Paula Hawkins has done it again with her new book A Slow Fire Burning – This book will have you reading late into the night as you try to figure out who is innocent and who is guilty. It is a brilliantly clever tale filled with damaged characters, loss, deceptions and so much confusion you will be left baffled as you race to reach the end.

This story features four women that crawl in under your skin as each one’s story is revealed and how they all fit together. I loved the women in this book. They are complexed realistic characters. Paula Hawkins created a magnificent story that is clever, dark, and beautifully concluded. I could not put this book down – I loved the characters, and the unpredictable plot was simply fantastic.

When Daniel is found murdered on his boat, four women find their paths crossing as the hunt for the truth starts. Four very different women, each one damaged and each having experienced a loss of some kind. One of them is capable of murder, one of them has a reason to kill, can you predict who is guilty and who is innocent?

A Slow Fire Burning had me deeply engrossed from start to finish. This clever, dark story with its twists and turns had my reading nonstop. I could not get through this book fast enough. I fell in love with the women in this book, that author did a beautiful job creating characters that are realistic and relatable.

Carla is a woman consumed by grief. She lost her son when he was three years old, her sister Angela recently died after accidentally falling down the stairs and now her nephew has been brutally murdered. The loss is too much for her to bear and you get the feeling she is slowly busy losing her mind. This woman breaks your heart.

Miriam was Daniel’s neighbour, and she found his body. You feel sorry for Miriam, she has had her share of suffering and her intentions appear to be good. Yet, I just did not truth her and I found it very hard to like her. Reading this story, I could understand why she had no friends – she is not likeable – no matter how sad her story is.

Irene, Angela’s neighbour is the underrated character that stole my heart. This old lady is feisty, clever and underestimated by everyone. I found I was drawn to her and she is the character that shared some knowledge that will stay with me. The author did an amazing job with this character – Irene is my favourite woman in this book, I loved her.

Laura – OMG what a horrible life this poor young woman has endured. Laura’s story just broke my heart. I found myself wanting to tell her parents exactly what I thought of them. Laura stirred the most emotion in me as I turned the pages. The poor woman really does make bad choices. No matter what Laura does you love her.

I do not think I have ever read a book where so many of the characters managed to touch me. I either loved them or hated them passionately. The author created complex people you find yourself quickly forming an opinion about.

I love this book and was happy to give it a five-star rating. Paula Hawkins managed to push all my buttons with this story from start to finish – I could not read fast enough.

Crime, mystery and thriller fans will all find this book has everything they could wish for, and then some. I cannot recommend this book highly enough – trust me, add this to your TBR you will not be disappointed.