The Burning Woman

Inspector Reis #4

by Patricia Marques

A local woman is found in a children's playground, tied up and burned to death. Her clothes are neatly folded and laid at the base of a nearby tree. Her body, charred and still smoking, is on display for all to see.

One town over, another victim is discovered in the scorched remains of a brutal fire, her clothes having been laid out just beyond the reach of the vicious flames.

Isabel Reis is called back to her post in the PolÍcia Judiciária hunt the serial killer and extinguish the red-hot city of Lisbon, or will she too get caught up in the smoke of the fire burning so close to home . . .

The blood-tingling final instalment in the critically acclaimed Inspector Reis series propels us back to Portugal, right into the path of a serial killer.

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2025

About the author

Half-Angolan and half-Portuguese, Patricia was born in Portugal but moved to England when she was eight. As well as the MA in Creative Writing from City she holds a BA in Creative Writing from Roehampton. She lives in London and The Colours of Death was her first novel. House of Silence is her second.

Reviews

[Samantha (AK) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent enough wrap to the series. Fairly enjoyable; It's nice to see Reis come back into her own after London. The conclusion of this book's crime investigation felt a little odd, though, and while there's a place for letting the reader imagine outcomes, the openness to the series-plot ending wasn't quite what I'd hoped for.

[Terezka · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite series, will re-read sooner rather than later.

PS: Patricia, I love you

[Alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series absolutely killed me in the best way.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. It’s such a concept.

If you are reading this Patricia, might we not have some more please? 🙏