WHEN THE BRONX BURNED: New York's Best Kept Secret

by John J. Finucane

In the South Bronx during the 1960s and 70s, unscrupulous landlords and their torch-men set in motion a murderous wave of arson-for-profit, driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and injuring, maiming, and killing thousands more-including firefighters. Yet New York's mayor consistently refuses to give the fire department the manpower it needs to investigate the arson, and thousands of suspicious fires go uninvestigated. Jackie Mulligan and his brother firefighters stand up to the heartless evil of the slumlords by demanding that the mayor take action. But when the mayor refuses, Mulligan and his men take a stand against the arsonists, putting their jobs-and their lives-on the line. For Mulligan, the fight has become personal. And there will be only one winner. " John Finucane has written a riveting and fast moving novel Not only does he nail the drama in a way only an experienced firefighter can, he literally puts the reader inside the fire scene Reading John Finucane's comprehensive description brought back memories of my admiration for firefighters everywhere."
-Charles J. Hynes
Kings County District Attorney
Former Fire Commissioner of NYC
Author of first novel, Triple Homicide "For twenty years John Finucane breathed the acrid smoke, hauled the heavy hoses, and climbed the telescoping ladders for New York City's heroic fire department. He now writes about it from the gut-with verve, power, and poignancy. This is a fireman's fireman, pulling no punches and telling the story of a firefighter in New York's grittiest neighborhoods during the turbulent 1960s and 70s."
-Roger D. McGrath , Ph.D.
Author, Gunfighters, Highwaymen & Vigilantes
Featured Commentator on the History Channel

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

236 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2007

Reviews

[Steven Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This takes place during the war years in the Bronx NY. The war years was one of the busiest times in the FDNY history. The author, a war years veteran firefighter/fire officer himself, gives a pretty good depiction about a story of what it was like in the Bronx during those dark times. The Romance story was kind of whatever to me, but plays a big role in the story that ties in to the whole “the Bronx is burning” mentality. I recommend this book to all.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating that this actually took place. Also disgusting that it was allowed to go on for so long. Good read, very interesting and I liked the depiction of the time frame.

[TimML · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is written at a fairly juvenile level. This would be good for a teen reader who wants to read about firemen. I struggled to read this, even as it was only 225 pages.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken from back of the book. "In The South Bronx during the 1960's and 70's unscrupulous landlords and their torch-men set in a motion a murderous wave of arson-for-profit, driving hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and injuring, maiming, and killing thousands more--including firefighters."
John Finucane starts you off with an intense fire fighting scene and will send you are a roller coaster of emotions though the rest of the book. Jackie Mulligan and his fellow firefighters, he calls his brothers, start to investigate and stand up to the evil, heartless slumlords that are burning down housing developments for a quick easy profit. Book also gives a peek into the behind scenes of the firefighters when they are not working a fire and just being friends and giving each other a hard time about each other loves lives. Overall good book but at times had a hard time following.