THE FIRE LINE The Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots and One of the Deadliest Days in American Firefighting

After being reminded that the Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona in 2013 killed 19 firefighters, listeners follow the story of the fire, the deaths, and the aftermath. The author narrates a heartfelt introduction and afterword. Ari Fliakos's reading of the text is subdued and serious, as befits the material. Good pacing and well-placed inflection keep the forward momentum, and his serious tone, devoid of drama, adds to the sense of foreboding as the events unfold. He alters his voice slightly for quotes from women and children, but otherwise maintains a neutral observer's tone. Overall, Fliakos's delivery is reminiscent of a reporter's eyewitness account: well pitched to the text, unadorned, absorbing, and effective. W.M. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2016]