Book Review: Dirty Fire

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Dirty Fire     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Earl Merkel
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Signet; 2003; 371pp

Bribery charges brought against John Davey cause his resignation from the Chicago police force. A technicality keeps him out of jail. With his life in ruins around him, when he is asked to participate in an arson investigation/murder, he grabs at the second chance. But his previous boss and fellow police officers are not forgiving, and Davey has to has to deal with them as well as an investigation that becomes more and more complex.

Why, after murdering a North Shore couple, did someone make sure their house burned the ground? Does the murder have its roots in the Holocaust and the artwork that disappeared afterwards? Is the Fire Chief the right person to be heading the investigation?

Earl Merkel has written a police procedural/thriller that kept me up reading into the night. Plot twists and turns abound. Even tracking the good guys is complicated. When the Soviets and the State Department get involved, all bets are off. Completely engrosing - plan on losing sleep with this one!

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM

Please Note: Books reviewed are usually provided by the publisher, author, or an agent. Reviewers usually get to keep the book.