Behind the Maltese Cross

by Garrie Madison Stoutimore

“When all hell breaks out and you call 911, it’s not Batman who shows up,” he said. “It’s your neighbor.”


Behind the Maltese Cross is a compelling blend of memoir and investigative storytelling that takes readers into the heart of the firefighting world. The sister of two career firefighters, Garrie Madison Stoutimore weaves personal growth with the raw, often untold stories of firefighters on the front lines, balancing moments of humor, heartbreak, and triumph, offering readers an authentic look at the realities of fire service life.

This isn’t just another book about fire engines and burning buildings. It’s a tribute to the silent heroes who run headlong into danger while others run away. From unforgettable calls that haunt a firefighter’s memory to traditions laced with honor and courage, these are deeply human stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary work- men and women who charge into chaos- not for glory, but for the sake of the people they serve. Their stories capture not only the excitement and danger of the job but also the quiet moments that follow- moments filled with reflection, grief, laughter, and resilience.
Some stories will make you laugh. Others may bring a tear. All will stay with you. Whether you’ve ridden the engine or simply wondered about those who do, Behind the Maltese Cross will take you behind the badge and into the fire.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 12, 2025

About the author

Garrie Madison Stoutimore grew in western Massachusetts and graduated from UMass Dartmouth. Her debute book, Behind the Maltese Cross draws readers around the firehouse kitchen table where she relates their tales of comradery, danger, and the quiet moments that rarely make the headlines. A die hard New Englander, she is devoted to her family, friends, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Reviews

[Missy Rowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often that I sit down to read a book in the late morning and finish it at the supper table on the same day. However, that’s exactly what I did today. I knew her book was coming out soon because I’ve followed Garrie Stoutimore’s blog, “A Cup of Tea with Mumma G,” on Wordpress for years. Stoutimore is a great story teller. She pulls the reader in and makes you feel all the feels. Family, honor, and loyalty are obviously very important to her, and she makes this evident in her writing. Like her, I have a great respect for our first responders and community servants. Especially the men and women who put their lives on the line every day that they go to work. How are they not afraid? How do they face the dangers and not freeze? While I’ve always been acutely aware of the physical risks of life and limb, until reading Behind the Maltese Cross, the emotional toll and psychological impact of their jobs never occurred to me. Stoutimore takes you into the hearts and souls of these brave men and women who tell their stories of fear, loss, and although they don’t admit it, heroism.

[G.J. Stoutimore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite my predilection for over-correction in the face of inherent bias (the author is my mother), I can say without embarrassment or hedging that this book is full of moving, informative, and intensely emotive stories that deserve to be told. With an elegantly simple prose that provides nuance without pretentiousness, this work focuses an important magnification upon the complex inner world of firefighters that need not remain in the shadows. The book gives amplification to the voices of the selfless public servants who keep us safe, while carrying a personal touch of the author that augments the book’s relatability. I suspect fire service members, both active and retired, (and their families) will very much appreciate this book. I most assuredly did.

[Christopher Costanzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Behind the Maltese Cross” by Garrie Madison Stautimore, the sister of two firefighters, is a blend of information about firefighters—their training, experiences, attitudes---and her personal reactions in terms of values, emotions and family.

The author, armed with a letter of introduction from one of her brothers who is a fire chief, visits fire stations and conducts numerous interviews with firefighters at all levels. The training of firefighters, the mechanics of their profession, the hazards of the job, the physical and mental trauma that can go with it, and the impact on the families of firefighters, all emerge clearly from her interviews, as well as the author’s sensitive description of the honor and duty that is part of the ethos of firefighting,

The format of the book is that of a personal memoir in which the author records not only the information that she uncovers about firefighting, but also her personal reactions and musings about them in terms of her own life and experience. Her technique is successful. Her prose is simple, direct and unaffected, which makes her book an easy read. In addition, she understands the need for brevity when making her points. She alternates between interviews with firefighters, then to her personal feelings and reactions, and then back to the interviews. She thereby avoids tedium and holds the reader’s attention.

It is a truism that people tend to dislike the police but they do like “firemen.” Possible reasons for that popularity emerge in the author’s very informative and very insightful book which I heartily recommend. A good and worthwhile read.
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[Elizabeth Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author pens a stirring amalgamation of incredibly intimate and often tragic accounts gifted by firefighters and first-responders, as well as her own historical narrative as she traverses firehouses and the emotional process of her own investigative undertaking. I was enlightened, inspired, and deeply, deeply moved by the brave and vulnerable voices behind the Maltese cross— voices that I could hear rise off the page owing to Stoutimore's power of pure and relatable prose. Behind The Maltese Cross is a page-turner, imbued with thrill, ache, joy and bottomless humanity.

Sidenote: The author is my mother but despite the relationship, my intent is to give an honest and objective review for the benefit of those considering reading this book.

[Terry O. Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very rarely give 5 stars to a book, and if I'm totally honest, I didn't expect to do it for this one. I know Garrie and her family, so I bought the book primarily because of that connection. I brought it on vacation, and it was a good use of my precious vacation hours.

I learned, I smiled, and I cried as I read the stories of the brave people who spend their lives in this vocation. Thank you, Garrie, for one of the best reads I've had! I'm leaving this copy in Colorado for my family to read, and I'll buy another copy to share back home.

[Liz Coppez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Behind the Maltese Cross" is a must read for all fire service family members, and all readers curious to know more about the fire service. The author delicately weaves her own story into the story of the brave men and women she interviewed who go into harm's way without hesitation to save lives and property. Also, my dad is one of the brave firefighters who was interviewed for this book. A job well done!