The expertise and knowledge needed by a fire
investigator include building construction, chemistry, physics, fire behaviour,
electricity, law, the human body and psychology. Dr Anja Toussant is a forensic
scientist in name and a fire investigator by trade.
She has all these skills and is required to use
them, along with a good amount of courage and bravery to establish the cause of
a fire where a baby has been burnt alive (a Soot
Angel)
It is not just a
story of discovering the cause of the fire by a highly competent fire
investigator. There is so much that
weaves throughout this book including terrorism, political corruption and interference,
and Anja’s own story that progresses from the first book in the series, a prequel novella, Fire
Sign.
Her investigation has her dealing with a variety of
evil, strange, mysterious and often just plain incompetent people.
Several stories
weave throughout including a training exercise devised by Anja. The test does
not just test the many skills, knowledge and fitness needed by first responders
but gives Anja the opportunity to demonstrate how incompetent the battalion
chief is. The inclusion of story lines
like this also gives us gradual insight into Anja’s ability, personality and mysterious
past.
It is also not just
about professional fire fighters but the Wild Wind County Volunteer Fire
Department feature in Anja’s life – “her friends provide her with sly humour,
tough cheer, stout spirit and to be involved with their crude misdeeds and bold
transgressions”.
Through his words, Petterson
has the ability to transport the reader to beautiful and tragic scenes and be drawn
into fast paced and adrenalin pumping action.
But it not just in the
images created for the various scenes that Petterson’s descriptive writing has
the reader page turning. When Anja is teaching a group of Fire Behaviour students
she describes a wildfire blaze that in the minds of her students and in the
reader becomes very real.
Petterson skilfully blends
in humour when two opposing volunteer brigades compete for a local trophy and managed
to bring tears to my eyes when a young probie (trainee) volunteer fire-fighter
is seriously injured.
Throughout the book
Petterson demonstrates his knowledge of fire and those dedicated to protecting
our lives and property and his enormous respect.
I read this book as bushfires rage across South Australia
where crews of volunteers, including some from my local brigade (I live in New South
Wales) are battling to save lives, property and animals. Petterson’s description
of the volunteer training, roles and challenges is not unlike our own volunteer
fire-fighters in Australia. I can relate to all they experience.
My favourite quote
in the book: “When I grow up I want to be
a fireman.” To which the old hand replied. “You can’t do both son.” It’s my
favourite quote because my son is both a professional and volunteer fire
fighter.
I would like to also
mention that a portion of the profits from the sale of the Dr Anja Toussant
series is donated to one or more burn camps for children. Please take the time
to read about “Anja’s Kids” on the website http://www.mapetterson.com/
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