(and Why You’ll Remember Them)

Some stories are about plot. Others are about place. But the stories that stick—the ones that crawl under your skin and don’t leave—are the ones where the characters live and breathe.

That’s what I set out to do in The Smoke Eater. Build a world where people don’t just play roles—they carry weight. Where everyone has scars, secrets, and something they’ll burn for. Some of them are trying to save Hillfort. Some are trying to own it. And some… well, they’re just trying to make it out alive.

So here’s a quick look at five key characters in The Smoke Eater—the ones who define the story, shift the power, and pull you deeper into the fire.

1. Dave Fulton – The Fire Chief with Too Much to Lose

Dave’s the guy you call when your house is on fire—figuratively and literally. He’s Hillfort’s fire chief. A second-generation smoke eater. A steady hand in the middle of chaos.

But here’s the thing: Dave’s not okay.

He’s holding the department together with duct tape and loyalty. His son is missing. His crew is splintering. And the line between right and wrong keeps moving beneath his boots. The code he grew up with—the one his father helped write—no longer fits the world he’s standing in.

Dave’s the kind of man who saves others without asking for thanks. But now, he’s the one who needs saving. And the deeper he digs into the town’s rot, the more he risks becoming exactly what he’s always fought against.

2. Jim Harris – The Cop Who Can’t Look Away

Jim’s the police chief. Dave’s lifelong friend. And once upon a time, he believed they were on the same side.

Not anymore.

Jim’s been keeping secrets—big ones. Secrets that could crack the town wide open. He’s a man who’s watched the system twist in his hands and made peace with bending the rules to keep things “quiet.” But what happens when the noise gets too loud?

Jim is tired, smart, and dangerously passive. He’s not the man with the gun in the alley. He’s the one who clears the alley when it’s over, smooths the blood off the sidewalk, and writes the report that makes it all sound routine.

He’s not evil. But he’s chosen survival over justice more than once.

3. Elijah – The Man with a Mission (and a Bible in His Glovebox)

If Dave is the conscience of the story, Elijah is the storm.

He rolls into Hillfort like he owns the place—and honestly, he might soon. He’s charming. Educated. Controlled. The kind of man who talks to you like he already knows how the conversation ends.

But underneath all that calm? Violence. Vision. Purpose.

Elijah isn’t just pushing product or buying loyalty. He believes he’s been called to cleanse this town. His words are soaked in scripture. His tactics are brutal. And his faith? It’s as unshakable as it is unsettling.

He’s not your standard villain. He’s worse. He thinks he’s the hero.

4. Reid Harris – The Young One with Something to Prove

If there’s a heartbeat in Hillfort’s firehall, it’s Reid Harris.

He’s young, loyal, and still believes that firefighting is more than just a job—it’s a calling. The kind of guy who throws himself into danger without blinking, who hasn’t yet learned how permanent pain can be.

Reid is the next generation—Jim’s son, and Dave’s responsibility. He brings energy, heart, and just enough recklessness to make you nervous. He’s trying to live up to two legacies at once—his father’s name and Dave’s mentorship.

But here’s the twist: loyalty can be blinding. And Reid’s about to learn that trust can get you killed.

5. Blake – The Officer with the Sharpest Mind in the Room

Blake isn’t just a cop—she’s a soldier. Trained, tested, and hardened by things the men around her wouldn’t survive. She’s killed before. She’ll do it again if she has to. And in Hillfort, that makes her the most dangerous person in the room.

She doesn’t talk unless there’s a reason. Doesn’t smile unless she’s already decided how it ends. You look at her the wrong way, you might end up in cuffs—or flat on your back. Either way, she won’t apologize.

Blake didn’t grow up here. She didn’t marry into it or owe anyone favours. That makes her untouchable. And lethal. She sees through the town’s lies like glass—where the good ol’ boys protect each other and secrets are bought with silence.

While Jim Harris tries to manage the fallout and Dave Fulton scrambles for the truth, Blake is already ten steps ahead—uncovering the answers no one asked for and kicking in the doors nobody wanted opened.

The Fire They’re All Standing In

What makes these characters unforgettable isn’t just who they are—it’s how they clash. How trust breaks. How alliances form and fracture. How pain becomes policy, and how people survive in a place that doesn’t forgive.

Everyone’s got something to protect.

And everyone’s got something to hide.

One of Them Won’t Make It Out of Hillfort Alive

I won’t say who. That would spoil the ride. But know this—The Smoke Eater doesn’t play safe. Not with its plot. Not with its people. When the fire comes, it won’t spare anyone just because they wear a uniform or know the right people.

This is the beginning of a much bigger story. One that starts with a fire chief and ends in places far beyond the edge of Hillfort’s map.

But for now? The match has been struck. The smoke is rising.

And someone’s not walking away.

Want to meet them all and see how far they’ll go?
The Smoke Eater is available now. Dive into the story and discover the characters behind the flames.

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Author updates, bonus content, and what’s coming next—including Book Two: The Expatriate—will be posted there soon.