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A review by whatcourtneyreads
The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire by Chloe Hooper
5.0
Like many Victorians, I can still remember exactly where I was on Black Saturday, when 400 individual bushfires raged across the state on 7th February 2009. In the end, 450,000 hectares and 2,209 houses were burned, and the resulting 173 deaths still remain Australia’s highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. There were various causes in different parts of the state; powerlines, lightning, machinery. But in the Latrobe Valley in particular, where 11 people were killed, the fire was started deliberately.
The Arsonist is a tremendous piece of true crime investigative journalism, following the development of the case and the suspect who was eventually convicted.
What I didn’t know prior to reading this book, is that the person charged, Brendan Sokaluk, was assessed as having both autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability. Obviously these conditions do not cause someone to commit arson, but this book raises such interesting questions about culpability where a person may not fully comprehend the gravity of what they’ve done or the consequences. Certainly in Sokaluk’s case, it is stated that throughout the trial he sat with blank expression, often yawning, complaining of being bored, and after conviction, asked when he could go home.
As a book, this was excellent. An endorsement on the cover states “this is true crime at its best”, and I tend to agree wholeheartedly. Cooper clearly threw everything she had into this book, and it absolutely shows. Excellent writing, vivid descriptions, heart wrenching stories, and a critical eye make this an absolutely compelling read, even 13 years after the events depicted.
I picked this up and put it back down again in bookshops so many times in the last three years, I really should have got to it sooner. Highly recommend!
The Arsonist is a tremendous piece of true crime investigative journalism, following the development of the case and the suspect who was eventually convicted.
What I didn’t know prior to reading this book, is that the person charged, Brendan Sokaluk, was assessed as having both autism spectrum disorder and an intellectual disability. Obviously these conditions do not cause someone to commit arson, but this book raises such interesting questions about culpability where a person may not fully comprehend the gravity of what they’ve done or the consequences. Certainly in Sokaluk’s case, it is stated that throughout the trial he sat with blank expression, often yawning, complaining of being bored, and after conviction, asked when he could go home.
As a book, this was excellent. An endorsement on the cover states “this is true crime at its best”, and I tend to agree wholeheartedly. Cooper clearly threw everything she had into this book, and it absolutely shows. Excellent writing, vivid descriptions, heart wrenching stories, and a critical eye make this an absolutely compelling read, even 13 years after the events depicted.
I picked this up and put it back down again in bookshops so many times in the last three years, I really should have got to it sooner. Highly recommend!