Fire Lover: A True Story

Fire Lover: A True Story by Joseph Wambaugh is a chilling true crime account of John Orr, a respected California firefighter and arson investigator who was accused of being one of the most prolific American arsonists of the twentieth century. From the author of The Onion Field and The Choirboys, this gripping nonfiction book explores the shocking case that stunned the firefighting community.

Orr rose through the Glendale Fire Department to become a fire captain, arson investigator, and writer, all while fires continued to devastate homes, businesses, brushland, and public spaces across southern California. Wambaugh examines the deadly pattern, the investigation, the fire science, the clues that finally led authorities closer to the truth, and the disturbing psychology behind a hidden life of risk and obsession.

A strong choice for readers of true crime, arson investigations, criminal psychology, and real-life crime writing.

Hardcover, Very Good