“This isn't the first unvarnished portrayal of city fireman. It maybe the most stark and at times unsettling. But like the firemen, Downey sees no need for apologies. If someone will walk through a wall of flame to see if Grandma is inside your burning house, the rest is supposed to seem incidental.” —New York Daily News

“Full of firefighters' war stories, of macho camraderie, and of the gallows humor common to men who put their lives on the line every day. . . A powerful tribute to men whose daily lives are the stuff of heroism.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Downey's descriptions burn into the pages with searing intensity. Writing with verve and energy in a gritty style, he explores all extremes of the firemen's world, from triumphant moments of heroism to bitter tragedies.” —Publisher's Weekly

“I have been a career firefighter for 32 years and have read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies on firefighting; none rises to the level of authenticity of Tom Downey's The Last Men Out. . . . Downey does a masterful job.” —James Grigsby, chief officer with the Roanoke Fire-EMS, The Roanoke Times