Dwight is trapped in a life of bleak despair, holding down a seedy gumshoe job while battling his own personal demons and relentless self-recrimination over past mistakes. His daily existence is a numb, gray hell, and he constantly yearns for a clean slate—one clear opportunity to pull himself out of his rut and reclaim a sense of passion or purpose, symbolized by his desire to "eel the fire, one more time. However, this longing is constantly undercut by a desperate need for control, driven by the fear that any lapse will unleash a monstrous, destructive side of himself.
Dwight's fragile state of control is instantly threatened when he receives a call from Ava, a former lover. This single event shatters the miserable equilibrium he has maintained, suggesting that the chance he longed for might finally be presenting itself—but at the highest possible cost. Rapidly descending back into the dangerous, chaotic life he has tried so desperately to keep suppressed, Dwight must choose between the monotony of his safe, miserable existence and the thrilling, but deadly, fire he craves.
Readers who enjoy hard-boiled crime fiction and dark, moody psychological thrillers will enjoy this book. Its intense focus on a troubled protagonist grappling with moral corruption and self-control will appeal to those who appreciate a noir aesthetic, featuring a detective figure, a mysterious femme fatale, and themes of regret and redemption.
