Charlie Johnson in the Flames

June M. Blurton is a retired speech/language pathologist.

Veteran correspondent Charlie Johnson and his cameraman, Jacek, have
covered all the wars of the late 20th century, and have been changed by
the horrors that they’ve seen. Having a strong marriage has helped to
keep Jacek sane, and even Charlie seems to be coping—until they go to
the Balkan war zone. There, a botched attempt to get to the front lines
results in a woman—who helped Charlie—being burned to death as he
watches helplessly. Charlie cannot forget her and is determined to find
her killer. His family back in London and his colleagues try to dissuade
him, but Charlie is obsessed with revenge.

Ignatieff is the author of The Warrior’s Honor: Ethnic War and the
Modern Conscience and Virtual War: Kosovo and Beyond, and he as drawn on
his own experience of war zones for the story. All the characters are
realistically portrayed, but especially authentic are the thugs
operating in the small villages behind the front lines whom Charlie
comes into contact with during his search. The novel’s sympathetic
characters are Jacek and his wife, Magda, and Charlie and his wife,
Elizabeth, who plays the flute. The reader is caught up in their
marriages and dilemmas.

Ignatieff’s writing style is sparse and suits the material, but the
telling details make the story come alive. Without ever saying so,
Charlie Johnson in the Flames is very much an antiwar story. It is also
a compelling read.