Dundas patiently builds layer upon layer of clues, like pastry and butter in the best croissant ... Writing a thriller that’s engrossing from beginning to end is tough. Some readers might figure out the culprit early on, but figuring out the 'why' will keep them hooked. Dundas knows how to keep things simmering, and his cracking good mystery kept this reviewer up at night. It just might keep you up at night, too.

... both a cleverly plotted mystery and a touching account of a wounded veteran trying to rebuild his life ... With these two beautifully realized protagonists driving the action, Dundas delivers a fast-paced plot filled with unexpected twists. Their small town is vividly portrayed, and the writing is superb throughout, occasionally verging on poetry.

[Dundas's] switch to a contemporary thriller for his second outing is, in large part, a success ... Matthew Rose is an interesting character, and his struggle to regain his memory keeps us engaged. As an alternate point of view, Georgie is well drawn, and her busy-body nature as a reporter working the city desk helps move the story along ... the first 100 pages of the novel set a brisk pace as Dundas shows a well-developed talent for storytelling. The middle hundred lag a bit as Matthew’s search for his past seems to flounder somewhat, taking us in apparently random directions, but Dundas brings his threads together in the final third of the novel in such a way that everything adds up and makes sense after all ... A fourth-generation Montanan and resident of Missoula, Dundas uses his setting effectively without drowning us in local color, and his work experience in journalism lends credibility and realism to Georgie’s relentless pursuit of the story ... The Blaze falls a trifle short of being an out-and-out barn burner, but there’s more than enough here to like that readers will enjoy this one and will certainly want to come back for whatever’s next.

Novels of literary suspense like this one share certain characteristics, including action sequences, conflict, unanswered questions, an unidentified killer, and, usually, the police. All are present here, and the denouement to this tale is satisfying on all counts. Along the way, however, Dundas occasionally lets us down ... We wonder what it’s going to take to get Matthew—and us—committed to finding the killer ... Still, there are many fine moments. While the story moves at a leisurely pace from scene to scene, often with little action or conflict, an event will trigger Matthew’s memory, and bang! We’re off and running, at least for a while ... Despite the casual pace of the early scenes, The Blaze is easy reading and, when things pick up at the end, with just a little suspension of disbelief, it delivers the goods.

... another brilliantly woven story about second chances from Montana native Dundas ... Recommend this to readers looking for an inviting narrative with a very 'now' feel.

A wounded veteran and a strong newspaperwoman combine with a well-constructed plot to spin a plausible and engaging tale. It brings to mind Owen Laukkanen's Deception Cove with its pairing of solid male and female protagonists ... This one wins far more on characters and danger than on bloodshed. Keep books like this coming, Chad Dundas.

... exceptional ... Dundas’s insightful look at a former soldier’s attempts to reenter civilian life elevates this poignant, action-packed story. The plot soars with each believable twist and realistic characters worth rooting for.