My Book Is Going to Hollywood!!

It has finally been announced! My first book, BURN BOSTON BURN, is in development for a documentary and a feature film. We're talking about a motion picture here friends. Scroll down for the DEADLINE trade magazine article.

I am thrilled beyond words! Life circumstances brought this story to the attention of screenwriter Mike McGrale who grew up in the Boston area but now resides in the Los Angeles area. At a wedding out west, someone asked Mike if he knew of this story since he came from Boston. He didn't, but he bought a copy of my book. He loved the potential for making the story into something bigger.

After Mike contacted me directly, he promised to get one of his producer contacts interested to take on this project. He not only kept his promise, but he doubled down by enlisting two producers to join in, Dark Castle’s Rob Bell (who grew up in Beverly), and Compelling Pictures Jeff Kalligheri (who grew up in East Boston).

Now, here this. I have spent months revising BURN BOSTON BURN to make it a better read. The story is the same, but with over six years of writing experience, course taking and working with a professional editor, C. Susan Nunn, I feel that the changes will provide a more enjoyable reader experience.

I expect the new version to be ready by end of February 2026. I would love to get a signed copy into your hands. Starting on December 3, 2025, if you order a copy of BURN BOSTON BURN through my burnbostonburn.com website, I will sign your book and send it out to you at the price of $20 for the softcover or $30 for the hardcover, postage included. You will also be able to order it when the time comes on Amazon, but I will not be able to sign it (unless you bring it to one of my speaking events) and it will not have any color pictures in it. Only my copies have color pics.

Thank you all for your support and for those who long ago said this should be a movie.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. May you all have lots of love and the happiest New Year!

Dark Castle Adapting ‘Burn Boston Burn’ True Crime Book Into Feature & Documentary With Compelling Pictures

By Glenn Garner

Glenn Garner

Associate Editor

@xoxo_glenn

'Burn Boston Burn: The Story of the Largest Arson Case in the History of the Country (True Crime Investigations)' by Wayne M. Miller (Courtesy Wayne M. Miller. Cover by Mike Clark Design)

Dark Castle Entertainment has acquired rights to Burn Boston Burn: The Story of the Largest Arson Case in the History of the Country.

Penned by now-retired ATF Special Agent Wayne Miller, Dark Castle (Last Breath, Shell, Orphan: First Kill) is teaming up with Compelling Pictures (I Wanna Dance with Somebody, The Collaboration) to develop the true-crime book into a feature film and a documentary, which explores institutional corruption and the early seeds of domestic terrorism.

Based on what has been called the largest arson investigation in U.S. history, Burn Boston Burn is set after a tax-cutting statute in the early 1980s results in the layoffs of hundreds of Boston police and firefighters. Nine men, including three cops and a firefighter, then conspired to set 200 fires across the city, setting off a years-long manhunt by Miller (and his fellow investigators).

Michael McGrale (The Rip, Mission Hill, Witnessville) will write the feature adaptation, on which he serves as an executive producer. Producers include Dark Castle’s Norman Golightly and Robert Bell, and Compelling’s Denis O’Sullivan and Jeff Kalligheri. Wayne Miller and Compelling’s Steven Garcia will serve as executive producers on both the feature and doc.

Michael McGrale (The Rip, Mission Hill, Witnessville) will write the feature adaptation, on which he serves as an executive producer. Producers include Dark Castle’s Norman Golightly and Robert Bell, and Compelling’s Denis O’Sullivan and Jeff Kalligheri. Wayne Miller and Compelling’s Steven Garcia will serve as executive producers on both the feature and doc.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Compelling, Mike McGrale and Wayne Miller on this incredible true story,” said Golightly in a statement. “Wayne’s book has all the propulsion of classic crime thrillers like The Town and Heat, while exploring a time in American history that feels more relevant now than ever.”

Noting Compelling’s “deep personal and professional ties to the singular city of Boston,” O’Sullivan said, “We could not be more excited to be a part of this wildly unpredictable, harrowing true-crime thriller both as a feature and documentary.”

He added, “It’s long been a dream to find something that could take us back to the visceral thrill of watching Ron Howard’s Backdraft for the first time, and to be able to do so alongside Wayne (who harkens back to The Untouchables‘ Eliot Ness in his drive and determination), Dark Castle, and our dear friend Mike McGrale, is beyond a gift to us and the worldwide audience.”

McGrale is represented by Heroes and Villains Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman, Smelkinson & Christopher, LLP.