactly who the characters are, their dreams and the possibilities of what they can be.Within the progression of "Hot, Shot & Bothered" [Nora McFarland/ Touchstone/304pgs], the aspects of revelation on the part of lead character Lillie Hawkins reflects in all of her past transgressions personified when her friend from thirteen years prior turns up dead in the midst of a massive wildfire hitting the area around Bakersfield in Southern California. Bathed in a backdrop of environmentalism, career ambition and backwater possibilities of what surviving means, the novel functions as a whodunit with a lead that might not know what she wants but definitely pushes her instincts as far as she can.The interior life of Lillie sometimes belies a little more of a confidence complex though the externalization of what she is portraying comes through despite wanting to prove herself in a field where the quips and competition fly high. The plot ploy of Rod, the charismatic anchor (and would-be geek at heart) is a flight of fancy in terms of the balance necessitated but works within the notion of the push-pull mentality.Different supporting characters, most specifically Bud and The Wonder Twins, provide adequate comic relief leading up to the climax, which while built towards fruition, is not exactly rocket science within the structure. However the final sequence involving a blow-up and Lillie's handling of the situation and quick thinking definitely provide a visual and dramatic motif that ends the book with a definite bang.C+