I liked this book! If you have been following my reviews for any amount of time, you have probably noticed that I am a fairly eclectic reader but I tend to stay within the realm of fiction. Every once in a while, I am drawn to a non-fiction title and it is usually books that tell the story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things that I choose to pick up. This book features not just one member of the Feehan family but 4. I learned a lot about the history of the New York Fire Department along with some of the experiences this family has had while doing the job.

As a general rule, I don’t cry over books. I have cried while reading but it is not a common occurrence. For the first time in quite a few years, I found a book that made me cry. This novel touches on 9/11 early on and it really transported me back to that day. I vividly remember watching that second plane hit while packing my lunch to go to work, knowing how terrible it was. Only to realize how much worse it could be when those towers fell. This book made that scene come alive and I guess it is safe to say that I am not completely over those feelings from that time.

This book covers a lot of ground going back to the very early days of NYFD to 9/11 and after. There were some events that were touched on that I remember making the national news when they occurred but it was eye opening to get the perspective of someone tasked with dealing with these scenarios. I liked the camaraderie that the members of the fire department shared and how serious they were about their responsibilities. There was some politics in the discussions of how the department has changed over the years which I found interesting.

P.J. Ochlan did a great job with the narration of this book. I believe that this is my first experience in listening to this narrator but I thought that he was a good choice for this particular book. I found his voice to be pleasant and I had no problems listening to this book for hours at a time, except that one time that I stopped to cry for a bit.

I think that a lot of readers will find this book interesting. There are photos in the hardcover which really help to make the members of this family come to life. I am glad that I decided to give this book a try.

I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central publishing and purchased a copy of the audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book as an ebook. I also owe a big thank you to Grand Central Publishing, who sent me a hard copy of the book before it's release date as well. THANK YOU!

This book is as non-fiction as it can get when talking about the early years of the American Fire Service and the development of one of the world's most famous, well-known fire departments. Writing a novel that encompasses so much history and detail about the FDNY is a huge accomplishment, so kudos to Brian McDonald for his work. I definitely learned a ton reading this!

I had to break the book up into sections of reading because some of the chapters were very dry and I found it difficult to stay interested for more than 30 minutes at a time. It felt like I was reading a textbook for fire school rather than a book for pleasure, but I wanted to soak in the novel so I spaced it out. This reads almost like an epic retelling of both small and pivotal moments within one family's great tradition and career journey at FDNY, so there is excitement and oomph to parts of the novel as well.

I believe anyone who has some sort of fire service career (like I do) will ultimately respect this book, its purpose and its message. People who do not have much knowledge of the fire service or a passion for first responders may not enjoy this book because of how the nonfiction material comes off a tad dry at times.

Overall, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Five Floors Up
The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY
by Brian McDonald
Pub Date 06 Sep 2022
Grand Central Publishing
Biographies & Memoirs


I am reviewing a copy of Five Floors Up through Grand Central Publishing and Netgalley:


If you are a fan of Rescue Me or Blue Bloods, I think you will enjoy this riveting history of the New York City Fire Department as told by from the perspective of the Feehan family, who served in the FDNY for four generations and counting.


Five Floors Ups comes from the eyes of four generations of a firefighter family, Five Floors Up the story of the modern New York City Fire Department. From the days just after the horse-drawn firetruck, to the devastation of the 1970s when the Bronx was Burning, to the unspeakable tragedy of 9/11, to the culture-busting department of today, a Feehan has worn the shoulder patch of the FDNY.


This book shines the spotlight on on the career of William M. Feehan. “Chief” Feehan is the only person to have held every rank in the FDNY including New York City’s 28th Fire Commissioner. William Fehan died in the twin towers on 9’11 but Five Floors Up is at root an intimate look at a firefighter clan, the selflessness and bravery of not only those who face the flames, but the family members who stand by their sides. This book is both humorous and harrowing.


I give Five Floors Up five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

*** I have received and read an e – ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

As both my father and grandfather were firefighters, and I am an EMT, I knew I had to read this book.

Both humorous and heartbreaking, it felt like having them both beside me and telling me these stories.

How do I put this into words? It’s a read that is heartbreaking, funny, informative, emotional, touching and so much more. Brian McDonald wrote a beautiful story about the Feehan family - who had 4 generations of firefighters in FDNY. The eldest Feehan had been a firefighter in NYC dating back to 19th century.

While I was reading this, it was like the firefighter version of my favorite NYC police drama TV show, ‘Blue Bloods’. The Feehan were an Irish Catholic family. Many Feehan men grew up watching their elder fighting fires then going on to join the FDNY. We learn about the stories of each men, I felt admiration and respect for each of them. We also learn about their wives and children - they stories made me care for them. This was particularly tough when I read the last two chapters. It covered the events of Sept 11th, I felt like I was re-living the experiences of the first responders on that day. Despite the last two chapters being raw and emotional, it was also heartwarming and funny. This was a book where I laughed and cried!

The author did a nice job of including some historical information about New York City and FDNY. I learned a lot that I hadn’t learned before. It was intriguing to read about how some things changed over the years within FDNY/firefighting. Some facts were surprising!

I highly recommend this read - it was one of the best biography books I’ve read. The Feehan family pulled me in from page one, so they will stay with me! I could relate to many aspects as I grew up in an Irish Catholic family and have a brother who is a firefighter. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for a honest feedback.

A raw intimate heart wrenching look at this family of firefighters.Iwas drawn in from opening pages September 11 and the father of this family a retired firefighter loses his own life as he heroically rushed to the sight and tried to save victims a truly emotional opening.#netgalley #grandcentralpublishing.,

With Five Floors Up: The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY, Brian McDonald gives us a fantastic history of the FDNY framed by the history of the last 4 generations of the Feehan family. The Feehans have been fighting fires in New York City since the late 1800s and their sacrifice, heroism and courage are a great framing device for the history of the FDNY. The book begins with the family immigrating to the United States from Ireland and discusses the struggles to adapt to the new country faced by immigrants of the time. As it goes forward, Five Floors Up explains reason for so many immigrants being in civil service in NYC as well as why they maintained a monopoly on these positions over the years (so you’ll understand why all of your favorite movies and shows set in NY have Irish-Catholic cops and firemen).
Over the course of Five Floors Up’s 320 (or so) pages, the reader will come to know and care for the Feehan family, and not just the men, but their wives, children, cousins and others. There is a lot of historical information here about the FDNY, but the real story is the Feehan family. There is no doubt that the history is interesting, but the family is where you really find yourself pulled in. It’s always a good sign when a biographical book can grip you in the same way (or more so) than a novel. These people go through some harrowing situations throughout their lives, including September 11, 2001 and the devastation wrought by two airplanes flying into the World Trade Center. By the time you get to the story of 9/11, you’re going to find that you are experiencing (or re-experiencing) those events along with these first responders. You’re going to care about this family by that point and it’s going to hurt.
Overall, this is an amazing read that I had a hard time putting down at times. I never really knew that I was interested in the history of firefighting but I found myself drawn in by way things changed (and stayed the same) over a hundred plus years of fighting fires. Getting to know the Feehan family over the course of the book is the real reward here even if you’re a history buff and only care about that part. McDonald knows that the story he has to tell is a good one and you can feel his passion and reverence coming through the pages. This is the first book from the author that I’ve read, but if he treats other subjects as well as this then they should be great as well. Five Floors Up is heavily researched and lovingly crafted. Highly recommended. Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an ARC of the book.

Wow what an amazing story. Being married to a firefighter isn't easy. But these brave men & women risk their lives every day for others. This book is about a family of firefighters. I loved the look into this family and how they deal with the aftermath of 9/11.
An intense read, but a book that anyone who wants a look into a firefighter's life should read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!