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For fans of Sue Grafton, Lisa Gardner, and Mary Higgins Clark comes a new suspense novel by Traci Hohenstein...

Lt. Samantha (Sam) Collins, a firefighter, vanishes after a warehouse fire the week before she was to testify at her estranged husband’s trial for drug charges. The only clue to her disappearance is a firefighter helmet that was left behind at the scene.

Rachel Scott founded Florida Omni Search after her own daughter disappeared when she was four. She has worked with law enforcement agencies all over the United States in locating missing people. Sam’s mother calls Rachel for assistance in locating her daughter. However, the search for Sam takes her on a journey that she never expected.

As she digs deeper into Sam’s past, she finds out more about the marijuana operation her husband Ken, a former police officer, was involved with.
In her desperate, terrifying search for Sam, Rachel also discovers clues about her own missing daughter, Mallory.

Will she locate Samantha in time and also find out what happened to her own daughter?

REVIEWS
"The story definitely includes enough action to keep you turning pages, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. In addition Traci Hohenstein's characters are well developed and interesting. I love that the main protagonist runs a missing person investigation service. That is a fresh approach for mystery thrillers, as is using firefighting as a backdrop. I don't know if this book will be part of a series, but just think of the possibilities presented by using missing persons as a theme. And if further stories were as good as this one, I would jump on them quickly..." 4.5 rating on Amazon

"My interest was immediately captured and kept throughout the book. I looked forward to turning every page!" 4 star rating from another Goodreads reader

"Burn Out was an interesting thriller that kept my attention as of the get go. The characters are likeable, well drawn out and easily draw you into their world. The plot is good and keeps you guessing..." 4 star review from Goodreads reader.

***Get your Kindle edition autographed by the author by visiting kindlegraph-dot-com****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Traci Hohenstein lives in NW Florida with her husband and three children. When not writing, she can usually be found at the beach. She is at work on her second novel in the Rachel Scott series, Asylum Harbor, which will be released late Summer 2011.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

113 people are currently reading
439 people want to read

About the author

Traci Hohenstein

49 books127 followers
Traci Hohenstein lives in NW Florida and divides her time between being a beachbum and writing.

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5 stars
264 (30%)
4 stars
325 (37%)
3 stars
207 (23%)
2 stars
55 (6%)
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23 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Profile Image for Julie.
654 reviews19 followers
January 21, 2014
I could not finish this book. Hell, I could barely start it! My annoyance level grew by leaps and bounds every time I had to read where Rachel ate, what she wore, where she lived and how it was decorated. This author tells, tells and tells some more. I expected improvement by the second book, so I am admittedly short of tolerance.

Rachel's co-worker Janine asks her if she's taking her dog, Maggie, with her. Do we need to know all the details about Maggie, what kind of dog she is, how she was acquired, and how long Rachel has had her RIGHT NOW? There are 4 sentences TELLING us all about Maggie before we get to Rachel's answer. Two paragraphs later, Janine mentions Jack - which generates 5 sentences explaining who Jack is (Janine's son) and how he was instrumental in the two women meeting and forming the company. Get on with the story already!

There is also way (waaaay) too much unnecessary detail. Do readers really need (or want) to know what brand of dog food Maggie eats, and the color and type of her squeaky toys? Does this move the story along? (No.)

I finally called it quits when the author describes in detail exactly what Rachel orders for breakfast (stuffed french toast with bacon). What does this tell me about Rachel? (Nothing significant.) What does it tell me about Samantha or Samantha's disappearance? (Nada.) How does it move the story along? (It doesn't.)

You know that annoying person who thinks she's your very best friend, and every day she texts or calls and fills you in on every moment of her life - including what she ate for breakfast? Or has to spend 45 minutes filling you in on the background and all the people (and their background) before finally getting to the point of a story? After 45 minutes, do you even care about the story? This book is the literary equivalent of that person. And while you may not want to be rude enough to hang up the phone on that person, you might finally realize how much of your time they waste, at which point you ignore their text message and only take their calls when you can (truthfully) tell them you only have 5 minutes. That's how I feel about this book. I am rudely setting it down, deleting it from my Kindle, and marking it Did Not Finish.
Profile Image for Rea.
726 reviews42 followers
April 7, 2011
I received this book as an ARC.

Burn Out was an interesting thriller that kept my attention as of the get go. The characters are likeable, well drawn out and easily draw you into their world. The plot is good and keeps you guessing.

Even as you read, you can see the author becoming more at ease with creating her craft, switching from relying heavily on dialogue to a healthy mix of dialogue and narrative, easing from a slightly more ‘telling’ style to one where she shows. As such, the beginning was a little clunky but everything quickly improved making it an ultimately rewarding read.

It’s short and sweet but doesn’t suffer from lack of content, the balance is just right and I believe it would have suffered had it been longer. Kudos to the author for knowing her own limits, here. I spent a very enjoyable afternoon with the characters and look forward to meeting up with them again in the future.
Profile Image for Sibel Hodge.
Author 53 books925 followers
May 24, 2011
After the disappearance of her daughter, Mallory, Rachel forms a missing person organization and is quickly on the hunt for a firefighter who has gone missing in suspicious circumstances. Where is Sam? Is she dead? And if not, how did she escape from a collapsed building with no one noticing?

This is a captivating story that will have you dying to turn the pages, and a must read for fans of Lisa Gardner. Traci Hohenstein has weaved together a great mystery/thriller, and I hope there's going to be another in the series. Strong female characters, a hint of romance, an intriguing plot, and a missing person. It's got everything you want for an engrossing novel!
Profile Image for Lyn (Readinghearts).
326 reviews14 followers
April 4, 2011
Wow. This is a great new book by a debut author. At just 170 pages it is a quick read. At first I was afraid that would limit the story, but it definitely did not. I was surprised and pleased that this story included everything that I would expect from a much longer mystery/thriller. The author does a great job of letting pieces of the story out slowly, keeping the reader's interest. The story definitely includes enough action to keep you turning pages, and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. In addition Traci Hohenstein's characters are well developed and interesting. I love that the main protagonist runs a missing person investigation service. That is a fresh approach for mystery thrillers, as is using firefighting as a backdrop. I don't know if this book will be part of a series, but just think of the possibilities presented by using missing persons as a theme. And if further stories were as good as this one, I would jump on them quickly.

While I read many different genres, mysteries have been a favorite of mine since high school when I discovered Agatha Christie, and thrillers a fave since Mary Higgins Clark came on the scene. This book holds up with the best of them, IMO. It gets 4.5 stars from me, and I look forward to reading more from this debut author.
Profile Image for Lia Fairchild.
Author 29 books791 followers
May 13, 2011
Burn Out is the first novel by thriller writer Traci Hohenstein. With this carefully crafted piece, Hohenstein has created a story line and cast of characters that can carry over into a series of books focusing on missing person cases.

Rachel Scott is the main character and head of Florida Omni Search, a missing person’s investigation group. In Burn Out, Rachel is leading the investigation to find a missing firefighter. Rachel’s character is intriguing because her motivation behind the creation of the search group was the disappearance of her own daughter. I could definitely feel for this character having a daughter of my own so I immediately felt connected to the story.

Hohenstein did a nice job of developing authentic characters and the several different story lines were easy to follow. I think you’ll enjoy this read and find yourself looking forward to the next Rachel Scott investigation.
Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Burn-Out-ebook/...


Profile Image for Lynne Stevie.
Author 2 books72 followers
April 12, 2011
Reading Burn Out was like riding a roller coaster. Highs and lows, twists and turns kept me moving through the pages. I never got bored. Which is saying something because I've been known to start a book and just walk away if it doesn't grab me in the first few pages. But with Burn Out it was like- "Just one more page before I go to sleep."

The main character was strong and confident and most importantly I liked her. I wanted to peek at the end to see what was going to happen but I held off. Then as the end was in site I was sort of sad. You know how it is, you're reading a good book and the end comes and you feel sad because the rides over. Then BAM! From out of left field comes the surprise that made me sit up in bed and say "No Way!" Now I'll have to wait for the next book in the series to see if the mystery involving the main character will ever be solved. Anticipation. Oh the agony of waiting.

All in all a terrific fast read!
Profile Image for JackieK.
75 reviews23 followers
April 5, 2011
I was very pleasantly surprised by this first novel from Traci Hohenstein. My interest was immediately captured and kept throughout the book. I looked forward to turning every page!

I wanted to know more about Rachel and her story as well as the story of the governors daughter which was mentioned briefly in this book. I'm glad to see the next book will go back in time a bit and revolve around this storyline. I can only surmise by the "disclosure" at the end of this book that there is a third novel in the making. I must say, I'm looking forward to reading more of Traci's books!

There were some loose ends that as an interested reader I wanted to know the answers to: Was Sam really pregnant? Macks child? What happens to Sam's husband? Rachel is definitely the main character but I was so involved in the book that I wanted to know it all! It does not, however, detract from the enjoyment of reading this book!

Profile Image for Amandaj.
51 reviews
June 27, 2011
A firefighter, Sam Collins of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, disappears after responding to a fire. With a strand of arson in town and her husband in jail for running a marijuana operation her disappearance raises plenty of eyebrows. Did she run away? Was she kidnapped? Rachel Scott, a woman dedicated to find missing persons after her own daughter went missing, is determined to find Sam. Finding missing persons is her life, and she will do anything to help bring a person back home. Burn out was a fast paced page turner that I couldn't put down. It was one of those books where you finish a chapter, and then think, why not read the next one because not only are the chapters short, but you want to know what will happen next. The story keeps you guessing. There was never really a boring moment.
This is a book I received through good reads giveaways. Thanks to the author for the signed copy! It was a great summer read.
Profile Image for Tammy.
186 reviews9 followers
May 4, 2011
This was an easy, quick read with strong, likeable characters. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by Traci.


Sam is a firefighter and she is missing after helping to rescue a survivor from a fire at the local Farmers Market. There is no body; so has she been kidnapped, or has she just walked away from the chaotic life she has been living?

Rachel Scott from the Florida Omni Search Center has been contacted to assist in the search for the missing Samantha Collins. Rachel and her team of co-workers and friends probe, investigate and profile everything they can discover regarding Sam, her family and her life.

Will they find her; and if so, will it be in time ........

Profile Image for Mischelle.
234 reviews15 followers
July 13, 2011
Goodreads Firstreads book. The author sign it for me!! Very good of her! Thank you!

I like the story but it was kind of predictable. The story was enough to keep me interested. The beginning was so sad. A missing child!! A mom wants her back desparately! The mom starts an agency that help people look for missing persons and still searches for her own daughter.

One mom needs help in getting her adult daughter back so she calls Rachel Scott help find her. The agency that Rachel runs helped alot of people find their missing relitives that sometimes the police can't help with. I like the ending. It gave some hope of Rachel finding her missing daughter.

When is the next one coming out?!
Profile Image for Libby.
Author 79 books970 followers
April 19, 2011
BURN OUT by Traci Hohenstein is one of the best crafted mystery/thrillers I’ve read this year. The author has clearly done her research, and it shows. The characters are believable, and the circumstances they’re placed in are as well. There are several strong female characters, all of them interesting but not perfect, which bodes well for a future series and/or spin-off. The pacing of the story is terrific, and it’s a quick appealing read. The cliff-hanger at the end was an added bonus. I’m looking forward to the further adventures of Sam, Rachel, and Stacy.
Profile Image for Tatiana Lammers.
377 reviews
July 4, 2011
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I would like to thank Tracy Hohenstein for sending her interesting book for me to enjoy.

This is a very fast paced story on a missing person investigation with many twists and turns.

As a professional translator and a linguist, I really liked the scene when Rachel and Mike started speaking Italian, and the author skillfully incorporated the translation into English.
As a person who loves to cook and appreciates the food, I was happily surprised to find a Firehouse Chilly Recipe at the end of the story.
Profile Image for Naomi.
4,816 reviews142 followers
April 4, 2011
I have to be honest...this book shocked the heck out of me. With several things going on prior to its' release date, I honestly thought the book was going to be a dud. IT WASN'T. The story is well written and the premise for the story is excellent. It is a short read...170 pages readable material so I am able to "pound it out" in a couple of hours. But an excellent first publication from a debut author...4.5 stars!

Profile Image for Angela Metzger.
8 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book even though it ended as an unresolved storyline

One thing that really bothered me about this book was words missing from sentences
and one word that was added out of place. I did enjoy the read though and would look forward to reading more books from this author and would like to see this story play out further in maybe
a book 2

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads
Profile Image for Lisa S.
38 reviews17 followers
April 11, 2011
I just finished this and I have to say a great debut. I liked the fact that there was a little romance, but not over the top like a lot of books out there. I did have a little problem with the ending. I thought it was a little rushed, but the cliffhanger makes me want to continue with this series.

Great job Traci!
18 reviews2 followers
July 7, 2011
This was a Goodreads giveaway book. I quite enjoyed this book. It is a very light read but suspenseful enough to keep me intrigued. I liked the fact that the characters in this book were not perfect. That they had made mistakes in their lives. I hate books where the only character that isn't perfect is the villain. I would definitely like to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Karen Benson.
581 reviews28 followers
February 11, 2012
I got involved in this is a quick little mystery involving a missing person and Florida Omni Search (a missing persons search firm) founder Rachel Scott because it was offered for Kindle for less than $2.00. Thought I'd give it a try and I liked it enough to be interested in reading the next in the series.
1 review1 follower
April 4, 2011
4.5 Stars. A good, fun, fast-moving read - it keeps you wanting to know what's coming next, and the ending makes you eager for the next book in the series. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel!
Profile Image for Tulgey Wood.
115 reviews
July 14, 2011
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. Unlike some mysteries, Burn Out doesn't bog the reader down with lengthy and repetitive police questioning. There's actually a lot of action packed into its 170 pages. I'm eager to find out what happens to Rachel Scott next!
Profile Image for Britney.
269 reviews3 followers
August 28, 2011
Loved the way the book was written. The book switched from several characters, but it didn't confuse you who you were reading about when. The characters meshed well. Can't wait to read number 2 in the series.
Profile Image for Nancy Houston Fields.
198 reviews
August 16, 2011
A lady firefighter disappears during a fire with little or no trace as to her whereabouts. Good book.
Profile Image for Christi Rogala.
1 review1 follower
September 21, 2011
For a 99 cent nook book it was surprisingly good! My one disappointment is that the other book by this author is not available as a nook book.
Profile Image for Patrice Fitzgerald.
Author 40 books66 followers
October 18, 2011
Great main character, good mystery, fast pacing... I am intrigued by this protagonist and look forward to reading more of this author's work!
Profile Image for Mila Ballentine.
Author 15 books18 followers
August 20, 2012
I enjoyed Burn Out. It reminds me of Nora Robert's Blue Smoke.
Profile Image for Olga DiLenge.
115 reviews25 followers
Read
July 3, 2012
I read these out of order. This is the second in the serier, after Asylum Harbor, which I am currently reading. I LOVED it and am really hoping for a third.
Profile Image for Mary Lou Hoffman.
1,954 reviews34 followers
June 4, 2018
BURN OUT is the second book in the Rachel Scott Adventure series. Though it is recommended that you read them in the order of release, I had not received the first book and had no trouble picking up who was whom in this one.

I love the strong female leads in this story and the insight into the world of firefighters. My own brother was a fire chief (and I have since learned a friend of the author’s husband! Talk about a small world!!) and I love to learn a bit about this portion of the life he lived. (Always remembered: FC F. Allen Hoffman 1964-2007).

I loved the slow build up to the big reveal. Finding the culprit alongside Rachel is exactly how I like to read a suspense story. Rachel’s back story is compelling and will, obviously, be a continuing piece of the series. I hope that one day she if able to complete her personal mission.

This is the first book I have read by Traci Hohenstein, but it won’t be my last!

Note: I received a copy from the author when I met her at Indie Book Fest 2015. While I was given this book as a gift, my opinions are my own and are given freely.



Title: BURN OUT
Series: Rachel Scott #2
Category /Genre: Suspense /Mystery
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: B – a few small errors
Received from: Traci Hohenstein (in exchange for an honest review)
Profile Image for Patricia Kowalczyk.
61 reviews
July 14, 2017
Disappointed

Disappointed in that it was written just like the first book. I will not be reading any more from this author
There were passages that looked like a cut and paste from book one
Profile Image for Bette.
785 reviews
January 13, 2022
Firefighter Samantha Collins is scheduled to testify at her husband's drug trafficking trial. With only her helmet behind, Sam vanishes while fighting a warehouse fire. Sam's Mother contacts Rachel Scott to help find Sam.

Rachel Scott is half-owner of Omni Search, a non-profit people search company. Rachel and her staff investigate and follow the clues to find Sam.

An enjoyable book to read.
3 reviews
May 25, 2025
Great Book

Traci Hohenstein is an amazing author. She keeps me spellbound. I miss sleep reading her books! I’ll be a forever fan of her work.
Profile Image for W.C. Quick.
Author 21 books67 followers
May 13, 2023
Complex modern mystery

Deals with dark subjects in the real world. Twists and sidetracks, a little romance in a search for a missing firefighter
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews

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