Prometheus' Gift - Softcover

Sangster, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1665528222 ISBN 13: 9781665528221

Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2021

Synopsis

Bill’s life went from monotonous to stimulating in just a week. In that short time, two deadly arson fires put Bill’s skill as a fire fighter to work assisting in the investigation. His involvement in these fires wakes up some purposely buried memories of a broken marriage thirty years ago, a heart break that still affects him years later. While helping with the investigation of these fires, the team Bill is on gets side swiped by an unmannered FBI agent, who seizes all of the team’s efforts at solving the crimes. Determined to give his community closure, Bill and the team continue clandestinely to find the culprit. In the meantime, a young man comes to town and is quickly assimilated into the community. The young man, actually a FBI agent in disguise, soon realizes that what his boss told him about the arson fires was not exactly true.

Meanwhile the perpetrator of the arson fires follows a strange calling to return to the area of the deadly arson fires. A series of wildland arson fires hits the area, while a beautiful young woman named Diana starts visiting the town’s favorite bar and starts an affair with the young FBI agent. Wanting a spectacular fire to watch from the camera on board a hexcopter drone, the arsonist picks a perfect setting to start a wildfire, but the fire turns deadly and kills three fire fighters. As the young FBI agent, Bill, and a woman police officer start to zero in on the elusive arsonist, the town becomes embroiled in a deadly battle to save the life of Diana. The town’s people, providing help to the outnumbered law enforcement officers, beat back numerous attempts on Diana’s life by hitmen from Diana’s family. In the midst of fighting, Bill not only becomes a hero twice over, but he learns what happened to his wife and discovers who the arsonist really is.

About this title

About the Author

John writes from experience. He spent nearly fifty years fire fighting, some of it as a paid wildland fire fighter, most as a volunteer fire fighter. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Forestry, Fire Management degree, in 1974. During his schooling, he authored a few studies for the Fire Lab in Missoula, Montana, and authored a thesis on the use of remotely piloted vehicles in fire fighting. While a volunteer fire fighter, John worked as a sales manager for a mail order business, and eventually started his own computer repair business. After a number of deaths in John's extended family, he decided to update his notes and recollections of various fires he had been on over the years. With some inspirational words from famous author John Maclean, and the use of his editor, John was able to publish his book entitled Salmon River Fire: 30 Years An Idaho Fire Fighter, which came out in 2016. John and Cindy, his wife of 46 years, live in Grangeville, Idaho. They have two children, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Reviews

The US Review of Books

Prometheus' Gift
by John Sangster
AuthorHouse

book review by Joe Kilgore

"The hand work for the frefighters was done. Now it was up to the eyes Of experience and the knowledge Of science to f imd out what this fire was all about."

This intricate novel is set in a small town occupied by quite a few big-city migrants looking for a calmer life and less troublesome times. They find just the opposite as a number of disturbing fires with mysterious fatalities rock the usually quiet hamlet and send both longtime locals and recent transplants into a search for answers. A house fire turns up only one body when there are supposed to be two. Another conflagration uncovers another corpse. Suddenly, the FBI is swooping down to take charge of things, and the locals are wondering why. The town's priest hears the confession of someone directly associated with the deaths, but his vows demand silence. The arsonist is compelled to not only observe the infernos but also start more of them. Soon a raging wildfire gets hellishly out of control. This time the fire fighters themselves pay the ultimate price.

Author Sangster fills his tale with characters caught up in both the immediate events plus problems from their past that they can't completely shake. Bill is a firefighter whose nearly thirty-year divorce still plagues him. Bev is a policewoman whose attractiveness too often overshadows her professionalism. Ricardo is an FBI agent whose hard-scrabble upbringing and time in the military has left him with little or no concern for those he rides roughshod over. Additional players fill out a diverse and interesting cast. Sangster's writing is filled with an extensive amount of technical detail and information about how fires are fought, their origins investigated, the gathering of evidence, and more. These insights add authority and credibility throughout his narrative as suspense rises, villains are exposed, and surprising revelations come to light in a fiery tale.

Pacific Book Review

Title: Prometheus' Gift
Author: John Sangster
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Adventure, Fiction, Suspense
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda

Promeiheus' Gift is a meticulously developed tale that follows Bill, a volunteer firefighter, and a divorcee. His wife, Armida, left him years ago and disappeared thereafter. Twenty years had passed since the unfortunate event but Bill still carried the pain in his heart. Now working for the fire department of Prairie, a small rural town in the USA, he dedicates all his time to his work.

A purposely set deadly fire throws the otherwise quiet town in chaos as more fires erupt in the region. It soon becomes clear that an arsonist is responsible for the fires as Bill and his colleagues begin immediate investigations. Their investigation is suddenly blocked by the FBI, under an unruly agent, Ricardo.

However, Bill and his colleagues decide to continue their investigations - but secretly. Soon after, it becomes clear to Bill and the other firefighters that the more they dug into these deadly fires, the more they are losing ground instead of gaining. Who was the gorgeous, secretive woman, Diana, and what was she doing in town? Why was the FBI so determined to wipe out all the evidence? Would Bill's abilities as a firefighter pass the uphill test ahead and would he manage to win his personal battles as well? Who was the elusive arsonist that was terrorizing the otherwise peaceful town? Promefheus' Gifts answers these questions in the most unexpected way.

Straightaway, I found author Sangster's writing captivating and easy to understand. Coupled with the writer's experience as a firefighter for decades, the plot is a thrill from the onset. I liked how the author allows readers into the thoughts and life of the antagonists as well. This makes for a balanced narrative that was enthralling on all ends. The characters present in the story are numerous. Luckily, the author gives us an overview of each of them which makes them memorable and helps readers meld with them.

Further, the twists and turns were nothing like I expected. For example, I would never have guessed who the pyromaniac was. I never saw it coming. Sangster manages to explore a vast number of plots that end up intertwining as the book buds. I also loved his intricate display of what firefighters go through in their line of duty and the sacrifices they make as they put their lives on the line for the common good.

The book title, borrowed from Greek mythology, is both creative and perfect for this time as well. Prometheus' Gifts is what follows when Nancy Drew gains fire fighting skills: thrill, action, mystery and suspense. Author John Sangster has undoubtedly delivered a successful work. Truly a must-read.

Edition details

• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1665528222
• ISBN 13: 9781665528221
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 296