Look In The Mirror

John Murphy is a flawed, manipulating man who uses his friends and family to advance his own ambitions. Murphy is the owner of an auto service center in the small town of Liberty Falls, NY, in 1962. He is married to Ruth, a devoted parishioner at her local church, and they have a newborn son. His covert campaign to win the election to become a Second Lieutenant within his volunteer fire company puts him in direct conflict with the established politics and procedures of the fire company. On election night following the vote, Murphy has an epic confrontation with his nemesis, Gus Bennett, a former Marine who possesses all the virtues Murphy is seeking but doesn’t want to earn them the traditional way.

Later that same night with snow falling from a late November cold front, a fire erupts at the Stokes Boarding House. Murphy rescues a woman and a child only to learn later of the death of one male resident. The investigation into the cause of the fire by county detective George Hampton reveals the truth of what happened at Stokes.

The novel explores themes of character, loyalty, traditions, and the realities of firehouse politics in a small-town setting.