The Fourth Corner of the Ninth Room

Rating:
Summary: Talented new author
Review: Author Bradd Hopkins has written a compelling story in his book "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" drawing on his many years of experience as a firefighter and arson investigator. Set in California, it is the story of arson investigator John Randolph Barent and fires so hot they can't be extinguished. Barent is set up to look like the arsonist and must not only find the arsonist before he kills again, but he must prove his own innocence. Hopkins' characters come to life for the reader and his plot is well developed. The author's interest in writing began Christmas 1992 in Tucson, Arizona, when on a rainy night, he, his wife and some friends were sitting around talking, listening to the rain, discussing the ways of the world. It took about five years to write his first book, "Navassa," and he said by doing so he has found his passion. "This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life," Hopkins said during an interview at Classic Bookshop in Palm Beach. "Firefighting is great. I'm right on the edge of retirement and it's been a very rewarding career. I've had a lot of excitement." Hopkins has spent the past 28 years with the San Luis Obispo, California, Fire Department where he is a fire captain and an environmental emergency training consultant for several major oil and petrochemical companies. Before joining the fire service he served in the United States Army Ordnance Corps, Special Weapons, where he worked with nuclear fusing and firing systems, active material, and guidance system testing, and associated explosives. His responsibilities included decoding defense communications for the Southern European Task Force in Italy. When he first sat down to write "Navassa" he didn't really know what he was doing. But, he soon learned. Drawing on early journalism experience, he knew his grammar was tight, but he said he had no idea the kind of commitment he was about to make with his first book. His second book, "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" is a thrilling tale about a series of high tech fires set by a diabolical arsonist who is intent on killing firemen. Hopkins expertly sprinkles the plot with twists and turns and even for those who like to read the first chapter and then read the last chapter to see what happens in a hurry, the ending will be a surprise. A relatively new author, Hopkins is still honing his craft. "Fourth Corner" is sprinkled with registered trademark signs next to a brand name, something that can send readers, especially reviewers, into screaming fits. He said he only wanted to give credit where credit is due, but he has learned not to do that again. No more trademark signs. One of the key inspirations for "Fourth Corner" came when several Seattle firefighters perished in a blaze too hot to put out. "That sent a ripple of concern through the entire fire service," Hopkins said. "What if everybody started building fires you can't put out? That was a very diabolical thing in my experience and I wanted to give that tool to my bad guy to make him badder. When I heard about those fires, I knew immediately how it had been done because of my military experience. "The twist in the story comes from a real case," he said. "Of course, I twisted the real case to fit my book." "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" has an exciting, fast-moving plot that will keep you turning pages well into the night.

Rating:
Summary: Talented new author
Review: Author Bradd Hopkins has written a compelling story in his book "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" drawing on his many years of experience as a firefighter and arson investigator. Set in California, it is the story of arson investigator John Randolph Barent and fires so hot they can't be extinguished. Barent is set up to look like the arsonist and must not only find the arsonist before he kills again, but he must prove his own innocence. Hopkins' characters come to life for the reader and his plot is well developed. The author's interest in writing began Christmas 1992 in Tucson, Arizona, when on a rainy night, he, his wife and some friends were sitting around talking, listening to the rain, discussing the ways of the world. It took about five years to write his first book, "Navassa," and he said by doing so he has found his passion. "This is what I want to be doing for the rest of my life," Hopkins said during an interview at Classic Bookshop in Palm Beach. "Firefighting is great. I'm right on the edge of retirement and it's been a very rewarding career. I've had a lot of excitement." Hopkins has spent the past 28 years with the San Luis Obispo, California, Fire Department where he is a fire captain and an environmental emergency training consultant for several major oil and petrochemical companies. Before joining the fire service he served in the United States Army Ordnance Corps, Special Weapons, where he worked with nuclear fusing and firing systems, active material, and guidance system testing, and associated explosives. His responsibilities included decoding defense communications for the Southern European Task Force in Italy. When he first sat down to write "Navassa" he didn't really know what he was doing. But, he soon learned. Drawing on early journalism experience, he knew his grammar was tight, but he said he had no idea the kind of commitment he was about to make with his first book. His second book, "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" is a thrilling tale about a series of high tech fires set by a diabolical arsonist who is intent on killing firemen. Hopkins expertly sprinkles the plot with twists and turns and even for those who like to read the first chapter and then read the last chapter to see what happens in a hurry, the ending will be a surprise. A relatively new author, Hopkins is still honing his craft. "Fourth Corner" is sprinkled with registered trademark signs next to a brand name, something that can send readers, especially reviewers, into screaming fits. He said he only wanted to give credit where credit is due, but he has learned not to do that again. No more trademark signs. One of the key inspirations for "Fourth Corner" came when several Seattle firefighters perished in a blaze too hot to put out. "That sent a ripple of concern through the entire fire service," Hopkins said. "What if everybody started building fires you can't put out? That was a very diabolical thing in my experience and I wanted to give that tool to my bad guy to make him badder. When I heard about those fires, I knew immediately how it had been done because of my military experience. "The twist in the story comes from a real case," he said. "Of course, I twisted the real case to fit my book." "Fourth Corner of the 9th Room" has an exciting, fast-moving plot that will keep you turning pages well into the night.

Rating:
Summary: A So So read
Review: Similar to the movie "Backdraft." Arson investigator John Berent is hot on the trail of a brilliant fire-setting maniac when he gets the hot news that he's being arrested for the crime himself, based on the evidence. When Berent escapes, the fugitive fireman goes after the killer arsonist on his own. With no money, no authority, and few people he can trust, he closes in on his prey, only to discover that he's the one caught up in a smoldering trap. Like a glittering stone left unturned, the biggest clue of all is always there, conspicuous but unseen.