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The Girl in the Fire
TWO GIRLS. TEN YEARS. ONE CRIME. An absolutely gripping psychological thriller from the author of It Was Always You, Isolation, and The Good Life, The Girl in the Fire will keep you turning pages until the final twist!
A teenage girl dies in a house fire. Ten years later, a bride disappears days before her wedding. Solve one case and you solve them both—unless you die trying first.
Grace Dupree disappears on the eve of her wedding in New York City, leaving only one clue for her fiancé, Damien: A decade-old newspaper clipping of an Ohio house fire that killed 17-year-old Leanne Crosby. Damien looks at the school photo in the clipping and knows instantly Leanne and Grace are the same person. Realizing his life with Grace was based on a series of lies, Damien travels to Ohio to uncover the truth. Told through the alternating viewpoints and timelines of Damien and Leanne, readers also see the events that led up to Leanne's original disappearance. Undercurrents of emotional and physical violence pulse in Leanne's daily life, and her only sanctuary is her best friend, Tasha. As Damien pieces together clues, the dark secrets in Grace’s past are uncovered. The closer Damien gets to finding Grace, and Leanne comes to the night of the fire itself, the more deadly their intertwining stories become. Will Damien find Grace before another person dies for her? Or will he be the next victim?
A teenage girl dies in a house fire. Ten years later, a bride disappears days before her wedding. Solve one case and you solve them both—unless you die trying first.
Grace Dupree disappears on the eve of her wedding in New York City, leaving only one clue for her fiancé, Damien: A decade-old newspaper clipping of an Ohio house fire that killed 17-year-old Leanne Crosby. Damien looks at the school photo in the clipping and knows instantly Leanne and Grace are the same person. Realizing his life with Grace was based on a series of lies, Damien travels to Ohio to uncover the truth. Told through the alternating viewpoints and timelines of Damien and Leanne, readers also see the events that led up to Leanne's original disappearance. Undercurrents of emotional and physical violence pulse in Leanne's daily life, and her only sanctuary is her best friend, Tasha. As Damien pieces together clues, the dark secrets in Grace’s past are uncovered. The closer Damien gets to finding Grace, and Leanne comes to the night of the fire itself, the more deadly their intertwining stories become. Will Damien find Grace before another person dies for her? Or will he be the next victim?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2024
41 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Sarah K. Stephens
8 books140 followersSarah K. Stephens is the author of seven novels and a developmental psychologist at Penn State University.
Although Fall and Spring find her in the classroom, she remains a writer year-round. Her writing has appeared in LitHub, The Writer's Chronicle, Hazlitt, and The Millions. Sarah's books include the psychological thrillers A Flash of Red, It Was Always You, The Anniversary, Isolation, The Good Life, The Killing Kind, and The Girl in the Fire.
Sarah loves using her psychological training to craft darkly human stories with killer twists. When she’s not plotting death and betrayal, she can be found enjoying the pleasures of country life with her husband and children in Central Pennsylvania.
E-mail: skstephensauthor (at) gmail (dot) com
Sarah enjoys attending Book Clubs and other literary events. E-mail with your inquiries.
Facebook: @sarahkstephensauthor
Instagram: @skstephenswrite
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 27, 2025
Okay guys… this is really a hot thriller. 🔥🔥 I loved it!! This is my first book by @skstephenswrite … and let me tell you it was SO twisted!!
I loved the past and present timelines! It kept me glued to the pages. 👀 When they came crashing together… I was shocked at how it all played out. Listen to this…
Damien wakes up… hungover ?? 🤕 Hmm he doesn’t remember drinking that much. 🤔 His fiancé is missing. 😳… Did she get cold feet ?? He is hell bent on finding her.. What he finds.. is shocking and disturbing. 😳
A decade ago… Leanne and her BFF 👯♀️ are planning for college.. until the house burns 🔥down.. and someone doesn’t make it out. 😭
My mind was racing trying to figure out how these two timelines were related? I was invested in the characters as they were so well developed.. I felt like I knew them.
Guys.. this is a fast paced twisted thriller!! I highly recommend!! Thank you @skstephenswrite for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰🥰I can’t wait to read more by this author!!😍
I loved the past and present timelines! It kept me glued to the pages. 👀 When they came crashing together… I was shocked at how it all played out. Listen to this…
Damien wakes up… hungover ?? 🤕 Hmm he doesn’t remember drinking that much. 🤔 His fiancé is missing. 😳… Did she get cold feet ?? He is hell bent on finding her.. What he finds.. is shocking and disturbing. 😳
A decade ago… Leanne and her BFF 👯♀️ are planning for college.. until the house burns 🔥down.. and someone doesn’t make it out. 😭
My mind was racing trying to figure out how these two timelines were related? I was invested in the characters as they were so well developed.. I felt like I knew them.
Guys.. this is a fast paced twisted thriller!! I highly recommend!! Thank you @skstephenswrite for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰🥰I can’t wait to read more by this author!!😍
October 22, 2024
A fast-paced rollercoaster ride of thrills and chills, The Girl in the Fire had me duped from beginning to end. Dark and disturbing while also ingeniously constructed, the premise delivered a one two punch during an explosive climax that I never saw coming. Even better, however, were the collection of thoroughly unlikeable characters. Ranging from merely distasteful to that delicious kind of individual you absolutely love to hate, I nevertheless found myself compelled by each of them in turn.
There were a few less than successful pieces to this psychological thriller, however. The biggest by far was the fact that with dual POVs set in two distinct timelines, I found the plot difficult to follow at times. Then there was the over-the-top climax and just barely hammered out conclusion. At the same time, none of the above ruined this one for me in the slightest. Tense, addictive, and centered around one truly dysfunctional family, there was plenty to love—almost all of which I did.
Done and dusted, with short cliffhanger chapters, complex characters, and an unguessable plot, what started off as merely thought-provoking quickly turned into one delightful crazy train ride. Just be aware that you’re going to have to suspend all disbelief and hold on for dear life. And while I did have to wait for the explanations to grasp some of the reveals, the full picture was worth it every step of the way. After all, from the gorgeous cover to the twisty, twisty plot, you’re in for a treat—there’s no doubt about that. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
A teenage girl dies in a house fire. Ten years later, a bride disappears days before her wedding. Solve one case and you solve them both—unless you die trying first.
Grace Dupree disappears on the eve of her wedding in New York City, leaving only one clue for her fiancé, Damien: A decade-old newspaper clipping of an Ohio house fire that killed 17-year-old Leanne Crosby. Damien looks at the school photo in the clipping and knows instantly Leanne and Grace are the same person. Realizing his life with Grace was based on a series of lies, Damien travels to Ohio to uncover the truth.
Told through the alternating viewpoints and timelines of Damien and Leanne, readers also see the events that led up to Leanne's original disappearance. Undercurrents of emotional and physical violence pulse in Leanne's daily life, and her only sanctuary is her best friend, Tasha. As Damien pieces together clues, the dark secrets in Grace’s past are uncovered. The closer Damien gets to finding Grace, and Leanne comes to the night of the fire itself, the more deadly their intertwining stories become. Will Damien find Grace before another person dies for her? Or will he be the next victim?
Thank you to Sarah K. Stephens for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 14, 2024
Trigger warning: alcoholism, child abuse, stalking, knife violence, house fire, gun violence, mention of: drug addiction
There were a few less than successful pieces to this psychological thriller, however. The biggest by far was the fact that with dual POVs set in two distinct timelines, I found the plot difficult to follow at times. Then there was the over-the-top climax and just barely hammered out conclusion. At the same time, none of the above ruined this one for me in the slightest. Tense, addictive, and centered around one truly dysfunctional family, there was plenty to love—almost all of which I did.
Done and dusted, with short cliffhanger chapters, complex characters, and an unguessable plot, what started off as merely thought-provoking quickly turned into one delightful crazy train ride. Just be aware that you’re going to have to suspend all disbelief and hold on for dear life. And while I did have to wait for the explanations to grasp some of the reveals, the full picture was worth it every step of the way. After all, from the gorgeous cover to the twisty, twisty plot, you’re in for a treat—there’s no doubt about that. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
A teenage girl dies in a house fire. Ten years later, a bride disappears days before her wedding. Solve one case and you solve them both—unless you die trying first.
Grace Dupree disappears on the eve of her wedding in New York City, leaving only one clue for her fiancé, Damien: A decade-old newspaper clipping of an Ohio house fire that killed 17-year-old Leanne Crosby. Damien looks at the school photo in the clipping and knows instantly Leanne and Grace are the same person. Realizing his life with Grace was based on a series of lies, Damien travels to Ohio to uncover the truth.
Told through the alternating viewpoints and timelines of Damien and Leanne, readers also see the events that led up to Leanne's original disappearance. Undercurrents of emotional and physical violence pulse in Leanne's daily life, and her only sanctuary is her best friend, Tasha. As Damien pieces together clues, the dark secrets in Grace’s past are uncovered. The closer Damien gets to finding Grace, and Leanne comes to the night of the fire itself, the more deadly their intertwining stories become. Will Damien find Grace before another person dies for her? Or will he be the next victim?
Thank you to Sarah K. Stephens for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 14, 2024
Trigger warning: alcoholism, child abuse, stalking, knife violence, house fire, gun violence, mention of: drug addiction
August 26, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wow, this isn’t a book you can take naps during. You go back and forth from present to a prior time 10 years ago. Names change,so get your pen and pencil out to help you keep them straight.
If you like a book with strong women in them, this is for you! The only innocent ones in this book was a male!
My challenge review question for this book was:
Did the author get any details wrong? The only thing I noticed was tge vehicle that Gene drove. It was referred to once as a red convertible but the rest of the book as a red truck.
Wow, this isn’t a book you can take naps during. You go back and forth from present to a prior time 10 years ago. Names change,so get your pen and pencil out to help you keep them straight.
If you like a book with strong women in them, this is for you! The only innocent ones in this book was a male!
My challenge review question for this book was:
Did the author get any details wrong? The only thing I noticed was tge vehicle that Gene drove. It was referred to once as a red convertible but the rest of the book as a red truck.
August 19, 2024
What a crazy ride!! This dual timeline, dual POV novel follows Leanne and her crazy family, and Grace- who disappears one day before her wedding. The storylines play out every other chapter, then and now. This story kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. I flew through the first 100 pages without realizing. The ending will leave you with vertigo from all the craziness. Overall, a great book with more twists and turns than a mountain road in the Appalachian mountains.
I personally struggled with some of the twists … almost absurdly too many, but I feel like I’m probably alone in that thought.
I personally struggled with some of the twists … almost absurdly too many, but I feel like I’m probably alone in that thought.
August 24, 2024
A Riveting Thriller: The Girl in the Fire Delivers Suspense, Depth, and Unexpected Twists
The Girl in the Fire masterfully intertwines mystery, psychological tension, and complex character development to create a gripping thriller. The story skillfully keeps readers guessing, with suspects shifting throughout, making it impossible to pin down the truth until the very end.
The alternating viewpoints and timelines added layers of complexity to the narrative, at times making it challenging to follow. However, this complexity also heightened the thrill, pulling the reader deeper into the story. While the relationship between Damien and Grace initially felt reminiscent of Gone Girl, the novel still manages to carve out its own unique path, drawing fascinating parallels between the two.
The author, with a background in developmental psychology, weaves themes of emotional and physical violence into the story with a disturbing realism. These elements add depth, making the reader reflect on the darker sides of human nature and relationships. The twists and red herrings keep the suspense alive, ensuring that nothing is predictable and keeping the reader on edge.
Although the climax left some questions and felt slightly unconvincing, the revelation at the end was still satisfying and rewarding. The novel does a remarkable job of exploring themes of parenting, friendship, and the various relationships that shape a person’s life.
This year has introduced me to several new, talented authors, and Sarah K. Stephens has quickly become one of my favorites. I look forward to reading more of her work.
For fans of psychological thrillers, The Girl in the Fire is a must-read. Its compelling narrative, clean language, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre.
I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for a honest review from BookSirens, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Girl in the Fire masterfully intertwines mystery, psychological tension, and complex character development to create a gripping thriller. The story skillfully keeps readers guessing, with suspects shifting throughout, making it impossible to pin down the truth until the very end.
The alternating viewpoints and timelines added layers of complexity to the narrative, at times making it challenging to follow. However, this complexity also heightened the thrill, pulling the reader deeper into the story. While the relationship between Damien and Grace initially felt reminiscent of Gone Girl, the novel still manages to carve out its own unique path, drawing fascinating parallels between the two.
The author, with a background in developmental psychology, weaves themes of emotional and physical violence into the story with a disturbing realism. These elements add depth, making the reader reflect on the darker sides of human nature and relationships. The twists and red herrings keep the suspense alive, ensuring that nothing is predictable and keeping the reader on edge.
Although the climax left some questions and felt slightly unconvincing, the revelation at the end was still satisfying and rewarding. The novel does a remarkable job of exploring themes of parenting, friendship, and the various relationships that shape a person’s life.
This year has introduced me to several new, talented authors, and Sarah K. Stephens has quickly become one of my favorites. I look forward to reading more of her work.
For fans of psychological thrillers, The Girl in the Fire is a must-read. Its compelling narrative, clean language, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout in the genre.
I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for a honest review from BookSirens, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2024
On the eve of her wedding, Grace shocks her fiancee when she flees—and it's far deeper than just typical pre-wedding nerves.
"The Girl in the Fire" weaves a dark and haunting tale that draws you in with its gripping plot. The story invites you into dual viewpoints across different timelines, creating an intricate tapestry that can sometimes be bewildering, especially with some characters undergoing name changes. I was captivated by the stunning cover, but the exceptional writing truly held me spellbound, making it impossible to turn away from the pages.
Thanks to the author and Book Sirens for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
#TheGirlintheFire #SarahKStephens #PsychologicalThriller
"The Girl in the Fire" weaves a dark and haunting tale that draws you in with its gripping plot. The story invites you into dual viewpoints across different timelines, creating an intricate tapestry that can sometimes be bewildering, especially with some characters undergoing name changes. I was captivated by the stunning cover, but the exceptional writing truly held me spellbound, making it impossible to turn away from the pages.
Thanks to the author and Book Sirens for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.
#TheGirlintheFire #SarahKStephens #PsychologicalThriller
January 2, 2025
Wow, what a fast paced, twisty story! I loved the POV and the time jump, it really made you think and was a challenge to connect the dots. This was full of plot twists that I never saw coming and left me short of breath with trying to keep up.
You definitely need to check out this book and this author! I have been following Sarah Stephen’s for a while and she is an amazing person too, professor and fire fighter. Go check out her page and be on the look out for her stories!
****Thank you @skstephenwrites for this gift copy!
You definitely need to check out this book and this author! I have been following Sarah Stephen’s for a while and she is an amazing person too, professor and fire fighter. Go check out her page and be on the look out for her stories!
****Thank you @skstephenwrites for this gift copy!
August 16, 2024
*I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of twists and turns, so many that I had to go back and read a few passages because I was so surprised at what was happening. Kept my attention from start to finish, trying to figure out what was going to happen and how everything would turn out!
I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of twists and turns, so many that I had to go back and read a few passages because I was so surprised at what was happening. Kept my attention from start to finish, trying to figure out what was going to happen and how everything would turn out!
September 22, 2024
The Girl In The Fire - Sarah K. Stephens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Oh, she’s sick, all right. But not in the way that’ll kill her. Sick in the way that kills everyone around her.”
The Girl In The Fire follows Damien, as his fiancé Grace disappears the eve before their wedding, leaving only a newspaper clipping behind. When Damien reads the clipping about a teenager dying in a house fire, and recognises his fiancé as the dead girl, he vows to find her - unaware that wherever Grace goes, bodies seem to follow.
This book is told across two timelines and two perspectives. The characters are so distinctively written and intriguing that they’re easy to remember, so this did not confuse me at all, which I am glad about as some dual timelines/perspectives can be confusing I find.
I will say, put some time aside to read this one because I did not want to put it down and ended up staying up until the early hours to finish it! It was a propulsive, tense and thrilling read and Sarah was not joking when she called it a wild ride - because wild it was!
Some of the twists caught me off guard, and I enjoyed how the story wrapped itself up in the end - it was very well done and allows a little for the imagination, so you’re in no rush to forget Grace anytime soon.
I just want to say another massive thank you to Sarah for kindly sending me a copy of The Girl In The Fire. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you haven’t got this on your TBR - go add it immediately!🔥❤️🔥
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Oh, she’s sick, all right. But not in the way that’ll kill her. Sick in the way that kills everyone around her.”
The Girl In The Fire follows Damien, as his fiancé Grace disappears the eve before their wedding, leaving only a newspaper clipping behind. When Damien reads the clipping about a teenager dying in a house fire, and recognises his fiancé as the dead girl, he vows to find her - unaware that wherever Grace goes, bodies seem to follow.
This book is told across two timelines and two perspectives. The characters are so distinctively written and intriguing that they’re easy to remember, so this did not confuse me at all, which I am glad about as some dual timelines/perspectives can be confusing I find.
I will say, put some time aside to read this one because I did not want to put it down and ended up staying up until the early hours to finish it! It was a propulsive, tense and thrilling read and Sarah was not joking when she called it a wild ride - because wild it was!
Some of the twists caught me off guard, and I enjoyed how the story wrapped itself up in the end - it was very well done and allows a little for the imagination, so you’re in no rush to forget Grace anytime soon.
I just want to say another massive thank you to Sarah for kindly sending me a copy of The Girl In The Fire. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if you haven’t got this on your TBR - go add it immediately!🔥❤️🔥
September 6, 2024
First off, the cover for this awesome, and it really drew me in. Then the blurb had me ready to dive into this story. I really enjoyed it, for the most part. The chapters are short, and it goes back and forth between the present with Damien and the past with Leanne. There are some twists and turns that you don't see coming (although I will say that you don't see at least a couple of them because details are deliberately held back/altered until the reveal is necessary, which I found a bit frustrating). I found the reasoning for Leanne and Tasha's plan to be a bit far-fetched once it was finally revealed, though I'm willing to chalk that up to them being teenagers and it making sense to them more so than anything else. However, it's still a good book that I would recommend for fans of the genre, and I'm interested in reading more by this author.
3.75 stars, rounded up
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
3.75 stars, rounded up
**I received an advance review copy from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and comments contained within are my own.**
September 2, 2024
I loved this book. It felt like each chapter ended with a cliffhanger to keep you reading. The dual timelines worked well with the story progression. It kept me guessing and rethinking what I thought I knew. I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and the author for giving me a chance to read it.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and the author for giving me a chance to read it.
August 18, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing at every twist and turn. In fact, I was nearly finished before the puzzle pieces began to fit together. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.
This was a fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing at every twist and turn. In fact, I was nearly finished before the puzzle pieces began to fit together. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do too.
August 20, 2024
Damien and Grace have the perfect life - two beautiful people living a beautiful life, planning a beautiful wedding. Everything is wonderful until a message arrives on the night of their wedding rehearsal. And suddenly, all of the beautiful things are revealed to be a mirage.
The morning after the wedding rehearsal, Damien awakens feeling very ill - so ill that a neighbor has come to check on him. He also awakens to find his fiance gone, and it isn't just a brief trip to the store.
Meanwhile in a timeline ten years earlier, we meet Leanne, a teenage girl with a troubled home life and dreams of a big future. Something sinister is lurking beneath the surface of her family's facade, and she is determined to make it out before it's too late. She has an ally in her friend Tasha, whose home life is arguably worse. The two of them make a plan that homecoming night will be THE night when they will both make it out of their current lives into something much better.
These two stories are on a collision course that will end with mystery, betrayal, and death. Something is rotten in Youngstown, and for ten years, it has been dying to be revealed...
This is a thriller that does all the thriller things. There are twists, entangled plot lines, surprises, and mysteries aplenty. There are also SO MANY cliffhangers. The author structures the novel so that the end of each chapter leaves you hanging...and then you dive back into the alternate timeline. Sometimes I wanted to skip ahead to find out how the cliffhanger ended, but then I remembered the OTHER cliffhanger from the last chapter, and that kept me reading right along.
Thrillers with twists are everywhere, but not all of them are done well enough to let the reader care what happens to the characters at the end. This one walks that line so well! I was totally engaged in wanting to know what happened to these characters, and that is a really unusual win for me lately with books.
Buy the book! You won't regret the journey, but you MIGHT question if your friends are just who they tell you they are...
The morning after the wedding rehearsal, Damien awakens feeling very ill - so ill that a neighbor has come to check on him. He also awakens to find his fiance gone, and it isn't just a brief trip to the store.
Meanwhile in a timeline ten years earlier, we meet Leanne, a teenage girl with a troubled home life and dreams of a big future. Something sinister is lurking beneath the surface of her family's facade, and she is determined to make it out before it's too late. She has an ally in her friend Tasha, whose home life is arguably worse. The two of them make a plan that homecoming night will be THE night when they will both make it out of their current lives into something much better.
These two stories are on a collision course that will end with mystery, betrayal, and death. Something is rotten in Youngstown, and for ten years, it has been dying to be revealed...
This is a thriller that does all the thriller things. There are twists, entangled plot lines, surprises, and mysteries aplenty. There are also SO MANY cliffhangers. The author structures the novel so that the end of each chapter leaves you hanging...and then you dive back into the alternate timeline. Sometimes I wanted to skip ahead to find out how the cliffhanger ended, but then I remembered the OTHER cliffhanger from the last chapter, and that kept me reading right along.
Thrillers with twists are everywhere, but not all of them are done well enough to let the reader care what happens to the characters at the end. This one walks that line so well! I was totally engaged in wanting to know what happened to these characters, and that is a really unusual win for me lately with books.
Buy the book! You won't regret the journey, but you MIGHT question if your friends are just who they tell you they are...
October 10, 2025
4.5
First 3/4 of the book, 5⭐️. Ending fell a bit flat for me
First 3/4 of the book, 5⭐️. Ending fell a bit flat for me
October 18, 2024
I loved it! Every chapter, every twist and every guess it had me have!
The author is new to me and now one of favs.
I like books with alternate narrating, too many issues and characters, lots of thinking when it comes to who did it or what on earth happened, and well written and placed drama, plus a mystery.
And this book had all of them, it got my attention from page one and had me on the edge of my seat for more than 300 pages!
Every time I make an assumption or think ah, I think I got it all figured out, comes the author's slap in the form of a twist with the author's "what a cutie" written all over it.
I won't be able to tell you more as it would easily spoil the book for you, but really, don't miss out on a surprisingly awesome read.
Thanks to my partner in crime reading for, as always, his awesome recs!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author is new to me and now one of favs.
I like books with alternate narrating, too many issues and characters, lots of thinking when it comes to who did it or what on earth happened, and well written and placed drama, plus a mystery.
And this book had all of them, it got my attention from page one and had me on the edge of my seat for more than 300 pages!
Every time I make an assumption or think ah, I think I got it all figured out, comes the author's slap in the form of a twist with the author's "what a cutie" written all over it.
I won't be able to tell you more as it would easily spoil the book for you, but really, don't miss out on a surprisingly awesome read.
Thanks to my partner in crime reading for, as always, his awesome recs!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 7, 2024
THE GIRL IN THE FIRE super fast read which is always a plus in my book!
This story focused on Damien and Grace who are about to be married in just a few days. The day after their engagement party Damien is thrown for a loop when he wakes up feeling more hung over than he should and finds that Grace is missing. The day before Grace had received something in the mail and with that left behind, Damien sets off to find out what his fiance was hiding and what she has to do with the girl in the fire.
This blurb is FIRE. It’s amazing. I don’t see how anyone could not jump at the chance to read this book after reading that blurb.
The problem is, it fell short for me. While there were a lot of characters to keep up with, that didn’t bother me. I was able to keep up with all of them easily. There were way more too many subplots going on though. As the book went on everything became really outlandish. I don’t need believable or realistic. It’s a book, it’s a thriller, it’s not going to be those things. You always have to suspend disbelief! This went beyond that for me though.
A lot of the subplots were unnecessary, and there were at least two characters that I felt really weren’t needed and were just there for fluff adding to this unhinged plot. This would’ve come together better in my opinion if one or two of the subplots were followed through on, rather than having a bunch of small subplots going on.
This book has AMAZING reviews so please read this for yourself and form your own opinion. I am just here to share my honest, hopefully respectful review!
Read this if you life:
🔪 fast paced
🔪 dual POV’s
🔪 dysfunctional families
🔪 twists you won’t see coming
This story focused on Damien and Grace who are about to be married in just a few days. The day after their engagement party Damien is thrown for a loop when he wakes up feeling more hung over than he should and finds that Grace is missing. The day before Grace had received something in the mail and with that left behind, Damien sets off to find out what his fiance was hiding and what she has to do with the girl in the fire.
This blurb is FIRE. It’s amazing. I don’t see how anyone could not jump at the chance to read this book after reading that blurb.
The problem is, it fell short for me. While there were a lot of characters to keep up with, that didn’t bother me. I was able to keep up with all of them easily. There were way more too many subplots going on though. As the book went on everything became really outlandish. I don’t need believable or realistic. It’s a book, it’s a thriller, it’s not going to be those things. You always have to suspend disbelief! This went beyond that for me though.
A lot of the subplots were unnecessary, and there were at least two characters that I felt really weren’t needed and were just there for fluff adding to this unhinged plot. This would’ve come together better in my opinion if one or two of the subplots were followed through on, rather than having a bunch of small subplots going on.
This book has AMAZING reviews so please read this for yourself and form your own opinion. I am just here to share my honest, hopefully respectful review!
Read this if you life:
🔪 fast paced
🔪 dual POV’s
🔪 dysfunctional families
🔪 twists you won’t see coming
November 16, 2024
I really wanted to love this. It started out strong but about halfway in, it lost me. It became really hard to follow and had so many characters and side plots that I struggled to keep them all straight. Thanks to Book Sirens for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 2, 2024
The girl in the fire by Sarah Kay Stevens, there is a lot happening in this book for me to give a brief summary especially for a book that I found interesting although they use Clickbait tactics. The things I liked short chapters the fact that Damion was the main character, the things I didn’t like were the twist because the twist were only the twist because we were told one thing while the Author held information back and did a whole 360 at the end of the book, is this book riveting yes is there a lot of characters yes there’s even ones you love to dislike and for the most part this is a pretty good thriller but to tell you my main reason for disliking the book would give plot points away and that is something I don’t want to do. I finish this book a few days ago but couldn’t wrap my head around what to rate it because of unsaid twist. So I’ll say read it at your own risk there’s a great plot awesome characters but a twist that really made me angry. #HiddenGems, #SarahKayStevens, #TheGirlInTheFire,
November 10, 2024
Leanne and Tasha. Teenagers and best friends. Both with less than desirable home lives, planning something big for Homecoming night that will change both of their lives forever. But not necessarily in the way they intended.
Grace and Damien. Engaged and so close to their wedding day. Damien wakes with the worst hangover he’s ever had after their eventful rehearsal dinner party. But he only had a couple glasses of champagne. And where was Grace? She had vanished. Damian discovers some shocking evidence and desperately tries to find her, uncovering more than he bargained for.
Later these two works collide and, well, let’s just say… you need to read the book!
Loved this book from the start! So many unexpected twists and turns, it had me glued to the pages waiting to see what happens next! A wild ride, I’m still recovering from! If you like thrillers that are non stop, you need to read this!
Grace and Damien. Engaged and so close to their wedding day. Damien wakes with the worst hangover he’s ever had after their eventful rehearsal dinner party. But he only had a couple glasses of champagne. And where was Grace? She had vanished. Damian discovers some shocking evidence and desperately tries to find her, uncovering more than he bargained for.
Later these two works collide and, well, let’s just say… you need to read the book!
Loved this book from the start! So many unexpected twists and turns, it had me glued to the pages waiting to see what happens next! A wild ride, I’m still recovering from! If you like thrillers that are non stop, you need to read this!
September 24, 2024
To be honest, at the very beginning I wasn't sure how to rate this book.
It's multiple point of view, switching between timelines, both can be tricky to pull off.
But then, as the story happens and everything slowly falls into place, that's when the "magic" can happen too.
And for me, it did.
My head was spinning at times, I actually gasped out loud once or twice (no one, thankfully, was staring), and I just has to finish reading it.
Based on all of this, I am giving it a 5 star rating.
Yes, I was often lost, but I just had to keep going and have the pieces come together.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to know more about the characters, wanted to understand them,and wanted to know who to root for!
Really will look into the author's other books!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's multiple point of view, switching between timelines, both can be tricky to pull off.
But then, as the story happens and everything slowly falls into place, that's when the "magic" can happen too.
And for me, it did.
My head was spinning at times, I actually gasped out loud once or twice (no one, thankfully, was staring), and I just has to finish reading it.
Based on all of this, I am giving it a 5 star rating.
Yes, I was often lost, but I just had to keep going and have the pieces come together.
Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. I wanted to know more about the characters, wanted to understand them,and wanted to know who to root for!
Really will look into the author's other books!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 6, 2024
If you’re looking for a book with unexpected twists and turns and surprising revelations then this is it.
As an avid reader psychological thrillers, there aren’t many books that have me truly surprised when the villain is revealed… this book does not disappoint!
The Past and present merge to tell the story of two crimes happening years apart but committed by the same person.
Damien is planning to be married to Grace and they are planning their future, that is until Grace disappears right before their wedding and leaves nothing but unanswered questions. Has she been kidnapped? A series of clues send Damien on a path of discovery to find out what happened to the live of his life and what he uncovers will make the reader wonder- just how well do you know the person that you’re willing to spend your life with?
I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for this author and being unfamiliar with her writing I didn’t know what to expect. I was not disappointed and will now be reading her other books. Well done Sarah Stephens!
As an avid reader psychological thrillers, there aren’t many books that have me truly surprised when the villain is revealed… this book does not disappoint!
The Past and present merge to tell the story of two crimes happening years apart but committed by the same person.
Damien is planning to be married to Grace and they are planning their future, that is until Grace disappears right before their wedding and leaves nothing but unanswered questions. Has she been kidnapped? A series of clues send Damien on a path of discovery to find out what happened to the live of his life and what he uncovers will make the reader wonder- just how well do you know the person that you’re willing to spend your life with?
I had the privilege of being an ARC reader for this author and being unfamiliar with her writing I didn’t know what to expect. I was not disappointed and will now be reading her other books. Well done Sarah Stephens!
September 3, 2024
This is certainly a gripping psychological thriller as the blurb promises, and yes, a page turner, told in alternate POVs (the two main protagonists) over two time periods.
The intrigue starts when a bride-to-be disappears only a few pages in. The mystery behind her disappearance then starts to unravel compellingly. It gets confusing, however: it's hard to grasp who's loyal to whom, the reasons for the actions of bad characters and why their victims suck it all up and seem to walk from one disaster into another. They seem to have plans to escape it all, but we never get to know exactly what they are and how they're going to achieve them.
I found myself enjoying this maze of intrigue, thinking, don't worry, it will be crystal clear by the end. I can't say it was. I was still scratching my head with unanswered questions, so I was left a little frustrated. I was equally frustrated by the many fiancé (male)/fiancée (female) mix-ups, even in the Amazon blurb, along with a number of other editorial oversights.
The intrigue starts when a bride-to-be disappears only a few pages in. The mystery behind her disappearance then starts to unravel compellingly. It gets confusing, however: it's hard to grasp who's loyal to whom, the reasons for the actions of bad characters and why their victims suck it all up and seem to walk from one disaster into another. They seem to have plans to escape it all, but we never get to know exactly what they are and how they're going to achieve them.
I found myself enjoying this maze of intrigue, thinking, don't worry, it will be crystal clear by the end. I can't say it was. I was still scratching my head with unanswered questions, so I was left a little frustrated. I was equally frustrated by the many fiancé (male)/fiancée (female) mix-ups, even in the Amazon blurb, along with a number of other editorial oversights.
September 6, 2024
A gripping novel with plenty of twists and turns! Grace disappears days before her wedding, leaving Damien devastated and vowing to find her. This descriptive, well written plot has great characters and lots of action. It gripped me from the beginning and I finished it quickly, and feeling very satisfied with the ending. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 8, 2024
Reader beware: only pick this beautifully dark and twisted book up if you have hours of uninterrupted reading time ahead of you. Believe me, you will not want to put it down.
If you are lucky enough to know Sarah as a friend and human in the greater world, you know she’s stunningly brilliant, kind and sweet (plus a heck of a baker). But if you know Sarah as an author, you know she will deliver you a most psychologically dark, twisted thriller. She did not disappoint in The Girl in the Fire. 🔥
If you are lucky enough to know Sarah as a friend and human in the greater world, you know she’s stunningly brilliant, kind and sweet (plus a heck of a baker). But if you know Sarah as an author, you know she will deliver you a most psychologically dark, twisted thriller. She did not disappoint in The Girl in the Fire. 🔥
August 17, 2024
I love a dual timeline that crafted together elements of Cruel Summer and Gone Girl! Loved how this one all came together!
September 13, 2024
I received an early ARC from Booksirens.
What an absolute thrilling, edge of the seat thriller. So many twists and turns and times I was wrong with the storyline. Very cleverly written and will definitely be looking forward to more from the author
What an absolute thrilling, edge of the seat thriller. So many twists and turns and times I was wrong with the storyline. Very cleverly written and will definitely be looking forward to more from the author
July 31, 2024
I have read every single one of this author’s books and she never ceases to trick me up! Right when I think I’ve got it figured out (who the murderer is, what’s gonna happen, etc.) she throws a curveball and I’m left speechless. This book didn’t disappoint! I like that it was told from two different time periods because it kept me focused and I couldn’t put the book down. I finished it in 3 hours!
I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I was provided an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I was riveted by The Girl in the Fire and finished it in a few hours! Things start to unravel for Damien when his fiance, Grace, disappears the morning after their wedding rehearsal dinner.
The author's use of chapters with alternating viewpoints and timelines, ending each chapter on a cliffhanger, was very effective at keeping my attention and wanting to find out what was happening! There were so many twists & the reader never truly knows who can be trusted, the suspense was killing me!
There were a couple inconsistencies in the book (was Tim or Damien older? It was noted once that Tim was older & once that Damien was....), and a more than once I had a hard time following what was going on. I would have also liked more development of the complicated relationships between characters. Why was Grace's mom so awful?
But overall, I enjoyed this thriller. I recommend!
I was riveted by The Girl in the Fire and finished it in a few hours! Things start to unravel for Damien when his fiance, Grace, disappears the morning after their wedding rehearsal dinner.
The author's use of chapters with alternating viewpoints and timelines, ending each chapter on a cliffhanger, was very effective at keeping my attention and wanting to find out what was happening! There were so many twists & the reader never truly knows who can be trusted, the suspense was killing me!
There were a couple inconsistencies in the book (was Tim or Damien older? It was noted once that Tim was older & once that Damien was....), and a more than once I had a hard time following what was going on. I would have also liked more development of the complicated relationships between characters. Why was Grace's mom so awful?
But overall, I enjoyed this thriller. I recommend!
September 17, 2024
I'm not really sure how to review this book.
There was a lot to like - short chapters which kept the story moving at a good pace, a good mix of characters, interesting (and confronting) themes and loads of twists.
My feelings about some of the characters changed from chapter to chapter.
By the end of the book, I'm still not sure what Leanne and Tasha's plan was and I still don't understanding what the motivation was behind actions from some of the characters.
I woke up at 4am today thinking about the book and had to read the last 30 minutes, so I guess that says something!
I received an ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
There was a lot to like - short chapters which kept the story moving at a good pace, a good mix of characters, interesting (and confronting) themes and loads of twists.
My feelings about some of the characters changed from chapter to chapter.
By the end of the book, I'm still not sure what Leanne and Tasha's plan was and I still don't understanding what the motivation was behind actions from some of the characters.
I woke up at 4am today thinking about the book and had to read the last 30 minutes, so I guess that says something!
I received an ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
October 12, 2024
Not good - too much was happening and it was confusing at times. I thought this was gonna be a really good page turner thriller… it wasn’t !!
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