Brush Fire

by Clair M. Poulson

"Started reading and couldn't stop until I finished." - Goodreads review

When Trooper Bentley Radford apprehends serial arsonist Silas Villard for drunk driving, the officer never imagines that the routine arrest will be the catalyst for a devastating domino effect. Silas is a man who lives by the adage “an eye for an eye,” and he is determined to take vengeance on all those who have wronged him. When he’s released from jail, Silas sets out on a fiery rampage, leaving a trail of death and destruction behind him. And in a cruel twist of fate, one of his victims is Bentley’s wife.

Left to pick up the pieces, Bentley focuses his efforts on rebuilding his life. As time passes and he begins to find healing, it seems that he might finally be able to reclaim a measure of the love and happiness that he lost at Silas Villard’s hands. But Bentley underestimates the depth of the arsonist’s loathing and the lengths the madman is willing to go to exact his revenge.

Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Romance

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Clair M. Poulson was born and raised in Duchesne, Utah. His father was a rancher and farmer, his mother a librarian. Clair has always been an avid reader, having found his love for books as a very young boy.

He has served for forty years in the criminal justice system. Twenty years were spent in law enforcement, ending his police career with eight years as the Duchesne County Sheriff. For the past twenty years Clair has worked as a justice court judge for Duchesne County. Clair is also a veteran of the US Army where he was a military policeman. He has served on various boards and councils during his professional career, including the Justice Court Board of Judges, Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, Utah Judicial Council, Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, an FBI advisory board and others.

In addition to his criminal justice work, Clair has farmed and ranched all of his life. He has raised many kinds of animals, but his greatest interest is horses.

Clair has served in many capacities in the LDS church, including fulltime missionary (California Mission) bishop, counselor to bishop, young men president, high councilor, stake mission president, scoutmaster, High Priest group leader, etc. He currently serves as a Sunday School teacher.

Clair is married to Ruth, and together, they have five children, all of whom are married: Alan (Vicena) Poulson, Kelly Ann (Wade) Hatch, Amanda (Ben) Semadeni, Wade (Brooke) Poulson, and Mary (Tyler) Hicken. Between them they have twenty-three children. Clair and Ruth met while both were students at Snow College and were married in the Manti temple.

Clair has always loved telling his children, and later his grandchildren, make-up stories. His vast experience in life and his love of literature has always contributed to both his telling stories to children and his writing of adventure and suspense novels.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little too sad for me. It starts with a tragedy and continues with peril and ends a bit abruptly. The church angle was way over the top and kind of distracted from the story. The worst scene was the date to the dance. That was just ridiculous and in my opinion unrealistic. All that being said, it was suspenseful and sucked me in so that I kept reading to see how it ended,

[Mandy Littlefield · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry can't. Cheesy 🧀

[Jazzw Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting characters, mentally ill villain.
But I didn’t like that the victims’ survival from attempted murder (setting the house on fire, shooting) was released on the news. Maybe I’ve read and watched too many law enforcement stories to think the victims would have been safer to let the arsonist think he’d succeeded in murder.
Of course, that could have changed the trajectory of the story and not had so much “excitement” and suspense. I just feel if I can see it from the start, why can’t the seasoned law enforcement see it?

[Tonya Bryner · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve read other books of his, you’ll like this one too. If you’re new to Clair Poulson you’ll have to get used to the fact that his books are based in Utah and center around LDS characters.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent suspense, somewhat likable characters but the story is *told* more than *shown* and that makes it harder for me to be engaged but easy to listen to while multitasking. Similar to Ludlum in that he is good at creating suspense and intrigue but not super great at character development (he did good with Bentley and the boy) or visualizing the scenes. References to religion, church, prayer, etc. sometimes felt forced into the story but never felt like they were forced on the reader. It was part of the character’s lives but not the focus nor a critical element of the story. Overall good but not great read.

Admittedly the reader was also not great and that likely impacted my experience and overall impression.

[Ann Topham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highway patrolman Bentley Radford stops and arrests an intoxicated driver, Silas Villard. Silas is a habitual drinker and arsonist, who blames his troubles on those he comes in contact with. When his grandfather refuses to bail him out of jail, Silas vows to make him pay for not coming to his rescue. He also vows to get back at Trooper Radford.
Silas is on a drunken rampage and starts a fire at his grandfather's home as revenge. The house is destroyed and the grandfather is taken to the hospital with severe burns, and dies within a few short hours. The rampage takes Silas to several states, but he ends up coming back from each place after causing havoc wherever he goes. He still wants to get revenge on Trooper Radford.

[Marinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook
Des bookshelf

Everybody dies.
And I didn't care when the wife was killed. As I had no emotional investment in her or her marriage.
The plot stretched my limits on the suspension of disbelief. The MCs always had enough money and the antagonists didn't because of gambling addiction; not because of a lack of opportunity, or financial mismanagement, or inflation.
When someone was bad they were possessed by the devil (not literally, it was a figure of speech). But it made the sympathetic character saying it sound like a bigotted hick.
Not my favorite story, but I will try another by the author who has a strong following.

[Susan Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When Trooper Bentley Radford apprehends serial arsonist, Silas Villard for drunk driving, the officer never imagines that the routine arrest will be the catalyst for a devastating domino effect"
This story is just like a wild fire.... it continues and continues as more fuel is added. There is a love story inside which takes it's time to develop, not like the fire! It's almost unbelievable all the "fires" that are caused by one miserable person who is a known arson and very vengeful! I do like that it is set in Utah and the surrounding states and that it is tied to a religious atmosphere too!

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Full Disclosure ***. This story was triggering for me. It takes place in the same area where my brother in law died in a man made fire back in 2007.

That being said I have read other books the involve fire, arson even, that were not this violent. Just the number of innocent lives lost or traumatized was off putting. I love some of this author’s books, but this one really missed the mark. I found many of the situations predictable, and just not believable. The character building was rushed and fell short. None of them came off as very smart or deep. I would not recommend.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poulson does it again

A terrific story that keeps a tight grip on the reader from start to finish. An arsonist seeks revenge on a trooper who arrested him for DUI setting off a series of events ranging from murder to theft. Two outstanding, lovable dogs get involved and both love and loss are key elements of the story.

[Tiffany Farnsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The summary was more interesting than the book. The suspenseful parts were good but they were few and far between with needless rambling and repetitive information as filler. The villain was the most interesting character, the rest were just meh. I feel like there should have been one more edit done before publishing because there were many typos in the edition I read.

[the girl who reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very intense, suspenseful and action-packed! It was hard to stop reading! Or listening, I guess I should say since I listened to the audiobook. I do have to say that the narrator wasn’t my favorite, and some little things about the romance in the story bugged me, but neither was enough to stop me from enjoying the book.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t too impressed with this book. It was too preachy and I didn’t believe the main character. I’ve read hundreds of mysteries and the author was off the mark in describing the psychology of the villain.

[Emily Colson Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a dispatcher, this was hard to read. The bad guys shooting at officers and the main bad guy targeting the trooper, no. That was disappointing. The premise sounded interesting, but overall, a flop.

[Elizabeth Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite by Clair Poulson and I usually love his books. This one is definitely intense, with multiple villains. But there was too much tragedy in this book for me to personally enjoy it. Definitely an intense book that I couldn’t put down until the end.

[GayleWilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did it again

Loved the book but it’s hart to believe that people really act out that way kookiness forward for another great read dorm Clair. Thanks for filling in my alone time keep up the great job

[Gena Lott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been wanting to read a book by this author for a while because they were so popular at school.
I can't say why; the style was very melodramatic, and the plot: totally predictable.
I don't think I will be reading another of Poulson's books.

[Apzmarshl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean 🫧
This is a good story about a vindictive fire starter that can't accept responsibility for his own actions. He stalks a small town highway patrol trooper because he wants revenge for being arrested for DUI.

[Jana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay listen to. I liked the story line, but just felt like the same things kept happening over and over. I did want to listen to the end and find out what the conclusion would be. Definately suspensful at parts.

[Dennisforest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was moving along nicely, but got too “Christian” for me. Little too much praying.

[Krista Rick’s · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good clean, LDS, thriller. A little predictable but still a good, fast read.

[Linda K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rambling story of arson, murder & mayhem across central Utah. Not my usual genre but not too bad

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is My Favorite Book Of His So Far Loved It!!!

[Heather Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, good narration.

[Rockzann Torg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. But it just didn’t seem to be this authors best book. Some duplicate information in the book. Suspense was still good.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars in the category of “You can buy it at Deseret Book.”

[Marcia Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kept me on my toes. Always something happening with some horrible people.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action! Great storyline with twists and turns. It’s definitely kept me listening. Content: clean