A review by anovelobsession
American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse

4.0

Normally the true crime books I read involve murder and more often than not, serial killers! American Fire does not have serial killers or murder, it has arson. It has more than 80 fires set over the course of about five months in one rural Virginia county. Monica Hesse is a journalist who went to cover the trial of one of the arsonists and saw that there was a much bigger story. Not just why the culprits were starting fires, but also about the rural community that endured the fear and anxiety as night after night their county burned. Great writing and really highlights the people of Accomack County Virginia, their tenacity and resiliency. Highly recommend for true crime fans and those that enjoy narrative nonfiction.