True confessions: I am not a big reader of suspense or thriller fiction, and that's what we have here. Mr. Broadbent has presented a fine example of the genre, taut and well-written. I enjoyed it a lot.
Bobby is a member of the bomb squad in New York City and he is tasked with disarming a van full of nasty stuff. He reminds us of the saying that when you are about to die your life goes through your mind, and so we see his life, including the tragic circumstances that may have led him to the bomb squad. The story flashes between the bomb job and the story of his life.
Hell of a life. Here is part of his explanation of why he is unmarried:
Love may conquer all, but not all fears. Love opens you up to fear in ways unimaginable before that love ever took hold of your heart. I can walk into the mouth of hell every single day, but I will not take a woman or child I love in there with me.
