Review: Firing Line by Warren Murphy

Destroyer 41 Firing Line by Warren Murphy

With Firing Line, Murphy provides another strong volume in the Destroyer series. This time, Remo and Chiun have to go head-to-head with a villain who can make fire with his mind. He’s only a teenager, but he’s got a taste for burning buildings—and people—and Remo is on his list. Chiun is particularly concerned because of an ancient Sinanju legend involving the only time a Master of Sinanju failed in a mission—and a pair of curses that ordain that a descendent of Sinanju and of the original fire maker will refight the battle in the future. It's always nice for Remo to have to solve different problems, and the fact that the bad guy is technically a child adds a lot of complexity as the traditions of Sinanju abhor killing children. But how can Remo stop this firebug without killing him?

 

This novel is also worth reading as it is the last appearance of Ruby Gonzalez. Ruby started strong in this series and then was poorly written for most of the rest of her appearances. Fortunately, she ends on a strong note. She’s decided to leave CURE and Smith has decided that means she must die. Remo, her friend, naturally doesn’t want to take that assignment. Ruby’s fate is worth reading the novel for.