Points of Origin: Playing With Fire [Paperback]

John L. Orr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2001

Join the investigation as lead character, Arson Investigator Phil Langtry, searches every clue to uncover a serial arsonist. Could it possibly be 'one of their own'? This scintillating story was confiscated from the author's home at the time of his arrest. Many believe it parallels his own activities while working as the fire captain and lead arson investigator for the Glendale Fire Department, California. He is currently serving a life sentence at Lompoc Penitentiary, California. This uncut story continues to be a source of ongoing controversy as recently witnessed on Investigative Reports, Nova and Arrest & Trial.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Infinity Publishing (PA) (July 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0741406365
• ISBN-13: 978-0741406361
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,239,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clarifier, October 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Points of Origin: Playing With Fire (Paperback)

'Points of Origin...playing with fire' is a chilling insight into the psyche of a serial arsonist. What makes this book different is the fact that it was written by former fire captain and highly revered arson investigator John L. Orr now serving four consecutive life sentences for the deaths of four people who died in one of the many fires he was convicted of starting.

NOTE: Neither John Orr nor his family will profit from the sale of 'Points of Origin...playing with fire'. A restitution fund has been set up with the State of California Board of Control through the Attorney General's Office and a portion of the proceeds is being deposited into that account.

Many, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the attorney general's office, Los Angeles and Glendale Police Departments and members of various local fire departments, believe that this fiction novel was a 'roadmap' to John Orr's crimes. The two main fictional characters, Phil Langtry, an arson investigator and Aaron Stiles, a serial arsonist who also happens to be a firefighter, closely parallels the "two faces" of John Leonard Orr.
Points of Origin...playing with fire is most assuredly the companion book to Joseph Wambaugh's Fire Lover and a must read...

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Written by a firebug, November 20, 2004

By 

Joseph H Pierre "Joe Pierre" (Salem, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Points of Origin: Playing With Fire (Paperback)

This book was written by a convicted firebug, who was a fire inspector for the Glendale, California, Fire Department. The manuscript was found in his belongings after he was apprehended, during a search of his home, on a search warrant.

The story was on the A&E Channel, describing many of the fires he set. Some were in buildings, and in one, children died. Not a paragon of virtue. Although the book is supposed to be fiction, it is patterned after actual facts as only he knew the details. He often astounded members of his department with his deductions on how the fires started; but he was not brilliant. He had first hand knowledge.

The proceeds of the sale go to remuneration of the damages his victims suffered, as is common on books by criminals. A book by Joseph Wambaugh is a good companion to this one, if you want to look into a sick mind.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Arsonist Arsonist Arsonist !, November 4, 2010

By 

Bob M. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Points of Origin: Playing With Fire (Paperback)

John Leonard Orr is/was a classic example of an arsonist. This guy is/was a power hungry individual, who had a little mans complex for many years. He'd do ANYTHING for attention. Due to his short comings in life he went through numerous marriages, friendships and relationships. I've read the actual manuscript seized during the search warrant of his Eagle Rock home. It matches almost line for line what occurred at fires that were started in Glendale and some that were many miles away from where he lived. Coincidence?????? I think not.....
I KNOW he committed more arson fires he was never charged with nor convicted of.......I know of one other individual that he convicted for arson fires that he (Orr) committed. I would not give Orr the satisfaction of buying nor reading this "ficticious" piece. The Wambaugh book, which I have read, is a better read even though it is based solely on court testimony and other documents.