The Girl in the Smoke

by Matt Hilton

Danni has seen more in her 8 years on this planet than most people see in a lifetime. The sole survivor of a motorway pile-up which took her mother's life, she is now safe and thriving with her adoptive family. Until the day the bad people come knocking. Forcing Danni to face the memories she has done such a good job forgetting . . .

Josie 's quiet life is dismantled with a knock at the door. When she and her daughter are violently kidnapped, Josie must act fast to survive. Danni has very little memory of the day her mother died, but these people are hell bent on finding the money her mother stole before her death, and they think Danni knows more than she's letting on.

Grace arrives at her big sister's house to find her partner Pete beaten and tied up and her sister and niece taken. Josie has been her protector her entire life - but now she needs to be the strong one. Enlisting the help of a friend with the combat experience and skills she needs, Grace will stop at nothing to get her family back home . . .

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2024

About the author

Matt Hilton worked for twenty-two years in private security and the police force in Cumbria. He is a 4th Dan blackbelt and coach in Ju-Jitsu. He lives in Cumbria with his wife and son.

Matt is the author of the best-selling Joe Hunter thriller series, as well as standalone horror thrillers and short stories that have appeared in a number of collections and anthologies. Matt's first novel - Dead Men's Dust - was a Sunday Times best-seller and was shortlisted for the ITW New Novel Award 2009.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 year old Danni was hailed a miracle survivor, after a multiple motorway pile up which claimed ten lives, including that of her mother. However, the police were unable to identify her mother due to the horrific injuries she suffered, so no one really knows who Danni is or where she came from, and sadly no one came forward to claim her, and so it came about that she was adopted by Josie and Gary Lockwood.

Three years later, and life is bumbling along for Josie - until the day she and Danni are kidnapped by a group of violent thugs, it seems that the bad guys think Danni has some information that would prove very rewarding! And so begins the journey from hell!

With barely any let up in the action, you will come away having certainly been thrilled and entertained, (Okay I had to suspend disbelief at times, but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of it). It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s filled with venom and greed, and if there’s anything out there where readers will stay up to find out what happens next, this is possibly it.

*Thank you to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well drawn and the story was good. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

[Karen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so loved this book. It was riveting.. So much action on every page . The characters were so well written that I was hooked. Trying to go to bed and sleep was hopeless.. They haunted me with what’s going on now .. When you have an author like Matt Hilton that keeps the characters and action going …. Go try and switch off with this book. Loved it❤️

[Thomas Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description of this book does a pretty good job of giving you the story summary so we will not spend time rehashing it. If you decide to jump right in, you may find yourself wondering where the story is headed after the opening scene where Danni i rescued as the only survivor on a big motorway crash and the story twist to countryside living. Don't worry the story starts to pick up pace and give your heart a jump when the story takes a twist you do not see coming. The book does a good job to hold your attention throughout. Give it a read and see what you think.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl in the Smoke by Matt Hilton is a standalone. 8 year-old Danni and her adoptive mother Josie are kidnapped by a gang intent on recovering booty stolen by Danni’s natural mother 3 years previously. Josie’s sister Grace, and a friend Kyle, are determined to rescue them. This was an action-packed story which I found engrossing. A great read if you are after a bit of escapism. I have read The Girl on Shattered Rock, also by Matt, and also enjoyed it. I will be looking for more.

[Summer Bendle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book through most of it. I thought the plot was interesting and I looked forward to seeing what happened. The further I read, the more I lost interest. There was a lot of fighting in the book and it just got old reading that over and over again. There weren’t really any plot twists, but like I said, overall it had a good storyline.

[Sophie Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danni was just 5 years old when against all odds she survived (and was the only survivor) of a pile up in a motor way. She was named as the girl in the smoke after she was pulled freed.

With little memory of her past and now 8 years old Danni is living with her adoptive mother Josie and her partner Pete, things couldn’t be better for the little girl until she meets Steph and her dog. Josie has warned Danni not to talk to strangers, but drawn in by the dog Danni breaks the rules leading to a chain of disastrous events.

It turns out Steph isn’t quite as friendly as she first made out. She’s working with a crime gang who are determined to force Danni to remember what happened the day of the fatal accident and uncover the money that Dannis birth mother had stolen and hidden from them.

Getting next to no where with she is kidnapped along with her mother Josie in the hope that a trip down memory lane will lead her to the answers that Steph and the other members are looking for. With Grace (Josies sister) on the case after arriving at her sisters house finding Pete tied up and the house not as it should be she is determined to hunt down those who have her sister and her niece and save her family.

I really enjoyed reading the girl in the smoke, it was action packed, fast paced and full of violence. At times I did find it was a little far fetched but I think thats part of what made this book so exciting as you had no idea what crazy theory or defence method was coming next.

This was my first book by Matt Hilton and I’ll certainly be looking to see what else he has written. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

[Chris-Cuddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced, non-stop action thriller. Josie and her young daughter Danni are pulled into a diabolical game of cat-and-mouse with a gang of devious and determined kidnappers. Deliciously escapism.

[Janaya Kabamba · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is sheer escapism at its best. Its a fiction so just allow the plot to suspend reality and enjoy the ride. And what a ride it is. Fast paced, endless thrills, twists galore..... the kind if book you pick uk and before you know it, 4 hrs have passed and you've forgotten to even make dinner. Such a good book!

[Christina Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for my copy of The Girl In The Smoke by Matt Hilton
Danni doesn’t remember much of her life before she was orphaned three years ago.
Now eight and living with her adoptive mum and her boyfriend Dennis only wish is for a dog.
Then comes the knock on the door that changes everything.
Taken along with her mum Danni is forced to remember that day and what actually led to the car smash that left her alone.
It’s a fast moving novel and if you can suspend realism for a few hours an entertaining read.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl in the Smoke by Matt Hilton is a highly recommended action thriller that moves at a fast and furious pace.

Eight-year-old Danni lives with her adoptive mother Josie, and Josie's partner Pete. Danni is tall for her age and loves dogs. When she sees a woman, Steph, walking a small Bichon Frisé named Franklin, Danni is excited to pet the little dog, even though she knows she is not suppose to talk to strangers. Josie and Danni later see Step out with Franklin again, so Josie meets Steph and invites her over to their house. Josie also notices a dangerous looking man out watching Danni for the second day.

While visiting with Steph at her house, a strange man shows up at the front door while the dangerous looking man enters the back door. They want information from Danni, from before she was adopted and still with her mother. Danni has claimed no memory of anything after she was the sole survivor of an accident. The men want information and are trying to force Danni to remember because her mother stole something before she died and they want the information to find it.

They end up kidnapping Josie and Danni in an attempt to get more information. They leave Pete beaten and tied up in a pantry. Josie's sister Grace arrives at her big sister's house finds Pete and learns her sister and niece were taken. Pete insists no police, so Grace takes matters into her own hands and contacts a man she met, Kyle, who she is sure has the skills she needs to rescue her sister and niece.

After introducing characters and setting up the story, The Girl in the Smoke quickly becomes an action-packed, lightning-fast-paced, un-put-downable thriller that is sheer escapism. Yes, you will need to set disbelief aside a time or two and there is violence, but you also know that the clock is ticking and the safety of Josie and perhaps even Danni is not guaranteed.

The characters are given enough development to easily understand their mindset and how they think. The transitions between the different points-of-view in the plot are smooth and seamless. You will care about the fate of Danni and Josie and be rooting for Grace and Kyle to save them. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/1...

[jeff popple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Hilton has a gift for writing fast moving, unpretentious crime thrillers that quickly get you in and keep you engaged until the final word. Although he is probably best know for his various American-based series, I personally prefer his standalone British novels such as The Girl On Shattered Rock.

The Girl In The Smoke is also a standalone novel and revolves around a young, adopted girl called Danni. The sole survivor of a motorway pile-up which took her mother’s life, the eight year old is now safe and thriving with her adoptive family. Things seem to be improving for Danni, until the day that some bad people come knocking. They want Danni to remember exactly what happened on the day of her accident. In truth Danni has very little memory of when her mother died, but the intruders are hell-bent on extracting what memories she has.

Danni’s new mother, Josie, desperately tries to keep her daughter safe and has to outwit the three violent kidnappers in order to keep her alive. Meanwhile, Josie’s sister, Grace, is devastated when she arrives at her big sister’s house to find signs of violence and her sister and niece taken. Josie has been her protector her entire life, but now Grace needs to be the strong one. Enlisting the help of a friend with combat experience and skills, she sets out to get her family back home.

This is a great, high voltage read. Hilton quickly puts in place the basic premise of his plot and then sets the story running at a quick pace. The perspective smoothly shifts between the main protagonists, including Danni, and the suspense is kept at a high level throughout. The characters are credible, and Hilton keeps the reader guessing for a long time as to what is happening. The violence is gritty and believable, and there are a couple of good shocks along the way to the bloody ending. I have some some quibbles about aspects of the story, but it is very easy to just settle back and enjoy the ride. A good read.
See the full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/n...

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this, most prolific, author. He usually writes in series and I haven't really got room for another one of these to play catch-up with in my TBR, although , after finishing this book I do now have my eye on them a bit more!
So... Three years ago, now 8 year old Danni was the sole survivor of a motorway pileup which also killed her mother. She now lives with Josie and Pete and, when we first meet them, they are ticking along nicely. Until, one day, there's a knock at the door and Danni and Josie are taken, leaving Pete beaten up and locked in.
All a bit strange you say. Well, yes. But it appears that Danni's mother used to rub along with some rather shady types and, that motorway pile-up she was killed in, was the two of them running away after stealing a bunch of money... And now they want it back...
And so begins a thrilling cat and mouse chase with Grace (Josie's sister) getting in on the action...
This is a book of pretty much all action. It's thrilling yes but for me I would have liked a wee bit more of a storyline to go with the cracking action scenes. Also I did roll my eyes and suspend disbelief a couple times at said action. But as it isn't really one of my go-to genres, that's probably more a me thing...
All in all, it was entertaining and realism apart, it was a thoroughly decent read. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Caroline | dogtailsandcrimetales · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★.5

Danni was the sole survivor of a horrendous car crash that not only killed her mother but also left her remains unidentifiable. Three years later, Danni is living with her adoptive mom, Josie, and her boyfriend Pete. Josie is overly protective and has a strict set of rules, warning Danni about stranger danger. One day, during a home invasion, their lives are turned upside down, and the sinister circumstances surrounding Danni’s old life and her mother’s tragic death are finally revealed…

The Girl in the Smoke is an action-packed thriller that pulls you in and delivers punch after punch (some quite literal) until the final page.

I adored the relationship between Josie and Danni and was constantly impressed with Danni’s cleverness as she navigates the characters of her old life. Equally, Grace, Josie’s sister, showed so much courage in her determination to protect her sister and niece at any cost—this felt quite empowering. There were a few moments when I had to suspend all disbelief, but overall, this was an addictive page-turner!

Thank you to Edelweiss, Severn House, and Matt Hilton for a copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relentless Action. This is one of those books that starts off with the barest semblance of "normalcy", and then... well, I hope you like balls to the walls action, because that is what you're going to get here. The heart of the crime here is typical enough to be easily understood, with enough wrinkles to make it interesting to try to figure out exactly what the hell happened. But the action is what you're here for. If, like me, you found Hilton first through the Po and Villere thrillers... well, if you thought the action in those tales was relentless, you aint seen nothing yet. And here, the action is just as violent as anything you'll see there... without the massive hulking excons to execute it. Indeed, in what could be a bit of a bridge too far for some, the young girl in question has more of a proclivity for violence than some of those entrusted with her care, which produces interesting relational dynamics at times. Overall a fun and short action thriller, great for those times when you just want some basic escapism without too much thinking involved. Very much recommended.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This opens with a bad motorway accident involving lots of cars. Out of the smoke a five-year-old girl comes running, and she’s picked up by a lorry driver who has raced back to save her. Not surprisingly the pair become headline news. The timeline then jumps forward three years where a girl is living with her adoptive mother and her partner. One day, while the partner is at work, the house is invaded by a gang, and so begins The Chase. This story is fast-moving and full of menace. Gradually you learn the stories of the main characters and you really feel empathy for the girl and her mother because everything is so well described. Yes, it’s violent in places and not always believable, but when you’re reading this that doesn’t matter. I didn’t want to put it down!
Review by Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime

[Robin Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the last fifteen years or so Matt Hilton has produced a prolific output of crime dramas and thrillers. His characters are often violent and disturbed and merge into a background of urban deprivation. In this new novel the author shifts the location to rural Cumbria where the tourist idyll is shattered and violated by knuckledusters, gun shots and death.
The tension is absolutely nail-biting as terror erupts into ordinary family life at an isolated gate house to what was once a magnificent country mansion. It's every bit as terrifying as Sam Peckinpah's 'Straw Dogs' and the novel it was based upon 'The Siege of Trencher's Farm' (by Gordon M. Williams).

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller from Matt Hilton, although totally unbelievable at some points! The action never let up right from the start until the very last page, filled with violence, twists and a few shocks along the way. I liked the characterisation, especially Danni an 8 year old girl with incredible strength of character. Just enjoy the ride and settle in with a cup of coffee and read this entertaining, rollercoaster of a thriller! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Brenda J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off thinking this would be a good book. Before too long, I was struggling to get through it. Perhaps my American English was an issue. I didn’t like how it laid out and developed, found it confusing. And over all just a bit too much. Seemed amateur.

[Susan Toovey · Rating 3 out of 5]

7.

[Lisa Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ending DRAGGED!!!!

[Robert Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes overtly gruesome, this exciting tale of a young girl with memory loss and its reattainment will hold your attention.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good action packed thriller! Detailed the characters so there was not any question who they are and how they are related.

[Sarah Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good page turner. Full of action and,suspense.