Heat - The Fire Investigators and Their War on Arson and Murder (Hardcover)

This gripping glimpse into the world of fire investigation combines the drama of the flames, the tension of a police procedural, and the sleuthing of CSI. The little-known life of a fire marshal is part police detection and part forensic investigation. The vivid accounts in Heat take readers to the scenes of our most horrifying crimes: mob burnouts, lives destroyed by insurance torchings, grisly arson murders committed out of jealousy or revenge. Fire marshals carry nothing but years of experience battling the flames, a badge, and a gun to their job. Here are their most unforgettable cases: the suspicious blazes, the weird breaks, the manhunts, the dramatic shootouts, and the ultimate moment when disaster is averted or a child's life is saved. In this grippingly authentic oral history, the fire marshals speak movingly about those they have arrested and the tough decisions they have made. Capturing the unmistakable voices of the fire-house, the courthouse, and the street, Micheels takes you to the heat of the fire and gets to the heart of the crime.