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.

"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 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...

I love anything true crime. I heard about this case from being in the entertainment industry. This book is very unique. It reads like a novel and how the author wrote about the victims... it made the story more heartbreaking.

Trial By Fire A Devastating Tragedy, 100 Lives Lost, and A Fifteen Year Search For The Truth by Scott James. This is a non fiction book about the fire at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island that killed 100 people. I requested to read this book because of the last line in the title... A Fifteen Year Search For The Truth. I admire tenacity, and I admire people who can research a book and dig for those answers until they find them... Scott James is that person.
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The range of emotions I felt after finishing this book left me exhausted. Scott James not only does an amazing job investigating this story but the way he wrote it makes it read like a fiction book. He gave all the facts, but not in a dry tone and that makes you want to read and finish this book. I think what I liked most about this book, besides his writing style was his impeccable research. There were a lot of players involved in this story, not all were in the forefront, but even all the supporting players were talked to and their story told. The author did not hide the horror, he kept it up front and real. So real that I could feel the heat, the pain and the anguish. I just hope that people read this book and understand  not only how a series of events played a part in this tragedy but how the media played a part in the truth being hidden for all these years. 5⭐
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Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, Scott James and Sara Beth Haring for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review for Trial by Fire by Scott James
Full review for this title can be found at: @fyebooks on Instagram!

This was a very interesting and compelling account of the 2003 deadly fire at The Station nightclub and live rock venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island that took the lives of 100 people and injured over 200, many severely. For some reason I do not recall this event yet it still stands as the most deadly single dwelling fire in modern American history. The author has ties to the area as well as to other journalists he had worked with in the past and was able to get information that has basically been impossible to get for the past 15 years as no trials ever occurred.

The author gives us a blow by blow account of the fire, the causes of the fire and the aftermath. He tells the story of several people who survived the fire with significant injuries and their recoveries are heartbreaking but also heroic. There was and still remains a large amount of negative sentiment over the way the government handled the prosecution of those who appeared to be at fault. I will let you decide if that is valid or not. The author did a great job bringing the story to life but it still leaves questions in my mind about that night. A solid book in the genre of true crime and historical documentation.

Thank you to NetGalley and and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A gripping, heart-wrenching story that will have you flipping the pages and hooked, wanting to know more. I remember vaguely hearing about this fire and when I found out that a book had been written about it I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of this book. The story is told from many different point of views which I enjoyed, as it gives many different accounts of various people’s experiences of that night in the nightclub. I cannot imagine what it was like for those inside the nightclub, and their panic to get out alive, as they struggle to find an escape route from the club and make it out into the safety of the night outside. I felt as though I was experiencing the fatal night with them as we read their account of what happened.

We are introduced to several different people in this story and often it was difficult to read the heart-wrenching accounts of what happened. It takes you inside the nightclub and you feel as though you are there with them, experiencing what they are experiencing. I enjoyed reading the facts as well, and following along as the investigation and interviews unfolded.

A book that I highly recommend.

Maybe I just felt so bad for all the victims and their families that it was really hard for me to get through this book, maybe I didn’t like the writing, but either way, I just had to give up at 17%. I kept picking it up and putting it down over a few weeks and I finally decided not to finish.