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Everything Burns
In Christopher Klim's follow-up to the acclaimed Jesus Lives in Trenton, photojournalist Boot Means tracks a serial arsonist across Texas. Someone is setting the buildings aflame and burning innocent children, and Boot Means must uncover the answer. With the author's trademark city grit and striking scenarios, Everything Burns delves into the psyche of a true pyromaniac for Klim's most suspenseful story yet.
- GenresMystery
244 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2004
3 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Klim
14 books101 followersChristopher Klim's books include the novels Jesus Lives in Trenton, Everything Burns, The Winners Circle, and Idiot!, as well as the short story collection True Surrealism.
His book list contains only books that he loved or are important to him for various reasons.
His book list contains only books that he loved or are important to him for various reasons.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 18, 2016
Everything Burns is a fascinating look at the mind of a serial arsonist. This is a sequel to Jesus Lives in Trenton, and I admit I have not read it. I won this on a Goodreads Giveaway, and I am glad I did.
I do wish that the characters were a bit more developed, because we only get the tiniest glimpse of the characters. As we continue reading, we learn more about our serial arsonist, Oscar; the same for Boot Means. It is the characters like Jacki, and Gally as well as the town of Concho that are not so well developed, and it made it harder to connect and understand them. Without that understanding, it is hard to connect to the book and that is one downside to this story. If we are unable as an audience to become emotionally invested in most of the aspects presented, it pulls away from the story; and ultimately stops short of being that great read.
I would recommend it for a light read, but do not expect a full investment in all the characters. The detail here is lacking, and that is the downside of the story. If you want to get in the head of a serial arsonist to see what really goes on and might make someone into one, this is a good read for that. I wanted to like the book more than I did, but I could not do to the reasons above.
I do wish that the characters were a bit more developed, because we only get the tiniest glimpse of the characters. As we continue reading, we learn more about our serial arsonist, Oscar; the same for Boot Means. It is the characters like Jacki, and Gally as well as the town of Concho that are not so well developed, and it made it harder to connect and understand them. Without that understanding, it is hard to connect to the book and that is one downside to this story. If we are unable as an audience to become emotionally invested in most of the aspects presented, it pulls away from the story; and ultimately stops short of being that great read.
I would recommend it for a light read, but do not expect a full investment in all the characters. The detail here is lacking, and that is the downside of the story. If you want to get in the head of a serial arsonist to see what really goes on and might make someone into one, this is a good read for that. I wanted to like the book more than I did, but I could not do to the reasons above.
September 22, 2016
It was a really good read. The characters were well-developed. I was fairly surprised with the incongruity between the main character's actual age and his behavior. However, I think that helped deepen the character's complexity as you learn little bits and pieces of his life. The book held my interest to the end. And I think the "bad guy" was very true to life.
I won this book on a goodreads.com giveaway. Thanks!
I won this book on a goodreads.com giveaway. Thanks!
December 6, 2015
Good luck on putting this book down for any reason. Except finishing the story.
This book is GREAT. The story is well written and the facts are accurate about fire and arson. For readers who action and romanc e look no further than this book.
This book is GREAT. The story is well written and the facts are accurate about fire and arson. For readers who action and romanc e look no further than this book.
March 6, 2016
It is a well written book and a good read. The author obviously researched fires and arson. Boot using his photojournalism to find a pyromaniac leads to exciting psychological tension. I received this book form a Goodreads giveaway.
December 30, 2015
I am writing this review for Goodreads. This was very well written. I enjoyed the change from the main character being a hard-bitten detective/secret agent/private eye. The story line kept me attentive and the characterization was great. You will really get involved with the characters.
January 27, 2016
I won this book in a giveaway from Goodreads.
Everything Burns is a compelling thriller revolving around an investigation into arsons. The book is just the right balance of dark and gritty suspense. I recommend it for readers who enjoy thrillers and suspense novels.
Everything Burns is a compelling thriller revolving around an investigation into arsons. The book is just the right balance of dark and gritty suspense. I recommend it for readers who enjoy thrillers and suspense novels.
May 15, 2012
This book was pretty twisted.
March 21, 2016
i won this novel in a giveaway...it a very good read ..........well written
July 30, 2017
This book is amazing. Just like a fire the writer builds this story with just a little spark and at first all you see is smoke. Which grabs your atttention, then the flame starts a slow dance and you begin to wonder where this writer is taking you what will catch a blaze next. I couldn't put the book down. Always wondering what was next and just when i thought I knew bam a plot twist like the start of another fire.
February 28, 2016
This is the second book in a series for Boot Means--I did not read the first one.
The main character is Boot Means. I'm not certain if I like this character. He grew up in foster care. Has a different name from his father and his mother. I really want to know why the mother left the father and went to New York only to abandon Boot as a baby in that city. Anyway Boot is now an adult who is an excellent photographer and also a reporter, but he doesn't really have a full time job. Something from the first book is now following him and getting a full time job on a newspaper is difficult for him. He moves to Texas from New Jersey. He's closer in distance to his father, but yet he doesn't really reach out to him. He seems to have one friend in town, Gally, who is a fire inspector. No one else except a married woman seems to like him. He seems to make some rash decisions in the book, that could have gotten him in trouble, injured or killed.
The book is about a serial arsonist. Three young boys are killed in the fires. The story behind the fires is very realistic. The author did his homework about fires and arson. The arsonist seems to want attention and uses Boot to get it. Boot finds clues as to who the arsonist is and helps the police find the right person.
Overall an excellent fast read. Characters are well developed, plot is good. With the ending the reader knows another book is coming.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
The main character is Boot Means. I'm not certain if I like this character. He grew up in foster care. Has a different name from his father and his mother. I really want to know why the mother left the father and went to New York only to abandon Boot as a baby in that city. Anyway Boot is now an adult who is an excellent photographer and also a reporter, but he doesn't really have a full time job. Something from the first book is now following him and getting a full time job on a newspaper is difficult for him. He moves to Texas from New Jersey. He's closer in distance to his father, but yet he doesn't really reach out to him. He seems to have one friend in town, Gally, who is a fire inspector. No one else except a married woman seems to like him. He seems to make some rash decisions in the book, that could have gotten him in trouble, injured or killed.
The book is about a serial arsonist. Three young boys are killed in the fires. The story behind the fires is very realistic. The author did his homework about fires and arson. The arsonist seems to want attention and uses Boot to get it. Boot finds clues as to who the arsonist is and helps the police find the right person.
Overall an excellent fast read. Characters are well developed, plot is good. With the ending the reader knows another book is coming.
I received the book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
January 13, 2016
This is the second book I've read by Christopher Klim, and since I really liked the first one I knew I'd probably enjoy this one too. And I wasn't wrong.
The character of Boot Means is the main one in this book, and he is very interesting. A unassigned photographer and reporter, he starts following a case that his friend Gally suspects is the beginning of a serial arsonist. Children get killed by fires set by a maniac, and the investigation begins.
Along the way, Boot starts to fall for a local woman named Jacki. Jacki has some secrets of her own (No spoilers here, read it for yourself!) and they eventually come out.
As the fires get more serious and the arsonist seems to target and stalk Boot, more clues come in and the suspense is excellent.
All in all, this was another excellent read from Mr. Klim. Well developed characters, great plot, and a finish that hits all the right notes. Thank you for writing such great books!
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways, thank you!
The character of Boot Means is the main one in this book, and he is very interesting. A unassigned photographer and reporter, he starts following a case that his friend Gally suspects is the beginning of a serial arsonist. Children get killed by fires set by a maniac, and the investigation begins.
Along the way, Boot starts to fall for a local woman named Jacki. Jacki has some secrets of her own (No spoilers here, read it for yourself!) and they eventually come out.
As the fires get more serious and the arsonist seems to target and stalk Boot, more clues come in and the suspense is excellent.
All in all, this was another excellent read from Mr. Klim. Well developed characters, great plot, and a finish that hits all the right notes. Thank you for writing such great books!
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways, thank you!
February 4, 2016
I won this book on Goodreads!
Photojournalist Boot Means is on the trail of a serial arsonist who's setting fires across the state of Texas. Gets into the psychology of an arsonist really well. Full of action and suspense. This was published in 2004. Can't find much more from this author. That's too bad.
Photojournalist Boot Means is on the trail of a serial arsonist who's setting fires across the state of Texas. Gets into the psychology of an arsonist really well. Full of action and suspense. This was published in 2004. Can't find much more from this author. That's too bad.
November 8, 2015
Everything Burns is Klim's second novel featuring Boot Means–raised in foster care, an outsider yet resourceful and wise beyond his years, a unique and potent character who is earning his place in the pantheon of mythic American legends.
January 6, 2016
I won this book as a first read from goodreads!!
Good book!!
Good book!!
September 8, 2017
This was a good,quick read.I liked the main character,Boots,but the rest of the characters not so much.Of course the bad guy was really bad.All in All this book made for a good mystery story that kept you wanting to read it to the end
January 26, 2016
[I got this book for free from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.]
In some ways this book reminded me of Red Dragon, with the switching between protagonist and antagonist. In some ways.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It had a slow beginning, then shot into a much more tense, exciting pace and surprised me entirely when , and I am VERY rarely caught by surprise from a book. However, the last quarter of the book slowed down again, and the ending ended up somewhat lackluster. It neatly tied up all the loose ends. Almost too neatly, and in the last few pages in a rush.
Since it was a fairly short book, though, it all went quickly enough that I didn't mind spending my time reading it. If it had a longer book I would have been irritated at the rushed ending, but for a short book it works okay.
I won't be keeping it, but I did enjoy it.
In some ways this book reminded me of Red Dragon, with the switching between protagonist and antagonist. In some ways.
Overall I enjoyed the book. It had a slow beginning, then shot into a much more tense, exciting pace and surprised me entirely when , and I am VERY rarely caught by surprise from a book. However, the last quarter of the book slowed down again, and the ending ended up somewhat lackluster. It neatly tied up all the loose ends. Almost too neatly, and in the last few pages in a rush.
Since it was a fairly short book, though, it all went quickly enough that I didn't mind spending my time reading it. If it had a longer book I would have been irritated at the rushed ending, but for a short book it works okay.
I won't be keeping it, but I did enjoy it.
January 3, 2016
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A rather unpleasant book along the lines of the movie The Mean Season, with a reporter in a symbiotic relationship with a serial arsonist.
The protagonist is a jerk, who makes irrational decisions all the time, who takes up with a married woman. He dislikes everybody else, and most everybody else dislikes him, and for good reason. The rest is pretty much by the numbers, although the methods by which the arsonist sets his fires are interesting. As a note, if sex scenes are uninteresting and not titillating in the least, they should be skipped entirely.
Some interesting stuff, but not enough to make a good book.
A rather unpleasant book along the lines of the movie The Mean Season, with a reporter in a symbiotic relationship with a serial arsonist.
The protagonist is a jerk, who makes irrational decisions all the time, who takes up with a married woman. He dislikes everybody else, and most everybody else dislikes him, and for good reason. The rest is pretty much by the numbers, although the methods by which the arsonist sets his fires are interesting. As a note, if sex scenes are uninteresting and not titillating in the least, they should be skipped entirely.
Some interesting stuff, but not enough to make a good book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews