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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book and powered through it within hours. Couldn’t put it down.
Have some complaints about the portrayal of the criminal justice system/courtroom, but that’s the downside to being a criminal defense attorney when you read crime and courtroom coverage. Also didn’t love how forced some parts felt—the author really pounded out some of her themes, which was unnecessary.
Overall, though, an enjoyable read.
Have some complaints about the portrayal of the criminal justice system/courtroom, but that’s the downside to being a criminal defense attorney when you read crime and courtroom coverage. Also didn’t love how forced some parts felt—the author really pounded out some of her themes, which was unnecessary.
Overall, though, an enjoyable read.
This is probably one of the most current true crime books I've read so it's really fascinating to be able to see all high quality supplementary material available on this case including videos average citizens took and posted online of various fires, news reports, etc.
Hesse also does a great job balancing the crime with life in Accomack County painting a rich, full picture. This isn't just true crime for the sake of novelty there's a lot here to unpack.
Hesse also does a great job balancing the crime with life in Accomack County painting a rich, full picture. This isn't just true crime for the sake of novelty there's a lot here to unpack.
I vaguely remember hearing about these fires and have driven through the area where they took place a few times. It was neat to read about something so close to home, in such a unique and rural place. The story is well-told, the writing is good and occasionally cheeky and overall, I really enjoyed reading this.
Accomack County, Virginia, 2012. Buildings are burning down at an alarming rate. The men and one woman of the volunteer fire department were being run ragged by a seemingly never ending series of arsons. State and federal agents and profilers arrived to help solve the mystery that had a town on edge. For five months hundreds of law enforcement officers surveilled dozens of potential sites, desperate to catch the arsonist in action. After nearly 70 fires, investigators finally caught their arsonists, and the discovery was shocking. Officers had arrested Charlie Smith, a local mechanic and former volunteer firefighter and his girlfriend, Tonya Bundick. Why would they do this to their own town, to their friends? The story and trails became local sensations.
This was the May Riverinos selection and a nice break from murder. Monica Hesse, of the Washington Post, wrote a well-researched and engaging tale of life in rural America. This was a fascinating introduction to the crime of arson and led to a lively discussion. This was a great read.
This was the May Riverinos selection and a nice break from murder. Monica Hesse, of the Washington Post, wrote a well-researched and engaging tale of life in rural America. This was a fascinating introduction to the crime of arson and led to a lively discussion. This was a great read.
For the past couple of months, I've been stuck in a book rut. Nothing was really holding my attention. Finally, this book grabbed my attention on page one and kept me reading for hours without interruption. Although you know from the introduction who the arsonists are, you don't know why, and the question of why and how they're going to get caught makes this an excellent page turner. Plus it's a fascinating portrait of rural America. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves nonfiction, especially a good page turner.
This was decent, as an audiobook. Felt like a long podcast.
I think this was my most favorite nonfiction book I've ever read. It was certainly my most favorite true crime book I've read. While I love nonfiction in theory, I often get tired out by overlong backstories or made up dialogue. Hesse kept the storytelling at a fast pace and didn't spend an overlong amount of time theorizing as to the motives of the main characters. I'd recommend this book to all nonfiction buffs, particularly true crime aficionados.
I needed a good non-fiction break, and this investigative piece did the trick! Such an interesting illumination of the working class dynamics at play in our country that often get romanticized, glossed over, or ignored altogether.
Fascinating discussion of class and the hopelessness of some in modern America