Devil’s Kitchen

I am new to Candice Fox’s writing, but after inhaling Devil’s Kitchen, I’ll be reading more of her work. I know this sounds like hyperbole but, truly, I could NOT put this one down.

The setup is irresistible: New York City’s fire department, especially after 9/11, is known for their heroism and skill and one team, Ladder 51, is no exception. But the crew, Ben, Jakey, Engo and their leader Matt, are also a ruthless group of brilliant thieves who use their intimate knowledge of the city’s architecture and their willingness to do whatever it takes to steal millions from banks, jewelry stores, and art galleries. Their city’s trust in them as well as their very jobs have made them some of the most successful criminals on the East Coast.

Devil’s Kitchen kicks off with the tension cranked up to eleven and never lets up. As the book begins, a woman named Andy, a new member of the team, kneels on the ground, as does Ben. Engo, Matt, and Jakey have accused her of being a cop and Ben of knowing that. Guns have been drawn, and Andy thinks It would look like an accident. 

The story then jumps three months in the past. Ben is sitting at his local diner, thinking about how everything has gone to shit. He’s been part of Ladder 51 since he was young–Matt is a father figure to him. Their loyalty to one another must be absolute. But Ben’s girlfriend and son have disappeared. Desperate, and convinced Matt knows something about this, Ben’s sent the cops a letter ratting out his friends which results in Andy appearing at his local diner.  She is a freelance investigator whose jobs involve going deep undercover to solve crimes–in this one, she’s loosely partnered with the FBI. Andy is keen to help Ben find his missing family but her handler Tony–not a great guy–is much more interested in putting the crew away for the robberies.

Andy has a plan, one that makes Ben very very nervous. She’ll get herself on the crew and, once the guys accept her, she and Ben will document their next big heist. Whether or not this will work, what it will mean to Ben if it does, well, Fox spools out this story of secrets and betrayals brilliantly. 

All of the lead characters, with the possible exception of Tony whose true nature remains a bit too elusive, are fascinating. Some are outright evil, others have their reasons for why they do the morally iffy things they do. I genuinely had no idea how the novel would end or whether and how those who sinned would pay.The fire scenes are, well, fire. Fox, who is Australian, gets New York down pat–one has the sense she spent months there following some hopefully non-criminally inclined fire company as they worked.

As I devoured the pages, I kept thinking, Whoa,  this needs to be a movie. With its audacious plot, intense fire fighting scenes, and darkly accurate portrayal of New York City, Devil’s Kitchen is a wild ride of a read.

If you’re a fan of smart, fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thrillers, Devil’s Kitchen is your jam.