Book Description
In Fire Feud, Thomas Roehlk frames a modern legal crisis as the gateway to a much older conflict. The novel traces how routine professional decisions can unravel long-concealed histories with dangerous consequences.
The discovery of a skeleton during construction work in Chicago draws attorney Mandy Doucette into a situation that quickly spirals beyond standard legal management. DNA evidence reveals that the remains are tied to her own company and to her boyfriend’s family, placing Mandy at the center of a growing storm.
Her twin sister Reggie, an FBI forensic pathologist, follows forensic clues that trace the crime back to the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Together, the sisters uncover a feud between two powerful families that has persisted for over a century. As they expose fraud, betrayal, and hidden crimes, they become targets themselves. The deeper they investigate, the clearer it becomes that certain men will resort to violence to protect their reputations and preserve the power built on buried truths.
Q&A
What sets your book apart from others in your genre?
I consider my genre as thriller, with the sub-genre of legal thriller. I have much respect for women in the corporate law world, and I believe my work shines a light on this type of character in the crowded world of thrillers.
What’s your favorite compliment you’ve received as a writer?
My favorite was from a review I received on my first book, Red Deuce. It was “Red Deuce shows the author’s behind-the-scenes understanding of how corporations work, making it seem all too credible. The plot keeps you guessing until the very end. Just when you think you’ve figured it all out, he throws another curveball that leaves you eagerly flipping pages to uncover the truth.”
Why did you choose this setting/topic?
Choosing Chicago as a setting provides an amazing city with amazing history, and therefore amazing opportunities to build stories. My protagonist is a study in contrasts. She finds herself unable to poke the beast until it reveals its web of intrigue and illegality, and the story of intermingled crime and espionage allows the protagonist to push herself into solving the mystery.
Which author(s) most inspired you?
Michael Connelley, John Sandford and Steig Larsson.
Which three books would you bring to a desert island?
Caleb Carr’s The Alienist, Steig Larsson’s Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and Erik Larson’s Devil In The White City.
Find Fire Feud at Amazon.
THOMAS M.ROEHLK is a retired corporate attorney from St. Charles, Illinois, whose career spans major international corporations in the defense sector, consumer products, transportation equipment, and financial services. He spent more than 20 years serving as general counsel and chief compliance officer for a public company, bringing deep real-world legal and corporate insight to his fiction. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and John Marshall Law School, Roehlk also holds a Master in Management degree from Northwestern University. A devoted endurance athlete, he has completed more than 100 marathons and ultramarathons worldwide, as well as ten Ironman triathlons. After 46 years in the Chicago metropolitan area, he and his wife now split their time between Florida and New York. Visit Thomas at his website.
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