The Fire Starters by Jan Carson

“The Fire Starters” is a novel written by Jan Carson, a Northern Irish author, and was first published in 2019. The book is set in contemporary Belfast and explores themes of parenthood, adolescence, and the legacy of the Troubles, the decades-long conflict in Northern Ireland.

The story follows two fathers, Sammy Agnew and Jonathan Murray, who are both struggling to connect with their teenage sons. As their sons become increasingly rebellious and begin to exhibit troubling behavior, the fathers are forced to confront the unresolved issues from their own pasts and to reckon with the ways in which their actions and decisions have affected their families.

Against this backdrop of personal struggle, a mysterious rash of arson attacks breaks out across the city, with unknown perpetrators setting fire to homes and buildings in various neighborhoods. The arson attacks provide a backdrop to the personal dramas of the two families, and ultimately lead to a dramatic confrontation that forces them to confront their shared history and the ongoing legacy of the Troubles.

“The Fire Starters” is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that explores complex issues of identity, memory, and family. Carson’s writing is lyrical and evocative, and her characters are richly drawn and fully realized. The novel offers a nuanced and deeply felt portrait of Belfast, and provides a powerful meditation on the challenges of parenting and the long-term impact of conflict on individual lives and communities.