Fireproof - Alex Kava

When a building bursts into flames on a cold winter night in D.C., investigators see a resemblance to a string of recent fires in the area. There is one difference, however: This one has a human casualty. The local team insists they're looking for a young white male, suffering from an uncontrollable impulse to act out his anger or sexual aggression. But when special agent Maggie O'Dell is called in, everything she sees leads her to believe that this is the work of a calculating and controlled criminal.
Jeffery Cole, a reporter looking for his big break, is also at the scene of the crime and decides to make Maggie part of his news piece, digging up aspects of her past that she would rather forget. Maggie's brother Patrick is also back in DC where he is working for a private firefighting company and is frequently called in as these fires continue to light up around the city. 
As the acts of arson become more brazen, Maggie's professional and personal worlds begin to collide dangerously. The killer may be closer than she imagines.

It had been a while since I had read one of Kava's Maggie O'Dell's books and I was looking forward to it. I did enjoy very much the fire aspect and the investigation that leads Maggie and her friends/colleagues to the answers they seek. I enjoyed less all the troubles that Maggie keeps facing from her mom or her boss. All that personal baggage keeps distracting me (and Maggie) from the crimes she should be investigating and the criminals she should be profiling.

Maggie is also recovering from a head wound in this story and I think it's time for her to get over being do independent and start seeking help. I was hoping Benjamin Platt would have more space in this story, and I was figuring his medical background could help Maggie, but that didn't happen either. The only romance in the air is Patrick's crush and I have to admit I would like to see more of it and more of Patrick.

The ending is a huge cliffhanger and I am divided, part of me doesn't really like cliffhangers but at the same time I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.

Grade: 4/5