Fire Thieves

by Michael Brigati

A fire rages out of control at Criton Chemical Company, a large fertilizer plant in Chatterton, Virginia, owned by a powerful Iranian businessman. With thousands of lives at stake, Patrick and Shane Meagher fight to contain the blaze before dozens of ammonium nitrate tanks explode. When arson is detected, both firefighters are drawn into an international web of deception and death, intended to destabilize an already volatile Middle East. "A great read for the brothers and sisters of the Fire Service, and for everyone who follows the courageous men and women in this proud profession."

324 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 2015

Reviews

[Diane Haney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author's admiration and respect for the job of firefighter comes though such that the reader feels the same admiration and respect as the story unfolds. The plot is topical....the Middle East...and a little overdone these days, but his approach is somewhat unique -focusing on the Iran/ Iraq conflict. Our firefighters are called to a fire at a chemical plant owned by an Iranian. They sense something is amiss but are squelched in their efforts to investigate by their superiors. Our firefighters do not give up and become more determined to uncover the real purpose of the chemical plant after the suspicious death of one of their own. As the chemical plant is of international concern, we see the story develop from the viewpoint of all interested parties here and in the Middle East.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and beautifully descriptive. Not my normal type of read with political corruption and links to war. First couple of chapters introduced a lot of characters it was a little confusing but it all worked itself out as the book progressed.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Thieves is action packed, riveting and I had a tough time putting it down. The author used his technical expertise in firefighting to craft a novel that was both thrilling, political and alarmingly real. I liked that the chapters were short and compelling and upon finishing each, I couldn’t wait to see where the next chapter would lead.
I fell in love with the Meagher family (the main characters) and enjoyed meeting them and seeing how much they supported and cared for one another. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Thurita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes I did enjoy the book.
It was very easy to read & it went fast.
It was pertinent in today's terrorist atmosphere, how the bad guys think and
how investigators solve mysterious fires and international espionage.

[KarnagesMistress]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways. It is autographed.

[Gregory Renz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fire Thieves is a gripping international suspense thriller that puts the reader right in the middle of the action. The breakneck pacing and vivid descriptions will keep you riveted to the pages. As a retired fire captain, I immediately recognized the authenticity of both the dialogue and descriptions. It’s clear the author has lived this life. The story has plenty of twists and turns; all of them well-earned. The tension rises dramatically throughout this roller coaster ride, ending in a shocking but satisfying climax. Well done, Michael Brigati.

[B. Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic and artful

Great story with great characters! Brigati artfully weaves firefighting, investigative, and military procedurals into a realistic and pageturning story! For firefighters, you can smell the smoke coming from the fire descriptions and visualize the tactics and strategies used in the book.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won this this from Goodreads giveaway.

Had looked forward to reading this. I enjoy mysteries but found
that I just could not get into this book. Tried a few times but after
a couple of chapters gave up.

Others may enjoy this. This was just not my kind of read.

[Lori Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An explosive book about greed, corruption, betrayal, and power. A wonderful blend of twists and turns to keep those pages turning. I was in awe and didn’t see the end coming. Excellent.

[Cavak · Rating 2 out of 5]

First things first: I appreciate that Brigati writes from experience and that the proceeds from this book are being donated towards helping worthy causes. I liked the firefighter jargon that's in here, the internal politics of the departments, and the real places being used as settings. Those were the most charming aspects of the story to me.

But really, I'd say that this story reminds me a lot of Independence Day (the movie, and the first one not the sequel). Aside from the obvious differences (aliens vs. North America; North American firefighters vs. Islamic terrorists, 1990s not 2000s-2010s), the core of both stories felt so similar to me. Every chapter hops to another character and noted location, and the characters themselves aren't thoroughly defined besides a few basic characteristics. Names are thrown at you like darts, and I had a hard time following who the main protagonist was supposed to be. I can't call it an ensemble cast because not all the characters had story arcs that were set up or developed. The climatic end was finished abruptly in the last thirty or so pages. Both the movie and this book have simple plots with simple dialogue that were very predictable to me too. And both narratives bleed with overtly American patriotism, Fire Thieves a little less though.

It's a thriller B or C movie with a modern day setting. Whether that's up your alley or not, I can't rightly say. It wasn't for me. I'm mostly convinced that I would have preferred for Brigati to have written a memoir about his time as a firefighter.

I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Karen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This WONDERFUL debut novel from Michael Brigati is a MUST read. A timely thriller of international terrorism made even more real by Mr. Brigati's personal experience and expertise. Well drawn character and setting. I could feel the heat of the fire. Hoping to see more from him and the Meagher clan.
Definitely movie material!

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mix of international intrigue, fire protection, and fun for those who know their way around Richmond, Va.