In April of 1986, an arsonist targeted the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, a building long feared by firefighters as a potential disaster. Hundreds of thousands of books and artifacts were lost forever, and the arsonist was never caught. Means's novel centers on this incident, and the fictional pursuit of the criminal which stretches from Los Angeles to San Diego to the beaches of Mexico. Entangled in the chase are a young Chicana firefighter who also battles the fires of racism and sexism within her own firehouse, and an LAPD detective who has risen from the barrio but struggles as he tries to maintain connections to two completely different worlds. Means's novel is equal parts social commentary and suspense thriller, and he strikes a successful balance.In April of 1986, an arsonist targeted the main branch of the Los Angeles Public Library, a building long feared by firefighters as a potential disaster. Hundreds of thousands of books and artifacts were lost forever, and the arsonist was never caught. Means's novel centers on this incident, and the fictional pursuit of the criminal which stretches from Los Angeles to San Diego to the beaches of Mexico. Entangled in the chase are a young Chicana firefighter who also battles the fires of racism and sexism within her own firehouse, and an LAPD detective who has risen from the barrio but struggles as he tries to maintain connections to two completely different worlds. Means's novel is equal parts social commentary and suspense thriller, and he strikes a successful balance.
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