"Hell's Gate" by thriller writer Stephen Frey is a standard novel of its type, and rather unremarkable in that sense.
Still, it's an exciting well-paced story by a veteran novelist - and it features a likeable and identifiable main character in an unfamiliar, nerve-wracking situation.
Stephen Frey has been known foremost as an author of financial thrillers, a bit like the John Grisham of the financial world. While "Hell's Gate" is involved to some extent with the theme of business, Frey goes far afield, both geographically and topically, from Wall Street.
The novel takes place in the isolated setting of Fort Mason, Mont. When 35-year-old lawyer Hunter Lee decides to turn his back on the New York City rat race that has made him rich but cost him his marriage, he takes his brother's advice and sets out to build a new life in the beautiful but isolated town.
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But, it's fire season - and what Lee finds there is anything but escape.
Hunter befriends Paul Brule, a fire jumper - one of an elite team of firefighters who parachute into remote wilderness to put out blazes before they become infernos - and gets a terrifying firsthand look at the reality of vast tracts of forest being reduced to ash in seconds by 100-foot walls of flame.
In the small town of Fort Mason, everyone seems to have a secret, and Hunter comes to suspect that this particular rash of summer fires is anything but accidental.
As Hunter follows his instincts, the Montana wilderness becomes a battleground in a conflict between good and evil.
Running from his past and not at all certain about his future, Lee takes on the burden of trying to expose the guilty while saving not only himself, but those he cares about most from horrific danger.
Ask for "Hell's Gate" at your public library.
Darrell Squires is assistant manager of Public Information and Library Resources Board, West Newfoundland-Labrador division. You can contact him at: dsquires@nlpl.ca or by phone at 634-7333.
