Incendiary Designs: A Caleb & Thinnes Mystery

By Michael Allen Dymmoch

Book Overview

Arson, passion, and religious fanaticism set Chicago ablaze in the deadliest summer on record.

While jogging through Chicago's Lincoln Park, Dr. Jack Caleb runs into murder--a mob setting a police car on fire-- with the officer still inside. Caleb rescues the man, but later the cop's partner is found stoned to death. Detective John Thinnes is assigned to investigate.

Evidence points toward members of a charismatic church, but too many of them die in arson fires before the cops can round them up. When arson kills the apparent ring leader, it's too much coincidence. The remaining cop killers plead guilty; the case seems to be closed. But as Chicago heats up in the deadliest summer on record, it becomes clear that a serial arsonist is still at large.

A physician friend of Caleb's is implicated when some of the fire victims are found to have been drugged. To exonerate the man, Caleb sets a trap for the killer, and Thinnes and Caleb are nearly incinerated when the doctor's trap brings the case to a fiery finish.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1626819378
• ISBN13: 9781626819375
• Release Date: January 2015
• Publisher: Diversion Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A BARN BURNER

This story starts out with a dead police officer. The pace just keeps going as John Thinnes and his fellow officers look for a crazy cult. A barn burner!!

An outstanding noir detective novel

This novel takes readers inside the Chicago PD, through some of the city's meanest streets, and explores several levels of Chicago's social structure. And always, in a complex city with a complicated plot, the clear, direct writing of the author, her sensitivity and realism make this an excellent novel with logical action, realistic dialogue and solidly grounded conclusions.A night-time jogger, Jack Caleb, comes across a mob trying to burn a Chicago squad car. When he discovers a cop still inside, he risks his own life to save the man. His actions put him in the middle of a complex situation that soon involves, murder, arson, and crack Chicago detective, John Thinnes. Adding to the richness of this dark and gritty novel are some marvelously sensitve scenes of the deepening relationship between a Dr. Martin Morgan and Psychiatrist Caleb.Chicago in all its complexities, the PD and the charismatic Conflagration Church all come realistically alive in this fine, exciting novel.

Best tour of Chicago since Bueller

Psychiatrist Dr. Jack Caleb is jogging in Chicago's Lincoln Park when he hears some chanting. When he goes in the direction of the noise he observes a cultist mob about to burn a police car with the cop inside the vehicle. His presence puts a halt to the festivities and the wannabe arsonists flee the scene. Later on, the officer's partner Arlette Banks is found dead, a victim of a stoning. The Chicago police department assigns John Thinnes to investigate the case, which circumstantially point towards the cult. However, the case becomes more complicated when members of the cult begin to die in what appears to be a series of arson fires. Soon, evidence surfaces that makes the prime suspect appear to be Dr. Morgan, a close friend of Jack. To prove his buddy, who he wants a closer relationship with, is innocent, Jack sets in motion a plan that, if it fails, will leave him and John burnt to a crisp The third Thinnes-Caleb investigation, INCENDIARY DESIGNS, is a well-designed tale. The story line is obviously crisp and fast-paced. The secondary characters and the lead duo strengthen the plot. However, what makes Michael Allen Dymmoch's novel so good is the best tour of Chicago since Bueller needed a day off. This is a wonderful series that is worth reading.Harriet Klausner