On Fire

The mysterious sinking of a research ship off the coast of New England sets the scene for Neggers's (Kiss the Moon) romantic suspense. Marine biologist Riley St. Joe and her childhood nemesis, John Straker, form a shaky alliance when Riley's grandfather, a famed maritime explorer, becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the ship's captain. John, an FBI agent on leave due to post-traumatic stress syndrome, comes out of seclusion to assist Riley in her quest to clear her grandfather--which gives the pair plenty of opportunity for romantic sparring and reminiscing. Good writing (Neggars fills in the many slow spots with interesting facts of marine life) fails to compensate for a tedious plot and stereotypical female behavior. (Nov.)