Blue Smoke (2005) by Nora Roberts is a gripping romantic suspense novel that weaves together arson, vengeance, and resilience with Roberts’ signature blend of passion and intrigue. The story follows Reena Hale, a determined woman who survives a childhood trauma—a suspicious fire that destroys her family’s restaurant—and grows up to become a fire investigator in Baltimore. As Reena tracks a cunning arsonist with a personal vendetta against her, she crosses paths with Bo Goodnight, a charming carpenter with a protective streak, whose steadfast love becomes her anchor amid the escalating danger.
Roberts crafts a taut, emotionally charged narrative, shifting between Reena’s past (shaped by fire and family bonds) and her present-day cat-and-mouse game with a killer who thrives on destruction. The novel’s strength lies in its layered characters—Reena’s large, boisterous Italian-American family adds warmth and humor—and its forensic detail, which immerses readers in the world of fire investigation.
A standalone thriller with Roberts’ trademark sizzle, Blue Smoke balances heart-pounding suspense and slow-burn romance, proving why she reigns as a master of the genre.
