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City of Fire [Mass Market Paperback]

Thomas Fitzsimmons (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)


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Book Description

March 3, 2009

The rough streets of the south Bronx. Home to countless gangs, pimps, and hustlers. A land where a gunshot is as common as a baby crying. A place where a day without a murder is an oddity. But this place is home to many, and it's where ten-year police veteran Michael Beckett has spent most of his time. Beckett has policing in his blood. He's from a long line of New York City cops, and knows no other life. That is, until he by chance lands a walk-on role on a popular network cop show. After that his vision changes. He thinks he can give up his days of chasing down the rapists, drug dealers, and murderers on the streets for a new life in front of the camera and with the young and hot writer on the show, Solana Ortiz.

But when Solana's neighborhood in the south Bronx starts being the target of a string of arsons, Beckett must put aside the caviar dreams and do what he does best--police work. With the help of his mercurial partner, Vinnie D'Amato, Beckett unlocks a heinous scheme that reaches into the deepest pockets of power and greed in New York City, and into the path of an old friend that Beckett will do almost anything to forget.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his first book from a major publisher, Fitzsimmons (Confessions of a Catholic Cop) takes an unblinking look at the psychological disposition of two South Bronx police officers whose entire world comprises criminals and other cops. After spending time with noncriminal civilians while playing a small role on the TV drama Law & Order, veteran cop Michael Beckett finds himself with an overwhelming desire to leave the department and lead a more normal life. Beckett's friend and partner, Vinnie D'Amato, knows Beckett is hiding something, and he doesn't like it one bit. Meanwhile, someone is setting up the duo to take the fall for a series of deadly fires. D'Amato and Beckett struggle to re-establish their bond of trust as they solve the crimes. Gritty realism and fascinating interactions more than make up for a paucity of plot. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Fitzsimmons is a worthy successor to Ed McBain, the king of gritty crime fiction.  Under his pen, the city sizzles like a drop of rich, red blood on a baking sidewalk."--Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author The Assassin
 
"Forget TV cop shows. This is real. Cops live in a world that blurs all lines: legality, morality, sanity. Fitzsimmons nails these stories because he knows the worlds."--Ed Dee, bestselling author of The Con Man's Daughter

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 308 pages
  • Publisher: Forge Books; 1 edition (March 3, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0765359332
  • ISBN-13: 978-0765359339
  • Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #963,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Fitzsimmons didn't need to go to the public library, interview participants, or hire a team of high-priced researchers to write gritty stories. For Fitzsimmons, a former New York City police officer, NBC television personality, Ford Model, and soap-opera/TV commercial actor, business associate and friend to some of the country's most rich and famous, it was as simple as recalling his life.

Fitzsimmons grew up in an Irish, Bronx, New York, neighborhood in a family of career cops. After high school, he joined the Navy and pulled sea duty aboard a guided missile cruiser on its way to Vietnam. The wartime experiences kindled a civic spirit in Fitzsimmons, who, upon being honorably discharged, joined the New York City Police Department. During a career that spanned 10 years in the precinct dramatized in Paul Newman's "Fort Apache-The Bronx," Fitzsimmons notched numerous arrests collaring armed robbers, drug kingpins, and arsonists.

Fitzsimmons's heroics were brought to the attention of talent scout Joey Hunter, who was the president of the Men's Division for the Ford Modeling Agency. The Ford executive convinced Fitzsimmons that he had a future in the TV/modeling industries. The young cop soon filled his off-duty hours with modeling assignments, which eventually led to an audition with NBC-TV for a position as an on-camera personality and co-host for the magazine-format talk show, "Now."

Success in the entertainment industry forced Fitzsimmons to choose between law enforcement or a glamorous, new lifestyle. The decision was tough, but Fitzsimmons never looked back. The actor/writer won the coveted TV assignment with NBC, and, although the show was eventually canceled, he soon became a top TV commercial actor and print model. As a rising star with the Ford Agency and the J. Michael Bloom Television Agency, he appeared in such soap operas as "One Life to Live" and "Texas" and served as a principal in more than 150 television commercials.

Fitzsimmons also drew from his law enforcement experiences with the NYPD, as well as numerous federal and international police contacts, to become a top security consultant to affluent clients nationwide. A recognized security expert, he has appeared on shows such as "Good Morning America," "Geraldo Rivera" and "Montel Williams."

Fitzsimmons, who has written two novels, a memoir, a short story collection, and three screenplays has sold stories in Esquire Magazine, and New York Magazine. He has optioned film treatments to Doug Wick, Academy Award wining producer of "Gladiator," to the actor Ray Liotta and Larry "JR" Hagman's Majlar Productions.


 

Customer Reviews

24 Reviews
5 star:
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4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
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2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars City of Fire, March 22, 2009
This review is from: City of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)
I travel every week on business, and read fiction because, well, I like it. Napleon's biography is on my nightstand at home, for example, because it helps me sleep. But on a plane, I need to be swept away somewhere to forget the fact that me knees are jammed into the seat in front of me. So I picked up a copy of City of Fire, by Thomas Fitzsimmons, and I'll tell you something: This is just what I needed. From experience I can say, because my firm assigned me a Bronx territory years ago, that Fitzsimmons captures the scary heart throb of the borough. But even more important for me, the pace and action level are first class action adventure all the way. Great read, intensity kept me turning the pages quickly. Good guys, bad guys, everything in-between. I won't spoil the ending, but I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars City was exciting, July 14, 2009
This review is from: City of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)
City of Fire was truly an interesting book. The characters were described well and the main plot was intertwined with the subplots so well. Because I live in NYC (not the Bronx) I was able visualize the South Bronx especially the abandoned buildings. The relationship between Beckett and Solana was good because it did not rush into anything heavy. I await the sequel now.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars CITY OF FIRE IS GREAT, July 12, 2010
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This review is from: City of Fire (Mass Market Paperback)
I LOVED this book. Mr. Fitzsimmons character Michael Beckett reminds me of Lee Child's character, Jack Reacher - they're no-nonsense detectives who don't mince words and have a location in Los Angeles and New York. "City of Fire" is an authentic and exciting read. I will DEFINITELY start buying Mr. Fitzsimmons books as they come out. This is the FIRST time I've ever reviewed a book since I enjoyed it so very much.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
check cashing store, roll call sergeant
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Coster Street, Gold Organization, Mona Love, Black Cat Social Club, Michael Beckett, Captain Ward, South Bronx, Solana Ortiz, Tookie Jones, Medal of Honor, Detective Doyle, New York City, Hunts Point, Hoe Avenue, Gold Bronx City, Think Positive, Manida Street, Officer Beckett, Gold Tower, Miss Georgia Peach, Pete Costello, East Bay Avenue, Sergeant Bork, Vinnie D'Amato, Father Gorman
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