Through the Fire is book 1 in the Mystery and the Minister's Wife series. The minister's wife is Kate Hanlon. Her husband, Paul, and she have moved from their old church, Riverbend Community, in San Antonio, Texas, to take over Faith Briar Church in the small town of Copper Mill, Tennessee. There is a larger town nearby named Pine Ridge. It's good thing that Pine Ridge will handle fires too large for Copper Mill's volunteers, because the Hanlons arrive just in time to see Faith Briar Church burning.

We're soon introduced to the living cross the Hanlons will have to bear: church board member Renee Lambert, who takes her Chihuahua, Kisses, almost everywhere. She's very opinionated and quite happy to make her opinions known. By chapter 6 Renee is asking Kate and Paul to look after Kisses while she's at an appointment. Later she's even telling Kisses that Kate is [the dog's] Grandma.

The parsonage is tiny and ugly except for its living room, which might be bigger than the rest of the parsonage. (Guess what the Hanlons are going to have to do with it while the church is being rebuilt...) There's a sliding glass door stained with minerals. I like what the stains resemble, though.

We learn early on that it's a case of arson, but who is the arsonist? Renee thinks she knows. Paul doesn't believe it. The man's backstory is tragic, but does that make him guilty?

Turns out a corporation, Worldwide Destination Resorts, wanted to buy the church's land. Suspicious, isn't it? Even more suspicious is that the CEO died in what might or might not have been an accident a few days ago. Then Kate starts getting death threats...

NOTES:

According to chapter 4: Kate and Paul's eldest is Andrew, a lawyer in Philadelphia. Rebecca is their youngest, an understudy hoping to act on Broadway, New York City. Melissa, their middle, is married and living in Atlanta. She has three children. The most recent is baby Mia Elizabeth.

Chapter 8: Do NOT feed your dog what Kisses, also known as 'Little Umpkins' was fed. A little garlic is okay, but onions are not good for dogs!

This isn't a bad cozy mystery. I like Kate and Paul and I didn't guess the arsonist.

Dog lovers: You won't get to meet the Philpott rottweiler, Maximillian, but there are plenty of scenes with Kisses the teacup Chihuahua.

Cat lovers: Kate gets to take care of Mrs. Philpott's cat, Ruffles, because her sons fear for their rottweiler while their mom is in the hospital. (Enid is the referee.) ( )

No one could prepare Pastor Paul Hanlon and his wife, Kate, for the sight that awaited them when they arrived at their new church home in Copper Mill, Tennessee.