Hotshots

Neil Hamel #7

by Judith Van Gieson

It is high summer and the Southwest is tinderbox dry when Neil is approached by the parents of Joni Barker, a "hotshot" (as wildland firefighters are known) who was killed in a highly publicized blaze that threatened several expensive homes. Joni's parents suspect the Forest Service's negligence to be the cause of their daughter's death - not Joni's negligence, as the Forest Service claims. Neil, herself no stranger to government subterfuge, sets out to prove the Barker's suspicions. As she investigates Joni's death, she is drawn into the rarefied, mythic world of hotshots and the fierce battles that smolder around their work. Should we protect private property threatened by fires (rather than discourage people from building pricey homes in natural firetraps)? Should we even try to prevent forest fires? Neil discovers that there are many who will fight to the death over such questions - and at least one who has used fire to kill someone seeking answers.
As Neil immerses herself in these deadly struggles, she also grapples with less incendiary but no less fascinating events in her personal life. She is finally settling down, buying a house in Albuquerque, and moving in with her youthful Hispanic boyfriend, the Kid. She also comes to terms with early hints of her own mortality as a close brush with fiery death makes her realize she can't live forever on smart remarks, righteous indignation, Jell-O shots, and cigarettes.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Judith Van Gieson is the author of a children’s book, a collection of poetry and short stories, and thirteen mysteries. Her short stories have appeared in several mystery anthologies. In the first mystery series eight books, featuring female Albuquerque attorney/sleuth Neil Hamel, were published by HarperCollins. Neil’s work often involved environmental issues including endangered species and wildfires. Books in this series were published in England, Japan and Germany. It was optioned by CBS. The Lies That Bind was a finalist for the Shamus Award for best detective novel. The series won the Spirit of Magnifico Literary Award.

There were five books in the second series with heroine Claire Reynier published in paperback by Signet, in hardcover by University of New Mexico Press and in a large print edition by Thorndike. Claire works as an archivist and librarian at the Center for Southwest Research at UNM. This series involved rare artifacts and New Mexico history. The Stolen Blue was a finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award. The Shadow of Venus was a finalist for the Barry Award and won the Zia Award given by New Mexico Press Women for Best Work of Fiction by a New Mexico woman.

Series:
* Neil Hamel
* Claire Reynier

Reviews

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment of the Neil Hamel series was an okay read. In this story, Neil must decide if she wants to take on a case of negligence in a case against the Forestry Department. Nine firefighters have died during a horrific fire and the parents of one of them was to sue. As Neil investigates the events of that day she herself almost becomes a victim. Who would want her dead? Who had the best motive for trying to burn down the canyon? The ending on this one was predictable and left me underwhelmed.

[Jeff Lyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judith Van Gieson's Hotshots is told from a lawyer's point of view, which makes the pace somewhat methodical. This tragic story highlights the danger backwoods firefighters go through and the courage they must possess to face extraordinary danger. The glaring question about the worth of fighting wildfires to save homes by endangering firefighters will cause readers to reevaluate their positions on the topic.

[Vicki Holmsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. I always enjoy her descriptions of Albuquerque and characters there.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

listened

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this southwestern mystery featuring lawyer Neil Hamel (a woman, by the way, named for her uncle). In this story, the scene is set with a group of "hotshots" - forest firefighters - having recently died in a large forest fire, deaths which may have been caused by negligence on the part of the Forest Service, though the initial report blames the firefighters. The parents of one of the dead hotshots want to sue the forest service for said negligence.
The story heats up (!) when Neil goes out to look at the site of the fire , and is then caught up in a second fire, and nearly dies, while her guide, from the Forest Service, actually does die. Now is this murder due to arson?
Neil, feeling it very personally by now, investigates all the potential arsonists / murderers. We are exposed to the many potential reasons for arson - anti-environmental people with a grudge against the Forest Service, environmental people with a grudge against the Forest Service, birders, conservationists who believe in letting forest burn naturally, and people who object to housing developments in Forest land. And so on....

I felt these themes could have been explored in a little more depth; instead they were just alluded to. A recent read of mine, by Nevada Barr, went into the Service politics and conflicts much more effectively. But the story moved right along and the culprit is detected satisfactorily.

A good read.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a small town lawyer investigating accidental deaths among forest fire fighters. Takes place in NM and CO. Easy, quick read. Quite different from most murder mysteries. Very enjoyable!

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil Hamel is asked to sue the forest service in a wrongful death case. Nine "Hotshots", firefighters, were killed in a flare-up. She goes to the scene of the tragedy and is almost killed in another fire.

[Katharine Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hotshots" - written by Judith Van Gieson and published in 1996 by HarperCollins. An exciting story as a female attorney investigates a killer forest fire.