A Fire in the Night

The life of 16-year-old Annalise Bashir, the heroine of this lackluster thriller from Swann (Never Turn Back), is upended when a group of men kill her parents and burn down their Tampa, Fla., home. Annalise’s father, Jay, had recently asked Annalise to meet him and her mother at the remote North Carolina cabin of his brother, retired professor Nick Anthony . Nick learns of Jay’s death, and that Annalise is a fugitive person of interest, just before he catches his niece trying to break into his cabin. Her very existence is news to him, as he and Jay hadn’t spoken in 20 years. Cole, the leader of the group that killed the older Bashirs, identifies Annalise’s destination and sets off with his team to catch her. Cole believes Jay passed information to her of great value to a billion-dollar energy company involved with Saudi Arabia. Predictably, Nick has certain skills beyond those of the typical academic useful in fighting the bad guys. Thin characters, a trite story line, and a groan-worthy climax make this instantly forgettable. Agent: Peter Steinberg, Fletcher and Co. (Sept.)