ROBERT  ELLIS

T H R I L L E R   F I C T I O N

City of Fire


In a quiet neighborhood overlooking the Pacific Ocean—in a pristine home with lush gardens—James Brant returns from a late night at work to find his wife, Nikki, savagely murdered.


At least that’s his story.


But for Detective Lena Gamble, thrust into the limelight as she tackles her first major case, it’s only a beginning into a dark, twisted journey and a series of ritualized killings that point to a serial killer like no other.


Dubbed ‘Romeo’ by an insatiable media, the killer’s pattern draws Lena into a treacherous web of deceit that may be linked to her own past—the murder of her brother, gunned down on a dark street in Hollywood five years ago.


With panic over the murders sweeping across the city and wildfires burying the streets in clouds of smoke, Lena rips through the evidence and uncovers Romeo’s vile secret.


But now no one is safe, not even Lena. As the hunter becomes the hunted, there's only one way left to end Romeo’s barbaric rampage.


Enter the madman’s world by herself and face the terror head-on.

Editorial Reviews


City of Fire is a gripping, spooky crime novel.”
The New York Times “Hot List” Pick


City of Fire is my kind of crime novel. Gritty, tight and assured. Riding with Detective Lena Gamble through the hills of Los Angeles is something I could get used to. She’s tough, smart, and most of all, she’s real.”
—Michael Connelly


City of Fire features a tough but deeply flawed protagonist, a tantalizingly complex plot, fully realized—and realistic—characters, and most of all, a palpable intensity. And if that weren’t enough, the bombshell plot twist at the novel’s conclusion makes this an absolute must read for thriller aficionados.”
Chicago Tribune


“I just discovered Robert Ellis. This book is terrific.”
—Janet Evanovich, People magazine


City of Fire is fast, gruesome, and twisted, like a scary Jodie Foster movie.”
Library Journal