On the Burning Edge: A Fateful Fire and the Men Who Fought It by Kyle DickmanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Life hangs by a sudden wind shift.
For 19 men fighting the Yarnell Hill fire, that shift was fatal. An elite firefighting crew, the Granite Mountain Hotshots battled a wildfire outside Prescott, Arizona on June 30, 2013. As a thunderstorm brought in heavy winds that changed the fire's direction, the men left a safe spot in order to move to another position. Caught by a wall of flame, they were 'burned over,' leaving behind grieving relatives and many questions.
Author Dickman, a former wilderness firefighter, might have taken time to map out the movements of the doomed crew. It was difficult to follow his narration. Also, he writes out the men's thoughts, particularly during the last moments of life, adding an unnecessary fictional element to a story that needs no extra dramatization.
Dickman does a good job of describing hotshot culture as well as the last few months of mostly young men engaged in a difficult occupation. The pacing is fast and builds toward a tragedy that, despite two investigations and lawsuits, still remains a mystery.
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Meanwhile, Hallow Mass inches toward an April 29 release. May you pre-order a Kindle copy? Why, yes! Thanks for inquiring. Paperback versions will be available on the release date.
Or you may click a button for a shot at receiving a signed copy of my horror tale over at Goodreads. Decide as you will and may the rest of the day pass in quiet and a general sense of well-being.
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