The serial arsonist is difficult to apprehend...the evidence is burned up

After working with a humanitarian agency in Africa for fifteen years, Frankie Rowley returns to her parents' home in Pomeroy, New Hampshire.

On her first night home, she observes a car speeding down her country road and later learns that a neighboring home was burned to the ground.

At first, some speculated that this must have been an accident and Frankie spends time with her parents, noticing her father's change in health and memory.

Other fires burn houses of summer residents and a town meeting is called to discuss it. We learn that the town police consists of only one man and the fire department is voluntary. It is brought up that the arsonist is taking aim and the homes of wealthy summer residents. Some of those residents are at the meeting and suggest neighborhood patrols and better security. The permanent residents seem offended and a conflict is seen about how this wealth has changed a quiet town where it didn't seem necessary to lock the doors of a person's home.

Frankie meets Bud Jacobs, owner of the local paper and they begin a romantic relationship. She moves into the house that her sister and brother-in-law were building near Frankie's parents. The house is mostly built and Frankie helps as she stays there but feels alone and often afraid.

I didn't find much suspense with the story but could relate to the description of Frankie's father and mother. We see him become confused and anxious and we see her begin to fear what it will be like to be a care giver for her husband.

The conflict of the book comes from Frankie trying to find direction in her life, knowing it probably won't be in rural New Hampshire, we also have the dilemma of what will become of Frankie's father and finally, the arsonist.  Someone is accused of this crime but most of that is handled behind the scenes.