Irvine, the author of the successful Moroni Traveler series, here draws upon his experience in the television industry. Kevin Mainwaring is a news producer whose story on the fiery extinction of a southern Idaho religious sect uncovers evidence of mass murder. Irvine effectively captures the glum ambience of an isolated western town, and his story evokes echoes of the Branch Davidian holocaust. Unfortunately, the novel's characters come across as being secondary to the setting. Though Mainwaring is a likable-enough amateur sleuth, Irvine's attempts to show his hero's softer side--repeated references to Manwaring's dog, Buttons--seem forced and ineffective. Nevertheless, readers who have enjoyed Irvine's Traveler novels will want to check out his latest offering. Marginally recommended. Elliott Swanson
From Kirkus Reviews
First of a new series from an author whose usual turf is Salt Lake City and its Mormon denizens (The Spoken Word, 1992, etc.). The tiny religious farming community of Defiance, Idaho--an outpost of the town of Ellsworth--also has a Mormon history. The forest fire that wipes out its entire population drawns the attention of the Los Angeles bureau of the ABN-TV network. Ambitious reporter Vicki Garcia, field producer Keith Mainwaring, cameraman Lew Holland, and crew find a story more complex and tragic than the one they came for. Big business, in the form of Bonneville Industries, had been pressing for water rights from a reluctant Defiance. But Ellsworth's mayor and fire and police chiefs, as well as a lot of others, wanted Bonneville's factory, hoping it would revive their dying town. Was the fire accident or arson? Keith pursues answers between frantic calls to various bosses; his discovery of a bullet- wounded dog in burnt-out Defiance; Vicki's ploys for more on-air time; frenetic to-and-froing in various decrepit vehicles; rushed meals in decrepit diners. Keith finally gets his story, but not before the reader gets a hard look at some sleazy TV bigwigs and a bottom-line code of ethics. Choppy, even garbled narration, but compelling almost all the way. Keith Mainwaring is an attractive character with a promising future. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
