Abbie Thorpe, a confident and ambitious young woman, had dreams of making it big one day; dreams that died with her in a tragic house fire.
Fire investigator Freya Redfern is given the task of determining the cause of the fire. Troubled by aspects of the scene, Freya can’t help but feel there’s more to it than a terrible accident. Detective Sargeant Harry Gardman isn’t so sure. Determined that the case be properly investigated, Freya sets about finding enough evidence to convince him of the fire’s deliberate origins.
Forming an unlikely partnership, the pair work together to uncover a truth which nobody could have foreseen.
Susan Handley grew up in England, in the Midlands and despite a love of literature, and crime fiction in particular, she never dreamt of being able to carve out a career as a published writer. But the desire to write never left her and after years of writing by night she has at last been able to share the results of her efforts.
Susan now lives in a small village in rural Kent with her husband and two cats. When she’s not indulging in her love of writing crime fiction she loves walking (the hillier the better), bike riding (the flatter the better) and tending her veggie patch.
Susan is the author of two crime series: the DC Cat McKenzie series, which include: A Confusion of Crows, Feather and Claw, The Body Politic, and Close to Death; and the DI Matt Fisher series, of which the first Paid in Blood is currently available.
Susan has also produced two short story collections: Crime Bites Volume 1 and Volume 2. Full of bite-size crime stories there’s bound to be something to suit all tastes.
My thoughts: I really liked this book, Freya was a great protagonist with an instinct for the truth, even when she’s the only one who believes it’s murder.
The police are happy to say that Abbie Thorpe’s death was a tragic accident, that drunk and dosed up on tranquilisers, she fell asleep with a lit cigarette and started the fire that killed her. But Freya, a fire investigator, thinks something is not quite right about it.
She eventually gets the detective on the case, DS Harry Gardman on board with her theory, and the pair start looking into Abbie’s death more closely. Especially when another apparent accidental death takes place in the same house.
Freya is in mourning for her partner Nikki, and during the investigation she finds new friendships with Harry and with Joe, a neighbour of the deceased who agrees it’s not quite right. They help bring her out of her shell, and when someone starts following her and leaving her creepy notes (and dick pics, seriously guys, no one, especially a lesbian, wants those) Harry takes an interest in that for her too.
What they uncover is a pretty ingenious crime but one that had to backfire eventually. And only Freya’s excellent memory and eye for detail can put it all together and catch the perpetrator.
Really enjoyable crime writing with excellent characters and a twisted killer.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own
ramblingmads 
Thank you so much for being a part of the tour and for kicking it off with your review x
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Thank you for your great review. I’m so pleased you enjoyed it x
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