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The Time of the Fire
Northern California, end of summer. Fire Hazard Severity Very High.
A mysterious death.
On the anniversary of her mother's death, CEO-in-waiting Robyn Sandoval goes for a morning run. She knows her father - a local fire fighting hero - is desperate to speak to her, to tell her something he wants her to know before she starts her new job leading the corporation that owns most of their Northern Californian town of Destino. But when Robyn arrives, she finds him dead.
A devastating fire.
Meanwhile, after months of drought, a freak forest fire ignites on the mountain ridge looming over the town. Destino has never burned; its unique position protected by the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the ridge, a favourable wind direction, and a belief long held by the community that they are categorically safe.
A life split in two.
Robyn is shaken to the core by her father's death, and her life is shattered in two, the fabric of her reality shorn by the sheer force of her grief.
The next time she wakes, everything is her father is alive, and there's no sign of the fire on the ridge.
To understand what is happening, she has to confront not only the secrets of her past but both versions of her present. Because back in her world, the fire is spreading and the time to find answers is running out...
A mysterious death.
On the anniversary of her mother's death, CEO-in-waiting Robyn Sandoval goes for a morning run. She knows her father - a local fire fighting hero - is desperate to speak to her, to tell her something he wants her to know before she starts her new job leading the corporation that owns most of their Northern Californian town of Destino. But when Robyn arrives, she finds him dead.
A devastating fire.
Meanwhile, after months of drought, a freak forest fire ignites on the mountain ridge looming over the town. Destino has never burned; its unique position protected by the seemingly insurmountable barrier of the ridge, a favourable wind direction, and a belief long held by the community that they are categorically safe.
A life split in two.
Robyn is shaken to the core by her father's death, and her life is shattered in two, the fabric of her reality shorn by the sheer force of her grief.
The next time she wakes, everything is her father is alive, and there's no sign of the fire on the ridge.
To understand what is happening, she has to confront not only the secrets of her past but both versions of her present. Because back in her world, the fire is spreading and the time to find answers is running out...
- GenresFiction
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2025
10 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Emma Kavanagh
15 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 30, 2025
This is my first book by this author. One which drew me by the blurb and the cover. The TIme of the Fire is an expertly written speculative thriller.
Emma Kavanagh uses the many worlds theory so effectively. Told from multiple perspectives, the various threads of the story intertwine throughout. This creates a truly immersive and complex read. Robyn is about to start a new job, with a leading corporation that owns the majority of her town, Destino. She knows her father wants to speak to her before starting work, but when she arrives, he is dead.
Destino is a town that has always been protected from fire by the mountain ridge barrier they have, until the day a disastrous and freak fire breaks out. Robyn is devastated by her father's death. This is so powerful it shatters her reality. She wakes up, her father is alive, and there is no fire. The only way Robyn has to understand what's happening is confronting both versions of her present and getting to the bottom of the secrets in the past. If she can't do that, there will be nothing left of Destino or anything else that matters.
This is such a unique plot. It isn't a simple read. It took a little time to wrap my head around the multiple perspectives and the double perspectives of Robyn's present. After I got to grips with everything, I found it an amazing book. I appreciated the way everything came together and was so eager to discover how it would end. That eager that I read at every available chance I got.
I do love a speculative thriller, and Emma Kavanagh definitely kept me on my toes reading. I have yet another author to keep an eye on now as she is one to watch!
Thanks to Compulsive Readers and the publisher for my gifted book to write my honest review.
Emma Kavanagh uses the many worlds theory so effectively. Told from multiple perspectives, the various threads of the story intertwine throughout. This creates a truly immersive and complex read. Robyn is about to start a new job, with a leading corporation that owns the majority of her town, Destino. She knows her father wants to speak to her before starting work, but when she arrives, he is dead.
Destino is a town that has always been protected from fire by the mountain ridge barrier they have, until the day a disastrous and freak fire breaks out. Robyn is devastated by her father's death. This is so powerful it shatters her reality. She wakes up, her father is alive, and there is no fire. The only way Robyn has to understand what's happening is confronting both versions of her present and getting to the bottom of the secrets in the past. If she can't do that, there will be nothing left of Destino or anything else that matters.
This is such a unique plot. It isn't a simple read. It took a little time to wrap my head around the multiple perspectives and the double perspectives of Robyn's present. After I got to grips with everything, I found it an amazing book. I appreciated the way everything came together and was so eager to discover how it would end. That eager that I read at every available chance I got.
I do love a speculative thriller, and Emma Kavanagh definitely kept me on my toes reading. I have yet another author to keep an eye on now as she is one to watch!
Thanks to Compulsive Readers and the publisher for my gifted book to write my honest review.
February 1, 2025
How to explain this book without revealing too much? Because it's not just a thriller, it's an exploration of who we are and what events influence our entire life, and who we could have been as a result.
With a too-close-to-reality background of a massive fire in California, Robyn finds her real dad murdered in his house. That event sets in motion the entire rethinking of her life and the people around her, whilst looking for the murderer.
What I thought was clever is that the author manages to distract the reader from the crime solving itself to focus our entire attention on Robyn, and for me that felt so compelling!
The use of quantum physics was also such a clever device, giving credibility to the whole story. And don't forget all of this is happening whilst a wild fire is raging threatening the whole city of Destino.
This book is a smart, gripping and fast thriller with a multilayered plot full of surprises. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the author and Compulsive Readers for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
With a too-close-to-reality background of a massive fire in California, Robyn finds her real dad murdered in his house. That event sets in motion the entire rethinking of her life and the people around her, whilst looking for the murderer.
What I thought was clever is that the author manages to distract the reader from the crime solving itself to focus our entire attention on Robyn, and for me that felt so compelling!
The use of quantum physics was also such a clever device, giving credibility to the whole story. And don't forget all of this is happening whilst a wild fire is raging threatening the whole city of Destino.
This book is a smart, gripping and fast thriller with a multilayered plot full of surprises. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the author and Compulsive Readers for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
January 20, 2025
I can’t pretend that I understood the concept of Time Of The Fire, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Zeke tries to explain to Scarlett about the many-worlds theory, using quantum physics and Schrödinger’s cat. She says she has a headache. So have I.
The idea of the many-worlds theory is that something so devastating happens that the world splits in two. In one world Harper Morgan is killed in a car crash in a terrible storm on her way back to her home in Destino. This is the prologue, the opening chapter of the book. Her husband Mack puts their daughter up for adoption and she becomes Robyn Sandoval, daughter of Eve and Alex Sandoval, and CEO-in-waiting of their massively successful company.
Initially, we follow Robyn, thirty years later. She is out for a run with her dog Hector, when she pops in to see Mack, only to find him dead on the bed. It’s evident that he has been murdered, but who would want to kill him?
We also follow Mags, who has left her husband to return to Destino to run her mother Bonnie’s diner. But it’s Scarlett Morgan who is Robyn’s alter-ego, except that’s not what she is. She is Robyn in another life, when the events of thirty years ago had happened quite differently.
But what makes this book so exciting is that it is set against the backdrop of a devastating fire (coincidence that I am reading this while the fires in Los Angeles are happening). Destino hasn’t had a fire for over 100 years and no-one is really prepared. In fact they believe themselves to be untouchable, invincible.
I was confused initially, but then it all came together and I couldn’t wait to see how it would be resolved. I loved both Robyn and Scarlett, and Mags in particular. Stick with it. It’s different, but it’s very clever and totally unique (for me anyway).
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
The idea of the many-worlds theory is that something so devastating happens that the world splits in two. In one world Harper Morgan is killed in a car crash in a terrible storm on her way back to her home in Destino. This is the prologue, the opening chapter of the book. Her husband Mack puts their daughter up for adoption and she becomes Robyn Sandoval, daughter of Eve and Alex Sandoval, and CEO-in-waiting of their massively successful company.
Initially, we follow Robyn, thirty years later. She is out for a run with her dog Hector, when she pops in to see Mack, only to find him dead on the bed. It’s evident that he has been murdered, but who would want to kill him?
We also follow Mags, who has left her husband to return to Destino to run her mother Bonnie’s diner. But it’s Scarlett Morgan who is Robyn’s alter-ego, except that’s not what she is. She is Robyn in another life, when the events of thirty years ago had happened quite differently.
But what makes this book so exciting is that it is set against the backdrop of a devastating fire (coincidence that I am reading this while the fires in Los Angeles are happening). Destino hasn’t had a fire for over 100 years and no-one is really prepared. In fact they believe themselves to be untouchable, invincible.
I was confused initially, but then it all came together and I couldn’t wait to see how it would be resolved. I loved both Robyn and Scarlett, and Mags in particular. Stick with it. It’s different, but it’s very clever and totally unique (for me anyway).
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
May 6, 2025
When Robyn Sandoval finds her father murdered in his home, she gets a view into what her life might have been, starting her wondering if she is dissatisfied with how it is actually panning out. Any available decisions are thrust to one side as her California home town is under threat from Wild Fires in both scenarios.
Emma Kavanagh has produced tense, satisifying thrillers thus far but perhaps it is because it is tricky to stay in tune with a Many Worlds novel that this one did not work so well for me.
Emma Kavanagh has produced tense, satisifying thrillers thus far but perhaps it is because it is tricky to stay in tune with a Many Worlds novel that this one did not work so well for me.
February 2, 2025
An easy five. What a fresh genre-bender!
March 12, 2025
A departure from her usual psychological thriller, this book explores the many worlds theory. I found it confusing with multiple car crashes which we were never really sure who was involved / killed/ survived. It would have been three stars until the main protagonist let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding 🥴
June 25, 2025
In her author's notes at the end of the book, Emma Kavanagh writes about her love of books which nudge at the boundaries and play with the limits of genre. This is a love I wholeheartedly share – some of my favourite reads are those which explore theories beyond our tangible world and yet in doing so, reveal so much about the human condition. The Time of the Fire does exactly this and as well as being a nail-biting, character-driven thriller, it also examines some complex, intriguing topics.
The novel opens with the tragic death of Harper Morgan in 1992 before fast-forwarding to the present day. We quickly learn that Harper's infant daughter, Robyn, was adopted by Alex and Eve Sandovel, the wealthy owners of much of the Northern Californian town, Destino. Now poised to take over as CEO of the family business, Robyn appears to have it all. However, appearances can be deceptive and on the anniversary of her birth mother's death, Robyn endures a cataclysmic experience which changes everything she thought she knew. When she heads to the home of her biological father, Mack, she is expecting to discover what he desperately wanted to tell her; instead she finds him dead with clear evidence of foul play. Meanwhile, a forest fire is beginning to take hold and though the residents of Destino believe themselves to be safe, a sudden change in wind direction could alter everything. There is, of course, a dreadful sense of foreboding engendered by the fire and with a terrible inevitability to the course the flames will take, the tension is unrelenting throughout.
If this was merely a book about a daughter's frantic race to uncover the truth behind her father's murder set against the backdrop of an oncoming fire, it would undoubtedly be a compulsive thriller. The Time of the Fire, however, is so much more and while high-concept quantum physics may be challenging theories, the engaging plot ensured I was readily able to accept these ideas as plausible. After such an awful shock, Robyn passes out and on waking, discovers she is now an alternate version of herself, Scarlett Morgan. She is still a Destino resident but her life in this timeline is very different – although the town remains threatened by fire here. Robyn's consciousness becomes divided between her own life and Scarlett's, with the switch between them often triggered by a new revelation. She initially believes that what she is experiencing may be petit mal episodes brought on by her finding Mack's body, however, she gradually begins to realise the truth is far more complicated. Fortunately, Scarlett's boyfriend, Zeke, was a physics major and he is able to offer an accessible, fascinating explanation of the many-worlds theory, both to her and to readers.
While much of the novel follows Robyn as either herself or Scarlett, there are also chapters told from the perspective of mother and daughter characters, Bonnie and Mags. In Robyn's world, Bonnie's husband, Kelvin is dying of cancer but she isn't ready to face reality. Meanwhile, although Mags returned to Destino to support her parents, she feels a crushing sense of ennui. This subplot is beautifully woven into the storyline and adds another layer of interest to proceedings, especially as both characters are also in Scarlett's time but have a very different relationship here. The contrast between the two Bonnies and the reason behind this is particularly touching.
As Robyn learns more about her parents, she begins to understand that Scarlett might hold the key to her figuring out who wanted to kill Mack. While this is true, the real strength of The Time of the Fire lies in Emma Kavanagh's reflection of the dichotomy of human beings and how a person can be both hero and villain. Most of the characters here are flawed, even Robyn who as herself has to decide the path she wishes to take and as Scarlett to forgive herself for her past transgressions. It's a testament to the writing that I was equally invested in both storylines and believed wholeheartedly in both versions of Robyn/Scarlett.
Of course, as the human interest stories play out, there is also the small matter of a raging forest fire threatening to engulf Destino. Reading this in the wake of the Los Angeles fires was especially poignant and I was impressed by Emma Kavanagh's compelling, empathetic blending of a high octane race-against-time thriller with the harrowing emotional impact of fire on individuals and the wider community. There are a few chapters which describe the rapidly changing fire which serve to really ramp up the suspense – as events reached a dramatic conclusion, I was genuinely unable to predict the outcome and raced through the pages with my heart in my mouth and a tear in my eye.
I loved The Time of the Fire; exploring themes such as belonging, forgiveness and acceptance in a unique, riveting manner throughout, this imaginative, multilayered thriller is an intelligent, exciting and moving read. I very highly recommend it.
The novel opens with the tragic death of Harper Morgan in 1992 before fast-forwarding to the present day. We quickly learn that Harper's infant daughter, Robyn, was adopted by Alex and Eve Sandovel, the wealthy owners of much of the Northern Californian town, Destino. Now poised to take over as CEO of the family business, Robyn appears to have it all. However, appearances can be deceptive and on the anniversary of her birth mother's death, Robyn endures a cataclysmic experience which changes everything she thought she knew. When she heads to the home of her biological father, Mack, she is expecting to discover what he desperately wanted to tell her; instead she finds him dead with clear evidence of foul play. Meanwhile, a forest fire is beginning to take hold and though the residents of Destino believe themselves to be safe, a sudden change in wind direction could alter everything. There is, of course, a dreadful sense of foreboding engendered by the fire and with a terrible inevitability to the course the flames will take, the tension is unrelenting throughout.
If this was merely a book about a daughter's frantic race to uncover the truth behind her father's murder set against the backdrop of an oncoming fire, it would undoubtedly be a compulsive thriller. The Time of the Fire, however, is so much more and while high-concept quantum physics may be challenging theories, the engaging plot ensured I was readily able to accept these ideas as plausible. After such an awful shock, Robyn passes out and on waking, discovers she is now an alternate version of herself, Scarlett Morgan. She is still a Destino resident but her life in this timeline is very different – although the town remains threatened by fire here. Robyn's consciousness becomes divided between her own life and Scarlett's, with the switch between them often triggered by a new revelation. She initially believes that what she is experiencing may be petit mal episodes brought on by her finding Mack's body, however, she gradually begins to realise the truth is far more complicated. Fortunately, Scarlett's boyfriend, Zeke, was a physics major and he is able to offer an accessible, fascinating explanation of the many-worlds theory, both to her and to readers.
While much of the novel follows Robyn as either herself or Scarlett, there are also chapters told from the perspective of mother and daughter characters, Bonnie and Mags. In Robyn's world, Bonnie's husband, Kelvin is dying of cancer but she isn't ready to face reality. Meanwhile, although Mags returned to Destino to support her parents, she feels a crushing sense of ennui. This subplot is beautifully woven into the storyline and adds another layer of interest to proceedings, especially as both characters are also in Scarlett's time but have a very different relationship here. The contrast between the two Bonnies and the reason behind this is particularly touching.
As Robyn learns more about her parents, she begins to understand that Scarlett might hold the key to her figuring out who wanted to kill Mack. While this is true, the real strength of The Time of the Fire lies in Emma Kavanagh's reflection of the dichotomy of human beings and how a person can be both hero and villain. Most of the characters here are flawed, even Robyn who as herself has to decide the path she wishes to take and as Scarlett to forgive herself for her past transgressions. It's a testament to the writing that I was equally invested in both storylines and believed wholeheartedly in both versions of Robyn/Scarlett.
Of course, as the human interest stories play out, there is also the small matter of a raging forest fire threatening to engulf Destino. Reading this in the wake of the Los Angeles fires was especially poignant and I was impressed by Emma Kavanagh's compelling, empathetic blending of a high octane race-against-time thriller with the harrowing emotional impact of fire on individuals and the wider community. There are a few chapters which describe the rapidly changing fire which serve to really ramp up the suspense – as events reached a dramatic conclusion, I was genuinely unable to predict the outcome and raced through the pages with my heart in my mouth and a tear in my eye.
I loved The Time of the Fire; exploring themes such as belonging, forgiveness and acceptance in a unique, riveting manner throughout, this imaginative, multilayered thriller is an intelligent, exciting and moving read. I very highly recommend it.
January 7, 2025
Emma Kavanagh’s The Time of the Fire is not 100% sure what type of novel that it wants to be. There is the central point of view story about Robyn Sandoval who lives in the small town Californian town of Destino and finds her biological father dead on a day when the town is under threat. Then there is the alternative story of Scarlett Morgan, who is Robyn Sandoval in an alternative life also facing the same emergency. But there is also the story of Mags Reys and her fraught relationship with her dominating mother Bonnie. And then there is the story of the mega fire that threatens the town. And while all of these strands kind of come together, plenty of disbelief has to be suspended to get there.
The book opens with the death of Harper Morgan in a car accident. Thirty years later, her daughter Robyn, who was adopted by the wealthy Sandovals, is about to take over the company which owns half the town of Destino. After Robyn finds her biological father Mack dead in his cabin she has what can only be termed a break and starts to experience the life of Scarlett Morgan, an alternate version of her in a world in which her mother lived and it was Sandovals who died. Luckily in this world her boyfriend Zeke is a physicist who is able to explain the many-worlds theory to her and believes that she is not just psychotic. In both worlds a major fire is bearing down on Destino and the different ways in which the town developed and prepared in each world will have a bearing on its impact.
As always, many worlds theory (that every single decision creates a new branch of reality) while a fun concept (cf Sliding Doors among many many others) raises many more questions than it answers (not just: why this particular alternative world? why this particular person? and if every decision Robyn/Scarlett makes in that world creates a new world, how does she go back to the same one every time). Readers who cannot buy into this premise will probably not make it to the end of the book.
So The Time of the Fire is a mystery story in which Robyn gets clues from the way thing turned out in her alternative life. It is a disaster story, in which Kavanagh explores the way people react to oncoming disaster. It is a story about nature versus nurture – in exploring the different ways that Robyn/Scarlett’s lives turned out. And it is a story about families and secrets and the impact of those on relationships – particularly in the relationship between Mags and Bonnie. Along the way Kavanagh also provides a scarily atmospheric rendering of an out-of-control bushfire that will put Australian readers in mind of the Black Saturday bushfire 2009 and the catastrophic bushfire season of 2019-20.
As already noted, The Time of the Fire uses a speculative hook and requires a little suspension of disbelief. The fact that Kavanagh can hold all of the strands together, develop the amount of tension that she does and bring the story home with a bit of emotional heft in the way that she does is impressive even if it means not thinking too much about how she got there.
The book opens with the death of Harper Morgan in a car accident. Thirty years later, her daughter Robyn, who was adopted by the wealthy Sandovals, is about to take over the company which owns half the town of Destino. After Robyn finds her biological father Mack dead in his cabin she has what can only be termed a break and starts to experience the life of Scarlett Morgan, an alternate version of her in a world in which her mother lived and it was Sandovals who died. Luckily in this world her boyfriend Zeke is a physicist who is able to explain the many-worlds theory to her and believes that she is not just psychotic. In both worlds a major fire is bearing down on Destino and the different ways in which the town developed and prepared in each world will have a bearing on its impact.
As always, many worlds theory (that every single decision creates a new branch of reality) while a fun concept (cf Sliding Doors among many many others) raises many more questions than it answers (not just: why this particular alternative world? why this particular person? and if every decision Robyn/Scarlett makes in that world creates a new world, how does she go back to the same one every time). Readers who cannot buy into this premise will probably not make it to the end of the book.
So The Time of the Fire is a mystery story in which Robyn gets clues from the way thing turned out in her alternative life. It is a disaster story, in which Kavanagh explores the way people react to oncoming disaster. It is a story about nature versus nurture – in exploring the different ways that Robyn/Scarlett’s lives turned out. And it is a story about families and secrets and the impact of those on relationships – particularly in the relationship between Mags and Bonnie. Along the way Kavanagh also provides a scarily atmospheric rendering of an out-of-control bushfire that will put Australian readers in mind of the Black Saturday bushfire 2009 and the catastrophic bushfire season of 2019-20.
As already noted, The Time of the Fire uses a speculative hook and requires a little suspension of disbelief. The fact that Kavanagh can hold all of the strands together, develop the amount of tension that she does and bring the story home with a bit of emotional heft in the way that she does is impressive even if it means not thinking too much about how she got there.
November 9, 2024
On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Robyn travels to her father’s house as there is something important he needs to tell her. Only when she arrives she finds him dead. Meanwhile forest fires are looming around the town which threaten and shake the local community. Suddenly Robyn wakes up and her father is alive with no signs of the fires. To confront what is happening she needs to delve into the secrets of both versions of her present.
This is my first book by this author and I was originally drawn to the unique premise and the striking cover. I find speculative thrillers intriguing and this certainly ended up being a compelling mystery. At first, it took a while for me to get into, as it started slowly with an abundance of detail and little dialogue, however after about 10% the story gets going. The story is told in two separate existences in a sliding door style, exploring current topics such as climate change, nature vs nurture, as well as power imbalances and how mankind can impact natural occurrences. Both sides to the story were interesting and I found it easy to differentiate between the two. There were also some fascinating facts about quantum mechanics and theories, that had me questioning the reality of the universe we live in.
This is a well written thriller, with an attention to detail and superb at creating a harrowing, intense atmosphere. I could really imagine the fires burning and feel the heat. The characters are strongly written, especially Robin, I felt an understanding of her personality and her dilemma. Although this was a good thriller, I did find some chapters describing the fire, overly descriptive and unnecessary, personally I felt they didn’t add much to the story. There were also times where the timeframe did not connect to the previous events, so seemed slightly unsystematic. Apart from these small niggles, I am glad I picked this up as I enjoyed the storyline and reading something a bit different. This is a thought provoking story that will definitely leave me ruminating, with a great mystery at its core. I will certainly be looking at other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this wish.
This is my first book by this author and I was originally drawn to the unique premise and the striking cover. I find speculative thrillers intriguing and this certainly ended up being a compelling mystery. At first, it took a while for me to get into, as it started slowly with an abundance of detail and little dialogue, however after about 10% the story gets going. The story is told in two separate existences in a sliding door style, exploring current topics such as climate change, nature vs nurture, as well as power imbalances and how mankind can impact natural occurrences. Both sides to the story were interesting and I found it easy to differentiate between the two. There were also some fascinating facts about quantum mechanics and theories, that had me questioning the reality of the universe we live in.
This is a well written thriller, with an attention to detail and superb at creating a harrowing, intense atmosphere. I could really imagine the fires burning and feel the heat. The characters are strongly written, especially Robin, I felt an understanding of her personality and her dilemma. Although this was a good thriller, I did find some chapters describing the fire, overly descriptive and unnecessary, personally I felt they didn’t add much to the story. There were also times where the timeframe did not connect to the previous events, so seemed slightly unsystematic. Apart from these small niggles, I am glad I picked this up as I enjoyed the storyline and reading something a bit different. This is a thought provoking story that will definitely leave me ruminating, with a great mystery at its core. I will certainly be looking at other books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this wish.
February 3, 2025
My thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers and publishers Orion for the blogtour invite and gifted review copy of 'The Time Of The Fire' by Emma Kavanagh
It is published in e-book format on January 30th, what a way to begin a year!
A searing story of literal and metaphorical fires burning and destroying lives without mercy, this is what happens when a normal, morning run takes a deadly turn for Robyn Sandoval.
Her father, desperate to see her before she takes up a new position in a company he has concerns about, has died in a fire. A fire fighting hero, killed by the very thing he spent his life controlling - a force both natural ,and very human, in the way it consumes, spreads and destroys.
Robyn's all encompassing grief created a time slip where in one world, she has her father, but in the other he has died.
As well as trying to work out who and what wanted her father dead, her life spins down 2 very different rabbit holes-the fire which happened in one world but not the other, is waiting to engulf the past, and maybe the present and the future.
Deep, meaningful and allegorical, this may be a departure from the other psychological thrillers which I have read by this author, but at its heart are her distinctive traits of querying human behaviour, its motives, and the way it can, literally burn down worlds.
Beneath the characters and the driving plots which are such a corner stone of Emma's writing, lies the love of a daughter for her father, for it had the power to fracture time itself.
But will what he has taught her, growing up, be enough for her to choose the right path to discovery, the truth and a better future?
Whether her dad is in it or not...
Loved the dual timeliness and the breathless race to the last page, the scenery tales on a character of its own with vivid depictions of a North American landscape which you can feel, smell and hear.
It is published in e-book format on January 30th, what a way to begin a year!
A searing story of literal and metaphorical fires burning and destroying lives without mercy, this is what happens when a normal, morning run takes a deadly turn for Robyn Sandoval.
Her father, desperate to see her before she takes up a new position in a company he has concerns about, has died in a fire. A fire fighting hero, killed by the very thing he spent his life controlling - a force both natural ,and very human, in the way it consumes, spreads and destroys.
Robyn's all encompassing grief created a time slip where in one world, she has her father, but in the other he has died.
As well as trying to work out who and what wanted her father dead, her life spins down 2 very different rabbit holes-the fire which happened in one world but not the other, is waiting to engulf the past, and maybe the present and the future.
Deep, meaningful and allegorical, this may be a departure from the other psychological thrillers which I have read by this author, but at its heart are her distinctive traits of querying human behaviour, its motives, and the way it can, literally burn down worlds.
Beneath the characters and the driving plots which are such a corner stone of Emma's writing, lies the love of a daughter for her father, for it had the power to fracture time itself.
But will what he has taught her, growing up, be enough for her to choose the right path to discovery, the truth and a better future?
Whether her dad is in it or not...
Loved the dual timeliness and the breathless race to the last page, the scenery tales on a character of its own with vivid depictions of a North American landscape which you can feel, smell and hear.
January 30, 2025
Robyn sets out one morning on her run round Destino. The small town she has spent her whole life in. Her mother, Harper, tragically died when she was young in a car accident on her way to a town meeting regarding a development in the town called Destino Heights. After the accident she was adopted by the Sandoval's and was raised by them. After her morning run she goes by to see her biological father Mack, who has recently come back into her life. The previous night he had sent her a rather cryptic email saying that he had something big to tell her. When Robyn arrives at his house however, she unfortunately finds him dead and it does not look like it occurred by natural causes.
Robyn then splits and wakes up as Scarlett. This is who she would have been if her mother had never had the accident. We then follow the story in two parallels between Robyn and Scarlett and how their lives differ between what would have happened if the accident had never happened.
This story seemed rather timely for me considering the California wildfires that have just swept across the towns there. This story is actually only set over the span of one day, but the wildfires that are raging towards Destino throughout the book, ever getting closer to the town, simmers away in the background, like a train on the tracks that cannot be stopped.
This story is a really thought provoking read. It got me thinking about points in my life, and decisions I’ve taken and how things could have potentially turned out very different if I had made different choices.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a completely different genre and theme of story from what I usually read and it was a refreshing change. I was utterly captivated the entire way through.
Robyn then splits and wakes up as Scarlett. This is who she would have been if her mother had never had the accident. We then follow the story in two parallels between Robyn and Scarlett and how their lives differ between what would have happened if the accident had never happened.
This story seemed rather timely for me considering the California wildfires that have just swept across the towns there. This story is actually only set over the span of one day, but the wildfires that are raging towards Destino throughout the book, ever getting closer to the town, simmers away in the background, like a train on the tracks that cannot be stopped.
This story is a really thought provoking read. It got me thinking about points in my life, and decisions I’ve taken and how things could have potentially turned out very different if I had made different choices.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a completely different genre and theme of story from what I usually read and it was a refreshing change. I was utterly captivated the entire way through.
June 30, 2025
I've loved all of Emma Kavanagh's other books and while I'm still waiting patiently for the final installment in the Wolf trilogy, I loved this one too which is a very different kind of book.
The location attracted me as it's set in an area of California I love (although the town of Destino is fictional). You would never guess that Emma does not live in the States; she does a great job with it, and of course it's the perfect setting for a story about a wildfire. I fell a little bit in love with Destino.
The Sliding Doors-esque 'many worlds' concept was the other thing that attracted me, and again it's really well done. The theory that decisions and occurrences split our lives into many branches is fascinating, and I loved how this story showed the far reaching consequences, but also how some things still end up the same in any life.
The writing is excellent. It flowed and built suspense subtly and beautifully. The descriptions of the fire were so transportive I really felt what the characters felt in that situation. And I loved the final sentence! It concluded the book perfectly.
This story does require some suspension of disbelief and to not ask too many questions. Essentially it's science fiction, so it's never going to make perfect sense.
*Spoiler alert*
The only thing that confused me with the different worlds was Robyn being referred to as baby Robyn in her mother Harper's section at the very start of the book. She was called Scarlett then; she was only named Robyn after being adopted by the Sandovals. I understand that the reader needs to understand that Harper is Robyn's mother, however it does mess with the timelines/worlds and that still niggles at me.
The location attracted me as it's set in an area of California I love (although the town of Destino is fictional). You would never guess that Emma does not live in the States; she does a great job with it, and of course it's the perfect setting for a story about a wildfire. I fell a little bit in love with Destino.
The Sliding Doors-esque 'many worlds' concept was the other thing that attracted me, and again it's really well done. The theory that decisions and occurrences split our lives into many branches is fascinating, and I loved how this story showed the far reaching consequences, but also how some things still end up the same in any life.
The writing is excellent. It flowed and built suspense subtly and beautifully. The descriptions of the fire were so transportive I really felt what the characters felt in that situation. And I loved the final sentence! It concluded the book perfectly.
This story does require some suspension of disbelief and to not ask too many questions. Essentially it's science fiction, so it's never going to make perfect sense.
*Spoiler alert*
The only thing that confused me with the different worlds was Robyn being referred to as baby Robyn in her mother Harper's section at the very start of the book. She was called Scarlett then; she was only named Robyn after being adopted by the Sandovals. I understand that the reader needs to understand that Harper is Robyn's mother, however it does mess with the timelines/worlds and that still niggles at me.
January 31, 2025
So there's this woman Robyn who's about to take over as CEO of this big company that basically owns her whole town in Northern California. On the morning of her mom's death anniversary, she heads out for a run, knowing her dad (who's this local firefighting legend) needs to tell her something super important before she starts her new job. But when she gets there? He's dead.
As if that's not crazy enough, this massive forest fire starts up on the ridge above their town, Destino. And get this - Destino has NEVER burned before. Like, ever. Everyone's always felt super safe because of how the ridge and winds protect them.
Here's where it gets really trippy - Robyn's so wrecked by her dad's death that something bizarre happens. She wakes up in what seems like an alternate reality where her dad's alive and there's no fire. Wild, right?
The whole parallel universe angle is what makes this story so fascinating. You've got Robyn desperately trying to make sense of living in two different realities at once - in one world she's grieving her dad, while in another he's alive and well. And all the while, that original reality is facing this massive fire that's threatening to destroy everything.
I'll admit, the story's structure with its shifting perspectives takes some getting used to. But once you find your rhythm with it, it's absolutely addictive.
For anyone who loves thrillers with a clever sci-fi twist, this is a must-read. Kavanagh really shows her storytelling powers here - she's definitely an author to watch in my opinion.
As if that's not crazy enough, this massive forest fire starts up on the ridge above their town, Destino. And get this - Destino has NEVER burned before. Like, ever. Everyone's always felt super safe because of how the ridge and winds protect them.
Here's where it gets really trippy - Robyn's so wrecked by her dad's death that something bizarre happens. She wakes up in what seems like an alternate reality where her dad's alive and there's no fire. Wild, right?
The whole parallel universe angle is what makes this story so fascinating. You've got Robyn desperately trying to make sense of living in two different realities at once - in one world she's grieving her dad, while in another he's alive and well. And all the while, that original reality is facing this massive fire that's threatening to destroy everything.
I'll admit, the story's structure with its shifting perspectives takes some getting used to. But once you find your rhythm with it, it's absolutely addictive.
For anyone who loves thrillers with a clever sci-fi twist, this is a must-read. Kavanagh really shows her storytelling powers here - she's definitely an author to watch in my opinion.
January 21, 2025
I don’t really know what I was expecting from this book, but it absolutely gave me more than anticipated!
I suppose I was expecting a typical sort of
Crime/Thriller somehow? But it just absolutely is not, in the very best way. The story has multiple views, and only one view both at the same time. Confused? Yep so was I to start with haha but it all makes sense in the end!
This was such a clever story, the use of the many worlds theories, the intertwining storylines and characters, how things came together in the end… it was all just masterful. The way the story is written did take me a little while to get used to, but I am so beyond glad that I gave it a chance because it is already a favourite of 2025!
There is a lot of suspense in this book, and the mysteries aren’t what you would expect. The twists and turns are sometimes shocking, sometimes baffling. But all of it together? Absolutely intriguing and a delightful mess to unweave as you go! If you are looking for a nice relaxing fairy tale… this isn't for you. If you want a story that will have your mind twisting and turning, trying to figure out what is happening and why and how this will turn out? Absolutely pick this up, because in the best way, you will have no idea what's going to happen next, but the writing style will keep you glued to the pages!
This was my first delve into this Authors work, but it absolutely will NOT be my last! Absolutely brilliant!
I suppose I was expecting a typical sort of
Crime/Thriller somehow? But it just absolutely is not, in the very best way. The story has multiple views, and only one view both at the same time. Confused? Yep so was I to start with haha but it all makes sense in the end!
This was such a clever story, the use of the many worlds theories, the intertwining storylines and characters, how things came together in the end… it was all just masterful. The way the story is written did take me a little while to get used to, but I am so beyond glad that I gave it a chance because it is already a favourite of 2025!
There is a lot of suspense in this book, and the mysteries aren’t what you would expect. The twists and turns are sometimes shocking, sometimes baffling. But all of it together? Absolutely intriguing and a delightful mess to unweave as you go! If you are looking for a nice relaxing fairy tale… this isn't for you. If you want a story that will have your mind twisting and turning, trying to figure out what is happening and why and how this will turn out? Absolutely pick this up, because in the best way, you will have no idea what's going to happen next, but the writing style will keep you glued to the pages!
This was my first delve into this Authors work, but it absolutely will NOT be my last! Absolutely brilliant!
January 23, 2025
This was such an original character led thriller that explores how a single tragic event can completely change people's lives and shape their future in different ways.
The story follows Robyn, who has just discovered her father has been murdered. At the same time, there is a wild fire (on the mountain ridge nearby) threatening her Californian hometown, which they may soon need to evacuate.
Will the fire reach Destino?
What was her dad desperate to tell her the night before he died?
Robyn falls asleep, but when she wakes up, she is covered in tattoos and answering to the name Scarlett. The people around her are similar, but both her birth mum (who died when Robyn was a baby) and father are alive.
What is this alternate world and what caused everything to change?
The story is written in alternate chapters by Robyn and Scarlett (a bit like sliding doors!) as we start to uncover the secrets of her past and her friends and family living in the town of Destino.
This seemed such an apt book given the recent California wild fires. I became thoroughly invested in Robyn and Scarlett's story as she started to piece together her past amidst the ever threatening fire that is growing around them. It was fascinating to consider how a single event could have such a dramatic impact on so many people's lives.
A thought-provoking and enjoyable read with an interesting plot. If you fancy a different style of thriller I highly recommend this one.
The story follows Robyn, who has just discovered her father has been murdered. At the same time, there is a wild fire (on the mountain ridge nearby) threatening her Californian hometown, which they may soon need to evacuate.
Will the fire reach Destino?
What was her dad desperate to tell her the night before he died?
Robyn falls asleep, but when she wakes up, she is covered in tattoos and answering to the name Scarlett. The people around her are similar, but both her birth mum (who died when Robyn was a baby) and father are alive.
What is this alternate world and what caused everything to change?
The story is written in alternate chapters by Robyn and Scarlett (a bit like sliding doors!) as we start to uncover the secrets of her past and her friends and family living in the town of Destino.
This seemed such an apt book given the recent California wild fires. I became thoroughly invested in Robyn and Scarlett's story as she started to piece together her past amidst the ever threatening fire that is growing around them. It was fascinating to consider how a single event could have such a dramatic impact on so many people's lives.
A thought-provoking and enjoyable read with an interesting plot. If you fancy a different style of thriller I highly recommend this one.
August 7, 2025
As well as writing crime fiction, the author is a psychologist specialising in the way in which people function in situations of extreme stress, which helps to explain the premise of this novel. I found it a very good book, although it's a bit strange.
Robyn Sandoval is the daughter of a rich and powerful family, adopted by them when she was only a few months old. Recently her birth father has reappeared and they are beginning to build some sort of relationship when he is killed. The shock of finding his body causes Robyn to pass out and when she wakes everything is different. Her father is alive again and she’s now called Scarlett, yet she remembers being Robyn and it is stress situations which switch her between these two personas. With each switch she finds out more about her father’s death, while at the same time, an unstoppable wildfire is bearing down on the town. However bonkers this all sounds, the seemingly impossible elements of this story do become clearer with reading and it’s so well written that it’s utterly believable: It’s a desperately tense thriller and an incredibly realistic story of the approaching fire, with really vivid characters.
Review by: Freyja, Oundle Crime
Robyn Sandoval is the daughter of a rich and powerful family, adopted by them when she was only a few months old. Recently her birth father has reappeared and they are beginning to build some sort of relationship when he is killed. The shock of finding his body causes Robyn to pass out and when she wakes everything is different. Her father is alive again and she’s now called Scarlett, yet she remembers being Robyn and it is stress situations which switch her between these two personas. With each switch she finds out more about her father’s death, while at the same time, an unstoppable wildfire is bearing down on the town. However bonkers this all sounds, the seemingly impossible elements of this story do become clearer with reading and it’s so well written that it’s utterly believable: It’s a desperately tense thriller and an incredibly realistic story of the approaching fire, with really vivid characters.
Review by: Freyja, Oundle Crime
January 26, 2025
My thoughts
This is a speculative fiction book that has a sliding doors feel to it. At first I thought it was a little slow, but actually it was just a clever build up before it bumped you into the action.
It’s also a psychological thriller, as many good speculative fiction books are. So it’s definitely got a great undercurrent of more than one thing going on here.
I found it was a deep book that makes people look at the things they do, or indeed haven’t done and wish they had. It’s one of those books that may just spur you on to do that thing you always put off doing because the time wasn’t right, or something similar. It’s also a book that makes you realise that we’re all whole and have good and bad, in some ways like an adult version of the coming of age novel. Current world events played into this in a big way for me and I felt it couldn’t have been read at a better time.
Give this one a whirl it’s thought provoking in many ways.
With thanks to Tracy Fenton, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
This is a speculative fiction book that has a sliding doors feel to it. At first I thought it was a little slow, but actually it was just a clever build up before it bumped you into the action.
It’s also a psychological thriller, as many good speculative fiction books are. So it’s definitely got a great undercurrent of more than one thing going on here.
I found it was a deep book that makes people look at the things they do, or indeed haven’t done and wish they had. It’s one of those books that may just spur you on to do that thing you always put off doing because the time wasn’t right, or something similar. It’s also a book that makes you realise that we’re all whole and have good and bad, in some ways like an adult version of the coming of age novel. Current world events played into this in a big way for me and I felt it couldn’t have been read at a better time.
Give this one a whirl it’s thought provoking in many ways.
With thanks to Tracy Fenton, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
December 18, 2024
Set in a mountain ridge area of Northern California during the period of a wildfire that is advancing towards residential areas, this story takes a sliding doors type approach to what happens to our characters as a consequence of an event that happened decades ago. It is such a clever concept and although at first, as these things can be, it felt deliberately unsteady as to what was happening and what the connections would be, this book adeptly and boldly lays out the events, choices and secrets as they unfold. The impending fire acts as an urgent catalyst to the quest for answers and what the fate of the characters will be. This story really had me gripped from start to finish with such rich, interesting characters and a beautiful subversive narrative
January 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for sending me an ARC of The Time of the Fire.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure this was my cup of tea when I requested it. But I thought it sounded interesting, different from the usual thing I read. So decided to give it a go.
It did take me a while to get into the story, and I was very confused to start with! But so was the main character, so I was at least in good company.
Once I got my head round the structure of the story, I really got into it. I found it especially poignant reading it with the backdrop of the Hollywood fires currently occurring in real life 2025.
Overall, a really good, solid read, throughly enjoyed it once I got going.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure this was my cup of tea when I requested it. But I thought it sounded interesting, different from the usual thing I read. So decided to give it a go.
It did take me a while to get into the story, and I was very confused to start with! But so was the main character, so I was at least in good company.
Once I got my head round the structure of the story, I really got into it. I found it especially poignant reading it with the backdrop of the Hollywood fires currently occurring in real life 2025.
Overall, a really good, solid read, throughly enjoyed it once I got going.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2025
This book confused me even in the libary when I took it off the shelf with it being in the crime section. The more I read the book the more I felt this was Science Fiction. Two characters or are they the same person experience different time lines as a forest fire rages in California.
We are in the realm of quantum physics and I was bedazzled as the reader is taken all over the place with only a chapter heading to help.
We would get to an interesting part and then be suddenly sent elsewhere and it was difficult to pick up the thread.
An ambitious structure from Kavanagh which she soesn't pull off.
We are in the realm of quantum physics and I was bedazzled as the reader is taken all over the place with only a chapter heading to help.
We would get to an interesting part and then be suddenly sent elsewhere and it was difficult to pick up the thread.
An ambitious structure from Kavanagh which she soesn't pull off.
December 24, 2024
This book was sublime! It's about how lives are or can be affected by the choices we make and the butterfly effect. The plot was so good switching between characters to tell their own personal stories to then all come together at the end with an explosive ending. There were so many twists that I didn't see coming, and this book took turns, and I didn't know if they would live or die. I guessed one of the twists, but I think i was supposed to, lol. Overall, it was an amazing book, and I think everyone should read it!
January 4, 2025
For the first couple of chapters I thought I would struggle with this book. I didn’t really understand what was happening and thought the writing was too vague.
But after a few chapters it really took off and I was gripped.
Split worlds. An event so meaningful it makes two realities.
I was honestly completely immersed. I felt like this book has everything and I was really rooting for Robyn to get everything she needed.
An excellently written book that took me on such a ride. I’ve found myself talking about this one all the time. A definite must read.
But after a few chapters it really took off and I was gripped.
Split worlds. An event so meaningful it makes two realities.
I was honestly completely immersed. I felt like this book has everything and I was really rooting for Robyn to get everything she needed.
An excellently written book that took me on such a ride. I’ve found myself talking about this one all the time. A definite must read.
November 15, 2024
A psychological thriller that explores the ripple effects of tragedy and long buried secrets.
It is a slow start, but it soon builds up with many layers for the reader to unravel. Due to the authors writing style, you are left with an interesting complex plot.There are two sides of the story that are very interesting.
This is one that is definitely worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC
It is a slow start, but it soon builds up with many layers for the reader to unravel. Due to the authors writing style, you are left with an interesting complex plot.There are two sides of the story that are very interesting.
This is one that is definitely worth a read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC
February 2, 2025
It took a while, but once I was fully submerged into Robyn's story there was no stopping me and I couldn't flip the pages on my Kindle fast enough. Speculative fiction has opened up a whole new ball game, or should that be bookshelf for me?
Kavanagh's world building is immense and I love the whole idea of parallel universes being in existence and not just in Marvel movies. She's created some fantastic characters, thrown in some wicked twists and written an insanely good plot.
A brilliant take on the whole 'butterfly effect theory'.
Kavanagh's world building is immense and I love the whole idea of parallel universes being in existence and not just in Marvel movies. She's created some fantastic characters, thrown in some wicked twists and written an insanely good plot.
A brilliant take on the whole 'butterfly effect theory'.
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December 1, 2024Ever since I read Emma Kavanagh's first novel I knew I'd found an author I would follow throughout her career. Beautiful writing and clever stories, insightful characters and the thing we always want - addictive reading and surprising emotion.
Into The Fire is, for me, her finest novel to date. Reading the afterword I know it didn't come easily but gosh I'm glad it arrived at a time I needed just such a book. One with emotional trauma and emotional resolution, a book that makes you think about the path not travelled, the possibilities of life, a life shaped by the people and events in it.
One woman. Two lives.
What might have been?
What actually is...
Intelligent and thought provoking and I highly HIGHLY recommend it.
Into The Fire is, for me, her finest novel to date. Reading the afterword I know it didn't come easily but gosh I'm glad it arrived at a time I needed just such a book. One with emotional trauma and emotional resolution, a book that makes you think about the path not travelled, the possibilities of life, a life shaped by the people and events in it.
One woman. Two lives.
What might have been?
What actually is...
Intelligent and thought provoking and I highly HIGHLY recommend it.
October 28, 2025
Beautifully written. Close, intimate and full of superposition.
Sliding doors meet East of Eden
Sliding doors meet East of Eden
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