Escape from Fire Lake

Last Chance Detectives #3

by Robert Vernon

Four young private eyes are about to become your juvenile reader's newest heroes in this blockbuster book and video series from Tyndale and Focus on the Family, Mike, Ben, Wynnona, and Spencer unravel mysteries from their headquarters in a restored B-17 bomber. Their fast-paced adventures lead to more than just clues, however. #3: Escape from Fire Lake

Left by two thieves to die in the desert, Mike braves the scorching heat in a desperate attempt to survive. The kids learn that no matter how bad things get, God will never leave you or forsake you.

Genres: Christian, Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 1996

Reviews

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

They changed authors with this newest addition to the book series, and it shows.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Last Chance Detectives story! This is the second book that my 10 year old son and I have read together from this series. We thoroughly enjoyed it and like the previous book we read, it was hard to put down. Full of action, friendship, harrowing experiences, and faith, this book is a fantastic read for middle grade kids, especially boys.

In this book, Mike stumbles on to a group of bank robbers who have not only robbed several banks but taken a priceless statue. He and his dog Jake sneak into the back of the robbers’ truck to investigate, but become trapped inside and end up traveling with the robbers until they’re discovered in the back of the truck. The robbers decide to abandon them in the desert rather than kill them, but Mike has taken the statue and left clues if only his friends can find them. With only his smarts and his faith to guide him, Mike has to find a way out of the desert before time runs out. While he’s fighting for his life, the rest of the Last Chance Detectives help Pop and Smitty try to find out what happened to him and his dog.

This book had some fabulous messages. While Mike was struggling through severe hardships in the desert, he kept picturing his father and remembering the faith and lessons that he had instilled in him. I especially liked the message that God is with us in our struggles. I also liked that Mike’s friends were not willing to give up on finding him and that they knew him so well, they were able to recognize the clues he left for them.

All in all this is another great story that middle grade kids and their parents will love. It has great messages of faith and friendship with an action packed storyline that my son really enjoyed. Highly recommend this series and look forward to reading more of these books. I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

[Kristi Drillien · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mike Fowler stumbles across bank robbers making a getaway, he becomes an accidental hostage. Unwilling to let him point the finger at them, the thieves leave him for dead in the middle of the desert. Can Mike make it to civilization before succumbing to the sun in Fire Lake?

Wow! For a short book meant for kids, this was quite an intense ride! Unlike the first book in the series, this one was completely new to me, and it really sucked me in. Mike's trek through the desert, trying not to give in to the sun or his own worries, was really suspenseful and kept me hooked all throughout. At the same time, the other Last Chance Detectives are looking for him, and that part is interesting too. Whereas children's books can sometimes venture away from reality, in that the kids in the story do things that kids wouldn't really be able to do in real life, I felt like all of it was quite plausible in this case.

Though there wasn't any kind of mystery in this story, at least not to the reader, it was still full of adventure and great lessons about relying on God and letting Him give you peace in scary situations. Again the danger is very real, but it doesn't get to be what I'd consider too scary for kids, and I highly recommend this book for those around 10-14.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers/Focus on the Family for providing me a copy of this book to review.

[Evelynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So what if I rated this book five stars? I totally grew up on the Last Chance Detectives. This is my childhood on paper. I wish Focus on the Family would finish up the series and have Mike find his dad. It would be AWESOME. Even though the actors that originally played the Last Chance Detectives are older now, they could definitely do a new LCD with the an older LCD gang (absolutely has to be with the original actors, though) and wrap up the series.

Okay, enough of my rambling...

I liked this book the best out of all the book adaptations of the movie, and I think it was because of the following points:

1. the author change and
2. "Escape from Fire Lake" was my favorite movie out of the LCD movie trilogy because hellOOOO, MIKE ALMOST DIED.

Anyway, that concludes my LCD reading/listening/watching...for now. (ANYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, TAKE NOTE OF THE TOP PARAGRAPH. THANK YOU!)

...or I could write the last story myself. But I could never come up with a killer mystery that would do the series justice. *sigh*

[Tim Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite Last Chance Detective novel so far. It was well written and kept my attention the entire time. Some things were a little off like the probability if Mike Surviving what he went through being very low, but it was still a good mystery and story.

[Jennifer Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a novelization of the movie, so the books are not very different than the DVD's. But the movies (and the books) are very family friendly, with an interesting plot.