Burn (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sean Doolittle (Author) "THE morgue felt nice..." (more)
Key Phrases: Gregor Tavlin, Heather Lomax, David Lomax (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In California the hills are on fire. Not a good sign for Andrew Kindler, who just came from back east to get away from his past–as an arsonist. In fact, almost from the moment he sets foot in his cousin’s Santa Monica beach house, the heat starts swirling around him. First there’s the cop who thinks Andrew might know something about a murder suspect. Then there’s the suspect’s beautiful sister, who is willing to pay Andrew $5,000 for the same information.

But Andrew really uninformed. And with a sensational murder case burning a hole in the gut of the LAPD–as well as the star-studded L.A. fitness industry–ignorance is dangerous. Now Andrew must solve a murder he knows nothing about, find a killer he’s never met, and unravel a family’s explosive secret. His reward for success? To live another day: one step ahead of his burning past...

“An exceptionally well-crafted and well-told tale of arson, police work, misplaced zeal, bad relationships, good relationships, family bonds and, oh yes, exercise videos. Quirky, compelling, intelligent, and funny ... If you like Elmore Leonard, do yourself a favor and pick up BURN.”–Lincoln Journal Star
“A cult writer for the masses–hip, smart and so mordantly funny that the casual reader might be laughing too hard to realize just how thoughtful Doolittle’s work is. Get on the bandwagon now.”–Laura Lippman, author of By a Spider’s Thread

“Sean Doolittle combines wit, good humor, and a generosity of spirit rare in mystery fiction to create novels that are both engrossing and strangely uplifting. He deserves to take his place among the best in the genre.”–John Connolly, author of The White Road

“An estimable addition not only to the publisher’s list but also to crime fiction ... Doolittle delivers a briskly plotted, hard-boiled mystery that has its roots in the Elmore Leonard school of dark comedy.”–South Florida Sun-Sentinel

·Gold medal winner for mystery in ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year Award

·A Best Crime Fiction of 2003 pick from January Magazine


About the Author
Sean Doolittle's short fiction has appeared in a variety of publications, including The Year's Best Mystery Stories 2002 (James Ellroy, guest editor), and his first novel, Dirt, was a BookSense Book of the Day, and named one of the 100 Best Books of 2001 by the editors of Amazon.com. He lives in Omaha, Nebraska, with his wife and daughter, and is at work on his next novel.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dell (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440242274
• ISBN-13: 978-0440242277
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #464,508 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Doolittle is an author to watch!, November 29, 2003

By	woodstock_ap "woodstock_ap" (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burn (Hardcover)

This is Doolittle's second novel, after the enjoyable "Dirt."

The action is set in southern California, with the Santa Ana winds providing fans for the flames of sporadic wild fires. A very satisfying mystery - a body discovered in the brush in the path of the flames, ostensibly a traffic accident, is identified as a murder victim. His tissues, blood, and brain matter are found in the trunk of his car, making it impossible for him to have driven off the cliff.

Acting on a tip, police visit a beach house where Andrew Kindler is staying. From here, Doolittle begins a wonderful study of the consequences of the choices we all make in life. For reasons he has difficulty articulating, Kindler has left his life in the Eastern US, and is pondering the options open to him now. A parade of uninvited persons begins to show up at his beach house, drawing him unwillingly into the mystery of the dead man near the damaged car.

Doolittle holds a wicked mirror up to some California stereotypes, creates a very appealing group of other characters - a hard working police detective, the owner of a chain of exercise studios, a lovely young woman yearning for news of her twin brother, and assorted cousins, evidence technicians, and security guards.

Don't miss this one! Doolittle is an author to watch!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Burn Baby Burn, October 28, 2003

By	J. Jordan "Editor of Crimespree Magazine" (milwaukee, wi United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Burn (Hardcover)

This was a superb book. The second from this new author (the first was DIRT, and was also great).

It opens with the discovery of the body of a fitness guru and leads to the back door of protaganist Andrew Kindler. Kindler is on the run from his past and hiding out in his cousin's beach house. Trouble comes knocking and seems to follow him everywhere.

This book captures the feeling of Southern California and is so similar to Ross MacDonald it's scary. A terrific read and a page turner to the end.

Jon Jordan

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doolittle's on a hot streak, December 19, 2003

By	M. Perry "mr_badmood" (Fairmont, West Virginia USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Burn (Hardcover)

Fans of offbeat, fast-paced crime fiction will devour BURN, the latest from the author of DIRT. Doolittle's coming into his own as a novelist, and here he shows why: a body discovered in the aftermath of an LA forest fire sets off a chain of events involving private eyes, thugs, arsonists, and celebrity workout trainers. Doolittle juggles a large cast here, but keeps everything focused tightly, and the plot rips right along.

One of the most impressive things about BURN is how Doolittle perfectly captures the narcissism and weirdness of LA without resorting to the standard expected Hollywood-bashing we've seen elsewhere (such as Elmore Leonard's GET SHORTY). Doolittle stakes out his own territory here, and wise readers can trust him as they careen toward a funny and dark destination.