Who Would Like This Book:
This book is a gripping blend of true crime and social commentary, expertly capturing both the adrenaline of a crime spree and the soul of a struggling rural community. Monica Hesse’s narrative style pulls you in, whether you’re a seasoned true crime fan or new to the genre - plus it's a must-read for anyone interested in rural America, modern economic challenges, or stories behind headlines. The blend of quirky facts, poignant details about fire science, and the complexities of love-driven crime make it both fascinating and accessible. If you enjoy immersive journalism or nonfiction that reads like a novel, this one should be at the top of your list.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers might find the lack of a traditional “whodunit” disappointing, as the book reveals the arsonists early on and focuses more on motives and community impact than on suspenseful police work. Others noted that with so many fires but no fatalities, the sense of danger or urgency felt muted. If you prefer true crime stories with dramatic twists, intense action, or deeply developed criminals, this narrative’s more reflective pace might feel anticlimactic. A few felt there was too much regional detail, or that the character development wasn’t deep enough, especially for one of the key figures who wasn’t interviewed.
About:
American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse is a nonfiction account that delves into the record-breaking string of arsons that occurred in Accomack County, Virginia. The book introduces readers to the principles of fire investigation, local law enforcement, volunteer firefighters, and the lives of the people in the towns affected by the fires. Through a captivating narrative style, the author explores the intertwined stories of the arsonists, Charlie and Tonya, as well as the dedicated volunteer firefighters and police detectives who worked tirelessly to solve the crimes. The book not only details the series of fires that terrorized the community but also paints a vivid picture of the rural area's economic decline and the impact on its residents.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
There are medium triggers/content warnings due to themes of arson, psychological issues, and economic despair.
From The Publisher:
A New York Times Notable Book of the Year
A Washington Post Notable Book of the Year
One of Amazon's 20 Best Books of the Year
Named one of the Best Books of the Year by Buzzfeed, Bustle, NPR, NYLON, and Thrillist
Finalist for the Goodreads Book Award (Nonfiction)
Finalist for the Edgar Award (Best Fact Crime)
A Book of the Month Club Selection
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Selection
"A brisk, captivating and expertly crafted reconstruction of a community living through a time of fear.... Masterful." -Washington Post
The arsons started on a cold November midnight and didn't stop for months. Night after night, the people of Accomack County waited to see which building would burn down next, regarding each other at first with compassion, and later suspicion. Vigilante groups sprang up, patrolling the rural Virginia coast with cameras and camouflage. Volunteer firefighters slept at their stations. The arsonist seemed to target abandoned buildings, but local police were stretched too thin to surveil them all. Accomack was desolate-there were hundreds of abandoned buildings. And by the dozen they were burning.
"One of the year's best and most unusual true-crime books" (Christian Science Monitor), American Fire brings to vivid life the reeling county of Accomack. "Ace reporter" (Entertainment Weekly) Monica Hesse spent years investigating the story, emerging with breathtaking portraits of the arsonists-troubled addict Charlie Smith and his girlfriend, Tonya Bundick. Tracing the shift in their relationship from true love to crime spree, Hesse also conjures the once-thriving coastal community, decimated by a punishing economy and increasingly suspicious of their neighbors as the culprits remained at large. Weaving the story into the history of arson in the United States, the critically acclaimed American Fire re-creates the anguished nights this quiet county lit up in flames, evoking a microcosm of rural America-a land half-gutted before the fires began.
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What can you read after
American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land?
About the Author:
Monica Hesse is a feature writer for the Washington Post. Winner of the Edgar Award and a finalist for a Livingston and James Beard Award, she is also the author of Girl in the Blue Coat. She lives in Washington, DC.
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