California Fire and Life

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: California Fire and Life Don Winslow Knopf 1999 ISBN 0676549705 H.C. Mystery

I had never heard of Don Winslow before I was sent this book to review, now he is a favorite.

Jack Wade an arson adjuster for California Fire and Life Mutual, understands fires, its the people that he doesn't understand. Wade is a very engaging character, who really knows what he is doing. Jack must investigate a fire that he knows is arson, but others believe is accidental, his own company starts to pressure him to settle the case, but he cant and he breaks his own cardinal rule, "You don't get emotional and what ever you do don't get involved. As Jack gets further and further involved the situation becomes more dangerous. Soon arson is the least of Jacks worry, as the case grows to involve the Russian mob and Vietnamese gangs and much more. This book is a wild ride through the world of fire and insurance. The characters are cool and real life. I especially liked the details of the fire investagationing.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Author Stumbles A Bit...
Review: I have discovered Winslow and have fallen deeply in love with his writing style...but this book failed to grab me. WAY too much detail and an odd, detached feeling to the work. If you want to take a ride, read his 'Death and Life of Bobby Z.' It is TOTALLY awesome! And I read 2/3 mystery/thrillers a week.

Rating:
Summary: Into the Hot Zone
Review: Old pro Don Winslow sets up a pace and never lets up. The story grows, expands and explodes like the fires that are that are the bedrock of the tale. Jack Wade, the fire investigator for the titled insurance company, is as terse as his name. He works hard, gives value for the dollar and owes nothing to anyone. He is as unengaged as Lew Archer.

There is a lot of fire technology interspersed throughout the book. I was fascinated by all the information and feel it lent credence to the sometimes mystifying plot line. The characters are broadly drawn; this is a plot-event driven tale and has a gruesome factor of +3 out of 5. We aren't looking so much for a particular villain as a conspiracy. Just when the reader thinks he has things narrowed down and is ready for the grand denouement, the clues expand and become more inclusive. Remember "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers"? By the time the movie is half over you suspect your neighbor, wife and sister of being in cahoots with the bad guys. This is true of "California Fire & Life." Everyone and everything begins to look suspect.

A good fast read where you learn a few things in spite of yourself!