February 18, 2008
Atwell's breezy debut fires something unusual in the furnace of low-key Tucson glass blower Emmeline (Em) Dowell, just after she befriends a fragile-looking redhead named Allison McBride. As Em attempts to figure out who plunged a man's head into the 2,000-degree furnace of her studio—and who the victim was—she's forced to resurrect a long-dead acquaintance with ex-lover police chief Matt Lundgren. When she's not busy making and selling art glass and hanging with Allison, Em is dodging surly strangers and trying to figure out why the FBI is so interested in the case. Em is likable; the mystery is satisfactory; and an introduction to glass-blowing techniques and lingo (plus a recipe for Em's specialty, mac & cheese with hotdogs) keep things light.