Bøger udgivet af Black Rose Writing

"[A] provocative work of speculative fiction ... with an irrepressible sense of humor and wit." -Kirkus Reviews"Clever, darkly humorous, beautifully written. Loophole is a wickedly charming urban fantasy that grabs you by the throat with the opening line, surprises you page by page all the way through, then delivers a jaw-dropping yet satisfying resolution." -KJ Fieler, bestselling author of Shadow RunnerImagine a world where all your crimes are written on your face.In Alannah's world, every moral choice she makes changes her physical appearance-for better or worse. Any good deed increases beauty, while any misdeed leaves an immediate, ugly mark. Naturally, she wants to be as good and beautiful as possible-until her habit of finding ways around the rules leads her to discover that people have found devious ways to abuse this system.When she leaves home for a magazine internship in Colorado Springs, Alannah finds her desire to be good challenged in unexpected ways. Over the course of her internship, she has surprising encounters with homeless people, gangsters, politicians, policemen, cute coworkers, illegal makeup traffickers, and more. Before she knows it, she's drawn into a social conflict that endangers not only her entire concept of what it means to be good but also the lives of those she cares about.

Based on an actual 1912 historic event, The Beautiful One is an intriguing heist/murder mystery with fascinating characterizations and engaging plotting from Cairo to Berlin.

After progressive world leaders crush the economy, leading to the brink of war, a nanotechnology- enhanced Chinese virus was released on the world. Humanity was swept away by the worst plague in human history, killing 95% of humans on Earth.The plague begins to subside, and survivors peek out at a completely changed world.Mike Broehm leads a neighborhood in Central Kentucky, surrounded by a remarkable cast of characters, to begin rebuilding America based on Founding Father principles. Besides the challenges of obtaining everyday necessities for himself and his neighbors, Mike must navigate his new role as leader of a diverse group of people while dealing with threats of anarchy and the inevitable rise of power-hungry despots.It is a completely new world, without many of the support systems people have depended upon for generations.Fortunately, Mike has the help of several brilliant minds, superior military leadership and training, and people that have studied and understand history. Will this be enough to overcome man's tendency toward savagery in a world without rules or someone to enforce them?

"Eull's Intercessions is both a Hitchcockian thriller and the deeply personal journey of a forgotten victim. Grief, trauma, disorientation, stalking are just the tip of the iceberg. A debut novel not to be missed." -Reed Farrel Coleman, New York Times bestselling author of Sleepless CityWhen young Corianne Dempsey and her best friend, Rebecca, are approached by a stranger on their way to school, only one girl makes it home. When Rebecca turns up dead, Corianne's childhood ends abruptly.Growing up in the long shadow of this event, Corianne is now a conflicted young woman seeking solace in dangerous places. Her hauntingly-dark dreams begin crossing into waking life, hinting that the past she remembers may be a lie.Driven to make sense of what is happening, she returns to the only place she feels solid, the farm that provided an escape all those years ago, and the one person who has never judged or blamed her-the husband of her mother's best friend.With his help she begins to let in the darkness she has tried so hard to shut away and learns that truth and healing are even more complicated than she imagined.

"I found this memoir to be an excellent work that evoked a myriad of emotions, beginning with deSousa's experiences before meeting Richard to their enduring association. It captures the depth of the couple's love skillfully, the dreams they held onto, and the impact his addiction had on their relationship." -Readers' FavoriteSometimes the wrong person says the right thing, and it makes all the difference.In this coming-of-age memoir we meet Richard, a handsome, charming, mischievous, great guy with a fondness for the 1980s party drug of choice, cocaine. Yvonne is 11 years younger, awkward, terrified of her own shadow and even more frightened by the idea of disappointing anyone in her life. Their attraction makes no sense.Despite obstacles beyond their control, they are exactly what each other is drawn to as they set about doing the best they can, in all four seasons of their beautiful, one season town, Provincetown, MA. Their connection remains the one thing that can save Yvonne from herself, even while Richard struggles under the weight of his own self-imposed demons.What they develop is a relationship that unbeknownst to both of them, would last a lifetime and change Yvonne in ways she never thought possible. They were not supposed to be together.Yet, they refused to stay apart.

"Where is my son?" Asher's mother screamed as they loaded her husband's body into the ambulance.Five miles up the trail, Asher was going deeper into the wilderness. His compulsive need for routine, hike to the lake at the same time on the same trail with the same gear, is now amplified by his father's last wish, to find their friend and deliver supplies.In Lincoln, Wyoming, fourteen-year-old Caleb (Finding Caleb: Search and Rescue Dog Book I) is stunned when the sheriff asks him to urgently bring search dog "Boo" to find Asher. When they find Asher near the lake, the adventure is just beginning. Asher insists on staying "lost" so he can connect with an off-the-grid survivalist. Then a woman in a wheel chair helps them all stay out of trouble with the law.Finding Asher is a story of resilience and the driving need for belonging, as Caleb and Boo search the wilderness and survive the with the help of people with autism, mental illness, and physical disabilities.

"Lawrence Kelter is an exciting new novelist, who reminds me of an early Robert Ludlum." -Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling authorGina Marie Cototi is a feisty Sicilian sparkplug, a Brooklyn-based PI with a fondness for family, friends, and one roguishly handsome Casanova named Rocco Benelli. Hey, nobody's perfect.This headstrong sleuth drives a split-window '63 Corvette coupe and never, I mean never, misses Sunday dinner with Ma, Dad, and her sister Theresa.Broke, brooding, and breathtaking, Benelli, an out-of-work parole officer is cursed with more charm than any man deserves. Deep down, Gina knows she shouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole, but she's got more cases than she can handle, and Benelli's ready, willing, and able-bodied, the perfect partner to help her get the goods on Vlad "The Scud" Rzhevsky, a disreputable boxer running point on dirty deeds for Luca Mura, a mobster as evil as he is dangerous.Gina must somehow close the case without losing her life to Mura or her virtue to Benelli, but a moth working alongside a flame is always in danger of catching fire.For fans of Janet Evanovich. Think of Man-Killer as Stephanie Plum meets Moonstruck.

"A love letter to theatre, Christmas, and Agatha Christie all wrapped in one." -Timothy Gene Sojka, author of Payback JackIt's December in Tennant Park, Colorado, and that can only mean one thing: The annual production of "A Christmas Carol" is just around the corner. The cast is abuzz, full of community-theatre veterans and fresh-faced newcomers. All in this small mountain town is merry and bright...Until Teena, one of the actors, makes a chilling discovery on opening night: Someone is going to murder Scrooge-or, rather, the actor playing Scrooge-right on stage, in front of the entire audience. Everyone in the cast is a suspect. Can Teena crack the case, save Scrooge, and figure out whogonnadoit... all while remembering her lines?

"A Riveting Investigative Thriller." -T&MSuspicious deaths and political ambition collide in Foxholes. Follow Vince Marcotte and Hadley Collins as they join forces to solve a pair of murders before they become the next victims.Combat veteran Vince Marcotte has hung up his uniform in favor of a quiet, comfortable life. But, ghosts from his past are raised when Nick Batson announces his Senate campaign. Vince is convinced Nick got away with murder 15 years ago when they were both deployed to Afghanistan. When another person close to Nick dies under mysterious circumstances, Vince enlists the help of amateur detective Hadley Collins to prove Nick's guilt. As they grow closer to the truth, they become Nick's targets and soon learn that he'll stop at nothing to achieve his political goals. As Nick barrels toward a campaign victory, Vince races to discover what really happened in Afghanistan. Will he survive long enough to bring Nick to justice?Foxholes, the first in the Marcotte and Collins Investigative Thriller series, is a page-turning crime thriller. Smart, engaging, and suspenseful, Travis Tougaw's debut novel will grab your attention on the first page and not let go. Buy it today and get to know your new favorite detectives!

"What is shown to us each time is an idea, a little piece of speculative universe, and we peek into it ..." -Russell Meredith, author of The Psychic BatteryA mysterious church, a man's humorous visit to a megastore, disappearing images from a photograph, missing chocolates, a search for a house from a grandfather's memory, ghosts protecting their home... These are all stories from the imagination, crossing genres, intended to answer "What would happen if...?" There is no one answer. The tales travel in different directions, using a variety of characters and styles to take your mind to worlds beyond this one.

"A charming, funny, romantic mystery with a fine, twisty plot and a delightfully kooky cast of older patients and friends." -Angela Knight, NY Times Bestselling AuthorRuth Markson returns to her childhood home for a year as she carries out her secret plan for a big city career. On the first day nursing in a retirement facility, she's warned by a resident that his friends are unexpectedly dying.Unlike Ruth, her former pal Tyler Kelly truly loves their small Wisconsin hometown and its community of friends and family. The only thing missing is someone to share his life-Ms. Right.Ruth questions the medications for elderly residents and suspects foul play. As patient deaths mount up, she receives threats and asks tech-savvy Tyler for help. Using hidden cameras, she risks her job and her career to solve the mystery. She finally blurts out her conclusions, unaware that a killer is listening.As the danger increases, so does her attraction to Tyler. With scheming coworkers, an old nemesis turned Elvis impersonator, and an attack goose in her way, can Ruth uncover the conspiracy before the murderer comes for her? Will she be forced to choose between her dreams and her growing desire for Tyler, or can they move from friendship to forever?

"Nichols creates a cast of funny eccentrics who are in way over their heads when it comes to fraudulent antiques dealers, deadly doctors, and cold-blooded murderers. " -Kim Conrey Author of Stealing AresLucy Howard has arranged her life around the philosophy honesty is mostly the best policy. But her dream to work in research at a reputable museum don't materialize. Instead, she finds herself investigating a charming elderly woman who's running an insurance scam involving the company Lucy works for. She catches her "perfect" boyfriend with another woman. And her favorite narcoleptic- antiques-dealing uncle needs her to prove he's not a murderer, unless he actually is.Her boss agrees to assist her if she joins his investigation against a doctor suspected of selling human organs. Along with a sexy detective who makes Lucy question her resolve not to rush into another relationship, she becomes involved with some very shady characters. When she begins receiving bizarrely ominous threats, she realizes she could be in real danger.As the threats escalate, Lucy recognizes that her belief in total transparency might not be enough to save her life. And that if she gets the chance to begin a new one, she must accept that honesty, without love to temper it, can be a cold companion.

"The adventure continues, as Hanshee and Raymond confront a web of intrigue and double-dealing in a brutal world where outrageous luxury and dire poverty exist side by side." -Jill Hand, author of White OaksWhat was first thought to be a safe respite from both the winter elements and the stark brutality of man, has turned into more peril than Raymond and Hanshee could have imagined. Menace lurks in every shadowed corner and the pair find it almost impossible to tell friend from foe. Hanshee, the Maiyochi, has proven equal to every test thus far, but how much longer can even he hold out against dangers that can appear in any form, from any direction, and at any time?The impenetrable walls of Stronghold have proven to be as much prison as refuge, and the pair soon realizes that their only hope lies in somehow escaping the impregnable fortress of the Pith. Failure means continued peril from the shadowy forces who seek no less than their deaths. But even success, as unlikely as it seems, only places them adrift between hostile nations, with no guarantee that death won't continue to stalk them, and no choice but to again take up a journey that becomes more difficult with every passing day.With the destinies of empires riding upon their shoulders, and the tip of every weapon pointing in their direction, the stakes could not be higher for Raymond and the Maiyochi.

A cyberpunk fairytale. A different Alice in a wonderless land.Seventeen-year-old Jezebel Winters has fallen from grace.Once a member of SkyApt, the elite housing complex that protects the one percent in the New Satellite Republic of America, formerly Boston, a political coup leads to the murder of Jezebel's parents and her brother's disappearance. Overnight Jezebel's status switches from citizen to illegal pariah. The hunt is on.Terrified and alone, Jezebel flees into the dangerous urban jungle of the N.S.R.A. where half-human, half-android creatures roam and vicious machines called Graph Angels target all illegals. Using a combination of gymnastic daring and survivor instincts, Jezebel makes contact with the fabled Ragtag Whirly Girlies, an all-female gang of thieves whose DIY tech includes wrist lasers and jet packs that allow them to evade capture by government forces. Can Jezebel cement her place among the Ragtags, harness their revolutionary tech, and locate her parents' killer before her luck runs out?It's Alice in Wonderland meets Blade Runner in this high-octane dystopian adventure that explores what might happen if we lose empathy for each other and respect for our environment.

"Last Patient of the Night is M*A*S*H* meets Detective Harry Bosch. It's a thriller that won't disappoint." -Gregory D. Lee, author of Stinger: An International ThrillerThe death of a nameless young woman in his emergency room spurs physician AJ Docker to seek answers. Together with his policeman friend and a police dog, he sets out on a quest for justice for his lost patient, but he discovers more questions than answers as he delves into the criminal world. Last Patient of the Night is an action packed thriller interspersed with lighthearted stories from the emergency room, featuring a cast of interesting characters. Gary Gerlacher's experience as an emergency physician lends authenticity to the ER culture. His debut novel is the first in the AJ Docker series, and will leave you turning pages late into the night.

The gripping new book from the author of The Algorithm Will See You Now. Based on the true-life rationing of kidney dialysis in 1960s America, a medical intern in 1992 Seattle tries to leave his painful past behind, only to uncover a shocking truth of thirty years prior and the lasting, generational harm of hidden secrets...After a co-intern dies by suicide, a grieving Noah Meier commits an accidental error. In a desperate move to save his patient's life, he covertly seeks help from audacious surgical resident Marah Maddox, igniting a bond between them.When the hospital is suspiciously quick to sweep everything under the rug, Noah turns to his late father's journal for guidance and makes a chilling discovery, all while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of abusive Dr. Rankel, keen to make an example of Noah. Worse, Rankel clearly has it out for Marah as the only woman in her program.As the hospital's patriarchal power structures, and the truth about his father's past, threaten Noah and Marah's burgeoning relationship, Noah will have to choose: shoulder his father's devastating legacy or create his own daring future.The latest sensational page-turner from physician-author JL Lycette, The Committee Will Kill You Now is a riveting historical suspense about the inner workings of the medical world and the personal struggles of those within it.A thrilling near-historical drama that exposes the dark side of the medical establishment and a must-read for anyone interested in medicine, ethics, and the human struggle for justice.

In two years, Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street has gone on to win a total of 21 awards, including the '2024 Communicator Award of Distinction' (Audible) as well as placing as a Finalist in the '2023 American Writer Awards for Best Memoir' and more.His abusive family tore him away from her. Would destiny be enough to bring him back?At ten years old, Chris didn't have good looks, a caring family, or a bright future. But what he did have for three years was the love of Danielle, his beautiful neighbor on Fairhaven Street who showed him a glimpse of a life he desperately wanted.To escape his abusive father, Chris was forced to move out of state with his mother to the icy hills of Michigan. All he could leave Danielle with was half of a heart-shaped pendant and a promise that he would one day return for her. To have any chance of getting her back, he would have to end over one hundred years of abuse in his family, something his mother claimed he was destined to carry on. For eight years, all he had to keep going was his half of the pendant, which had tarnished heavily from years of his refusal to take it off.Destiny Lives on Fairhaven Street is a touching multi-award-winning memoir from author C.J. Hudson of his eight-year journey of preparation to return to the love of his life. Written to his twin sons, his story is a testament to the power of devotion and proof that the life you've always wanted is possible if you never give up.

"Abby Miller is a unique character, and I immensely enjoyed taking this journey with her. Abby's Fire is a compelling tale with a wealth of dark secrets. As the saying goes, flames may destroy, but they can also create something vital . . . the human spirit." -Daryl Wood Gerber, Agatha Award-winning author of The Fairy Garden MysteriesAfter a fire destroys her home, Abby Bennett emerges from the hospital horribly scarred. Her husband has abandoned her, and her two little boys are-gone.Determined to reclaim her life and get her boys back, Abby returns to her hometown in Iowa. With the help of a reclusive neighbor, Jack, she begins renovating her sister's rental property. But the old cottage has a tragic past-a grisly unsolved murder.When Abby sees images of the victims-a mother and her children-in a mirror above the fireplace, she realizes it holds the key to solving the decades-old mystery. As Abby embarks on a quest to unmask the murderer, she learns that evil from the past still has the power to destroy. Will she sacrifice everything she's worked so hard for to set right an old wrong?

"Five sexy, disturbing stars!" (Amazon Reviewer)"Hands down the best book I've ever read!" (Amazon Reviewer)I didn't expect this. I didn't ask for this. I never wanted to confront anything close to this feeling. Falling in love terrified me. I wasn't prepared for the ultimate "fall" from grace. I had plans to leave New York City and never look back. Growing up in a dysfunctional household with Mom and Rob had scarred my psyche. I needed to break my mother's generational curse. I didn't want to marry an abusive jerk and financially struggle while he broke all his promises.Little did I know that I had cursed myself when my world collided with Noah Hunter, a sexy, cutthroat attorney based in California, the destination that was calling to me. The first time I saw his ocean eyes, my heart broke and bloomed opened at the same time because I knew... I knew I could never love this man like a father.Mom had lied.So many secrets... including the sweetest sins shared between me and Noah. He was older than me. My heart was blind to the red flags. Was it infatuation? A crush? Far from it. Noah didn't want to drag me to hell with him. But falling for a fallen angel had liberated me from purgatory. I had to make him realize this, regardless of how wrong our attraction was.

Marissa Raffaelo-Moretta is used to shouldering the burden. As the middle child, she's played the mediator role for longer than she cares to admit. As a mother, she's taken on the exhausting task of primary caregiver. And as a daughter and nurse practitioner, she's spent her adult life being responsible for her parents' physical and mental health.When her stubborn and impulsive father, Frank, falls and refuses to stay at rehab, she and her brothers bring him home, and Marissa upends her life: she temporarily moves into her parents' house, which takes precious time away from her two sons and jeopardizes her job. Soon, Marissa recognizes that life as they've all known it is about to change: while Frank's ineffective legs are worrisome, her mother Angie's memory issues might be a more urgent dilemma.A heartbreaking and emotional story of the toll that health crises can have on an entire family, The Weight We Carry reminds us of the fine line between reliance and independence, tending and mothering, and love and obligation.

"It's Treasure Island meets The Outsiders... a grand adventure not to be missed." -Haris Orkin, award-winning author of the James Flynn EscapadesAbandoned as an infant, 15-year-old Bonnie Hartwright doesn't know who she really is. And that just might get her killed.After her latest scrape with the law, foster girl Bonnie is abruptly carted off to a "reform sailing camp" on the Carolina coast. There, she discovers the camp is actually a training compound of a centuries-old secret society, all of whose members are descendants of a notorious pirate. Bonnie and her fellow teen internees, all denizens of the digital age, must now master the old ways of sword and sail as they prepare to battle a mysterious, unnamed enemy. During weeks of training, Bonnie finds herself drawn to both Wilder, a charismatic thief, and Reed, the grandson of the group's leader, a boy who carries the weight of a family legacy on his shoulders.But a secret is being withheld from Bonnie, one that could end up proving lethal. Before it's too late, she must uncover the truth about herself or face certain death in a watery grave.In The Brigands of the Compass Rose, Runkle and Webb put a modern-day twist on the swashbuckling page-turners of the past, blending action, romance, and a heavy dose of black magic into a thrilling young adult adventure like no other.

After another failed gallery opening, struggling artist, Wyatt Brone, receives the sudden news that his world-renowned, artist uncle has committed suicide.As part of his inheritance, Wyatt receives a painting from his uncle's collection. This painting also comes with a mysterious letter that says as long as Wyatt obeys these three simple rules, all of Wyatt's dreams will come true. Wyatt obeys the simple rules, and everything about his life begins to turn around, seemingly overnight. His girlfriend becomes his fiancé, his galleries begin selling out, he gets large contract offers for worldwide galleries, and even a full, front page expose in The New York Times. Wyatt becomes a world-wide sensation.When Wyatt accidentally disobeys the rules of this cursed painting, however, all of these dreams begin to show cracks. In a race to discover the truth, Wyatt must find out if his sudden fame is due to his years of hard work and dedication to his craft, or is the painting he inherited from his uncle actually cursed?

Seventeen-year-old Ghonna "Gyle" is an outcast unsure of their identity, trying to get by in a post-apocalyptic society where traditional values reign. To raise themself out of the Lower Ranks, Ghonna participates in the annual Imperial Events (a cross between the Olympics, X-games, and Roman Gladiator Combat).With each stage, the stakes increase, the competition is fiercer, and the possibility of death becomes likely.However, Ghonna uses their ingenuity and guile to methodically progress through the Events, and a "once-viewed pariah of humanity" wins over the masses, evolving into a messiah for a secret reform movement.

"A mystery, love story, family saga filled with memorable characters you care about deeply. The author moves between generations with a sure hand, keeping the reader securely grounded in each life and storyline." -Karen Osborne, author of ReckoningsThree women of different generations are bound together by history and mystery: Louise Wright, 19th century; her 20th century great-granddaughter, Lou McManus, and Kapi McManus, Lou's teenaged step-granddaughter, each full of conflicts, questions, and contradictions.Two historical storylines run parallel, converging as Lou and Kapi explore the mystery of Louise Wright. Louise Wright, soon to marry the reverend's son, falls in love with a Native American, and gives birth to their multicultural baby. Three generations later, Lou McManus and Kapi, seeming to share nothing, are saddled with each other when Kapi's mother dies. However, they discover a shared love of history, local and personal.In their explorations of Louise Wright's story, Kapi is convinced Louise was Native American, infuriating Lou, who was brought up to revile natives. The two of them try to work through devastating losses, generational differences, snarled opinions, and historical excavations in their searches.

"Never has a dark choice seemed so right." -M.R. Fournet, author of Brick Dust and BonesCharlie Edwards once-perfect life is shattered when she discovers her husband's infidelity and plan to kill her for an inheritance. Feeling helpless and in danger, Charlie turns to her mirror-image twin, Dani. They use their specialized skill sets to assure his plan does not succeed.FBI agent Brian Deeds is assigned to investigate Charlies' husband for bank fraud. When the possibility of his ex-fiancés' involvement arises in the case, will his feelings override his duty?In this gripping tale of deception and danger, the twins will use an outhouse, a pig farm and some very sharp knives to outmaneuver Jonathan and stay one step ahead of the FBI's investigation. Will they have what it takes to make the dark choices to change their destiny?

"Author Ed Leahy introduces a deep, strong dose of how fragmented humanity can be, whether seeking justice, witnessing crime, or enjoying the simple perverted joy of ruining people's lives." -C. Hope Clark, The Edisto Island MysteriesWhile Detective Kim Brady is in Bermuda recovering from depression, an aid of the mayor's arrives with a summons to return to New York to investigate the assassination of Sabrina Dunn, a long-time critic and political opponent of the mayor's. Although the mayor pledges his full support, Kim can't ignore the mayor's potential motive. But she soon learns of others with a potential motive, including Sabrina's estranged father and a group of investors pushing a major redevelopment project that Sabrina opposed.The investigation is soon complicated when details are leaked to the press. No sooner does Kim learn the identity of the assassin than his body is found. Shortly after, the assassin's identity is also leaked, along with a report that the mayor and the assassin had at one time been coworkers, a fact the police did not have. Kim struggles to find the source of the leak, to learn if there is some connection between the redevelopment project and the assassination, and to determine, once and for all, the mayor's guilt or innocence.

"Personally, I think we created evolution ourselves so that we could be together in the first place. Instead of being lonely spirits cast out in the middle of space. Natural selection or unnatural selection, it doesn't matter-we make our decisions and that leads to evolution."When Keller Mod brings a corpse back to life, the story hits media channels and he finds himself on the run from a phantom caller who wishes to hire him. Giving in to curiosity and extortion, Keller gets caught in a morbid world connected to his childhood, and is lethally tasked-he must contact a flatlining victim and bring them back to life. But not to their usual self-to their clone. Keller races against time to uncover and escape the phantom caller but finds that to do so, he must also make peace with his past.

In the autumn of 1971, Cleveland Police Lieutenant Alex Wesner is given a case that may be no case at all, or it may be several cases tied together. Did a workman perish in a vat of molten steel, or is his disappearance part of an elaborate ruse? To find the answers the lieutenant and his team must navigate the Byzantine procedures and furnaces of the Rubicon Steel Corporation while relying on mostly unhelpful witnesses: an enigmatic young man who might be talking in riddles, or a left-for-dead comatose security guard, knifed like so many other victims. The lieutenant's investigative team is an odd collection themselves: a muscle builder, a newly-minted Sergeant, and an unfamiliar detective who may be a Voodoo priestess. To make matters worse, someone may be feeding information to the enemy.Keep your eyes wide open as you take a frightful ride through the polluted river valley created by Rubicon Steel and other rusting and rotting industries, the belly of an old rust-belt city. The corrosive atmosphere spawns many shady, treacherous characters. Can Lieutenant Wesner cleanse his own soul and save himself from the fires that threaten to consume those around him.