The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Talty, Morgan. Fire Exit. Tin House, 2024.

Morgan Talty's novel Fire Exit is set in Maine's Penobscot County. The novel is written from the protagonist Charles's first person point of view and in the past tense. Although the novel follows a primarily linear structure, the author nuances Charles's account using frequent flashbacks. For the sake of clarity, this guide employs the present tense and a more streamlined mode of explanation.

Charles is a middle-aged man living alone on the Penobscot River. One day not long after retiring from his job, he sits on his porch and looks across the water. From his home, he can see his estranged friend and lover Mary's house, where she lives with her husband Roger, and Charles's estranged daughter Elizabeth. Over 20 years prior, Mary decided to pretend that Roger was Elizabeth's biological father so that Elizabeth could be enrolled in the Penobscot tribe. She has raised Elizabeth with Roger on Indian Island, the Penobscot reservation, ever since. Desperate to reconnect, Charles decides that he is tired of keeping Mary's secret and wants Elizabeth to know the truth about where she comes from.

In the meantime, Charles makes regular visits to his mother Louise's house. Louise is elderly and her memory loss has worsened in recent days. Charles begins to fear that she will not be able to take care of herself much longer. Sometimes Louise treats Charles as if he were her late husband, Charles's stepfather, Fredrick. Charles plays along, feeling lost and disoriented.

Then one day, Charles takes Louise to the doctor. After the appointment, he tells the doctor in private about Louise's history of depression. The doctor recommends electroconvulsive therapy to temper her emotional lows. When Charles takes Louise for her treatment, he is shocked to see Mary in the hall. He immediately realizes that she is waiting for Elizabeth to finish her shock therapy. They share an uncomfortable exchange, but do not engage in meaningful conversation.

In the weeks following, Charles starts to worry about Elizabeth. He recently noticed that she moved back in with her parents and wants to know if she is okay. When she disappears from the hospital for her treatments, he stops at Mary's office and begs to know how Elizabeth is doing. Mary insists she is fine and demands that he leave.

Not long later, Charles tells his childhood friend Gizos about Elizabeth and his plan to reveal the truth to her. Gizos insists it is a bad idea, and informs Mary of Charles's plan. Mary shows up at Charles's house in the middle of the night, begging him not to tell Elizabeth. She opens up about Elizabeth's history of depression and insists that revealing the truth will only worsen her state of mind. Charles argues that keeping the secret of her paternity might in fact be the reason for Elizabeth's despair. Mary throws water in his face and storms out.

A few weeks later, a snowstorm blows into town. Charles spends the night at Louise's. On television, he is shocked to see a report about a woman missing from Indian Island. Convinced something has happened to Elizabeth, he races out into the snow to find her. At home, he discovers footprints around his house and follows them over to Mary's house. Mary reveals that Elizabeth is indeed missing. She and Roger recently told her the truth about Charles, which she thinks upset Elizabeth. Charles suddenly realizes that the footprints near his house must belong to Elizabeth. He returns home, retraces the steps, and realizes she took his gun. He, Mary, Roger, and a small search party go back out to find Elizabeth. From the woods, they see Fredrick's old house on fire. When they arrive at the scene, they find Elizabeth trapped in the burning house. Charles races inside and finds Elizabeth pointing the gun at him. He begs her not to shoot before a board falls on his head.

Charles spends over a week in the hospital. After he recovers, he visits Elizabeth. He explains why he wanted her to know the truth about him. She does not respond and says goodbye.

The next morning, Charles returns to Louise's house and finds her dead in her bed. He has her cremated and waits for spring to hold the funeral. Mary, Roger, and Elizabeth attend. After Mary and Roger express their condolences, they leave Elizabeth and Charles alone to talk. Together Elizabeth and Charles bury Louise's ashes.