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Jack Widow #8
Fire Watch
She’s on the run. He’s passing through. When the Cartels send kill squads after her, only Jack Widow can protect her. Molly DeGorne is a woman on the run, wanted for murdering her abusive husband. She’s accused of setting him and their Seattle home on fire. Scared, alone, and with no one to trust, she runs to the only place she thinks is safe, her summer post as a fire lookout. Only it may not be as safe as she suspects. The only hope that she’s got is a drifter she just met—Jack Widow. International bestseller Scott Blade fires up the page with thrills, passion, and explosive action in the eighth book in the Jack Widow series. Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn’s Mitch Rapp, and Mark Greaney’s Gray Man will enjoy the Jack Widow Action-Thriller Series. Readers are saying... ★★★★★ An action-packed mystery that will set your pages ablaze! ★★★★★ Fire Watch has to be the best of the series, and that’s saying a lot!
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2018
1643 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Scott Blade
48 books311 followersUSA TODAY and AMAZON BESTSELLER - Scott Blade is a Nomadvelist, a drifter and author. He writes the bestselling Jack Widow book series, two of which reached the Top 100 list on Amazon, knocking Harry Potter & Jack Reacher off the top spots, which angered one of the big publishers. Scott wears that fact as a badge of honor.
Scott Blade isn't a traditional novelist who spends his time stuck behind a computer desk in some dreary office. He truly walks the walk. He drifts around like the nomad he writes about, touring the world, writing mysteries and searching for the perfect coffee.
Scott Blade isn't a traditional novelist who spends his time stuck behind a computer desk in some dreary office. He truly walks the walk. He drifts around like the nomad he writes about, touring the world, writing mysteries and searching for the perfect coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 26, 2019
I liked Jack Widow. He was an all-around good guy. As an exSEAL and NCIS agent, he was extremely skilled in protection. Which sure came in handy. Having free time as well as experience in being a fire watch, he took a temporary job filling in for a fire watch who couldn't make it. He got along well with his co-worker and nearest neighbour, Molly DeGorne. I liked how they got to know each other over the CB but rarely actually visited. The summer job started at just the right time for Molly. Her house had just burned down killing her husband. She wasn't overly sad about his death because he had been abusive to her. I don't understand how she could put up with that.
There was a lot of description of the mountains in this book. It was so vivid that I wanted to go there. But I didn't like how it kept going back and forth between characters/locations for the first half of the book. It took a long time to set up the story and find out what happened in her house fire. Too long for me. It was quite an intense drama. I actually felt scared for Molly when the villains were trying to find her.
The wrap up was rushed and the ending abrupt. I might be in the minority with this one. It just didn't float my boat.
There was a lot of description of the mountains in this book. It was so vivid that I wanted to go there. But I didn't like how it kept going back and forth between characters/locations for the first half of the book. It took a long time to set up the story and find out what happened in her house fire. Too long for me. It was quite an intense drama. I actually felt scared for Molly when the villains were trying to find her.
The wrap up was rushed and the ending abrupt. I might be in the minority with this one. It just didn't float my boat.
February 16, 2018
The newest in the series. What can I say? It ticks all the boxes that I love to read. It kept me reading non-stop from start to finish which is not really an easy thing to do. The biggest complaint I had was that it was just not long enough and oh ya, there isn't another book to read after this one yet.
The storyline was really detailed and made me want to go out and try being a fire watch. I think one of the biggest compliments you can give a book is while reading it it's so well written that you feel like you're in the story, you can visualize the surroundings, hear the conversations as if you're with the characters. Those are the great books. The ones that you place on your shelf, digital or otherwise, knowing that you'll revisit the world created by the author again in the future.
I read a lot of books, almost 100 last year and I can tell you that the books that make it to my shelf for the future are rare and even more rare is multiple books from the same author but this is one of those books and one of those authors.
If this is the first book from the author that you're looking at then jump to the beginning of the series. you won't be sorry, well except for the lighter wallet since you'll be buying a few books.
The storyline was really detailed and made me want to go out and try being a fire watch. I think one of the biggest compliments you can give a book is while reading it it's so well written that you feel like you're in the story, you can visualize the surroundings, hear the conversations as if you're with the characters. Those are the great books. The ones that you place on your shelf, digital or otherwise, knowing that you'll revisit the world created by the author again in the future.
I read a lot of books, almost 100 last year and I can tell you that the books that make it to my shelf for the future are rare and even more rare is multiple books from the same author but this is one of those books and one of those authors.
If this is the first book from the author that you're looking at then jump to the beginning of the series. you won't be sorry, well except for the lighter wallet since you'll be buying a few books.
March 19, 2024
Readable series despite some flaws.
Reacher lite, but better written as far as language and grammar goes.
Formulaic to an irksome degree at times.
Has Widow never heard of STDs or what? He needs testing because he beds a different “stunningly attractive” woman in every darned outing. Tedious.
Apart from that annoyance, it’s a pretty decent series.
Reacher lite, but better written as far as language and grammar goes.
Formulaic to an irksome degree at times.
Has Widow never heard of STDs or what? He needs testing because he beds a different “stunningly attractive” woman in every darned outing. Tedious.
Apart from that annoyance, it’s a pretty decent series.
September 8, 2023
Fire Watch is the eighth book in Scott Blade’s Jack Widow series and although it was a really good story, it is to date, my least favourite book in the series.
Molly DeGorne, a petite blonde woman with a black eye is standing outside her home, twenty miles north of Seattle, and watches as it goes up in flames. Still inside, her husband, DEA Agent Mike Lee. All she has with her is a backpack and a very heavy duffel bag… and the urge to jump into her 1971 blue Ford Bronco and get out of town and to the job she has had for the last five summers.
Meanwhile, Jack Widow, having lost his ride after a disagreement with the driver, finds himself walking in the middle of nowhere in northern California. It is dark and he has no clue where he is. He see's a sign for the Gray Wolf Redwood National Park, a place he has never heard of, and heads towards the Ranger Station looking for assistance.
Seems that Widow is in the right place at the right time. They are in need of a Fire Lookout after one of their regulars has taken ill. Widow asks if he can work one of the towers until they can find a suitable replacement. Being in a bind, he gets the job.
He meets up with his “partner” who will be in the tower next to him, a good ten miles away. The only communication between them being via hand-held radios and they will only be able to see one another by the use of binoculars. That partner is Molly DeGorne.
The forest is lush and beautiful, the trees are immense, not another person in sight, and everything is peaceful… until all hell breaks loose. That is the time that Jack Widow knows what he needs to do.
The reason this is my least favourite book in the series so far, is that the book has a long lead up to any real action. Once that action starts, it is wrapped up rather quickly and not everything was explained as far as I could see. It was still a really good, quick read and enjoyable. If you like the other books in the series, I am sure you will also like this one.
Molly DeGorne, a petite blonde woman with a black eye is standing outside her home, twenty miles north of Seattle, and watches as it goes up in flames. Still inside, her husband, DEA Agent Mike Lee. All she has with her is a backpack and a very heavy duffel bag… and the urge to jump into her 1971 blue Ford Bronco and get out of town and to the job she has had for the last five summers.
Meanwhile, Jack Widow, having lost his ride after a disagreement with the driver, finds himself walking in the middle of nowhere in northern California. It is dark and he has no clue where he is. He see's a sign for the Gray Wolf Redwood National Park, a place he has never heard of, and heads towards the Ranger Station looking for assistance.
Seems that Widow is in the right place at the right time. They are in need of a Fire Lookout after one of their regulars has taken ill. Widow asks if he can work one of the towers until they can find a suitable replacement. Being in a bind, he gets the job.
He meets up with his “partner” who will be in the tower next to him, a good ten miles away. The only communication between them being via hand-held radios and they will only be able to see one another by the use of binoculars. That partner is Molly DeGorne.
The forest is lush and beautiful, the trees are immense, not another person in sight, and everything is peaceful… until all hell breaks loose. That is the time that Jack Widow knows what he needs to do.
The reason this is my least favourite book in the series so far, is that the book has a long lead up to any real action. Once that action starts, it is wrapped up rather quickly and not everything was explained as far as I could see. It was still a really good, quick read and enjoyable. If you like the other books in the series, I am sure you will also like this one.
September 21, 2024
Out of all the books that I’ve read by far this was my least favorite by far. I didn’t care for Molly. I thought she was stupid. What makes me irritated about these books is when he gets with these women and they’re all just so beautiful that’s annoying to me because I want more of him and the action and the actual plot, but out of all the women that he’s been with throughout the books, she was the worst and the dumbest and the stupidest to me, which is why I gave the book 3 stars because I just couldn’t stand her throughout the whole book she just came off shallow to me. There was no character development at all for her. There was nothing to make me like her all I got out of her character was she was a drinker and she spread her legs. That’s all I got and then after that when he asked her what was going on and that he could help her she sent him away like a dumbass. So you can fuck a guy but then when he asked what’s going on and he can help you and then you’re saying peeping with questions and then saying oh he’s not like my husband he’s a good guy then let him help you I’m mad he went back and saved her!!. She could’ve been left out of it could’ve been about something totally different and I probably would’ve gave it 5 stars just for her to be a major character in the book. She was totally just under developed.. and I didn’t like how it ended. It was just too quick of an end to me. It just was off….. off to the next book
July 10, 2022
This is book 8 of the series.
In this one, our hero gets a ride when someone can’t pay their bill at a truck stop. Our hero, always looking to do good, pays for them only to find himself out of a ride in the middle of no place. He decides he’s near a state park and that usually has rangers.
While there, the ranger takes off and our hero doesn’t find out until the next morning. By then the person in charge of the area gets to know our hero and that the other has run off. Then gets told about our heroine who’s coming up the drive.
Our heroine has had a bad couple of years. Now her house had been burnt down with her husband inside - not a big deal for her. She’s been working a job during the summer and that’s where she’s headed. She finds our hero there helping out.
They sit down and get to know each other…then the heroine’s past comes calling. Will they get away or will this be the last?
Interesting storyline of both the hero and heroine. The start is different for our hero too. Like the start, the ending is different as well. Interesting…
In this one, our hero gets a ride when someone can’t pay their bill at a truck stop. Our hero, always looking to do good, pays for them only to find himself out of a ride in the middle of no place. He decides he’s near a state park and that usually has rangers.
While there, the ranger takes off and our hero doesn’t find out until the next morning. By then the person in charge of the area gets to know our hero and that the other has run off. Then gets told about our heroine who’s coming up the drive.
Our heroine has had a bad couple of years. Now her house had been burnt down with her husband inside - not a big deal for her. She’s been working a job during the summer and that’s where she’s headed. She finds our hero there helping out.
They sit down and get to know each other…then the heroine’s past comes calling. Will they get away or will this be the last?
Interesting storyline of both the hero and heroine. The start is different for our hero too. Like the start, the ending is different as well. Interesting…
August 2, 2018
Fire Watch by Scott Blade (Jack Widow #8)
Jack finds himself suddenly without a ride, walking west , not sure what state he's currently in or what highway he's on. Then, an old patrol car lights him up and he meets Sheriff Portman. Jack spends the night in jail but not under arrest. Then he picks up a book, titled "Fire Watch" and he remembers back more than a decade when he worked a summer as a Fire Watch in the mountains. He leaves the next morning heading north into mountain country and ends up at a ranger station, the ranger telling Jack that this is his last official night, but he's welcome to spend the night. What Jack doesn't know is that the replacement ranger won't show up to relieve him, that the ranger who does is named Degonza, is beautiful, and is on the run after killing her husband, stealing all the cartels money and is being hunted by DEA & the FBI. Jack's training and instincts might be enough to keep them both alive, maybe?
Jack finds himself suddenly without a ride, walking west , not sure what state he's currently in or what highway he's on. Then, an old patrol car lights him up and he meets Sheriff Portman. Jack spends the night in jail but not under arrest. Then he picks up a book, titled "Fire Watch" and he remembers back more than a decade when he worked a summer as a Fire Watch in the mountains. He leaves the next morning heading north into mountain country and ends up at a ranger station, the ranger telling Jack that this is his last official night, but he's welcome to spend the night. What Jack doesn't know is that the replacement ranger won't show up to relieve him, that the ranger who does is named Degonza, is beautiful, and is on the run after killing her husband, stealing all the cartels money and is being hunted by DEA & the FBI. Jack's training and instincts might be enough to keep them both alive, maybe?
August 4, 2020
This us one of those books that seems to cross genre lines. The main story is a crime story. That part of the book is well told although if you don’t like gory violence this book is not for you. There is never any doubt that the hero will prevail, but the fates of those around him are often in doubt. There is a weak love story subplot that never really takes hold. The loner nature of the main character suggests that a sustained relationship is not in the cards.
The “final battle” leaves the hero with a six or nine to one score of bad guys killed while the hero never seems to suffer a scratch. In the best books of this type the hero is not always victorious in battle although he perseveres at the end, often wounded and scarred. There is not much built into the hero here. Little background, little of his past so he is only partially formed.
This is a quick read with predictable outcomes. It leaves you wanting some more.
The “final battle” leaves the hero with a six or nine to one score of bad guys killed while the hero never seems to suffer a scratch. In the best books of this type the hero is not always victorious in battle although he perseveres at the end, often wounded and scarred. There is not much built into the hero here. Little background, little of his past so he is only partially formed.
This is a quick read with predictable outcomes. It leaves you wanting some more.
February 7, 2025
The story starts with Molly DeGorne watching her house burn down and hearing the cries of her dying husband - and lots of unanswered questions as a the local sherrif tries to protect her from a team of supposed DEA officers. She escapes and is on the run, leaving bhend an FBI agent and police officer and a missing sheriff. She takes off to the Californian redwood forests to her regular summer job as a fire lookout. Intertwined with Molly's story, we see Jack playing vigilante to help out a Korean couple who are being harassed by the local drug lord and how fortune plays him a hand that leads him to... you guessed it... the same national park as a fire watcher. As is now the norm with Blade's plot development, the climax comes fast and furious in the last few chapters. In this title, the very rapid tie up of loose ends was just a bit too sparse with no thought of the incendiary fires igninted in the battle.
An easy and quick read that's entertaining and familiar.
An easy and quick read that's entertaining and familiar.
May 15, 2025
I'm moving through all of the Jack Widow book series by Scott Blade. I must say that, so far, Fire Watch is my favorite. Blade has a wonderful ability to describe settings in vivid detail that draws the reader into each scene, and he does this without overdoing it, which would bore the heck out of me! This was one of my biggest complaints as I struggled to read the James Bond novels many years ago. No complaints of this sort with Widow. I would love to see our protagonist re-visit some of the colorful characters he's encountered. How about it Mr. Blade? Although there are several possibilities, I'd love Molly to show up again, somewhere down the road. Widow and Molly's relationship seemed a bit more meaningful than what one might term "the usual". This entire series is more than just a notch above almost every other group of novels in this genre.
October 16, 2018
Possibly the best Widow yet. Molly DeGorne's house has burned down and her abusive husband was in it. He was a member of the SWATers, a quasi-legal group and he has stolen their money. Molly is a fire watcher and it was time for her to report, so she is getting out of town at a good time. Widow is headed north, following his wandering ways. He gets ditched by his ride, and after miles of walking, ends up at a fire watch station. The same one that Molly ends up at. The SWATers are not only looking for her to get their money back, but the FBI is looking for her in connection with her husband's death. Excellent read!
November 4, 2019
This was a very quick read. It was what I would call a "guilty pleasure". Experienced military special forces guy, Jack Widow, is now an unemployed drifter. He meets people, (mostly attractive women) who are in serious need of help and uses his unique skills to save them from whatever is threatening them. I am guessing that all the rest of the books in the series follow a similar plot. In spite of this, I loved reading this book - the action-filled pace was non-stop and the protagonist was likable. I will attempt to find and read more Jack Widow novels by Scott Blade.
March 30, 2022
good story…but
Yeah, it was a good story with a good but simple plot settings were well described, character depth for the main character only.
As for the writing…well…it made me have a laugh really because sometimes it read like it was written being passed around a circle of people who each added their own part to the story without reading what was previously written! So funny.
Obviously very poorly proof read..
Yeah, it was a good story with a good but simple plot settings were well described, character depth for the main character only.
As for the writing…well…it made me have a laugh really because sometimes it read like it was written being passed around a circle of people who each added their own part to the story without reading what was previously written! So funny.
Obviously very poorly proof read..
July 18, 2024
Liked the storyline but the proof reader should be shot, plus the writer needs to stop using auto correct. for example page 22 “Although, it was east to be calm in a place like Washington State.” I assume he meant easy. By the time I got to this page I was fed up with these simple mistakes and having to reread the sentence to understand what was meant. I shall persevere in the hope the mistakes stop.
February 14, 2018
WoW! Scott Blade keep getting better with every new Jack Widow story! As you can notice I did not put it down and not because I have to by obligation but because this book keep us on the edge and we just can’t wait to turn to the next page!! Now I will take a breath and hope the next one will be out soon! Thank to the author for sharing his great talent with us!!
November 7, 2019
Fairly entertaining read but a poor Jack Reacher clone. Too many similarities to Reacher but I never really got into Widow. Lots of ups and downs in the story but much of it was really not credible. Ending seemed overly abrupt as if the author wan't sure how to end it. If your not a Reacher fan than Widow might be an alternative but would be helpful to know more about what makes Widow tick.
December 12, 2019
Scintillating Action
A real rough and tumble hombre, Widow. Finds himself miles from anywhere employed as a park fire watcher. At t j e same time a women wanted in connection f a possible murder of meets up with Widow and is posted to the next lookout post. What is the strange women doing? How will it erupt, erupt it does.
A real rough and tumble hombre, Widow. Finds himself miles from anywhere employed as a park fire watcher. At t j e same time a women wanted in connection f a possible murder of meets up with Widow and is posted to the next lookout post. What is the strange women doing? How will it erupt, erupt it does.
April 18, 2020
Interesting plots
There was both the main plot featuring the death of the DEA agent and the search for his wife Molly, but also a quite separate sub plot focusing on a local drug dealer. The latter allowed Widow to see some action while the main plot built up steam. All very enjoyable.
There was both the main plot featuring the death of the DEA agent and the search for his wife Molly, but also a quite separate sub plot focusing on a local drug dealer. The latter allowed Widow to see some action while the main plot built up steam. All very enjoyable.
April 26, 2020
Fire watch/blade
I was entertained on tenderhooks. The story character widow was my favorite type of vigilante I have ever read, he does whatever to be done to right something that is wrong. His background of navy seal and special helped him through his nomadic life and the people he comes into contact read. Fast paced action story. Thought enjoyed it.
I was entertained on tenderhooks. The story character widow was my favorite type of vigilante I have ever read, he does whatever to be done to right something that is wrong. His background of navy seal and special helped him through his nomadic life and the people he comes into contact read. Fast paced action story. Thought enjoyed it.
February 12, 2018
Love the Jack Widow series! Scott Blade has done it again...Bravo!
What a great series and character...is he Jack Reacher reincarnated? Or is he the prodigal son? 😊 can't wait for the next one!
What a great series and character...is he Jack Reacher reincarnated? Or is he the prodigal son? 😊 can't wait for the next one!
October 17, 2019
Great thriller
Realistic tale of cops and robbers. Wonderful characters, moving right along. Rogue agent planning murder and theft is in the beautiful northwest forest area. Well done.
Realistic tale of cops and robbers. Wonderful characters, moving right along. Rogue agent planning murder and theft is in the beautiful northwest forest area. Well done.
October 17, 2019
Could have been really good.
Well written if only someone had heard of proofing. Why spend all that time building a story and strong characters and skip the important step of having someone clean up typos?
Well written if only someone had heard of proofing. Why spend all that time building a story and strong characters and skip the important step of having someone clean up typos?
October 21, 2019
The Comparison to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher are Valid
Fast-paced, rollercoaster action with a nomadic drifter who lives by his own moral code and, at least from reading this one installment, rescues damsels and others in distress.
Entertaining fantabulation.
Fast-paced, rollercoaster action with a nomadic drifter who lives by his own moral code and, at least from reading this one installment, rescues damsels and others in distress.
Entertaining fantabulation.
October 22, 2019
Prob 2.5 stars. The plot was surprisingly good in this book. It kept me reading and I actually finished the book. However Jack Widow is really not human. This guy is so perfect it kind of hurts. Also, I know people like to read about violence, but it was too much for me.
October 24, 2019
Widow is a Wonder
Reacher with a difference. Widow is a nomad with a different edge; experienced Seals are like that. He is still the sheepdog who protects the flock and his dock is everyone.
Reacher with a difference. Widow is a nomad with a different edge; experienced Seals are like that. He is still the sheepdog who protects the flock and his dock is everyone.
November 7, 2019
Flawed Hero
Action, adventure, murder, mayhem. All of these are part of the Jack Widow world. This is my first book in this series and it was a great story. Clean, to the point and entertaining all the way.
Action, adventure, murder, mayhem. All of these are part of the Jack Widow world. This is my first book in this series and it was a great story. Clean, to the point and entertaining all the way.
November 13, 2019
Corrupt DEA Agents
This is my first Jack Widow book. I read it in two days. I enjoyed the characters especially Jack Widow. I look forward to reading the next Jack Widow book. If you like Reacher you will love Jack Widow.
This is my first Jack Widow book. I read it in two days. I enjoyed the characters especially Jack Widow. I look forward to reading the next Jack Widow book. If you like Reacher you will love Jack Widow.
November 24, 2019
Entertaining short read. Did not seem well developed, but I have not read the other books in the series. I may have been able to be more involved in the story if I had read the first books in the series.
November 26, 2019
Another thriller
A new story and a new woman. After fighting corruption in Las Angeles Widow beats a hasty retreat to isolated northern California as a fire watch. There he meets another beautiful woman and the excitement continues.
A new story and a new woman. After fighting corruption in Las Angeles Widow beats a hasty retreat to isolated northern California as a fire watch. There he meets another beautiful woman and the excitement continues.
November 28, 2019
WOW! What a story!
Been a long time since I've read anything this good! Highly recommend this author - real good wordsmith, as good as Lee Child. Jack Reacher may have met his match.
Been a long time since I've read anything this good! Highly recommend this author - real good wordsmith, as good as Lee Child. Jack Reacher may have met his match.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews