On an october evening in south pasadena, a horrifying wave of flame swept through a large home improvement center, snuffing out the lives of four innocent people, including a twoyearold boy. The success of his early novels led him to leave the force in 1974 to become a fulltime writer. From the acclaimed bestselling author of the onion field comes the extraordinary true story of a california arson investigator and fire captain who. Fire lover, paperback by wambaugh, joseph, isbn 0060095288, isbn 9780060095284 the bestselling author of the onion field and the choirboys returns with a compelling truecrime portrait of john orr, a dangerous loner whose obsession with fire led him to a dual career as fire investigator and arsonist. A revelation turns the book from an investigative story to a psychological profile of john orr as an investigator, criminal, psychopath, and man.
On an october evening in south pasadena, a horrifying wave of flame swept through a large home improvement center, snuffing out the lives of four innocent people. An ambitious firefighter hunts a notorious arsonist in the edgar awardwinning true crime story the new york times calls stranger than fiction. Joseph wambaugh books list of books by author joseph. Joseph wambaugh books list of books by author joseph wambaugh. Published by william morrow, new york 2002 isbn 10. Book is crisp and clean, with tight binding, sharp corners but minor tanning at text block edges.
The washington post raves, when joseph wambaugh talks about the culture of cops versus the culture of firemen, we get no speculation, only hardearned details. Writer joseph wambaugh was born in east pittsburgh, pennsylvania on january 22, 1937. See all books authored by joseph wambaugh, including the onion field, and echoes in the darkness, and more on. From joseph wambaugh, the critically acclaimed, nationally bestselling author of the onion field, comes the astonishing true story of a nightmarish obsession and the hunt for a brilliant psychopath who lived a double life filled with professional tributes and terrifying secrets. Buy fire lover by joseph wambaugh online at alibris. Joseph wambaugh insight into police work led to his first book the new centurions in 1971 which received critical acclaim and was a popular success. Marines and then joined the lapd, where he served 14 years and made detective sergeant. Fire lover by joseph wambaugh book cover, description, publication history. Fans of true crime will want to read this account that never slows down as fire lover. Fire lover book by joseph wambaugh half price books. Like most psychopaths, john orr is brought down by his own words and actions.
Wanting to emulate his heroes, he later became a fireman with the glendale fire department. He went six years in between floaters, a 1996 novel set in san diego during the americas cup, and fire lover, a. John orr tries but fails at becoming a police officer. He explores the making of a deviant personality, the fascinating intricacies of fire science, the uneasy relationship between firefighting and law. He ran toward the south fire door searching for ada and matthew, and when he got. Fire lover by joseph wambaugh overdrive rakuten overdrive. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. This is not the first time wambaugh has seemingly stopped writing. The hunt forthe most prolific american arsonist of the twentieth centuryin this edgar awardwinning true crime story thats stranger than fiction the new york times. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Jun 05, 2008 from joseph wambaugh, the critically acclaimed, nationally bestselling author of the onion field, comes the astonishing true story of a nightmarish obsession and the hunt for a brilliant psychopath who lived a double life filled with professional tributes and terrifying secrets. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read fire lover. For one thing, the writer has a gift for turning a phrase. His first novel was the new centurions 1971 and several subsequent novels have been award winners. Fire lover 9780060095468 by joseph wambaugh and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Billy peered through that door, that fireproof barricade, toward the west side of the store, and he saw a big cloud of smoke in the center of the space. In the 2000s, wambaugh also began teaching screenwriting courses as a guest lecturer for the theater department at the university of california, san diego. An eccentric loner who made few friends, orr moonlighted as a security guard. Silently watching the raging inferno in the midst of the heat, smoke, and chaos was a man respected as one of californias foremost arson investigators, a captain in the glendale fire department. Based on meticulous research, interviews, case records, and thousands of pages of court transcripts, fire lover is wambaugh at his best. He publishes a few articles in industry publications, which makes him an authority in the eyes of some.
On several occasions, film and television have also presented the story of orrs arson activities and eventual arrest and criminal conviction. The book fire lover tells the story of a psychopath who is both a pyromaniac and an arson investigator. This may be the best true crime book ive ever read. A true story by joseph wambaugh 2002, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Orrs story was chronicled by bestselling true crime author joseph wambaugh in a book titled fire lover. A true story by joseph wambaugh mass market paperback may 27, 2003 by joseph wambaugh author. Fire lover has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Buy fire lover a true story reprint by wambaugh, joseph isbn. Orr is also a murderer since five people, including a small child. John leonard orr born april 26, 1949 is an american former firefighter, novelist, and convicted arsonist.
John orr rose through the ranks of the glendale fire department to become fire captain and one of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Throughout the fire lover wambaugh exhibits his remarkable gift for. Before becoming an author, wambaugh served in the u. Book overview from master crime writer joseph wambaugh, the acclaimed author of such classics as the onion field and the choirboys, comes the extraordinary true story of a firefighter who may have been, according to u. A former police officer, joseph wambaugh puts his experience to good use when crafting his mystery and suspense novels, which have been praised for their authenticity and complex characterization. From master crime writer joseph wambaugh, the acclaimed author of such classics as the onion field and the choirboys, comes the extraordinary true story of. Fire lover 2002 extraordinary case, well documentedi first became aware of this strange and startling case several years ago via a pbs documentary, probably a frontline production. Chilling, colorful, and vivid, fire lover is joseph wambaugh at his best.
However, joseph wambaugh brings the fiery duality of his subject vividly alive so that the reader observes a criminal considered by the fbi as the most prolific american arsonist of the twentieth century. Order of joseph wambaugh books joseph wambaugh is an american author of crime fiction, mystery novels and true crime nonfiction. The author of more than twenty books, wambaugh writes both fiction and nonfiction. Fire lover a true story by joseph wambaugh 2003, paperback. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading fire lover.
He joined the marines right out of high school, but later earned both a b. Click to read more about fire lover by joseph wambaugh. Fire lover is the true story of john orr, an arson investigator of the glendale fire department in california. Fire lover by joseph wambaugh signed first edition book. From master crime writer joseph wambaugh, the acclaimed author of such. The book begins with the retail store fire in which the deaths occurred which initially is deemed accidental. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Apr 01, 2002 from master crime writer joseph wambaugh, the acclaimed author of such classics as the onion field and the choirboys, comes the extraordinary true story of a firefighter who may have been, according to u. From master crime writer joseph wambaugh, the acclaimed author of such classics as the onion field and the choirboys, comes the extraordinary true story of a firefighter who may have been, according to u.
From joseph wambaugh, the critically acclaimed,nationally bestselling author of the onion field, comes the astonishing true story of a nightmarish obsession and the hunt for a brilliant psychopath who lived a double life filled with professional tributes and terrifying secrets. A true story, brought wambaugh his second edgar award, for best crime fact book. Fire lover, paperback by wambaugh, joseph, isbn 0060095288, isbn 9780060095284 the bestselling author of the onion field and the choirboys returns with a compelling true crime portrait of john orr, a dangerous loner whose obsession with fire led him to a dual career as fire investigator and arsonist. Firefighters rushed to the scene, even as a pair of equally suspicious fires broke out in two nearby stores. He explores the making of a deviant personality, the fascinating intricacies of fire science, the uneasy relationship between firefighting and lawenforcement communities, and a legal system gone haywire. Based on meticulous research, interviews, case records, and thousands of pages of court transcripts, fire lover is. Silently watching the raging inferno in the midst of the heat, smoke, and chaos was a man. Joseph wambaugh books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. There were many times that i laughed aloud because of the way the author described something. A true story by joseph wambaugh in doc, fb2, txt download ebook.
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