a b "Discussing Firewatch with Olly Moss". IGN. October 12, 2014. Archived from the original on March 5, 2015 . Retrieved March 12, 2015.

Best Writing 2016: Firewatch". PC Gamer. Future plc. December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016 . Retrieved December 21, 2016.DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publishers in return for an unbiased review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for giving me this opportunity. Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

On the outbreak of the Second World War the British government were especially worried about the Luftwaffe dropping incendiary bombs. Some 86,000 stirrup pumps were distributed to local authorities and air-raid wardens were asked to arrange for local volunteer groups to be formed to help put out fires during bombing raids. Farokhmanesh, Megan (February 12, 2016). "Wyoming is a long way from Sterling Cooper". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 17, 2016 . Retrieved September 29, 2017. December 1940 - Second Great Fire of London showed previous legislation was not up to the needs of the Luftwaffe bombing campaign. Ryan McCaffrey at IGN hailed the sense of realism elicited by the setting, despite the stylized level design and artwork. He also approved of the script, saying that voice acting enhanced it further. Of the writing, McCaffrey said, "It's tense, scary, and funny – sometimes all within a few minutes of each other. Not a lot of games can successfully claim that". He deemed the ending polarizing because of the story's promising escalation. [44] Polygon 's Colin Campbell appreciated the use of humor and empathy to develop the characters, considered the game's mystery to be successful and the story to be "elegant" and "satisfying". He criticized the conclusion, regarding it as "not entirely successful". [45] Accolades [ edit ] YearClark, Tim (March 17, 2016). "Why less is more when it comes to Firewatch's beautiful trees". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016 . Retrieved September 30, 2016. Russ Thomas is a bold and brilliant new voice in crime fiction, his talent blazes as fiercely as the flames that rage through his book. Really wonderful, imaginative writing’ KATE RHODES

The thing that makes this a great first novel is the fact that it doesn’t try to be anything more than it is, a relatively straightforward whodunnit. Consequently, the twists and turns that do crop up in the narrative are all the more surprising because in hindsight they’re so blatantly obvious. Because we’re seeing most of the story through Tyler’s eyes, we’re also led along by his hopes, assumptions and fears, which in turn distracts the reader from the fairly obvious clues. Added to this is Lily’s confusion over the events of the past, apparently a result of her being an Alzheimer’s patient, though through the occasional lucid flash of memory the reader is given a little more of the story to work with. Called out to a cold case in an old vicarage where the body of a long-deceased body has been found behind a wall in the cellar. So begins a story, of sexual deviancy, abuse, and murder, which somehow Tyler will have to work, sometimes in spite of himself, and maybe even to prove some of his colleagues wrong. But alas, the story’s protagonist isn’t the arsonist, and it isn’t either of the elderly women. It’s Tyler, and Tyler just bores the snot out of me. I want him to just do something. I don’t need to know what he is wearing, what he is thinking, what he is feeling, wearing, feeling some more, thinking…. Firewatching is smart, it's suspenseful yet considered. The plotting is so intricate and the pace is absolutely perfect. The author doesn't shy away from darker issues, including homophobia and sexual abuse; however he does it with a sensitive touch, adding depth to what is already a fine crime story.It does not help, the village where the Old Vicarage is like the village of the damned. Everyone has a secret, could be the killer and someone likes burning things, even the church. What Tyler has to hope is that he does not become the target of the Firewatcher at any point.