Thermal Image

Steve Jay is a fireman-a commander who is faced with a crisis at work and at home. At work he is faced with a fatal blaze that has cost the life of a man from a prominent London family named the Sheldons. He is hired privately to investigate, not only this fire but others that concerned the family. As Jay investigates the Sheldons, he becomes personally involved in them and actually has his life threatened during the course of the investigation. His career is also threatened as a conflict of interest develops between his job as a fireman and his job as a private investigator. On the home front, his ex girlfriend has returned after a fling with another man. Should he continue their relationship? Pat O'Keeffe has written an intelligent and thoughtful novel that rises far above the typical arson terrorist adventure novel. At the beginning of the book, I had the feeling Mr. O'Keeffe was setting up a fireman vs. arsonist thriller in the same vein as Robert Crais' recent DEMOLITION ANGEL or THE FOURTH ANGEL by Suzanne Chazin-both of which were exceptionally good and entertaining. THERMAL IMAGE concerns arson, however, this is not the true essence of the story. It is a tale of murder and harkens more toward the legacy of Raymond Chandler than the action thriller sub genre. The characters are given careful consideration and their actions very well thought out. THERMAL IMAGE is a very well done debut novel and well worthy of a reader's time.