Burn Boston Burn

The Story of the Largest Arson Case in the History of the Country

By: Wayne M. Miller

Narrated by: Chris Monteiro

Burn Boston Burn is an astounding true crime narration. A conspiracy of nine men, including three Boston cops and a Boston firefighter, burned Boston and surrounding communities in the early 1980s due to tax-cutting measures that caused layoffs of hundreds of police and firefighters.

Over two years, these fire buffs-turned-arsonists torched 264 buildings, causing millions of dollars in damages and hundreds of injuries. The city was ablaze with nightly fires, sirens wailing through the streets, and people too afraid to sleep.

This book interweaves the activities of the arsonists with those of the investigators, the firefighters, and the citizens of the area. Listeners will shake their heads in disbelief at the brazen and wanton actions of these political terrorists. The author Wayne Miller, now a retired ATF special agent, lived this case for three years. A TV cameraman helped break the case when one of the cops waved his gun in the air at a massive fire as if he were at a rodeo.

The case included a stolen police car dumped in Boston Harbor and a threat letter consisting of cut-out letters and plans to murder witnesses. After the Boston police officer/arsonist became a witness, they utilized 17 undercover contacts to perfect a federal case.

Agent Miller spent innumerable hours with those perpetrators who became Government witnesses. An arsonist’s journal provided the basis for chilling insights into their words, actions, and thoughts. Mr. Miller now has regular contact with that arsonist who has provided additional information in support of the book.

Every firefighter who has heard of the story wants to read or listen about it. Also, anyone interested in true crime, investigative procedures, the inner workings of a criminal conspiracy, and fires would have strong interests in this book. The case was covered by national media in the early to mid 1980s.

©2019 Wayne M. Miller (P)2019 Wayne M. Miller

Great story, terrible narrator.

The narrator, unfortunately, sounds like AI. Otherwise, fascinating story that keeps you wondering, "when will they get them?"

Great True story from those who were there

Excellent detail, easy to imagine the people and the events. Great case work and so many thousands of hours involved to solve hundreds of arsons.

Outstanding

As someone who grew up in the eighties, and who’s dad was a firefighter, a lot is coming back to me from those days. Wow, great listen.

informative

this book was very consistent and to the point. I wonder if there will be a movie made

A bad, long episode of Dragnet

Just because you can read a book doesn't mean you can write one.

Great potential story written like an episode of Dragnet. Wish Erik Larson wrote it. Tells the story twice with a lot of superfluous and disconnected information. Rated a 3 only because of family connection to Boston area fire fighters.