I was about 18 when the tragedy of this book took place, so I don’t remember a whole lot – but there are certain headlines that I remember seeing.

I did not even come close to understanding the horrific fire that took place at that time. So many lives lost, families broken apart and injuries that I cannot even imagine.

This truly was the “perfect storm” of events that led up to such a horrible fire.

The best part of this book though is those who’s stories we hear about how they overcame and continue to tell their stories. They survived pain and suffering and are using that to fuel their future. Those are the stories that I find the most uplifting.

Trial by Fire is informative and really paints a picture of how The Station fire came to happen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book kept me at the edge of my seat, Heartbreaking and  based on a true story I felt like I was a witness. The details, horrifying at times made me cry, the lost lives and danger that was in the building that could of been prevented. Well done by Scott James to bring this true story to life. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an early edition of this book for a an exchange of my honest review. 

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4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.  

A very harrowing, interesting, detailed account of what happened on that fateful night in Rhode Island, 2003. I had only ever heard bits and pieces of what happened before reading this, so I hadn’t realized just HOW catastrophic the fire was or WHY it happened in the first place. This book answers all of those questions and more. I really like the way the author gave such an exhaustive account of what happened - starting with a minute by minute retelling of what was happening when the fire started and how in just those few minutes after erupting, it had already turned deadly. Then he doubles back to explain the causes and finishes by talking about the aftermath. It was very well written, and I hope this author writes more compelling nonfiction in the future!

Thank you to Thomas Dunne Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

this book has such high reviews that I was hesitant going into it, but it was so worth it. This book follows the horrible tragedy of the Station Club fire that occured on February 20, 2003. So much destruction happened in this fire, and James uses research and personal accounts to provide insight into this horrible event.

On February 20 2003, fire swept through The Station Nightclub, killing 100 and injuring over 200 more.  The culprit?  Illegal pyrotechnics set off by the performing band Great White.  It was a horrific event, something that affected everyone who lived in this small working class town of West Warwick, Rhode Island.  But was justice ever really served?     

I remember hearing about this when it happened, and as a former fan of the band, when I heard about the total lack of empathy or concern from Great White lead singer Jack Russell, I couldn't believe it.  He lost his drummer, he watched people die trying to escape the inferno, and all he was concerned about was his hair??  And to this day he only  wants money to tell his side??  But I digress.

 While much of Trial By Fire was about trying to figure out the "how did we get here" aspect,  there was great care in honoring the victims and survivors by telling their stories.  That I truly appreciate.  However...

I was left with a bad taste after reading the author's  afterward where the author acknowledges being acquainted with the club owners for some time before the fatal fire.  While I hope that journalistic integrity prevailed, it still  makes me wonder about certain aspects of the narrative.   Overall though, I do  recommend this haunting and effective look into one of the deadliest fires in American history.

The author really did a wonderful job researching and writing this book. I was hooked right from the beginning. What a heartbreaking event. I did really appreciate that the author went back and gave us more info on some of the survivors. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!

While I liked Killer Show, the other main book about the Station Nightclub fire, I felt like that one took too hard of a line on who's responsible, but Trial By Fire almost overcorrected and took it too easy on the involved parties, which is definitely just a matter of personal opinion. The book was extremely heart-wrenching and well written and I'd like to see this author cover more current events.

I received a review copy of this book through Netgalley. All thoughts and comments are my own. 
This is a straight forward account of the horrific Station nightclub fire, with first hand accounts, personal details, family memories. When you go out at night, you expect to have a wonderful time and make lovely memories. The fire itself and the losses incurred to human life will haunt the partygoers for years to come. These are their stories. Also, as to blame...justice to be served...who and what is responsible for the tragedy. Many theories abound and the author addresses them here. 
True crime, deadly fire, human loss of life.

James has clearly done his research for this devastating and incredibly well-written non-fiction read. At the center of this book is The Station Fire, a horrific fire at a nightclub during a rock concert in which 100 people died. So many factors caused this immense tragedy, and James explores them all, from flammable soundproofing foam, to the availability of exits, to panic causing terrifying pileups of people, to the choice of the band  playing that night to use fireworks in their show. He also explores the after effects on those who survived and the families of those who didn't.

The fire's terrible consequences didn't end there, as lawsuits, blame, grief, and politics all collided. False news was reported in newspapers as fact, important papers were supressed, and no one was satisfied with the supposed justice that resulted. I felt like I walked away from reading this book going from knowing absolutely nothing about this tragedy to being able to write a full paper on it, that's how much research James did and how much he made every detail matter. James makes readers care so much that this book will absolutely stay with you when you finish.

I remember this when it happened. I grew up with the hair bands and I must admit I did enjoy Great White, however only their one hit. I would not call myself a fan. So, when this started to be reported i was shocked and pulled in. This book goes into so much detail with lives lost, survivors and those accused of wrongdoing. Some of the things in the book are shocking and all the cracks that others let things slip through is devastating. Even if you don't know about the fire that one hundred people were killed in Rhode Island during a Great White concert you should read this. Especially if you enjoy true crime and real-life stories.

I had never even heard of this tragedy until I read Trial by Fire, which is shocking. The book was well researched, well written, and full of those edge of your seat surprises. I'm picky with true crime books, but Scott James did an excellent job presenting the story.

"Trial by Fire" documents the horrific nightclub fire that occurred in Rhode Island in 2003. I remember this event from the headlines: "the deadliest rock concert in history" and it has continued to be one of the most devastating instances of mass casualties in the US to date. So, how would someone write about it in a way that honors the victims while still giving an accurate portrayal of the event? Somehow Scott James figured it out - this is one of the best nonfiction (and true crime) books that I've read in a long time.

When I started the book, I saw how many chapters there were and felt briefly overwhelmed at reading this much about one event (especially one with some pretty gruesome details). But as soon as I started reading, I was enveloped by the book's honesty and integrity. Every aspect of the tragedy gets examined - from Rhode Island's infamously corrupt government to the band manager and club owners who were at the heart of the cause of the fire. James' writing becomes even more alive with the chapters centered on the victims and survivors of the event - their stories are told with great authenticity and heart.

As hard as it was to read about some of the truly awful details of the fire, this book felt like a pageturner to me - I was always wanting to read just one more chapter to find out more about how the event would play out. It's a true testament to James' writing ability that this book felt more like a thriller than a nonfiction book filled with numbers and dates.

I'm recommending this one to everyone - it's an important read that sheds light on a tragedy that should have been preventable. I hope James is planning on writing his next book soon!

Trial By Fire is the incredible true story of a nightclub concert gone wrong and the hundreds of lives affected as a result.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
On Feb. 20, 2003, in a small town on Rhode Island, hair metal band Great White took the stage at The Station and set off pyrotechnics to open their show. 
Seconds later, the walls of the stage were in flames - and mere minutes following, the entire building was engulfed. With more than 400 concert-goers and staff inside. 
Ultimately, 100 lives were lost and hundreds more injured.
Author and journalist Scott James, who grew up in the event's town of West Warwick, takes us through the evening in question, the players, and the aftermath. 
Who was to blame for one of the largest fire-related losses of life since modern fire codes came into being? How did the fire ignite, and spread, so incredibly quickly?
James's writing is clear, descriptive and research meticulous without being sensational. The event itself is so incredibly tragic that no embellishment is required. Descriptions of deaths and harm incurred are not for the faint of heart, as burn and smoke injuries are so very devastating. 
All human angles are examined in the book; from the club owners, patrons and victims, band members and management, media, government officials, first responders and healthcare personnel, attorneys and investigators. All factors relating to the fire are presented - the issues and errors that wove together for such a tragic result are mind-boggling.
This non-fiction novel made a big impact on me and will not soon be forgotten. It is easily a standout in the genre. Absolutely recommended.
Released on Oct. 27, 2020.

February 20, 2003. This is a date that hundreds of people won't ever be able to forget. A date that changed the lives of so many. What started as what was supposed to be a fun night out at the Station in RI, ended in the loss of 100 lives, and more than 200 injured. On this unfortunate night, there was a band booked to play called Great White. What started as a rush of fun and energy, ended abruptly in tragedy and shock. Minutes after the band started to play, the set caught on fire and it spread faster than wild flowers. This particular story talks about what really happened that night from several peoples' point of views. This book follows a few individuals lives and the suffering and challenges they endured after the accideng, as well as the days leading up to the sentencing of the bands' manager that was in charge of the pyrotechnics that were as some view, responsible for the fire, as well as the sentencing of the Derderian Brothers who were the owners of the club at the time. This book is very interesting pointing out many arguments as to who was really at fault for ending the lives of so many, as well as the twisted way the media portrayed such a tragedy. I received a free copy of this book through @Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. It was a very well written and informative book. This isn't something I typically read, but it kept my interest and pulled at many of my emotions. I am very glad I picked up this book.

This was an absolute jaw droppee. I loved the way this story was told. I'd definitely recommend and read again.

Such an interesting book topic! I really enjoyed this one. It was quick to read, hard to put down, and very informative! Highly recommend!

Well researched, well written. Everything you thought you knew about the horrific fire at The Station is brought to light with many other details that will shock you. Telling the awful tragedy of the events of that night without taking the light off the people at the heart of the story, and those still affected by it.

I am a huge nonfiction fan, and this was one of the best books I have read. Even though it is about a very tragic topic, it is so well done. This is the story of a tragic fire in 2003 when a concert had a malfunction from fireworks set up, killing many fans and injuring many people. 

The research and writing is great. I had not heard of this before because I was eleven when it happened. But I was sucked into the story, and I could not stop reading until it was done. I was just in awe of this book, and I was so glad I was given the chance to read. Despite the sadness, the story is gripping and will not let you go until you are done. Days later and I am still thinking about this book. I appreciated the survivor stories and the updates on them. Even though this happened a long time ago, it is important to remember and honor those who were lost. 

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am shocked I didn't enjoy this true crime book more than I did. I found (in my humble opinion) it to be weighed down more than I normally like in the true crime genre. It was highly apparent this author well researched this book including histories that I thought diverted from the story that it needed to. 

As a result, I found that I ingested it in small doses and the book took longer for me to finish than most true crime reads. 

Reviewed for publisher via netgalley.

Thoughts: The devastating Station nightclub fire in a small Rhode Island town in 2003 forever changed the lives of hundreds of people - over 100 people died and over 200 people were injured, some left with lifetime illnesses, disabilities, or disfigurements. I don't know enough about the fire or the events that night to be any sort of judge or jury, however the investigative journalism by Scott James into this terrible tragedy is so thorough that I couldn't help but share tidbits with my husband as well a coworker, both of which were aware of the 2003 fire and originally thought the nightclub owners were to blame due to what they saw in the media. When I shared with them just a few of the facts James presents, they realized there were so many more details about that night that the media never focused on; details such as why the fire spread so fast, how the club passed several fire marshal inspections prior to that fateful night, and who was responsible for setting off the pyrotechnics that led to the fire itself.

I was appalled to read how quickly and completely disinformation and misinformation was spread by the media in the aftermath. To think the Providence Journal almost got a Pulitzer for (what I would consider) sloppy journalism! I also felt for the victims' families and the survivors - they deserved to know what happened that night, as well as why it happened. They deserved the truth, and they never got it. Well, maybe until now...

To say this is a compelling read is an understatement. It was powerful, emotional, raw, shocking, and maddening. Even if you know nothing about this tragedy, I highly recommend this book. In addition to the events of that night, Scott James also puts a spotlight on several human interest stories - reminding us of the victims and survivors who should never be far from our minds - as well as drawing back the curtain covering political corruption and the injustices of our justice system. I can't say enough about this book. Go buy it, and while you're at it grab a box of tissues and hug your loved ones tight...