Book Review: Firetrap

Reviewed by Elizabeth Reiser

A fun, fast paced mystery for fans of rebellious protagonists and continuous action

With the underbelly of Washington DC as its backdrop, Firetrap follows homicide detective Marko Zorn on a complicated journey to uncover the secret behind a deadly drug wreaking havoc throughout the city. 

When Marko responds to a deadly car fire, he can tell immediately it is arson, but he has no idea how far down a rabbit hole this incident will lead him. As Sister Grace, one of the most dangerous women in DC, requests his presence for a chat, he knows this is not just any car fire; it is leading somewhere dark. Marko learns the car fire is connected to a new and deadly street drug sweeping the city and he must now find out how the victim in the car plays a role in this mess. Soon he discovers not only is a huge pharmaceutical company behind the drug, but there is another dangerous prescription being developed and it could lead to much more death. 

As Marko works to take the pharmaceutical company down, he manages to both lose his job and put his own life in peril. With everyone working against him, will he be able to stop the villains behind the drug before more people are killed, or will they get to him first? Add in a sinister set of twins, a kidnapping, and even Boston’s Gardner Museum Theft of 1990, and the reader will quickly be wrapped up in this chaotic but entertaining plot.

This book makes for a great vacation pick, as it is a quick read offering plenty of action. Marko is an appealing character. He is smart and has no problem bending rules. While this is book three in a series, the books can be read out of order and Firetrap can also be read as a standalone without the reader losing context. 

As Marko is a bit of a gruff character, the book does tend to fall into the machismo mystery trope. There is even a scene with his motorcycle and a damsel in distress who, in all honestly, would have been an awesome character in her own right and wouldn’t need rescuing. Unfortunately, the female characters aren’t too well developed and the book misses the mark from that perspective.  

Female representation aside, this is a fun read and will deliver what fans of the genre look forward to in their fast-paced mystery thrillers.

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