FIREPROOF (ALEX KAVA)

Story Description: 

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|July 10, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-385-53551-9 

New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava returns in a blaze of glory with a gripping, action-packed thriller featuring special agent Maggie O’Dell, who is leading the search for a serial arsonist whose crimes threaten Maggie dangerously close to home. 

When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area.  There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty.  The local tem insists they’re looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression.  But when special agent Maggie O’Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal. 

Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget.  Maggie’s brother, Patrick, is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city. 

As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie’s professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously.  The killer may be closer than she imagines. 

My Review: 

Alex Kava has outdone herself again with this fast paced, action-packed story of fires lighting up the night sky.  Maggie O’Dell doesn’t realize the arsonist may be closer than she thinks and isn’t prepared for what happens near the end of the story. 

Her brother, Patrick, is back and is staying at Maggie’s home providing a slightly unwanted distraction and her mother, once again, has attempted suicide, all this taking time away from Maggie’s investigative skills, and her pounding and relentless headaches from being shot in the head at a previous crime scene leave her feeling under the weather making it difficult for her to concentrate on the job at hand. 

Thrown into the mix, her boss is actually worried about her and insists her undergo a psychological check-up which leaves Maggie completely annoyed and when she arrives for the interview, finds out it’s none other than her old teacher! 

I thought I had the arsonist pegged in this one but as usual, I was wrong and didn’t expect the outcome of the story at all which makes for a well-written and thought out story line.  Way to go Alex, you stumped me again.  Great read!!