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Maggie O'Dell #10
Fireproof
"New York Times" bestselling author Alex Kava returns in a blaze of glory with a gripping, action-packed thriller featuring special agent Maggie O'Dell, who is leading the search for a serial arsonist whose crimes threaten Maggie dangerously close to home.
When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local team insists they're looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O'Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.
Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie's brother Patrick is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city.
As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie's professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.
When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local team insists they're looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O'Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.
Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie's brother Patrick is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city.
As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie's professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2012
280 people are currently reading
2174 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kava
51 books2,584 followersALEX KAVA IS A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the critically acclaimed Maggie O’Dell series and a new series featuring former Marine, Ryder Creed and his K9 dogs. Her stand-alone novel, One False Move, was the 2006 One Book One Nebraska. Published in over thirty countries, Kava’s novels have made the bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Poland. Her novel Stranded was awarded both a Florida Book Award and the Nebraska Book Award. She is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild and International Thriller Writers. Kava divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
December 2, 2016
3,5 stars
Fireproof, the 10th book in Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell Series has Maggie, still recovering from her head wound she got in the last book, Hotwire, back together with R J Tully as her partner to work on a series of arson crimes that are escalating to murder.
This was a better read than Hotwire. It had a good plot which ended rather abruptly with a huge cliff-hanger...I guess that's the set up for the next book in the series.
Maggie doesn't do much profiling, again, here. And her relationship with Benjamin Platt is still not going anywhere. I did enjoy seeing her partner, Tully, back in action and also Julia Rancine...I really like her character. We also get to see a bit more of Maggie's brother, Patrick, who I also like and we get a glimpse of their mad and crazy mother.
I
do like this series and I am hoping that the next book will give us a bit of the old Maggie back.
Fireproof, the 10th book in Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell Series has Maggie, still recovering from her head wound she got in the last book, Hotwire, back together with R J Tully as her partner to work on a series of arson crimes that are escalating to murder.
This was a better read than Hotwire. It had a good plot which ended rather abruptly with a huge cliff-hanger...I guess that's the set up for the next book in the series.
Maggie doesn't do much profiling, again, here. And her relationship with Benjamin Platt is still not going anywhere. I did enjoy seeing her partner, Tully, back in action and also Julia Rancine...I really like her character. We also get to see a bit more of Maggie's brother, Patrick, who I also like and we get a glimpse of their mad and crazy mother.
I
do like this series and I am hoping that the next book will give us a bit of the old Maggie back.
November 7, 2016
Number 10 in the series and just more of the same. Maggie still being far too introspective, at length, all the time. Two relatively exciting stories running parallel but never linking and one of them never actually ends either. Lots of people falling head over heels for Maggie but no apparent reason why they should.
A good enough story but I skimmed all of the recapping of previous books and most of Maggie's personal musings. I think that left about 50% for me to enjoy. Oh well.
A good enough story but I skimmed all of the recapping of previous books and most of Maggie's personal musings. I think that left about 50% for me to enjoy. Oh well.
November 23, 2016
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
August 18, 2017
This was fun!
Kava's books is always a fun easy read. For that alone, I've read most of her books.
Her plots is always interesting and you can't help but like Maggie. She is brilliant at her job and her personal issues pique your curiosity.
For the first time in a long while, I really want to read the next book. Usually I lave months between books - one dose of Maggie always seemed satisfying. But not this time, that cliffhanger just got me.
Kava's books is always a fun easy read. For that alone, I've read most of her books.
Her plots is always interesting and you can't help but like Maggie. She is brilliant at her job and her personal issues pique your curiosity.
For the first time in a long while, I really want to read the next book. Usually I lave months between books - one dose of Maggie always seemed satisfying. But not this time, that cliffhanger just got me.
March 11, 2013
I love the Maggie O'Dell series, I can't remember why I decided to pick them up and read them from the beginning. I think a patron of the library recommended them to me, so because I can't read a series from the middle I had to start from the beginning.
Since then there have been some that I've really enjoyed reading and then there's been others that have been very so so. This one is one of the better ones. I know a lot of people are complaining that Maggie O'Dell hasn't done much profiling in this one, but I didn't think that was an issue because I found the story to be intriguing and I love the characters. Yes I do feel like the writing style has changed slightly and there isn't much profiling going on (seen as though O'Dell is an FBI profiler) but most book series change in some way and I will still be happy to continue to read them.
I can't remember the murders in the previous books but they were very gruesome and very detail in this one. If you don't like to read about that sort of thing then you shouldn't read this. I read this in a day, I found it (like the others) to be very easy to read as the writing style flows nicely and the reader is kept interested. Like for example; every now and again there will be a short chapter from the 'killers' point of view, I like that we get a taste of being inside their head but still not knowing who it is. I don't know if other murder mystery books are like this but I had never read something like that.
Something else to mention that I found interesting is that the ending felt like it will lead straight into the next book. From memory I don't think any of the previous books have done this. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Also on my blog
Since then there have been some that I've really enjoyed reading and then there's been others that have been very so so. This one is one of the better ones. I know a lot of people are complaining that Maggie O'Dell hasn't done much profiling in this one, but I didn't think that was an issue because I found the story to be intriguing and I love the characters. Yes I do feel like the writing style has changed slightly and there isn't much profiling going on (seen as though O'Dell is an FBI profiler) but most book series change in some way and I will still be happy to continue to read them.
I can't remember the murders in the previous books but they were very gruesome and very detail in this one. If you don't like to read about that sort of thing then you shouldn't read this. I read this in a day, I found it (like the others) to be very easy to read as the writing style flows nicely and the reader is kept interested. Like for example; every now and again there will be a short chapter from the 'killers' point of view, I like that we get a taste of being inside their head but still not knowing who it is. I don't know if other murder mystery books are like this but I had never read something like that.
Something else to mention that I found interesting is that the ending felt like it will lead straight into the next book. From memory I don't think any of the previous books have done this. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Also on my blog
November 23, 2016
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.
August 16, 2012
Just finished. Did I miss how Sam was saved from the fire? I have read all her books and I am really upset with this disjointed ending. Really, how did that character survive the fire???!!!
November 16, 2016
There is a serial arsonist in Washington, D.C. FBI Profiler Maggie O'Dell and her partner R.J. Tully are called into the case when a body shows up at the crime scene. What is strange is the body was not burnt. The victim's head has been smashed and placed near the burnt building. Why didn't the arsonist make sure the body was destroyed? When more fires spring up in the area, Maggie notices that a certain news team is always first to the fire. When she pauses to question them, the news reporter makes Maggie the subject of his feature story, much to her chagrin.
I was looking forward to this book when I saw R.J. Tully would be back as her partner on the case. Well, he didn't play a big part. The mystery portion of the story was OK. I figured out who was lighting the fires early in the story. I was very disappointed by the ending of this book. We are still left hanging with many lose endings dangling in the wind. My rating: 3 Stars.
I was looking forward to this book when I saw R.J. Tully would be back as her partner on the case. Well, he didn't play a big part. The mystery portion of the story was OK. I figured out who was lighting the fires early in the story. I was very disappointed by the ending of this book. We are still left hanging with many lose endings dangling in the wind. My rating: 3 Stars.
March 2, 2016
Maggie seemed a bit out of sorts in this one, reflecting on a great many things that have happened in her life. It didn't seem like she came to any answer, but I think she finally realized she has a great support system in the people around her if she just lets them in.
The crimes with fire were interesting, mostly because it was easy to pick who set them. Harder were the other crimes, they were so violent. I'm not sure if the person who committed them was in this book or not. I kept changing my mind. We'll have to wait for the next book to find out for sure.
The crimes with fire were interesting, mostly because it was easy to pick who set them. Harder were the other crimes, they were so violent. I'm not sure if the person who committed them was in this book or not. I kept changing my mind. We'll have to wait for the next book to find out for sure.
July 23, 2019
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
December 17, 2012
#10 in the Maggie O'Dell series about the FBI profiler.She actually does no profiling in this sub-par series entry. In my rating I run counter to most of those I have read, which have raved about the book - although two of them cribbed the review from the dust cover. The book start of with 90 pages of angst about Maggie's last case Hotwire (2011) that had her injured in the Nebraska Sandhills. The mystery arsonist in the current novel goes out of his way to announce himself. A huge clue was given early on (I admit I thought it meant something else, but it caught my attention and was remembered when it could be connected). Another thing that some reviewers thought a good thing was the hook to the next series entry - I disagree, thinking that the reappearance of series characters is enough of a hook without a mystery that can't be solved in 307 pages.
Maggie O'Dell series - A serial arsonist is at work in Washington, D.C., his fires increasing in frequency and deadliness, and confounding FBI special agents and profilers Maggie O'Dell and R. J. Tully, and police detective Julia Racine. And somehow ambitious newsman Jeffrey Cole, with camerawoman Samantha Ramirez, is always first on the scene. The case is complicated by the discovery at one fire of the body of a woman with a blackened skull whose face was bashed in. Working both arson and murder cases, O'Dell must deal with the intrusive Cole and family problems centering on her difficult mother, who objects to Maggie's relationship with her half-brother, Patrick, a contract firefighter.
Maggie O'Dell series - A serial arsonist is at work in Washington, D.C., his fires increasing in frequency and deadliness, and confounding FBI special agents and profilers Maggie O'Dell and R. J. Tully, and police detective Julia Racine. And somehow ambitious newsman Jeffrey Cole, with camerawoman Samantha Ramirez, is always first on the scene. The case is complicated by the discovery at one fire of the body of a woman with a blackened skull whose face was bashed in. Working both arson and murder cases, O'Dell must deal with the intrusive Cole and family problems centering on her difficult mother, who objects to Maggie's relationship with her half-brother, Patrick, a contract firefighter.
February 15, 2017
FBI agent Maggie is on the prowl for a serial arsonist.
September 13, 2016
Maggie is on the track of a serial arsonist. As always an excellent book in a favorite series
February 5, 2016
Loved this 10th book in her Maggie O'Dell series!
March 29, 2018
This series is excellent. Best if read in order, which I am.
September 13, 2022
Maggie gets better with every book but this oe is a really hard one for her to deal with. Great read.
May 28, 2019
Another in the Maggie O’Dell series. Enjoyable read with likeable characters. I like that her brother’s character was in this book more.
August 2, 2025
4 Stars. Another super solid effort by Kava and O’Dell. It didn’t quite reach a 5 but it was certainly entertaining while providing the dreaded cliffhanger. I’m not sure if she’s winding down the O’Dell series or not but I definitely will stick with it. I think there’s another one around the corner. Looking forward to whatever Kava has for us next.
June 10, 2022
One of the best books I've read!
September 10, 2012
*Genre* Mystery, Suspense
*Rating* 3.0
*Review*
FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is back on the job four months after taking a bullet to the head and nearly dying after stumbling into bizarre investigation in Nebraska. For O'Dell this isn't an uncommon occurrence. She's been shot, contaminated with a virus that killed her boss, tortured, held as hostage, and watched as her friends, and neighbors were targeted by a vicious killer(s). This time she's not the target of anyone except for perhaps a bit of admiration in what she's been put through. Call it the kindred spirit factor if you will.
Fireproof marks the return to the series of R.J Tully as Maggie's full time partner. Homicide Detective Julia Racine has taken over much of the storyline along with Maggie, and Tully is left on the sidelines and doesn't get to be any sort of hero. It's good to see Tully back, and I can only hope that it is for good this time and not just a lure to play with reader’s minds and emotions.
As for the story, the FBI is called in to investigate a series of fires that stink of arson. The most recent case leaves two fatalities that Maggie and Tully are left scrambling to figure out before the next big fire happens. But, that is just the ground work for what is actually happening behind the scenes.
Maggie, still suffering from the after effects of being shot, is under constant scrutiny by the Assistant Director Raymond Kuntz who is once again playing politics with his agent’s lives and careers. Kuntz has Maggie and Tully working on strange cases in order to keep an eye out on them and a boot on their throats as it were. Don't much care for the treatment either character gets by Kuntz, and yet Maggie isn't in a rush to go to Homeland Security or any place else.
While Maggie isn't being actively targeted by anyone this time around, she still faces the ups and downs that come with the job and her personal life. She has her brother Patrick, who is working as a contracted firefighter, living with her and her mother once again steps over the line of sanity and is thankfully saved by Julia Racine’s intervention. Her relationship with Benjamin Platt is on the rocks, even though they clearly like each other and are on friendly terms.
Bottom line is that Fireproof takes on a mind of its own. Readers are given quick glimpses into the killers mindset, while also following an over eager reporter who has become his own story. In the end, readers are left knowing that this story isn't over with, and there are plenty of victims that have been left by the road side, near highways, rest areas, and truck stops that need to be investigated by Maggie and Tully. We also know that the killer isn’t quite finished with “Magpie” yet.
Overall, this story moves along at a brisk pace. I'm not sure what the future holds for this series or even Maggie's relationship with Benjamin. Maggie has had a hard time over the course of ten novels. One can only hope when the time comes to give Maggie a HEA that she finds solace in the fact that she did her job the best way she knew how, and didn't allow anyone to change her way of thinking.
*Rating* 3.0
*Review*
FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell is back on the job four months after taking a bullet to the head and nearly dying after stumbling into bizarre investigation in Nebraska. For O'Dell this isn't an uncommon occurrence. She's been shot, contaminated with a virus that killed her boss, tortured, held as hostage, and watched as her friends, and neighbors were targeted by a vicious killer(s). This time she's not the target of anyone except for perhaps a bit of admiration in what she's been put through. Call it the kindred spirit factor if you will.
Fireproof marks the return to the series of R.J Tully as Maggie's full time partner. Homicide Detective Julia Racine has taken over much of the storyline along with Maggie, and Tully is left on the sidelines and doesn't get to be any sort of hero. It's good to see Tully back, and I can only hope that it is for good this time and not just a lure to play with reader’s minds and emotions.
As for the story, the FBI is called in to investigate a series of fires that stink of arson. The most recent case leaves two fatalities that Maggie and Tully are left scrambling to figure out before the next big fire happens. But, that is just the ground work for what is actually happening behind the scenes.
Maggie, still suffering from the after effects of being shot, is under constant scrutiny by the Assistant Director Raymond Kuntz who is once again playing politics with his agent’s lives and careers. Kuntz has Maggie and Tully working on strange cases in order to keep an eye out on them and a boot on their throats as it were. Don't much care for the treatment either character gets by Kuntz, and yet Maggie isn't in a rush to go to Homeland Security or any place else.
While Maggie isn't being actively targeted by anyone this time around, she still faces the ups and downs that come with the job and her personal life. She has her brother Patrick, who is working as a contracted firefighter, living with her and her mother once again steps over the line of sanity and is thankfully saved by Julia Racine’s intervention. Her relationship with Benjamin Platt is on the rocks, even though they clearly like each other and are on friendly terms.
Bottom line is that Fireproof takes on a mind of its own. Readers are given quick glimpses into the killers mindset, while also following an over eager reporter who has become his own story. In the end, readers are left knowing that this story isn't over with, and there are plenty of victims that have been left by the road side, near highways, rest areas, and truck stops that need to be investigated by Maggie and Tully. We also know that the killer isn’t quite finished with “Magpie” yet.
Overall, this story moves along at a brisk pace. I'm not sure what the future holds for this series or even Maggie's relationship with Benjamin. Maggie has had a hard time over the course of ten novels. One can only hope when the time comes to give Maggie a HEA that she finds solace in the fact that she did her job the best way she knew how, and didn't allow anyone to change her way of thinking.
July 16, 2012
Story Description:
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|July 10, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-385-53551-9
New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava returns in a blaze of glory with a gripping, action-packed thriller featuring special agent Maggie O’Dell, who is leading the search for a serial arsonist whose crimes threaten Maggie dangerously close to home.
When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local tem insists they’re looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O’Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.
Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie’s brother, Patrick, is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city.
As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie’s professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.
My Review:
Alex Kava has outdone herself again with this fast paced, action-packed story of fires lighting up the night sky. Maggie O’Dell doesn’t realize the arsonist may be closer than she thinks and isn’t prepared for what happens near the end of the story.
Her brother, Patrick, is back and is staying at Maggie’s home providing a slightly unwanted distraction and her mother, once again, has attempted suicide, all this taking time away from Maggie’s investigative skills, and her pounding and relentless headaches from being shot in the head at a previous crime scene leave her feeling under the weather making it difficult for her to concentrate on the job at hand.
Thrown into the mix, her boss is actually worried about her and insists her undergo a psychological check-up which leaves Maggie completely annoyed and when she arrives for the interview, finds out it’s none other than her old teacher!
I thought I had the arsonist pegged in this one but as usual, I was wrong and didn’t expect the outcome of the story at all which makes for a well-written and thought out story line. Way to go Alex, you stumped me again. Great read!!
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group|July 10, 2012|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-385-53551-9
New York Times bestselling author Alex Kava returns in a blaze of glory with a gripping, action-packed thriller featuring special agent Maggie O’Dell, who is leading the search for a serial arsonist whose crimes threaten Maggie dangerously close to home.
When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local tem insists they’re looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O’Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.
Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie’s brother, Patrick, is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city.
As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie’s professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.
My Review:
Alex Kava has outdone herself again with this fast paced, action-packed story of fires lighting up the night sky. Maggie O’Dell doesn’t realize the arsonist may be closer than she thinks and isn’t prepared for what happens near the end of the story.
Her brother, Patrick, is back and is staying at Maggie’s home providing a slightly unwanted distraction and her mother, once again, has attempted suicide, all this taking time away from Maggie’s investigative skills, and her pounding and relentless headaches from being shot in the head at a previous crime scene leave her feeling under the weather making it difficult for her to concentrate on the job at hand.
Thrown into the mix, her boss is actually worried about her and insists her undergo a psychological check-up which leaves Maggie completely annoyed and when she arrives for the interview, finds out it’s none other than her old teacher!
I thought I had the arsonist pegged in this one but as usual, I was wrong and didn’t expect the outcome of the story at all which makes for a well-written and thought out story line. Way to go Alex, you stumped me again. Great read!!
May 18, 2012
Alex Kava is back and thrilling her readers with another installment in the Maggie O’Dell series. Set for release July 10, 2012, Kava’s loyal readers will agree this is the best in the series yet giving them the action they crave.
Back to work after a brush with death Maggie O’Dell, Special Agent with the FBI, is thrown into a case to find a serial arsonist that will bring up haunting memories of the past. The latest blaze has O’Dell and her partner in a borough of Washington D.C. where the homeless have taken over. Contained to an abandoned warehouse in keeping with the past arsons, the investigators think it will be another burned out shell until the body of a woman is found in the alley adjacent to the building with her face unrecognizable due to the blows she has received. This is when O’Dell realizes the arsonist has evolved into a more dangerous threat.
As the arsons continue Maggie becomes the target of Jeffery Cole, an aggressive reporter bent on getting an award winning story, and isn’t above using the media to cast unwanted attention on her to do so. Her half brother Patrick has recently become a firefighter, and has taken a job with a private company that throws him into these blazes time and again making Maggie fear for his safety. As the arsons begin to happen more frequently and become a threat to people as well as buildings, Maggie realizes the person responsible is quickly losing control making him all the more dangerous.
The lines blur around her job and her personal life as Maggie’s own home is set ablaze threatening the life of her brother making her hell bent to solve the case at all costs.
This thriller keeps the reader on their toes. Alex Kava throws in twists and turns keeping her reader off kilter trying to figure out who the madman is. Her characters ring true to life causing her fans to want to jump into the fray and protect them. Hands down, this installment in the Maggie O’Dell series is a must read.
August 23, 2012
In the past I've enjoyed the Maggie O'Dell books, and I liked Fireproof okay, but the plots of the books are starting to seem a little too much the same to me. In nearly every book, poor Maggie is the target of some killer or psycho, or a new boss. She's been shot, kidnapped, tortured and tormented by evil killers. This book is a little different in that it's set sort of in-between killers. The serial killer here finds Maggie a delightful surprise, but does nothing to let her know that he's selected her until the very end. Throughout this book, we see Maggie still struggling to recover psychologically from being shot in a previous book.
While this is a book where Maggie isn't being actively harmed by a serial killer, she is still facing lots of trouble. Her mother tries to commit suicide (again), she's injured in an explosion, her boss is out to undermine her and forces her to visit psychiatrist, and her house burns down. I do understand the need to make the story dramatic and to have bad things happen to the main character to keep the story moving along, but this seemed more like piling on than driving forward.
Having said that, the story does move along at a fast clip. There are two investigations here, one of an arsonist (and his identity is obvious fairly early in the story) and one of a murderer (who remains unknown when the book ends). Maggie, her partner Tully, and their cop friend Racine are all on hand, as is Patrick, Maggie's half-brother who has moved in with her. Patrick is an interesting new character, and I liked the bit more we learned about Racine. I most liked Samantha, the camerawoman for a publicity hound reporter, but based on the end of the book I'm not sure if Sam will be around in future books.
All in all, a good read, but not my favorite of the series.
While this is a book where Maggie isn't being actively harmed by a serial killer, she is still facing lots of trouble. Her mother tries to commit suicide (again), she's injured in an explosion, her boss is out to undermine her and forces her to visit psychiatrist, and her house burns down. I do understand the need to make the story dramatic and to have bad things happen to the main character to keep the story moving along, but this seemed more like piling on than driving forward.
Having said that, the story does move along at a fast clip. There are two investigations here, one of an arsonist (and his identity is obvious fairly early in the story) and one of a murderer (who remains unknown when the book ends). Maggie, her partner Tully, and their cop friend Racine are all on hand, as is Patrick, Maggie's half-brother who has moved in with her. Patrick is an interesting new character, and I liked the bit more we learned about Racine. I most liked Samantha, the camerawoman for a publicity hound reporter, but based on the end of the book I'm not sure if Sam will be around in future books.
All in all, a good read, but not my favorite of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2013
Out of the heat and into the fire - a firebug is the main villain in this book. I wasn't entirely sure who it was until almost the end - there was so much uncertainty, or maybe it was just me second guessing myself (probably the latter). The book is twofold - an arsonist that is at first content to set the fires, then when that novelty wears off the arsonist adds murder.
Learned a new term with this book too - "lot lizard" - this has probably been around for a long time, but it's new to me.
New character developments happen in this book - for the good, hope this continues!
I liked this book, and now I can see a trend with this author. There are lots of places throughout all the books, when things seem unfinished, but I think Alex Kava is just leaving us to our imagination to fill in the so-called insignificant details. Not a bad thing, but it still leaves a bit of a blank for me - remember I'm a reader not a writer :)
2 thumbs up and 4 stars - onto "Stranded" which I believe picks up where this one leaves off - not sure yet, just a feeling I have.
Learned a new term with this book too - "lot lizard" - this has probably been around for a long time, but it's new to me.
New character developments happen in this book - for the good, hope this continues!
I liked this book, and now I can see a trend with this author. There are lots of places throughout all the books, when things seem unfinished, but I think Alex Kava is just leaving us to our imagination to fill in the so-called insignificant details. Not a bad thing, but it still leaves a bit of a blank for me - remember I'm a reader not a writer :)
2 thumbs up and 4 stars - onto "Stranded" which I believe picks up where this one leaves off - not sure yet, just a feeling I have.
March 24, 2014
It had been a while since I had read one of Kava's Maggie O'Dell's books and I was looking forward to it. I did enjoy very much the fire aspect and the investigation that leads Maggie and her friends/colleagues to the answers they seek. I enjoyed less all the troubles that Maggie keeps facing from her mom or her boss. All that personal baggage keeps distracting me (and Maggie) from the crimes she should be investigating and the criminals she should be profiling.
Maggie is also recovering from a head wound in this story and I think it's time for her to get over being do independent and start seeking help. I was hoping Benjamin Platt would have more space in this story, and I was figuring his medical background could help Maggie, but that didn't happen either. The only romance in the air is Patrick's crush and I have to admit I would like to see more of it and more of Patrick.
The ending is a huge cliffhanger and I am divided, part of me doesn't really like cliffhangers but at the same time I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Grade: 4/5
Maggie is also recovering from a head wound in this story and I think it's time for her to get over being do independent and start seeking help. I was hoping Benjamin Platt would have more space in this story, and I was figuring his medical background could help Maggie, but that didn't happen either. The only romance in the air is Patrick's crush and I have to admit I would like to see more of it and more of Patrick.
The ending is a huge cliffhanger and I am divided, part of me doesn't really like cliffhangers but at the same time I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
Grade: 4/5
August 19, 2017
a most excellent 5 star read!
I loved this book! A fun, fast page turner which is just my kind of read. I have enjoyed it so much I will now have another Author to love and follow, this can be a curse as well a blessing...
Maggie O'Dell is a FBI profiler with a secret, she is trying to hide the fact that she is still recovering from her latest head injury when sent to the scene of what appears to be a random Warehouse fire, that is until a few bodies are found bludgeoned to death and more fires are being set all over the city.
I liked the characters in this book, from the relationship she has with her newly found step brother the firefighter, her pal Tully, even the nasty reporter Cole and will she ever get together with the elusive Benjamin?
The story line kept me guessing and the verbiage kept me smiling and turning the pages until the very satisfying ending
I loved this book! A fun, fast page turner which is just my kind of read. I have enjoyed it so much I will now have another Author to love and follow, this can be a curse as well a blessing...
Maggie O'Dell is a FBI profiler with a secret, she is trying to hide the fact that she is still recovering from her latest head injury when sent to the scene of what appears to be a random Warehouse fire, that is until a few bodies are found bludgeoned to death and more fires are being set all over the city.
I liked the characters in this book, from the relationship she has with her newly found step brother the firefighter, her pal Tully, even the nasty reporter Cole and will she ever get together with the elusive Benjamin?
The story line kept me guessing and the verbiage kept me smiling and turning the pages until the very satisfying ending
March 4, 2013
Best-selling Alex Kava brings FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell back into her toughest case yet. Maggie's recovering from her injuries in the past case and has a lot to deal with at home. A serial arsonist is talking the homeless, leaving a trail of dead bodies in its wake. It's up to her and Julia Racine to find out who he is. And on the scent of the trail, she's after him. But he's not who you expected, when you're this close to the fire. He has a particular interest in her and trying to ruin her family with her mother and her half-brother Patrick. And things do get personal. In Fireproof, we root for Maggie on the case, when things do scratch the surface in Virginia and Washington D.C. Danger looms closer to Maggie than ever. Lots of drama and heart-pounding, thrilling action.
September 28, 2015
Although this book had some interesting plot twists and turns, the most interesting was the introduction of Patrick as a new sibling for Maggie.
I did like the introduction of a homeless person as more than just a plot device, but as a person with wants and needs, who is outraged when his home is invaded. It does not matter that his home is a box, it is his, and his outrage was well written and his reaction very classic.
I felt the villains could have been better drawn, and didn't like the way the story left us hanging. Overall a decent read and necessary for the time continuum but not a good read for a standalone.
I did like the introduction of a homeless person as more than just a plot device, but as a person with wants and needs, who is outraged when his home is invaded. It does not matter that his home is a box, it is his, and his outrage was well written and his reaction very classic.
I felt the villains could have been better drawn, and didn't like the way the story left us hanging. Overall a decent read and necessary for the time continuum but not a good read for a standalone.
July 27, 2012
Boy I really don't want to give this book 3 stars....Alex Kava is usually a 5 star writer, and I want to give it 5, but just can't. The story is great, but it was too short; another abrupt ending with a 2nd mystery left wide open....and man, the red herring was HUGE! Maggie's relationship with Ben is really starting to bug me...or should I say her lack of commitment to Ben....shit or get off the pot honey! I definitely recommend the Maggie O'Dell series; this one is good but not the best one.
August 1, 2012
I loved the two part storyline and where Alex took the multiple characters. Diverse and intense..... Rock on Alex and kudos to no Ben this time. ;o) I'm not suggesting anyone, just that his character is lacking for Maggie's needs.... I will be waiting in withdrawals till the next Maggie O'Dell and the Highway Serial Killings Initiative cases. It was spectacular to see Alex Kava in Omaha, Ne and listen to her chat. I know I could listen to her all day long and have at the Midlands Mystery Convention. Superb series! What a great title to start my August run of books for 2012!
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