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Smoke Line
A Jack Mercer Fire Investigation Thriller
The fire was supposed to erase the truth.
When investigative journalism student Emily Voss dies in what appears to be a tragic apartment fire, veteran fire investigator Jack Mercer sees something everyone else misses. The burn patterns don't match the official story. The fire didn't start where it should have. And someone worked very hard to make the scene look like an accident.
As Mercer digs deeper alongside homicide detective Sarah Delgado, the evidence leads far beyond a single suspicious death. Hidden surveillance devices, erased access records, unauthorized apartment entries, and a powerful real-estate developer with political connections all point to a conspiracy hiding in plain sight.
What begins as a routine fire investigation quickly becomes a race against a ruthless organization willing to destroy evidence, silence witnesses, and kill anyone who gets too close to the truth. Every new clue uncovers another layer of corruption, and every fire scene reveals secrets someone thought had been burned away forever.
Using forensic fire science, sharp investigative instincts, and an unshakable determination to follow the evidence, Mercer must expose the people behind a deadly operation before they ignite another cover-up—and before he becomes the next target.
Smoke Line is a gripping forensic thriller packed with authentic fire investigation techniques, relentless suspense, complex conspiracies, and a hero who knows that fires may destroy evidence—but they also leave clues.
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Dugoni, and forensic crime thrillers where science, investigation, and danger collide.
The fire was supposed to erase the truth.
When investigative journalism student Emily Voss dies in what appears to be a tragic apartment fire, veteran fire investigator Jack Mercer sees something everyone else misses. The burn patterns don't match the official story. The fire didn't start where it should have. And someone worked very hard to make the scene look like an accident.
As Mercer digs deeper alongside homicide detective Sarah Delgado, the evidence leads far beyond a single suspicious death. Hidden surveillance devices, erased access records, unauthorized apartment entries, and a powerful real-estate developer with political connections all point to a conspiracy hiding in plain sight.
What begins as a routine fire investigation quickly becomes a race against a ruthless organization willing to destroy evidence, silence witnesses, and kill anyone who gets too close to the truth. Every new clue uncovers another layer of corruption, and every fire scene reveals secrets someone thought had been burned away forever.
Using forensic fire science, sharp investigative instincts, and an unshakable determination to follow the evidence, Mercer must expose the people behind a deadly operation before they ignite another cover-up—and before he becomes the next target.
Smoke Line is a gripping forensic thriller packed with authentic fire investigation techniques, relentless suspense, complex conspiracies, and a hero who knows that fires may destroy evidence—but they also leave clues.
Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, Robert Dugoni, and forensic crime thrillers where science, investigation, and danger collide.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2026
About the author
Gary Ludwig
30 books26 followersGary Ludwig has served in three fire departments throughout his career. His fire, EMS, and rescue career spans a total of 48 years, and he has been a paramedic for over 46 years. He has managed two of the largest EMS systems in the United States. He has responded to over 35,000 calls in his career.
He served as the President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) during the 2019-20 term, and I was selected as the Career Fire Chief of the Year by the IAFC in 2022.
He served as the President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) during the 2019-20 term, and I was selected as the Career Fire Chief of the Year by the IAFC in 2022.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 6, 2026
I won a Kindle edition of this through a Goodreads giveaway. I run a book club, and I choose first books in series. When I saw this listed, I thought that it looked interesting. I did find the plot interesting, but the writing not so much. I realize that it is the first book, so hopefully the writing will get better. The one quibble I had was the use of the word “almost” as a sentence.
Displaying 1 of 1 review