What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Sheridan Holler #3
Play with Fire
A missing woman. A gruesome delivery. A terrifying discovery. Where is Caroline Crow?
All has been quiet in Liverpool, suspiciously quiet…
So, when a frantic 999 call comes into Hale Street Police Station reporting a missing woman, it seems like there’s work to do. Except for DI Sheridan Holler there are questions. Why did Caroline Crow take her purse, suitcase and even tell friends she was going away? There’s no reason to suspect foul play…until a severed, burned hand is delivered to another address.
With no hard evidence linking the two cases, Holler’s gut is telling her that all is not as it seems and if she’s right, time is running out to find Caroline alive.
As DI Holler attempts to weed out the truth from the lies, will this be one puzzle that runs out the clock? Or can Holler and her team fit the pieces together before it’s too late?
All has been quiet in Liverpool, suspiciously quiet…
So, when a frantic 999 call comes into Hale Street Police Station reporting a missing woman, it seems like there’s work to do. Except for DI Sheridan Holler there are questions. Why did Caroline Crow take her purse, suitcase and even tell friends she was going away? There’s no reason to suspect foul play…until a severed, burned hand is delivered to another address.
With no hard evidence linking the two cases, Holler’s gut is telling her that all is not as it seems and if she’s right, time is running out to find Caroline alive.
As DI Holler attempts to weed out the truth from the lies, will this be one puzzle that runs out the clock? Or can Holler and her team fit the pieces together before it’s too late?
429 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2025
628 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Payne
6 books163 followersT.M. Payne’s Detective Sheridan Holler series will be published by Amazon Publishing in 2024 and 2025.
Agent: Broo Doherty, DHH Literary Agency
Editor: Victoria Haslam, Thomas & Mercer
Twitter: @Tinap66Payne
T. M. Payne was born in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire and now lives on the Wirral with her wonderful partner.
Having worked in the criminal justice system for 18 years, the last 14 of which she was a Police Case Investigator within the Domestic Violence Unit, she has now taken a break to concentrate on her passion for writing crime novels.
She is crazy about animals and if you walk past her with your dog, she will probably ask if she can pat it on the head. Or take it home with her. Or both.
She loves laughing, Christmas, playing golf (badly) walking along New Brighton beach (not walking her dog because she hasn’t got one) snow, sunsets, family and friends.
She dislikes beetroot. Very much dislikes beetroot.
Agent: Broo Doherty, DHH Literary Agency
Editor: Victoria Haslam, Thomas & Mercer
Twitter: @Tinap66Payne
T. M. Payne was born in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire and now lives on the Wirral with her wonderful partner.
Having worked in the criminal justice system for 18 years, the last 14 of which she was a Police Case Investigator within the Domestic Violence Unit, she has now taken a break to concentrate on her passion for writing crime novels.
She is crazy about animals and if you walk past her with your dog, she will probably ask if she can pat it on the head. Or take it home with her. Or both.
She loves laughing, Christmas, playing golf (badly) walking along New Brighton beach (not walking her dog because she hasn’t got one) snow, sunsets, family and friends.
She dislikes beetroot. Very much dislikes beetroot.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 3, 2025
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest as part of the readalong with the Thrills and Chills book club hosted by Tandem Collective UK.
Play with Fire is the third book in a police procedural thriller series but can be read as a stand-alone. This is the first book by T. M. Payne, I've read, and I'll definitely be reading books one and two very soon as I couldn't put this book down.
Set in Liverpool, we follow DI Sheridan Holler and her team as they try to track down a missing person ( Caroline Crow ). I loved the direction this book took and found the mix of policing, investigation, interviews, suspects, and the insight into the detectives' lives really interesting. It brought the characters to life and added depth to the story. I can't wait to read more from the main characters in the first two books and continue the series.
This book had an ending I couldn't predict, and all the clever twists made my head go in so many directions throughout the story.
Play with Fire is the third book in a police procedural thriller series but can be read as a stand-alone. This is the first book by T. M. Payne, I've read, and I'll definitely be reading books one and two very soon as I couldn't put this book down.
Set in Liverpool, we follow DI Sheridan Holler and her team as they try to track down a missing person ( Caroline Crow ). I loved the direction this book took and found the mix of policing, investigation, interviews, suspects, and the insight into the detectives' lives really interesting. It brought the characters to life and added depth to the story. I can't wait to read more from the main characters in the first two books and continue the series.
This book had an ending I couldn't predict, and all the clever twists made my head go in so many directions throughout the story.
April 1, 2025
A great police procedural thriller which had me hooked with a great prologue.
This is the third book in a series which can be read as a standalone as I haven’t as yet read the previous two but after finishing this I definitely want to.
I love the characters and how their relationships develop throughout the story and you get to know them. It’s quite nice to see the two main detectives in their ‘real life’ and how they change from when they’re on a case.
This book had me thinking up loads of theories and questioning so many characters but I love that in books. It really could have gone so many different ways.
A massive bonus for me were the short chapters and the fast pace of the book.
I read this book as a readalong and I was a bit naughty and read ahead but it’s such a great book to read with others to swap theories
This is the third book in a series which can be read as a standalone as I haven’t as yet read the previous two but after finishing this I definitely want to.
I love the characters and how their relationships develop throughout the story and you get to know them. It’s quite nice to see the two main detectives in their ‘real life’ and how they change from when they’re on a case.
This book had me thinking up loads of theories and questioning so many characters but I love that in books. It really could have gone so many different ways.
A massive bonus for me were the short chapters and the fast pace of the book.
I read this book as a readalong and I was a bit naughty and read ahead but it’s such a great book to read with others to swap theories
March 14, 2025
Firstly I want to thank Tina for gifting and dedicating a copy of Play With Fire to me at Stockport Noir.
Crime series are my favourite reads and when I discovered the DI Sheridan Holler series last year with book one Long Time Dead I was hooked. The characters in the book are great and I love how they are developing book by book. There were multiple strands in this book and as I progressed through the book I hadn't a clue how it would all come together particularly, after the 'explosive' start. The twists and turns which brought it to a conclusion are well written.
I'm delighted that there are several more books to come in the series. I'm looking forward to perhaps one day Sheridan solving her brother's murder, something horrible happening to Anna's creepy husband Steve, (from whom I always get a sense of doom), discovering Hill's real name and long live Maud! Definitely another 5 star read for me.
Crime series are my favourite reads and when I discovered the DI Sheridan Holler series last year with book one Long Time Dead I was hooked. The characters in the book are great and I love how they are developing book by book. There were multiple strands in this book and as I progressed through the book I hadn't a clue how it would all come together particularly, after the 'explosive' start. The twists and turns which brought it to a conclusion are well written.
I'm delighted that there are several more books to come in the series. I'm looking forward to perhaps one day Sheridan solving her brother's murder, something horrible happening to Anna's creepy husband Steve, (from whom I always get a sense of doom), discovering Hill's real name and long live Maud! Definitely another 5 star read for me.
March 31, 2025
What a firecracker of a read this was!
I’ve never read anything like this before & what a cracking way to start! It had twists & turns galore, my head was constantly in a swivel & I couldn’t stop thinking, theorising & questioning EVERYTHING I was reading! Chapter 107 really was the kicker for me (picture me sat on my sofa SHOUTING at this book)! 😂😭🤯
I like multiple POV’s & this book had many! 👌🏻
The characters are likeable & they feel ever so real! Like you could probably bump in to one of them down the wine aisle in Tesco 👀
They are written so you feel like you know them personally, the little snippets from their lives out of work really made it for me! Although I think I’m still in constant fear for Anna! 😬
When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it!
I read this as a standalone as I have not previously read anything by T M Payne & I don’t feel like I missed anything by doing this! There are some subplots going on in the background but you are given enough information to understand them without reading the others! However I am very very intrigued to go back & read the first 2 for sure!
I’ve never read anything like this before & what a cracking way to start! It had twists & turns galore, my head was constantly in a swivel & I couldn’t stop thinking, theorising & questioning EVERYTHING I was reading! Chapter 107 really was the kicker for me (picture me sat on my sofa SHOUTING at this book)! 😂😭🤯
I like multiple POV’s & this book had many! 👌🏻
The characters are likeable & they feel ever so real! Like you could probably bump in to one of them down the wine aisle in Tesco 👀
They are written so you feel like you know them personally, the little snippets from their lives out of work really made it for me! Although I think I’m still in constant fear for Anna! 😬
When I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it!
I read this as a standalone as I have not previously read anything by T M Payne & I don’t feel like I missed anything by doing this! There are some subplots going on in the background but you are given enough information to understand them without reading the others! However I am very very intrigued to go back & read the first 2 for sure!
March 6, 2025
While not normally a fan of detective or procedural novels, this one caught my eye. I opted for the audiobook and found the narrator easy to listen to- but be advised, the book takes place overseas and has an English accent.
This book follows multiple POVs to tell the story of a woman who goes missing and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and attempts to locate her. While early on you can tell there’s a secret the missing woman is keeping, it won’t be revealed until later. I found this story pretty consistent with this trope- many suspects introduced to lead you to a conclusion, then cleared of the suspicion. It took some crazy turns and some less than realistic methods of getting there, but overall an enjoyable read!
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC!
This book follows multiple POVs to tell the story of a woman who goes missing and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and attempts to locate her. While early on you can tell there’s a secret the missing woman is keeping, it won’t be revealed until later. I found this story pretty consistent with this trope- many suspects introduced to lead you to a conclusion, then cleared of the suspicion. It took some crazy turns and some less than realistic methods of getting there, but overall an enjoyable read!
Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC!
April 15, 2025
The third police procedural book of TM Payne that I absolutely wolfed down. DI Sheridan Holler is such a great character and the natural conversations between herself, Hill and Anna have me laughing out loud. You can read as a standalone but there's a nice back story running throughout. If you're a fan of DS Butlers DI Karen Hart series, you'll love this.
July 7, 2025
amo que la trama tenga más de un misterio y cada uno es mejor que el anterior!!!
Le puse 5⭐️ pero si pudiera, le daría mas!
Todos los libros de esta serie se DEVORAN, son demasiado adictivos!!! 10/10
Le puse 5⭐️ pero si pudiera, le daría mas!
Todos los libros de esta serie se DEVORAN, son demasiado adictivos!!! 10/10
March 12, 2025
**Audiobook Review: *Play with Fire* by T.M. Payne 🔥🎧**
Alright, crime junkies, this one’s for you. *Play with Fire* is book three in T.M. Payne’s *Detective Sheridan Holler* series, and it does **not** disappoint. Set in Liverpool, the story kicks off with Caroline Crow seemingly dipping out on her own terms—she packs her stuff, lets her friends know, and vanishes. But things get *real* when a severed, burned hand shows up at another address. Enter Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, ready to uncover the truth in this dark, twisty case.
Payne absolutely **nails** the tension and character development, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the investigation. The plot is layered, the stakes are high, and the audiobook narration? *Chef’s kiss*—it keeps the suspense alive and the characters feeling real.
If you love crime thrillers that hit *hard* with sharp storytelling and killer performances, *Play with Fire* is a must-listen. 🎙️🔥
Big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me dive into this wild ride! 🚔✨
Alright, crime junkies, this one’s for you. *Play with Fire* is book three in T.M. Payne’s *Detective Sheridan Holler* series, and it does **not** disappoint. Set in Liverpool, the story kicks off with Caroline Crow seemingly dipping out on her own terms—she packs her stuff, lets her friends know, and vanishes. But things get *real* when a severed, burned hand shows up at another address. Enter Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, ready to uncover the truth in this dark, twisty case.
Payne absolutely **nails** the tension and character development, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the investigation. The plot is layered, the stakes are high, and the audiobook narration? *Chef’s kiss*—it keeps the suspense alive and the characters feeling real.
If you love crime thrillers that hit *hard* with sharp storytelling and killer performances, *Play with Fire* is a must-listen. 🎙️🔥
Big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me dive into this wild ride! 🚔✨
April 2, 2025
Police procedural at its very best! WOW , this book opened with an attention-grabbing prologue, and then it just got more immersive by the page. Play with Fire is the third DI Sheridan Holler book. It was my first read, and I easily jumped into the story. I have since pirchase the first two, though, as I now invested. T.M.Payne takes time in not only developing explosive storylines, but also building 3D characters. The detectives are not just the job, they have backstories. For Holler, it is the unsolved death of her brother. Her partner, Anna, has got herself back in the clutches of a dangerously conniving and manipulative man. In this string female detective story, the pair are dealing with the disappearance of Caroline Crowe. There are several male suspects and we fluctuate between them all as the story progresses - an ex convict; the husband and a doctor acting suspiciously. The story twisted so many times, I could never have predicted the outcome. It was impossible to put this book down. A cracking thriller. #playwithfire #TMPayne #playwithfirereadalong #tandemreadalong #thrillsandchillsreaders @TandemCollectiveUk @AmazonPublishing
September 12, 2025
I had forgotten how good this series is after a break and now waiting patiently for the next book.
it is so refreshing to read a police procedural where the main character is not covered in angst apart from the brothers murder. I really like how sam the partner is brought more into it.
the crime itself is complex with lots of trusts and turns. it just kept me involved and I just needed to keep listening.
it is so refreshing to read a police procedural where the main character is not covered in angst apart from the brothers murder. I really like how sam the partner is brought more into it.
the crime itself is complex with lots of trusts and turns. it just kept me involved and I just needed to keep listening.
November 8, 2025
Audio version of this book 📕- WOW another great addition to the series!! So pleased I found this author and series . It’s got everything, brilliant main characters, fantastic plots and a sprinkle of humour! Highly recommend
July 24, 2025
This was so good, I cannot wait for book 4, what is Hill's real first name, will Anna meet someone new, will Steve try & do something mean, will Sheridan find out where Stubby was on the day Matthew was killed. I love that this series is several stories all intertwined 😍
May 6, 2025
An easy book to read with characters you want to know more about and find out what their story is.
December 27, 2025
Diesmal verspürte ich zwar leichte Längen, trotzdem mag ich die Reihe immer noch sehr
Adrian Crow meldet seine Ehefrau als vermisst und kurz darauf werden vom Haus des Chirurgen Simon Banks und seinem, Pakete mit abgetrennten sowie verbrannten Frauenhänden gefunden. Sheridan Holler befürchtet das Schlimmste. Obwohl alles darauf hindeutet, dass Caroline Crow ihr eigenes Untertauchen geplant hat, ist sie der festen Überzeugung, dass die Frau nicht freiwillig verschwunden ist. Vor allem, weil auch DNA Spuren des kürzlich aus dem Gefängnis entlassenen Kriminellen Gabriel Howard gefunden wurden, den sie noch immer für den Tod einer alten Dame verantwortlich macht. Wird es ihr, zusammen mit ihrem Team gelingen, Caroline zu retten und Gabriel wieder hinter Gitter zu bringen?
Auch diesen dritten Teil um die mir in den Vorgängern ans Herz gewachsene Mordermittlerin Sheridan Holler und ihr Team der Liverpooler Mordkommission konnte ich durchaus wieder und flüssig lesen. Wie bereits die ersten beiden Teile wird in der dritten Person aus den Perspektiven verschiedener Protagonisten erzählt. Eine einfache, aber dennoch bildhafte Sprache, kurze Kapitel mit gut gesetzten Perspektivwechseln sorgten auch hier wieder dafür, dass es weitestgehend spannend blieb. Die Ermittlungen zum aktuellen Fall, mit all ihren Fortschritten und Rückschlägen wirkten auf mich sehr realistisch. Die Autorin legte wieder viele verschiedene Spuren aus und am Ende wurde alles doch ganz anders als erwartet.
Allerdings kam mir diesmal das Privatleben der mit inzwischen sehr lieb gewordenen Charaktere etwas zu kurz bzw. sah ich dort nicht wirklich eine Weiterentwicklung. So freute ich mich zwar, dass bei Sheridan und Sam alles in bester Ordnung ist und die Kriminalistin dort einen sicheren Hafen hat. Ich musste auch immer mal wieder ein bisschen über Sams Unzulänglichkeit schmunzeln, hätte mir dort aber wenigstens noch eine wirkliche Weiterentwicklung bei Sheridans privaten Fall gewünscht. Auch die Einblicke in Hills Privatleben ergaben nichts Neues und Sheridans Kollegin und Freundin Anna ist auf dem besten Weg, alte Fehler zu wiederholen. Verspürte ich in den ersten beiden Teilen bei den privaten Einblicken immer echte Auflockerungen oder Spannungsvertiefungen, hatte ich gerade da diesmal das Gefühl von leichten Längen.
Dennoch sind mir alle Charaktere noch immer sehr sympathisch und die Reihe gefällt mir immer noch sehr gut. Ich werde sie daher auf jeden Fall auch weiterverfolgen. Der vierte Teil in deutscher Übersetzung, mit dem Titel Das Muster des Todes ist für den 17.03.2026 angekündigt. Im Original soll im Juni 2026 bereits der 5. Teil der Reihe erscheinen.
Adrian Crow meldet seine Ehefrau als vermisst und kurz darauf werden vom Haus des Chirurgen Simon Banks und seinem, Pakete mit abgetrennten sowie verbrannten Frauenhänden gefunden. Sheridan Holler befürchtet das Schlimmste. Obwohl alles darauf hindeutet, dass Caroline Crow ihr eigenes Untertauchen geplant hat, ist sie der festen Überzeugung, dass die Frau nicht freiwillig verschwunden ist. Vor allem, weil auch DNA Spuren des kürzlich aus dem Gefängnis entlassenen Kriminellen Gabriel Howard gefunden wurden, den sie noch immer für den Tod einer alten Dame verantwortlich macht. Wird es ihr, zusammen mit ihrem Team gelingen, Caroline zu retten und Gabriel wieder hinter Gitter zu bringen?
Auch diesen dritten Teil um die mir in den Vorgängern ans Herz gewachsene Mordermittlerin Sheridan Holler und ihr Team der Liverpooler Mordkommission konnte ich durchaus wieder und flüssig lesen. Wie bereits die ersten beiden Teile wird in der dritten Person aus den Perspektiven verschiedener Protagonisten erzählt. Eine einfache, aber dennoch bildhafte Sprache, kurze Kapitel mit gut gesetzten Perspektivwechseln sorgten auch hier wieder dafür, dass es weitestgehend spannend blieb. Die Ermittlungen zum aktuellen Fall, mit all ihren Fortschritten und Rückschlägen wirkten auf mich sehr realistisch. Die Autorin legte wieder viele verschiedene Spuren aus und am Ende wurde alles doch ganz anders als erwartet.
Allerdings kam mir diesmal das Privatleben der mit inzwischen sehr lieb gewordenen Charaktere etwas zu kurz bzw. sah ich dort nicht wirklich eine Weiterentwicklung. So freute ich mich zwar, dass bei Sheridan und Sam alles in bester Ordnung ist und die Kriminalistin dort einen sicheren Hafen hat. Ich musste auch immer mal wieder ein bisschen über Sams Unzulänglichkeit schmunzeln, hätte mir dort aber wenigstens noch eine wirkliche Weiterentwicklung bei Sheridans privaten Fall gewünscht. Auch die Einblicke in Hills Privatleben ergaben nichts Neues und Sheridans Kollegin und Freundin Anna ist auf dem besten Weg, alte Fehler zu wiederholen. Verspürte ich in den ersten beiden Teilen bei den privaten Einblicken immer echte Auflockerungen oder Spannungsvertiefungen, hatte ich gerade da diesmal das Gefühl von leichten Längen.
Dennoch sind mir alle Charaktere noch immer sehr sympathisch und die Reihe gefällt mir immer noch sehr gut. Ich werde sie daher auf jeden Fall auch weiterverfolgen. Der vierte Teil in deutscher Übersetzung, mit dem Titel Das Muster des Todes ist für den 17.03.2026 angekündigt. Im Original soll im Juni 2026 bereits der 5. Teil der Reihe erscheinen.
March 7, 2025
Play With Fire is the third book in the DI Sheridan Holler series, written by TM Payne. It’s a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed since reading Long Time Dead, I always look forward to the new instalment.
Play With Fire starts with Hale Street Station seeing an unusually quiet period. A new case presents itself, a missing woman. Initially it doesn’t cause too much alarm, as Caroline Crow seems to have planned her escape. Until a grim discovery escalates everyone’s concern.
The storyline is complex, with so much detail of this tricky case to unpick. The manner of writing drip feeds the details to the reader, keeping me in gripped suspense. I must admit that while reading, I had completely forgotten the first chapter. So when the events re-emerged, I was surprised and thrilled to find that I still had more of the story to be revealed.
With each book, the characters, who already have great depth and individuality, develop further. As the book progressed, I found myself appreciating Sheridan, and her internal moral compass more and more. I also find it refreshing, to have the central character of a leading detective, having a happy and settled home life. I adore the small cameo appearances by Gloria, her mischievous nature always brings me a smile. Her and Elvis being a highlight for me. Maud, as always, is a legend.
The audio was really well narrated. Each of the characters had their own distinct voice and intonation.
I was happy to find that the fourth book in the series, Count The Dead, is due to be published in November. So I don’t have long to wait to see what Sheridan, Anna and Hill get up to next. Anna’s ongoing backstory is causing me a little anxiety, so I’m really hoping for a positive resolution there. (Subtle hint Tina Payne 😂)
Just as you would expect from the author, Play With Fire is an engrossing police procedural; with wonderful characterisation, and a storyline that holds you until the last word has been read. I highly recommend it.
Play With Fire starts with Hale Street Station seeing an unusually quiet period. A new case presents itself, a missing woman. Initially it doesn’t cause too much alarm, as Caroline Crow seems to have planned her escape. Until a grim discovery escalates everyone’s concern.
The storyline is complex, with so much detail of this tricky case to unpick. The manner of writing drip feeds the details to the reader, keeping me in gripped suspense. I must admit that while reading, I had completely forgotten the first chapter. So when the events re-emerged, I was surprised and thrilled to find that I still had more of the story to be revealed.
With each book, the characters, who already have great depth and individuality, develop further. As the book progressed, I found myself appreciating Sheridan, and her internal moral compass more and more. I also find it refreshing, to have the central character of a leading detective, having a happy and settled home life. I adore the small cameo appearances by Gloria, her mischievous nature always brings me a smile. Her and Elvis being a highlight for me. Maud, as always, is a legend.
The audio was really well narrated. Each of the characters had their own distinct voice and intonation.
I was happy to find that the fourth book in the series, Count The Dead, is due to be published in November. So I don’t have long to wait to see what Sheridan, Anna and Hill get up to next. Anna’s ongoing backstory is causing me a little anxiety, so I’m really hoping for a positive resolution there. (Subtle hint Tina Payne 😂)
Just as you would expect from the author, Play With Fire is an engrossing police procedural; with wonderful characterisation, and a storyline that holds you until the last word has been read. I highly recommend it.
March 4, 2025
Synopsis
The atmosphere in Liverpool has been extremely calm, almost too calm for comfort. So, when a panicked call to emergency services comes through to Hale Street Police Station about a woman who has gone missing, it signals the start of an investigation. However, for Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, there are more questions than answers. Why did Caroline Crow pack her purse and suitcase and inform her friends that she was leaving? At first glance, there seems to be no indication of foul play—until a gruesome discovery of a severed, charred hand is sent to a different location.
Lacking concrete evidence that connects the two incidents, Holler’s instincts are telling her that something is amiss, and if her intuition is correct, every moment counts in the search for Caroline. As DI Holler delves deeper into the tangled web of truth and deception, she faces the daunting challenge of piecing together this mystery. Will she and her team manage to solve this case before time runs out, or will they find themselves racing against the clock?
My Thoughts
This is the third book in T.M. Payne’s Detective Sheridan Holler series, and it certainly lived up to my expectations! I really enjoyed both the narration and the overall story. However, I did find myself a bit confused with the plot involving a few characters at times, as there were many intersecting storylines. Thankfully, I eventually got the hang of it. In this installment, DI Holler is on the case of a missing woman, prompted by her worried husband who discovers letters to her lovers. As the story unfolds, strange events start to occur, but DI Holler remains calm and sharp-minded amidst the chaos. All in all, it was a great read, and the ending completely took me by surprise!
Thank You @Netgalley and @Brilliancepublishing for allowing me to review this ALC.
The atmosphere in Liverpool has been extremely calm, almost too calm for comfort. So, when a panicked call to emergency services comes through to Hale Street Police Station about a woman who has gone missing, it signals the start of an investigation. However, for Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, there are more questions than answers. Why did Caroline Crow pack her purse and suitcase and inform her friends that she was leaving? At first glance, there seems to be no indication of foul play—until a gruesome discovery of a severed, charred hand is sent to a different location.
Lacking concrete evidence that connects the two incidents, Holler’s instincts are telling her that something is amiss, and if her intuition is correct, every moment counts in the search for Caroline. As DI Holler delves deeper into the tangled web of truth and deception, she faces the daunting challenge of piecing together this mystery. Will she and her team manage to solve this case before time runs out, or will they find themselves racing against the clock?
My Thoughts
This is the third book in T.M. Payne’s Detective Sheridan Holler series, and it certainly lived up to my expectations! I really enjoyed both the narration and the overall story. However, I did find myself a bit confused with the plot involving a few characters at times, as there were many intersecting storylines. Thankfully, I eventually got the hang of it. In this installment, DI Holler is on the case of a missing woman, prompted by her worried husband who discovers letters to her lovers. As the story unfolds, strange events start to occur, but DI Holler remains calm and sharp-minded amidst the chaos. All in all, it was a great read, and the ending completely took me by surprise!
Thank You @Netgalley and @Brilliancepublishing for allowing me to review this ALC.
March 2, 2025
Play with Fire is a detective Sheridan Holler mystery/thriller written by T.M. Payne. I was ecstatic to be given access to the advanced copy of the audiobook narrated by Heather Bleasdale and immediately hunkered down to get started. As you can guess this story follows Detective Holler in her investigations. We accompany her down the twisted path of a pretty standard missing persons investigation where all signs point to the woman leaving of her own volition and a seemingly unrelated issue of a burned and severed hand being delivered to someone’s door. There is a lot happening in this story and the way it is written, a lot of the story is revealed without giving you much in the way of who is doing what and the real reason behind everything. Once it drew me in, I was absolutely and utterly hooked. I devoured this within a couple days. Payne knows how to write a thriller and while I had theories, I most definitely had no idea which way was up for the majority of the story. But I had a fantastic time on the journey.
I’ll be the first to say that a narrator can make or break an audiobook. I have been guilty of not finishing books because a specific voice just pulls me right out of the story. This was not one of those time. Bleasdale is a fabulous narrator who did just enough to keep me invested without distracting from the words and the story itself.
This was actually my first Sheridan Holler book and I have immediately found and obtained the other two. If you like mysteries with good twists that keep you guessing Until the very end, give this a read or a listen. Just trust me (but maybe don’t trust anyone in the book).
Thank you to Brilliance publishing for making this audiobook available for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I’ll be the first to say that a narrator can make or break an audiobook. I have been guilty of not finishing books because a specific voice just pulls me right out of the story. This was not one of those time. Bleasdale is a fabulous narrator who did just enough to keep me invested without distracting from the words and the story itself.
This was actually my first Sheridan Holler book and I have immediately found and obtained the other two. If you like mysteries with good twists that keep you guessing Until the very end, give this a read or a listen. Just trust me (but maybe don’t trust anyone in the book).
Thank you to Brilliance publishing for making this audiobook available for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 1, 2025
Play With Fire
DI Sheridan Holler and the team are thrown into yet another complex case which starts when Adrian Crow’s 999 call comes in – when he arrives back from his business trip, he discovers his wife Caroline is missing, along with some of her possessions. This is completely out of character, and Adrian is visibly worried. Later when another call comes in from a Simon Banks saying a package with a charred severed hand inside was left on his doorstep, Sheridan can’t shake off the feeling that somehow these two cases are connected. But how? Results come back and the hand doesn’t belong to Caroline, but delving deeper there’s more to this than meets the eye. The race is on to locate Caroline, but can Sheridan and the team get to the bottom of this strange mystery before it’s too late?
TINA! I don’t know where to start! I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this is something else! The storyline is complex, but really easy to follow what is going on, this is a talent in itself. Sometimes I find the more complex the story, the harder for me it is to follow – I had no problems at all! I enjoyed the thrill of the chase, and how at the end all the small strands from each character’s story all come into play nicely at the end. There’s also room to see the characters’ relationships develop, and there’s even a bit of humor thrown in! I hope there’s still plenty more to come from this series, as it’s fast becoming a firm favorite! Brilliant Tina, absolutely loved it!! (Please don’t keep me waiting ages for the next one!!).
DI Sheridan Holler and the team are thrown into yet another complex case which starts when Adrian Crow’s 999 call comes in – when he arrives back from his business trip, he discovers his wife Caroline is missing, along with some of her possessions. This is completely out of character, and Adrian is visibly worried. Later when another call comes in from a Simon Banks saying a package with a charred severed hand inside was left on his doorstep, Sheridan can’t shake off the feeling that somehow these two cases are connected. But how? Results come back and the hand doesn’t belong to Caroline, but delving deeper there’s more to this than meets the eye. The race is on to locate Caroline, but can Sheridan and the team get to the bottom of this strange mystery before it’s too late?
TINA! I don’t know where to start! I enjoyed the first two books in the series, but this is something else! The storyline is complex, but really easy to follow what is going on, this is a talent in itself. Sometimes I find the more complex the story, the harder for me it is to follow – I had no problems at all! I enjoyed the thrill of the chase, and how at the end all the small strands from each character’s story all come into play nicely at the end. There’s also room to see the characters’ relationships develop, and there’s even a bit of humor thrown in! I hope there’s still plenty more to come from this series, as it’s fast becoming a firm favorite! Brilliant Tina, absolutely loved it!! (Please don’t keep me waiting ages for the next one!!).
August 19, 2025
The Sheridan series continues to deliver crime fiction of the highest order, and the third book is no exception. The author once again demonstrates how to guide readers through a detective’s path with steady control, letting the suspense build in natural waves rather than forced jolts. The story is shaped around a sequence of twists that arrive just when they should, giving the novel the feel of a ride that is fast enough to thrill yet careful enough to keep every detail in focus.
As in the debut, the resolution takes its time to unfold, though here the pacing feels more deliberate than indulgent. The slightly extended reveal is softened by the reward of a satisfying aftermath that lingers briefly after the main mystery closes. That closing touch not only offsets the long build but also adds warmth, leaving the reader with a sense of completeness rather than fatigue. It is this ability to balance tempo with tone that distinguishes the series.
At least two of these books would translate beautifully onto the screen. Producers hunting for the next Slow Horses or Department Q should already be circling. Such a show will not have a quirky, dour lead, but leads who are normal, credible, humane, and all the more compelling for it. That choice, which could have been a limitation, has become one of the series’ greatest assets.
As in the debut, the resolution takes its time to unfold, though here the pacing feels more deliberate than indulgent. The slightly extended reveal is softened by the reward of a satisfying aftermath that lingers briefly after the main mystery closes. That closing touch not only offsets the long build but also adds warmth, leaving the reader with a sense of completeness rather than fatigue. It is this ability to balance tempo with tone that distinguishes the series.
At least two of these books would translate beautifully onto the screen. Producers hunting for the next Slow Horses or Department Q should already be circling. Such a show will not have a quirky, dour lead, but leads who are normal, credible, humane, and all the more compelling for it. That choice, which could have been a limitation, has become one of the series’ greatest assets.
April 14, 2025
I'm partway through about a thousand detective series at the minute, so where's the harm in starting another?
And I love a police procedural! Sure, they can be quite slower-paced, but I love the detail that comes with it, and Payne really knows what she's writing about here. The investigation is very in-depth, and the chemistry between the team is excellent - it's like watching a crime drama on TV!
The prologue of this book is phenomenal, and the short chapters have you gripped. It takes a long time for things to come together, as you are always wondering where the prologue fits in. Personally, I like a few more hints along the way, as there was a lot of back and forth here, so I genuinely had no idea what was going on, but that makes the twists that finally come all the more shocking.
There are also a few subplots going on, and it's great to see detectives with a private life that doesn't revolve around their husband telling them they work too much. I think it would have helped to have read the first two books to have more context of these stories, but it can very much be read as a standalone otherwise.
Will I be going back to the first two books? Definitely! I loved Payne's writing and characters, and I look forward to seeing what they do next!
And I love a police procedural! Sure, they can be quite slower-paced, but I love the detail that comes with it, and Payne really knows what she's writing about here. The investigation is very in-depth, and the chemistry between the team is excellent - it's like watching a crime drama on TV!
The prologue of this book is phenomenal, and the short chapters have you gripped. It takes a long time for things to come together, as you are always wondering where the prologue fits in. Personally, I like a few more hints along the way, as there was a lot of back and forth here, so I genuinely had no idea what was going on, but that makes the twists that finally come all the more shocking.
There are also a few subplots going on, and it's great to see detectives with a private life that doesn't revolve around their husband telling them they work too much. I think it would have helped to have read the first two books to have more context of these stories, but it can very much be read as a standalone otherwise.
Will I be going back to the first two books? Definitely! I loved Payne's writing and characters, and I look forward to seeing what they do next!
April 22, 2025
Thank you @tandemcollectiveuk for including me in this wonderful readalong for ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ғɪʀᴇ @tmpayneauthor
It’s a bitter sweet feeling as we close the file for Case # 3 for DI Holler.
💭ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs
This was an intense crime thriller that kept me hooked till the very last page. A fast, pacy thriller with the a police case that had twisty sub plots, this was one unputdownable book.
The short chapters were a treat, as they kept you leading on & put me off my guessing game, everyone seemed like a suspect in this plot. The chapters jumped from one part of the story to another seamlessly and even if it confused me a bit, the final reveal was oh so satisfying!
I enjoyed Sheridan’s wit and work ethics, her backstory added layers to her character and provided a glimpse into her personality. Like Maud, my cats are quite vocal and they assisted me in reading. It was informative and fun to read more about police procedurals since I love watching crime shows. On that note, this one would make a great adaptation!
This was a fantastic read and my first #ThrillsAndChills Book Club read. I look forward to more of these thriller readalongs.
It’s a bitter sweet feeling as we close the file for Case # 3 for DI Holler.
💭ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs
This was an intense crime thriller that kept me hooked till the very last page. A fast, pacy thriller with the a police case that had twisty sub plots, this was one unputdownable book.
The short chapters were a treat, as they kept you leading on & put me off my guessing game, everyone seemed like a suspect in this plot. The chapters jumped from one part of the story to another seamlessly and even if it confused me a bit, the final reveal was oh so satisfying!
I enjoyed Sheridan’s wit and work ethics, her backstory added layers to her character and provided a glimpse into her personality. Like Maud, my cats are quite vocal and they assisted me in reading. It was informative and fun to read more about police procedurals since I love watching crime shows. On that note, this one would make a great adaptation!
This was a fantastic read and my first #ThrillsAndChills Book Club read. I look forward to more of these thriller readalongs.
April 2, 2025
This was my first T.M. Payne book but it definitely won’t be my last! I really enjoyed this book and found it so gripping that I did not want to stop reading.
This is a police procedural thriller, with crime and murder. It is part of the Sheridan Holler series but can be read as a standalone. I will for sure be looking to read more, I really enjoyed Sheridan and her team.
The story was so full of twists, turns, secrets and revelations, you spend half of the time thinking the story is going to go one way and then it throws you and send in a totally different direction.
I would say this is one that is good to go into knowing as little as possible. This follows a kissing wife, burned severed hands delivered in boxes and the investigation into how everything is connected, it really was brilliant.
I am so glad I picked this up and highly recommend it to anyone who has been considering it!
This is a police procedural thriller, with crime and murder. It is part of the Sheridan Holler series but can be read as a standalone. I will for sure be looking to read more, I really enjoyed Sheridan and her team.
The story was so full of twists, turns, secrets and revelations, you spend half of the time thinking the story is going to go one way and then it throws you and send in a totally different direction.
I would say this is one that is good to go into knowing as little as possible. This follows a kissing wife, burned severed hands delivered in boxes and the investigation into how everything is connected, it really was brilliant.
I am so glad I picked this up and highly recommend it to anyone who has been considering it!
March 3, 2025
T.M. Payne has done it again with her latest DI Sheridan Holler novel, Play With Fire…it was totally fiery and so twisty-turny that I am still getting my bearing back to normal.
Payne has the unique ability to craft unique characters that are rounded, despite being minor players in the plot.
This time, DI Holler was tasked to find a missing person for a seemingly distraught husband, after she went missing and he found what seem to be letters to her lovers.
Then, the truly bizarre things begin to take place, and it’s DI Holler who is able to keep a cool and deductive head about herself, despite chaos reigning down on everyone.
The ending was a total shock to me, as I am sure that it will be for everyone who picks up this amazing mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this brilliant audio ARC!!
Payne has the unique ability to craft unique characters that are rounded, despite being minor players in the plot.
This time, DI Holler was tasked to find a missing person for a seemingly distraught husband, after she went missing and he found what seem to be letters to her lovers.
Then, the truly bizarre things begin to take place, and it’s DI Holler who is able to keep a cool and deductive head about herself, despite chaos reigning down on everyone.
The ending was a total shock to me, as I am sure that it will be for everyone who picks up this amazing mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this brilliant audio ARC!!
March 30, 2025
An enjoyable police procedural with two great detectives Sheridan and Anna who were very adept at rooting out the truth and cracking the case!
This was a complex and twisty plot and in fact had more plot lines than there are loaves of bread in Tesco’s!
So it’s one which will keep you on your toes and guessing. The only thing I managed to figure out was who the bad egg was.
We had many a group chat and none of us could work out what was going on, who, what or why. So it was very satisfying to see it all come together.
I think there must be so much going on in Tina’s brain and her thrillers are clearly very popular and in demand. Hats off to her for writing this corker!
Thank you to @amazonpublishing @tamdemcollectiveuk for my spot as a Thrills and Chills Reader, I am absolutely loving it!
This was a complex and twisty plot and in fact had more plot lines than there are loaves of bread in Tesco’s!
So it’s one which will keep you on your toes and guessing. The only thing I managed to figure out was who the bad egg was.
We had many a group chat and none of us could work out what was going on, who, what or why. So it was very satisfying to see it all come together.
I think there must be so much going on in Tina’s brain and her thrillers are clearly very popular and in demand. Hats off to her for writing this corker!
Thank you to @amazonpublishing @tamdemcollectiveuk for my spot as a Thrills and Chills Reader, I am absolutely loving it!
March 9, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Playing with Fire, part of the Detective Sheridan series. While this book can be read as a standalone, it left me eager to dive into the rest of the series.
The storyline was packed with twists and turns, keeping me on my toes throughout. The mystery was well-crafted, and I found myself completely invested in the case. The characters were wonderfully written, each adding depth to the story, and Detective Sheridan made for a compelling lead.
The only reason I’m giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it felt a bit dragged out in places. However, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. If you love a gripping detective thriller with plenty of surprises, Playing with Fire is definitely worth a read!
The storyline was packed with twists and turns, keeping me on my toes throughout. The mystery was well-crafted, and I found myself completely invested in the case. The characters were wonderfully written, each adding depth to the story, and Detective Sheridan made for a compelling lead.
The only reason I’m giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it felt a bit dragged out in places. However, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. If you love a gripping detective thriller with plenty of surprises, Playing with Fire is definitely worth a read!
Read
June 24, 2025I read all three books in the series within a few days. I really liked the humour and the story, the twists and turns. The pacing is kind of off though. Lots of repetition of the same information and huge blocks of backstory. This is especially problematic towards the end. The cases are solved, but we get a long explanation of the motives of the killer, their background, childhood etc. Occasionally it reads like an outline for the author about the character. I think the stories could do with a structural edit because the ideas are really good, the characters could work and the cat is a sweetheart. I can see bestseller potential here if the pacing and the proportions of showing and telling are fixed. Even with these issues, I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 2, 2025
Read if you like:
-Police procedural
-Multiple POVS
-Likeable characters
-Short chapters
-Fast paced
Play with Fire is the 3rd book in the series but it can be read as a stand-alone! However, I definitely will be going back to read the first 2!
This was an enjoyable read, I could have read it in one sitting I would have! We have two great detectives Sheridan and Anna who will stop at nothing until they have rooted out the truth!
Play with Fire is complex and twisty plot, in fact one plot line I was most intrigued by was the DV. I think the author has handled it very well, showing that it’s not quite simple to just walk away and forget!
As always I love multiple POVs, specially when the author throws a red herring in one of the POV and you think that you know who the suspect is!
The ending was shocking, I was just really not expecting that to have happened at all. I was suspicious of the culprit but not that much! An enjoyable thriller that you just won’t be able to put down!
-Police procedural
-Multiple POVS
-Likeable characters
-Short chapters
-Fast paced
Play with Fire is the 3rd book in the series but it can be read as a stand-alone! However, I definitely will be going back to read the first 2!
This was an enjoyable read, I could have read it in one sitting I would have! We have two great detectives Sheridan and Anna who will stop at nothing until they have rooted out the truth!
Play with Fire is complex and twisty plot, in fact one plot line I was most intrigued by was the DV. I think the author has handled it very well, showing that it’s not quite simple to just walk away and forget!
As always I love multiple POVs, specially when the author throws a red herring in one of the POV and you think that you know who the suspect is!
The ending was shocking, I was just really not expecting that to have happened at all. I was suspicious of the culprit but not that much! An enjoyable thriller that you just won’t be able to put down!
March 9, 2025
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.
The story had lots of suspense and many possibilities as the story unfolded. I had no idea where the story was heading and was intrigued by each twist and revelation.
I really liked the main characters, especially the banter between the police officers.
I will definitely read the other books in this series, however the story read excellent as a stand alone.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrative was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the arc.
The story had lots of suspense and many possibilities as the story unfolded. I had no idea where the story was heading and was intrigued by each twist and revelation.
I really liked the main characters, especially the banter between the police officers.
I will definitely read the other books in this series, however the story read excellent as a stand alone.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrative was excellent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the arc.
August 22, 2025
Oh they just keep getting better and the detectives keep getting craftier. I absolutely adore this series and set aside everything else to listen to it. It is well worth the read or listen whichever you prefer. the chapters are short and the story moves a long with very few 'wait what just happened moments'. This one did keep me wondering where the prolong was going to tie in but when it did BOOM it was perfect. it fit right in. DI Sheridan Holler is on of my top 10 favorite police officers, I just wonder if she caught that DCI Hills real first name starts with an I......
December 2, 2025
Thrilling!
I'm loving this series! Suspenseful and exciting. The plot is clever and quite complex. The investigation was seemingly fruitful one minute and impossible the next. It was twisty and kept turning directions at every corner. It kept me on my toes and guessing throughout.
Great characters that are now well developed, with interesting backgrounds and life choices.
There is dark humour and amusing banter threaded through the chapters which are short and well formed.
Couldn't put it down. A gripping read. Looking forward to book four.
I'm loving this series! Suspenseful and exciting. The plot is clever and quite complex. The investigation was seemingly fruitful one minute and impossible the next. It was twisty and kept turning directions at every corner. It kept me on my toes and guessing throughout.
Great characters that are now well developed, with interesting backgrounds and life choices.
There is dark humour and amusing banter threaded through the chapters which are short and well formed.
Couldn't put it down. A gripping read. Looking forward to book four.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews