No Man's Ghost

by Jason Powell

Overview

It's a FDNY firefighter’s first—and possibly last—week on the job.

Charles Davids is a probationary firefighter working his first week out of the academy. For Charles, quietly battling his lack of confidence is a daily challenge as his new officers coach him on life as a New York City firefighter. The men love to tease and prank the new guy, but when it comes to drilling and training, they’re clear that the job is no joke. As is said in the fire service: "let no man’s ghost return to say my training let me down."

Unfortunately for Charles, his first week is the same week that Alan Johnson, an unstable and soon-to-be-ex husband, gets kicked out and comes up with the idea to report fake fires at his wife's apartment every night. Alan laughs at the thought of her being awakened nightly by sirens and horns—if he can’t sleep in their apartment, why the hell should she? But after days of crying wolf, Alan decides that fake fires aren’t enough…

Set on the hot summer streets of NYC and building to a fiery conclusion, No Man’s Ghost is a vibrant and thrilling look at the people who keep a city safe—and the ones who want to watch it burn.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781957957081
Publisher:	Polis Books
Publication date:	06/27/2023
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Jason Powell is a FDNY firefighter and author whose work has been published in Slate, and numerous online writing outlets. When he isn't at the firehouse or at a desk, he can be found cooking his famous steak Alfredo linguini as featured on Rachel Ray Everyday, or lost in the pages of a novel. No Man’s Ghost is his first novel. Find him online at authorjasonpowell.com and on Twitter @JayPowell1625

Editorial Reviews

02/20/2023

Set in a New York City firehouse during a suffocatingly hot July, firefighter Powell’s promising debut follows the first week of 24-year-old Charles Davids on the job. Probationary firefighter Charles must endure pranks from his colleagues and learn many lessons on firehouse comportment, starting with bringing cake to the firehouse on his first day. Fortuitously for Charles, at the shop where he stops for cake, he meets Libby, an attractive baker, and their immediate mutual attraction leads to a chaste romance. Pleasant scenes of the home and love lives of other firefighters add to the sunny narrative. The only notes of discord are provided by Alan Johnson, an alcoholic on the skids, who blames his wife and his female boss for his descent into homelessness. The paths of Alan and the firefighters inevitably cross. Crimes are limited to acts of arson, and there’s little tension and no surprises. Powell’s strength lies in his descriptions of fire and the sights, sounds, and emotions of being inside a burning building. This works best as an extended love letter to firefighters. Agent: Abby Saul, Lark Group. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Emotionally gripping tale…Crisp, gorgeous prose and sweat-inducing action scenes take readers into the heart of danger.” 
–Brianna Labuskes, bestselling author of The Librarian of Burned Books

“(A) promising debut…Powell’s strength lies in his descriptions of fire and the sights, sounds, and emotions of being inside a burning building.” –Publishers Weekly

“No Man’s Ghost is both a deeply compassionate tribute to the everyday heroism of ordinary people and an uplifting balm that gripped me with its ease, romance, and sense of wonder. I couldn’t put it down.” –Meredith Hambrock, author of Other People’s Secrets

From the Publisher