Rating: 
Summary: Great!
Review: As always...Earl Emerson wrote another mystery with finesse.
Can hardly wait for the next novel.
Rating:
Summary: Vertical Burn is a HOT thriller!
Review: Being a diehard Earl Emerson fan, I looked forward to this book with both avid anticipation and some measure of doubt. Anticipation, because Emerson is a born storyteller/writer and student of human nature--his series characters (Thomas Black and Mac Fontana) are completely believable and engaging, unlike so many mystery book characters who are promoters of the plot, not 'living' people involved in it. Doubt, because VERTICAL BURN is a stand alone book, and I feared that characterization might suffer in favor of action/thriller themes. No need to worry on that score--the lead characters in VB are drawn with Emerson's fine artist's hand, and you come to care about their lives and situational hazards almost immediately. That Emerson is a 24-year veteran of firefighting lends veracity to the plot and action--this writer KNOWS his stuff, and carries you with him into the most terrifying and tension-filled treatment of firefighting I've **ever** read. That the end highrise fire immediately brings to mind the tragedy of 9/11 is both disconcerting and fascinating; I feel now that I understand so much more about what happened in the WTC towers on that awful day. But VB is NOT based on 9/11 (was written long before)and reveals WHY every fireman's worst nightmare is battling a highrise fire. I promise--VERTICAL BURN will have you trembling with tension, and if you can sleep peacefully after completing it, you will have managed the aftereffects better than I. This is a terrific book. You'll be scrambling to find other Emerson books and, like me, you'll be eagerly awaiting his next!
Rating:
Summary: Vertical Burn was worth the wait.
Review: Earl Emerson is back and, though too long a wait, Vertical Burn was well worth the wait. This is not one of his series novels (Thomas Black, Mac Fontana), but a stand alone book that you wish was first in a series. Not only are the characters ones you'd like to hang out with again someday, but the plot and suspense are great. Fasinating insight into the world of firefighting, but it's the story that counts. And it's a great one. I hope Earl Emerson doesn't stay away so long next time.
Rating: 
Summary: Long on Action Short on Plot
Review: Earl Emerson is the author of the Shamus Award winning Thomas Black detective series. This is a series that concentrates quite heavily on the characters in the story and their development throughout the series as well as providing well-plotted mysteries. With VERTICAL BURN, Emerson has gone for a more action-oriented story, relying on his intimate knowledge of the fire brigade and fire fighting to enthuse his audience. To a large extent it works, the adrenaline charged brushes with death while combating a fire provide the story's high points, no questions asked.The story's protagonist is John Finney, a fireman of considerable experience with the Seattle Fire Department. The book gets off to a furious start when Finney's company is called out to a fire and when they arrive they are faced with a large building full of smoke with the possibility of victims trapped inside and no backup because all other crews are busy, called out to various alarms, both real and false. During their search of the building, Finney and his partner become trapped by a collapsed wall with the final result seeing Finney barely escape with his life, but his partner dying in the fire. The fallout from this tragedy is substantial for Finney both emotionally and physically. Apart from losing his partner and mentor, he suffers some pretty serious burns from the fire, but worse, he knows that in the eyes of his fellow firemen he is to blame for his partner's death. Due to memory loss thanks to the smoke inhalation he suffered, he can't be sure himself whether or not he was to blame. A second fire results in a similar outcome to the first. This time Finney is certain that facts are being fabricated by the fire investigators that make Finney look, at best incompetent and at worst, criminally negligent. It gets to the point where it looks very likely he is going to be accused of arson. It suddenly dawns on him that there is a serious conspiracy taking place from within the department. What also becomes very obvious is that he is being set up as the fall guy for this conspiracy and the frame is working disturbingly well. Left with very few allies in the department, he feels his only course of action is to start his own investigation. He aims to get to the bottom of why these fires had been set and how he might be able to convince the department chiefs of his innocence. It's this investigation that the storyline hinges with the action sequences merely a background setting. The story climaxes with a massive high-rise building fire that requires Finney to act as the hero in a bid to rescue over 200 people who are trapped. Although far-fetched in many aspects, not the least of which is how he came to be at the fire in the first place, these are scenes of pure entertainment as feats of super-human strength and astounding ingenuity take over. I enjoyed the breathless action sequences that came about each time a fire was fought. The fear and confusion felt during a fire was described by Emerson in such a way that it was obvious that he had experienced these feelings first hand. These sequences were strong and compelling. The focus is so much on the action sequences and the intricate details of fire fighting that the characterisation and the interaction between characters suffers somewhat. I felt the dialog didn't ring true and the reasons that prompted the conspiracy were so incredibly weak as to be non-existent. It was the conspiracy that really drove the whole storyline and when that disappeared, the whole story lost it's credibility in my mind. I also had a real problem with the inconsistent reactions of Finney. He swung from submissive yes-man to a take-charge action hero within a page time and again and this not only became confusing, I also found it incredibly frustrating, particularly whenever he was faced with some pretty hefty and occasionally outlandish accusations and decided to say or do nothing about them. For all out action with raging infernos as the focus, this is quite a thrilling book and certainly achieves that purpose. However, I thought it was hampered by the lack of believable storyline that is needed to give the book its substance.
Rating:
Summary: VERTICAL BURN is HOT!
Review: Earl Emerson's new thriller, VERTICAL BURN, is a real page turner! Extremely well written with exceptionally interesting characters and plot. Engrossing enough that I read it in two sittings. Gets my vote for award consideration. Leroy Swanner
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I agree with the Publishers Weekly review: The novel is, as expected, long on details of firefighting and its incipient hazards, though there is little mention of the real and enduring conflicts between the investigative arm of firefighters and law enforcement.
I am disappointed in the book. It appears that Mr. Emerson took advantage of the 9/11 tragedy to incorporate some of the aspects of 9/11 into his complicated plot.
Rating:
Summary: An exciting book to read.....
Review: I have been a Earl Emerson fan for many years, reading his Mac Fontana series, and his latest one Vertical Burn. His ability to describe the events and happenings around a fire scene and the Fire House are uncanny. Being in the Fire Service as well, it is almost like I was part of the Engine Company Crew. I also like his ability to simplify terms and actions of Firefighters to someone who may not have first hand experience. I would recommend this book to anyone to enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Hot Fun for the Summertime
Review: I purchased this book to add to my collection; I have other books by Earl Emerson, several fearuring Mac Fontana, the others featuring Thomas Black. They were good. Vertical Burn, an extremely well written novel, a stand-alone--not a series novel--is Earl's best book yet.I was drawn into the story, not stopping until the fifth chapter. Vertical Burn opens with two firefighters, John Finney and Bill Cordifis going to a fire. Upon arrival, they discover themselves first on the scene. Numerous calls have thinned the number of available fire units. They don their gear and enter the flaming building. The author, a 23-year firefighing veteran, describes the work of the firefighters with alarming clarity, giving the reader a feeling of being in the building filling with flames and smoke, weighed down with the Nomex jackets, oxygen bottle, helmet, backpack and facemask. One can almost feel, the weight of the gear, the perspiration soaking through the clothing, the fire's searing heat. Timbers fall, trapping Cordifis. Finney relates Cordifis' location to the new team entering the building. They don't find Cordifis, who dies in the fire. We feel Finney's pain. Reeling over the loss of his partner and friend, John doesn't believe the fire was an accident. He begins his own investigation. Finney uncovers a conspiracy in which several firefighters along with building owners are torching buildings for profit. They have set him up! Now, he's in danger of losing his life. Finney's lone supporter, a female firefighter, helps to determine the people responsible for the fires and bring an end to the arson. His superiors "write him up." The book ends with numerous fire companies responding to a call on yet another torched building. People trapped between floors in a high-rise building and firefighters are called to the rescue. The story holds the reader in suspense to the very last page! Earl Emerson has written one of the best suspense stories this reader has read in many years. This is the "year of the firefighter," and Earl Emerson's literary contribution should not be missed. It is exciting, thrilling and very well written. Read this book--you'll be glad you did! You'll have a greater appreciation of what firefighters go through in their daily lives. Furthermore, you'll appreciate the creative gift of writer Earl Emerson.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I won't send you to this novel because of the plot, which is certainly strong, though fanciful. And I won't send you because of the characters, also strong and fanciful. I will send you to the book because it is filled with action and packed with fascinating details about firefighting and fire-related risks. "Vertical Burn" is a spellbinding experience and an excursion into a world which few of us know much about. It's a fascinating reading experience and I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: One Hot Book!
Review: I won't send you to this novel because of the plot, which is certainly strong, though fanciful. And I won't send you because of the characters, also strong and fanciful. I will send you to the book because it is filled with action and packed with fascinating details about firefighting and fire-related risks. "Vertical Burn" is a spellbinding experience and an excursion into a world which few of us know much about. It's a fascinating reading experience and I recommend it highly.
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