First published 1997
Fire Chief Mac Fontana stares at the charred remains of the paint factory where nine of his fellow firefighters died in the flames. The devastating blaze has left the Seattle fire department reeling, but Fontana suspects this was no accident. Someone wanted that factory to burn, and they were willing to let firefighters die to cover their tracks. As Fontana digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding the fire, he uncovers a web of corruption and deceit that reaches far beyond the factory walls. The investigation puts him at odds with city officials and corporate interests who want the case closed quickly. Fontana must navigate department politics and personal threats while searching for the evidence that will expose the truth. The lives of nine brave firefighters demand justice, and Fontana refuses to let their deaths be written off as just another industrial accident. His fifth case will test both his detective skills and his commitment to protecting those who serve alongside him in Seattle's fire department.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corruption, cover-up, investigation, justice
Setting: Seattle
Period: 20th-century
256 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow & Co
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence