colleenlh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
drew5287's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jonetta's review against another edition
3.0
Maggie O'Dell and R. J. Tully are assigned to a serial arsonist case that suddenly deviates from pattern. What was once viewed as nuisance arson events changed when a body was found at the scene of the last fire. Exacerbating the investigation is a cable TV news reporter covering the blazes.
First, what I liked about the story. It was nicely paced and intriguing with the investigation moving at a good clip and moving forward progressively. Maggie, Tully and Julia Racine worked really well as a team. I also enjoyed Maggie's half brother, Patrick (yes, the author corrected the relationship), having a major presence in the story. I also liked that there was more definition to Maggie's relationship with her "friend" Ben. But, that was an area I also found troublesome.
Now, for my issues. I'm going to sound like a broken record as, again, we don't see Maggie doing a lot of profiling in this story, behaving more like a detective. While her relationship with Ben was better defined, I cry foul on the direction chosen. It's just inconceivable for two people of this age and it's the example for all the areas where Maggie just stands still. Lastly, I've grown weary of the unsatisfying endings of this series. Two cases, connected and disconnected; one poorly resolved, one left dangling. Every story shouldn't end this way.
This was a pretty good story until the very end so it was worth my time reading it, even if I'd figured out the probable perpetrator(s). There's one book left in the series (if you disregard the spinoffs) and I think that will signal my end with this character as there's no way she'll achieve the growth I'd hoped for since the first book. 3.5 stars
First, what I liked about the story. It was nicely paced and intriguing with the investigation moving at a good clip and moving forward progressively. Maggie, Tully and Julia Racine worked really well as a team. I also enjoyed Maggie's half brother, Patrick (yes, the author corrected the relationship), having a major presence in the story. I also liked that there was more definition to Maggie's relationship with her "friend" Ben. But, that was an area I also found troublesome.
Now, for my issues. I'm going to sound like a broken record as, again, we don't see Maggie doing a lot of profiling in this story, behaving more like a detective. While her relationship with Ben was better defined, I cry foul on the direction chosen. It's just inconceivable for two people of this age and it's the example for all the areas where Maggie just stands still. Lastly, I've grown weary of the unsatisfying endings of this series. Two cases, connected and disconnected; one poorly resolved, one left dangling. Every story shouldn't end this way.
This was a pretty good story until the very end so it was worth my time reading it, even if I'd figured out the probable perpetrator(s). There's one book left in the series (if you disregard the spinoffs) and I think that will signal my end with this character as there's no way she'll achieve the growth I'd hoped for since the first book. 3.5 stars
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Fireproof
3.5 Stars
A serial arsonist is active in the D.C. area and Agent Maggie O'Dell and her partner, R. J. Tully, are hot on his trail. Unfortunately, a ratings hungry journalist also takes an interest in Maggie, and is not above using her personal and professional lives to further his career even if it exposes her to a killer.
The plot is fast paced, and the investigation into the arson cases and the possible serial killer connection keep the pages turning. That said, there isn't much in the way of character development and the book ends on a semi-cliffhanger.
The most common complaints about this series are 1) Maggie fails to learn and grow as an individual, and second, she never actually does any profiling even though she is an FBI profiler. Anyone expecting differently in this installment is bound to be disappointed. Maggie's personal life is stagnating and her professional skills are limited to chasing suspects, visiting the medical examiner and discussing the case with her colleagues.
Nevertheless, Kava's writing style is very engaging and she has a way of presenting characters that evokes an emotional response in the reader whether it is empathy or sympathy, fear or anger. Moreover, the details of the arson case and the question of whether the human fatalities were intended or accidental are very compelling.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy this one, but readers in it for insight or growth in Maggie's character, or that of Tully, Julia, Ben or Gwen, will end up being frustrated. The open ending may also be an irritant for some, but for me the hook is baited and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next book.
3.5 Stars
A serial arsonist is active in the D.C. area and Agent Maggie O'Dell and her partner, R. J. Tully, are hot on his trail. Unfortunately, a ratings hungry journalist also takes an interest in Maggie, and is not above using her personal and professional lives to further his career even if it exposes her to a killer.
The plot is fast paced, and the investigation into the arson cases and the possible serial killer connection keep the pages turning. That said, there isn't much in the way of character development and the book ends on a semi-cliffhanger.
The most common complaints about this series are 1) Maggie fails to learn and grow as an individual, and second, she never actually does any profiling even though she is an FBI profiler. Anyone expecting differently in this installment is bound to be disappointed. Maggie's personal life is stagnating and her professional skills are limited to chasing suspects, visiting the medical examiner and discussing the case with her colleagues.
Nevertheless, Kava's writing style is very engaging and she has a way of presenting characters that evokes an emotional response in the reader whether it is empathy or sympathy, fear or anger. Moreover, the details of the arson case and the question of whether the human fatalities were intended or accidental are very compelling.
Overall, fans of the series will enjoy this one, but readers in it for insight or growth in Maggie's character, or that of Tully, Julia, Ben or Gwen, will end up being frustrated. The open ending may also be an irritant for some, but for me the hook is baited and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the next book.
thekindredreader's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
[3.5 Stars] I still think the books later in the series are better than the ones in the beginning, but this book fell pretty flat for me and was an ok read. While I’m glad that Maggie is building a relationship with her brother and Racine, it also bothers me why she doesn’t really care about her inability to develop other relationships or at least make an effort while others bend over backwards to make her happy or feel cared for. Plot-wise this book was promising but it also became easy to figure out who the firefly was so it wasn’t that suspenseful. Hopefully the next one will be better.
mrsbooknerd's review
2.0
Two stars may sound low but actually I chose this rating because of it's description, 'It was okay'.
There wasn't an urgent, fast-paced, complex plot but I thought that the lives of the characters etc would give a reasonable story without the fires and a murderer etc but I was left a bit disappointed.
The main character Maggie O'Dell was okay, as were the supportive characters around her, and it was good that we heard their voices as much as O'Dells but actually this narrative style only led to repitition of events and past anecdotes.
More importantly I felt that the central plot of the serial arsonist was just a precursor to a book on the murderer who is still running free after this book. The arsonist was an easy guess and I knew who it was after just a couple of chapters, taking away the essential who-dunnit element and ruining it for me.
Overall I read it, and I liked the characters and writing style but the plot left alot to be desired.
There wasn't an urgent, fast-paced, complex plot but I thought that the lives of the characters etc would give a reasonable story without the fires and a murderer etc but I was left a bit disappointed.
The main character Maggie O'Dell was okay, as were the supportive characters around her, and it was good that we heard their voices as much as O'Dells but actually this narrative style only led to repitition of events and past anecdotes.
More importantly I felt that the central plot of the serial arsonist was just a precursor to a book on the murderer who is still running free after this book. The arsonist was an easy guess and I knew who it was after just a couple of chapters, taking away the essential who-dunnit element and ruining it for me.
Overall I read it, and I liked the characters and writing style but the plot left alot to be desired.
beccajbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Fireproof is the tenth installment in the Maggie O'Dell series. It tells the story of a series of arsons that Maggie is tasked to profile and runs concurrently alongside the beginning of a case of a serial killer, killing people at rest stops along the highway.
If you've read the series before you'll be glad to know that all our favourite characters are back. Agent Tully is joined with Maggie once again, to profile the arsonist and determine if he is causing the body count that seems out of place in the buildings being set fire to.
Detective Racine, the rough and ready, unlikely, friend of Maggie's is also back and part of the investigation.
And we have Benjamin Platt. The romantic interest for our lead.
This book was good, it had all the usual things we find in Kava's work. She writes well and consistently. Short sentences make for quicker and easier reading and the story flows well through both her writing style and the fully developed plot.
Our story starts with a warehouse fire. There is a body found in the alley nearby, and also the charred remains of a body in the actual warehouse.
A news crew are there suprisingly quickly and capture a secondary blast on camera. The reporter - Jeffery - is the kind of guy you'd expect to be in front of a camera. He's obnoxious, arrogant and self centered. His camera woman, although slightly more pure at the core, does whatever he asks of her and doesn't ask questions. She has an financial sense of loyalty to the guy, needing the job to support her son and Spanish mum.
Jeffery takes an unhealthy interest in Maggie - to the point where he airs a special report on her - and her carefully constructed privacy walls are thereby destroyed.
As the story continues, we have more fires, a couple more bodies, and we get to see Patrick, Maggie's bro, again.
The story ended well for me. I understand some people think that one of the stories is unconcluded, but this is hopefully a pretext to what's to come in the next installment?
The only problem I have with this book is Maggie's relationship with Ben. They seem to never really go anywhere. It was so promising when they started out, but now Maggie seems to be withdrawing from him - due to commitment issues. She's rationalising that she doesn't want kids and he does, but she is still leading him on which is unfair and confusing - both for him and us! Either cut and run, or get on with it! :)
The recurring themes of Maggie's suicidal mum, her emotional wellbeing due to past cases, her boss's attempts to 'punish' her with political cases and her half brother born from paternal infidelity - are all present again in this one.
Overall, this was a good book, with a meaty plot, it kept me interested enough to read it quite quickly and I'm looking forward to starting the next in the series. You can definitely read this as a stand alone, you don't need to have read the previous ones- but they are all pretty good, so I would :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
If you've read the series before you'll be glad to know that all our favourite characters are back. Agent Tully is joined with Maggie once again, to profile the arsonist and determine if he is causing the body count that seems out of place in the buildings being set fire to.
Detective Racine, the rough and ready, unlikely, friend of Maggie's is also back and part of the investigation.
And we have Benjamin Platt. The romantic interest for our lead.
This book was good, it had all the usual things we find in Kava's work. She writes well and consistently. Short sentences make for quicker and easier reading and the story flows well through both her writing style and the fully developed plot.
Our story starts with a warehouse fire. There is a body found in the alley nearby, and also the charred remains of a body in the actual warehouse.
A news crew are there suprisingly quickly and capture a secondary blast on camera. The reporter - Jeffery - is the kind of guy you'd expect to be in front of a camera. He's obnoxious, arrogant and self centered. His camera woman, although slightly more pure at the core, does whatever he asks of her and doesn't ask questions. She has an financial sense of loyalty to the guy, needing the job to support her son and Spanish mum.
Jeffery takes an unhealthy interest in Maggie - to the point where he airs a special report on her - and her carefully constructed privacy walls are thereby destroyed.
As the story continues, we have more fires, a couple more bodies, and we get to see Patrick, Maggie's bro, again.
The story ended well for me. I understand some people think that one of the stories is unconcluded, but this is hopefully a pretext to what's to come in the next installment?
The only problem I have with this book is Maggie's relationship with Ben. They seem to never really go anywhere. It was so promising when they started out, but now Maggie seems to be withdrawing from him - due to commitment issues. She's rationalising that she doesn't want kids and he does, but she is still leading him on which is unfair and confusing - both for him and us! Either cut and run, or get on with it! :)
The recurring themes of Maggie's suicidal mum, her emotional wellbeing due to past cases, her boss's attempts to 'punish' her with political cases and her half brother born from paternal infidelity - are all present again in this one.
Overall, this was a good book, with a meaty plot, it kept me interested enough to read it quite quickly and I'm looking forward to starting the next in the series. You can definitely read this as a stand alone, you don't need to have read the previous ones- but they are all pretty good, so I would :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
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