What makes a hero? What makes a good father? It is these questions that lie at the core of Lynch's newest release. Russell finds himself confronted with these deep questions as he deals with the death of his father, who served the community as a firefighter for many years. In fact, Russell's dad and the father of an old friend and neighbor (DJ) are killed when they rush into a blazing fire. They were the first from the Hothouse, the nickname given to the local firehouse, to arrive. Unfortunately things went terribly wrong. They were both killed, and the elderly woman living in the home ended up in intensive care.

At first, the whole town comes together and to mourn the two main and rain praise and adulation down on Russell and DJ as well as their mothers in the hopes of honoring the two men who died in the ultimate service. Both DJ and Russell have grown up in the firehouse community, wanting to grow up and be just like their dads. In fact, Russell is very active in the Young Firefighters training group. In recent years they simply grew apart, but find their new status as heroes-by-connection as they deal with their loss as something that allows them to reconnect just a little.

Things start to change one day at school when Russell is accosted by one of his classmates, the son of a local disgraced police officer. Montgomerie, the other student, throws out an accusation that indicates that Russell and DJ's father's may not be the heroes everyone believed at first. As it becomes public that a series of internal investigations are taking place, Russell finds himself looking back to consider what he might have missed and whether his father was the great dad and firefighter he always believed him to be.

The book runs heavily on the emotions that are driving Russell, and the reader can't help but empathize. Lynch has done an incredible job of bringing the reader into Russell's mind not only as he deals with his loss and the surprising twist, but also as he sorts through his feelings for fellow Young Firefighter Melanie and his possibly reinvigorated friendship with DJ, who is dealing with the situation in very different ways. Raw is the word that best describes the emotions that simply emanate from the pages.

This is definitely not a book full of action, but if you are looking for a book that will leave you really thinking and pondering, then this is a perfect choice. Just make sure to have a box of tissues nearby because you are going to need it.