Monica Hesse

Documents the trial of a man charged with dozens of counts of arson in a rural Virginia county, sharing insight into his struggles with addiction, his relationship with his accomplice girlfriend, and the impact of the fires on their community.

Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land

American Fire

Skye Sherman

Great reporting. It's like reading one super-long, intriguing article on a rather strange case. Because of this it felt like it took me longer than it should've to finish--though I must remember that a book-length article is indeed no longer an article--but I greatly enjoyed reading about this odd case of crime sprees in rural America. Less dramatically juicy than your typical thriller because it's a true story, but a definite boost to the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. The book truly is a thoughtful exploration of "love, arson, and life in a vanishing land," and all the peculiarities that come with that. Job well done, Mrs. Hesse.

3.5 stars.

As a Virginian, I unfortunately know very little about the Eastern Shore. As the author points out, many people "on the mainland" tend to forget it exists. As a result, I appreciated the history provided in this book of the rise and fall of farming, the abundance of abandoned houses, etc.

The actual story of the fires and the arsonists was a bit lackluster. Obviously, she can only tell what happened, but I didn't feel truly engaged. Maybe there was a way to make it more interesting and maybe there wasn't. However, it was decently well-written and cohesive (minus a few chapters where I wasn't sure of the timeline of events), and I'm glad I read it. It's just not much of a suspenseful true crime nail-biter!

Kaitlyn Krna

Holy Cow! This was going on in Virginia while I was living down there and I had no idea! The book reads like a mystery novel unraveling the story of the sixty-plus arsons committed and the work put in to discover who was behind it all. I really enjoyed this book.

Leafling

What a true crime time to be alive! Podcasts and shows focused on real murders are super popular right now. But let us not forget an equally fascinating crime, the object of Sia and Rihanna's affection (or, at least, attention) in several music videos: arson! What else is super popular? The examination of rural American life. This book gives you both, with a side of thorough research and beautiful writing. American Fire is the story of Accomack county in rural Virginia that in 2012 was victim to 67 fires within a five-month period. It's the story of the two people, crazy in love, who set 67 (mostly) abandoned buildings ablaze undetected, and why.

"I spent the next two years trying to understand why he did it. The answer, inasmuch as there is an answer for these things, involved hope, poverty, pride, Walmart, erectile dysfunction, Steak-umms (the chopped meat sold in the frozen food aisle) intrigue, and America. America: the way it's disappointing sometimes, the way it's never what it used to be."

The narrative that Washington Post feature writer Monica Hesse has wrangled is complicated, yet extremely coherent and compelling. We learn a lot about firefighting and the investigation of arson. Seriously, I had no idea I would be so interested in learning about volunteer firefighting and its impact on a community. Hesse includes historical and psychological examinations of arsonists, as well as an analysis of the area’s economic situation. Accomack County is an isolated place under pressure from the rest of society to change. The ways that the residents made money are no longer profitable or no longer exist. Many of the residents feel forgotten. To then be betrayed by somebody in the community, who remains unidentified for so long, is an impossible struggle.

Hesse also looks at what people will do when they are deep in love and under a considerable amount of stress. Charlie Smith, the man who pleaded guilty to the fires, is a fascinatingly earnest and troubled person. More fascinating is his girlfriend, Tonya Bundick, and the dark shift that took place in their epic love story. This is great true crime, featuring details about the arsons, interrogations, and trials, with a “This American Life” tone of storytelling. If you have an interest in true crime, but haven't read a true crime book, this is a great place to start.

Full Review: Outlandish Lit

American Fire Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land

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