Into the Fire

by Bert Robbens

When Joe Polito was a kid growing up in Somerville, it was a blue collar, family oriented and insular kind of town. It had it’s own set of values - some good, some not so good. But if you were brought up here, for better or worse, they became part of you.

In high school Danny Donohue had been one of Joe Polito’s best friends, but Joe hadn’t seen him or spoken to him in 15 years - not since an arson fire killed Danny’s mother and he ran from the horror to a new life in California. When Danny walks into the Old Town Tavern and asks Joe to help him find whoever set that fire, Joe cannot say no. But, even after 15 years, Joe knows Danny. He can tell that Danny’s not right; he’s hiding something. Danny says that solving the 15 year-old mystery will free him from his tragic past, but Joe knows that’s only part of it. Solving the crime will mean nothing unless Joe can uncover Danny’s secrets and help him redeem his future. In Somerville, that’s what friends do.

297 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2017

About the author

I was born in North Dakota and moved around a lot – Chicago, Portland Oregon, Sweet Home Oregon, San Francisco, Eugene Oregon, Needham Massachusetts, all by the time I was 15. Since then, I’ve been pretty much East Coast, with a year out, trying to go back home to Eugene. It didn’t take, so I’ve lived in the Boston area ever since.

I graduated from high school just in time for the Summer of Love (1967) and gravitated to the anti-establishment counter culture that defined my generation and changed the world. I also got married the next year. Consequently, it took me nearly 8 years to graduate from college with a B.A. in English Lit. I worked in construction and then as a bureaucrat for the state of Massachusetts. That wasn’t going anywhere, so I got an MBA and went into high tech, where I spent the next eighteen and a half years. I retired at the ripe old age of 53 to do what I had wanted to do all along – write fiction.

I live in Somerville, Mass. with my wife and dog. Two daughters, who grew up while I was at work, stop by frequently. I do my share of the housework, walk the dog, and write.

Reviews

[Vernon Luckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed my second Joe Polito novel. Well written, interesting and entertaining. Hope this author continues to write additional novels in the Joe Polito series. I envision Joe forming his own PI operation - where he would be top notch at the mechanics of his practice; but maybe less than stellar at the business end (he would be likely to pursue cases of merit regardless of the clients ability to pay). Keep up the good work Mr. Robbens.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Looking for Art and couldn't wait for the sequel. I found, however, that I liked Into the Fire even more than Looking for Art! The characters take on the "old friends" quality and become even more likeable and relatable, and the plot draws you in right away. From meeting Danny Donohue in the Old Town Tavern and wanting to know what's really been going on with him since the big fire, to the creepy brothers and old mob boss, the book has lots of plot twists and intrigue. I read it in two sittings! Highly recommended - I can't wait for the next one!

[Mystery Review Crew]

“I love it when an author can surprise me, leaving me thinking…” – The Mystery Review Crew

See the full review on Mystery Review Crew