The Burning Soul

Rylan Flynn #6

by Dawn Merriman

I’m Rylan Flynn. I hunt for ghosts and restless spirits, and solve the mysteries that make them haunt the living.

Flames leap from the windows of the burning house and smoke fills the air. I know immediately that this is no ordinary fire… With chaos all around her, the ghost of a young woman stands on the lawn, watching the blaze.

I call out, but she vanishes before I can learn what happened. When the police find her body in the ashes, it’s clear that she was murdered. A new twisted killer is stalking my hometown…

The obvious suspect is my friend Graham Rock. The house belonged to Graham, and the ghost I saw was his ex-girlfriend. Could he really be capable of something like this? Or is someone trying to destroy his life?

I’m desperate to find the truth. But my relationship with Detective Ford Pierce is in ruins, and he won’t let me join his investigation.

Even worse, an evil spirit that I trapped years ago has escaped. I need Ford’s help to track it down, but with so much tension between us I don’t know if he’ll believe me.

When another house burns down with someone inside, I know it’s on me to find answers—alone. Is the spirit behind these lethal attacks? Can I find the link between the victims and unmask the killer before the flames claim another soul?

A thrilling paranormal mystery packed with heart-stopping twists, The Burning Soul is perfect for fans of Heather Graham, Wendy Wang, and Noelle W. Ihli.

See why readers love the Rylan Flynn

“

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 9, 2025

About the author

Dawn Merriman lives in northeastern Indiana on a small pig farm with her husband and teenage children. She enjoys animals, auctions, reading, snorkeling and writing small town murder mystery novels. Dawn Merriman completed her first novel in Middle School and a few others in High School and college. She won 1st place in the Northeast Indiana Young Writers short story contest in 1990. After a writing hiatus to raise her children, she published her debut novel, "How Murder Saved My Life" in 2019.

Reviews

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping, scorching hot, haunting, mysterious, and hard to put down, The Burning Soul is another thrilling addition to the Rylan Flynn series by Dawn Merriman. Rylan Flynn is a ghost hunter who helps ghost transition to the other side and solves the mysteries of their deaths. I have enjoyed this series since the very beginning (The Spirit Girls) and enjoy how Rylan uses her skills to help not only the living but the dead. She has a unique skill which many are skeptical of, yet she preservers and helps the restless spirts move on. Along the way she encounters danger, obstacles, spirits, killers, and law enforcement.


In The Burning Soul, Rylan observes the ghost of a young woman watching a house fire and soon the police find the body of young woman in the ashes. Rylan does her best to get to the truth of the young woman's death, even if it means looking at someone she knows. Not to mention that an evil spirit that she had trapped in her home has escaped! UGH! Rylan must turn to Detective Ford Pierce for help. Fans of the series, know him and his relationship with Rylan Flynn well.

I enjoyed the mystery, drama, tension, thrills, secrets, twists, and suspense in this book. Dawn Merriman's wonderful writing, vivid descriptions, and fully fleshed out characters are also a big plus for me in this series. This book has just the right amount of tension, danger, romance, suspense, and thrills. This series has always been entertaining, light, mysterious, and a joy to read.

Just over 200 pages, I easily read The Burning Soul in one day. I was glued to the pages, wanting more, and doing my best to catch the killer along with Rylan. I have always enjoyed the scenes between Rylan and Ford and reading about their ups and downs. Their romance has also been a nice touch in this book and in the series.

There is one more book to come in this riveting series. The end of this book has me salivating and excited. There has been one mystery that has ebbed and flowed in and out of the previous books - it's a big one and I have a feeling, that mystery will finally be solved. I can't wait!! Fingers crossed the Dawn Merriman writes fast!!!!!

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.


Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was seemed to be nonstop action from start to finish. From arson to haunting, evil puppets to haunted bears! Ryland is having a time of it and not in a good way especially since Ford walked away. They both are stubborn and love each other but needed to accept each other for who they are. The courthouse ghost gives Ryland and her nemesis some revealing news!! Overall an excellent read

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

There's nothing more scary than a possessed puppet! This was really good. I love Ford and Rylan! Noe she is going to.solve her moms murder and the puppet may be back!

This was about arson and the puppet was causing the villain to kill. Its all very very good!

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

uld like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this haunting book

it was great to start where the last book finished rylan and ford are still trying to figure out their feelings for each other

rylan sees the flames from the fire and gets the tingling in her back hinting that a ghost is near by....she soon finds out the identity and knows that in the house that is on fire there is a dead body but before she can get anymore information the girl passes into the light

but its not till the 2nd fire and another dead body that things start to heat up for the owners of the property as it seems their do ups are being targeted....or are they.....

things also dont help that the thing from rylans house has escaped... and we find out what it is.... the stuff of nightmares.... can rylan get it back and stop its reign of terror on her town before to many people see it...

not a bad read and love how rylan and ford are forging a path together

[Julie Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and this is another great book.
Rylan has her hands full once again and we finally find out what was causing the noise from Keaton’s room.
Rylan and Ford’s off/on relationship is centre to the book again as she can’t help but get involved in the crimes he’s investigating.
I loved it!
Thanks to Second Sky for the opportunity to read this book.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book jumps right in from the last one, Ryan is finally cleaning up her house, but the thing that scares her the most has been released. She solves another interesting mystery, but she still seems a bit self-centered, missing several things with her friends and keeping her mom a secret, I am ready for some character growth from her. The evil in the town still persist and this new element is interesting and I am curious as to where Dawn will go with it.

[Bzz Kolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading The Burning Soul by Dawn Merriman, and I was thoroughly impressed. This sixth instalment in the Rylan Flynn Mystery series is as gripping and thrilling as the previous books in the series.

The story begins with Rylan Flynn, a ghost hunter and investigator, witnessing a house engulfed in flames. Amidst the chaos, she sees the ghost of a young woman standing on the lawn, watching the blaze. When the police find the woman's body in the ashes, it's clear she was murdered. The obvious suspect is Rylan's friend Graham Rock, as the house belonged to him and the ghost was his ex-girlfriend. Determined to clear Graham's name, Rylan dives into the investigation, uncovering dark secrets and facing a twisted killer.

Merriman's writing is vivid and engaging, creating a palpable sense of suspense and urgency. The plot is packed with heart-stopping twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. Rylan's character is well-developed, and her determination and resilience make her a compelling character. The paranormal elements add an intriguing layer to the mystery, making the story even more captivating.

One of the standout aspects of the book is the dynamic between Rylan and Detective Ford Pierce. Their relationship is strained, adding tension and complexity to the investigation. The emotional depth and personal stakes involved make the story even more gripping.

Overall, The Burning Soul is a fantastic addition to the Rylan Flynn Mystery series. It's a thrilling, well-crafted paranormal mystery that I couldn't put down. If you enjoy mysteries with a supernatural twist and strong, relatable characters, this book is definitely worth a read.

[Nadene (Totally Addicted to Reading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Burning Soul is the sixth book in the Ryan Flynn series. In this installment, Merriman delivers an engrossing and mysterious tale that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Once again, ghost hunter Ryan Flynn is called upon to use her skills to solve a murder, clear her friend's name, and help a few spirits to cross over.

In this installment, Rylan witnesses the ghost of a young woman outside of a burning house. Soon after, the charred remains of the young woman are discovered in the burnt-out house. It so happens that the house belongs to a friend of Rylan. To make matters worse, the friend once dated the victim, making him a viable suspect. Rylan sets out to find the truth behind the fire. To complicate matters, the evil entity trapped in her home for years has escaped.

The Burning Soul is chock-full of twists and turns designed to keep readers on their toes. Merriman keeps her readers engaged by creating a suspenseful and atmospheric tale.

The tale kept me engaged and we learn more about the evil entity that escaped from Rylan's home. Rylan's and Ford's relationship hit a roadblock in the previous book. However, we see them moving forward and everything seems to be going fine for them in this installment.

The mystery wrapped up nicely; however, the end speaks of interesting things to come. I look forward to seeing what Merriman has in store for the next installment.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

[Lesley Barklay · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, and I liked the development of the over-arching plot with Roland, I have to admit that six books in, I'm finding things a little formulaic. I will definitely keep reading, and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything wraps up, but I'd love to see a bit more variation in the final confrontation, other than, Rylan gets a clue that leads her to the killer. She calls Ford, but rushes in anyway, gets into a physical fight where she's in danger/ beaten up and nearly killed, and, at the last minute, Ford arrives and saves the day.

At least in this book, she is self aware enough to realise she's rushing in without a plan, so that's growth.

I think my favourite characters in this book were actually Elsa and Margie. They are definitely the most interesting, and I enjoyed their interactions with Rylan. I can't wait to see how their stories resolve, and if the hint of Elsa being threatened by Roland comes to anything in the last book. I'm also interested to see if defeating Roland brings an end to Rylan's ability to see ghosts, and how that might impact the trajectory of her life. I'm wondering what's going to happen with Faith Hudson. She's not a believer, and may be gunning for either Ford or Tyler's job. And the coroner seems to believe that Rylan is suspiciously close to all the deaths, so it would be great to see if that thread goes anywhere.

Overall, a quick, engaging installment.

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Author's 6th book in her paranormal Rylan Flynn series and whilst it can be read as a standalone
I would recommend reading some of the previous books to set the characters and their relationships in place

A house is on fire , a ghost is on the lawn but before Rylan can use her abilities to speak to
the ghost she disappears ,,,,,,,, her body found soon after in the ashes of the house . A house
that belongs to Rylan's friend Graham , the body that of his ex-girlfriend - he can't be involved , can he ?
Rylan is desperate to ask for help from Detective Ford Pierce but their budding relationship/friendship is in
ruins - there will be no help from that quarter !
When another house burns down Rylan begins to think that perhaps something else might be involved .......... an evil spirit she previously trapped years ago has escaped , can she catch it again or will she paythe ultimate price . ?
This is yet the latest instalment in this enjoyable series , full of darkness , fast paced with twists and turns around every corner ............ can Rylan reconnect with Pierce ? because without him she might be lost

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rylan Flynn is a fantastic protagonist. Although she has proven multiple times that she can truly communicate with the spirits of the deceased and gather information from them to help solve crimes, there are still many skeptics who believe she’s just putting on a show. Fortunately, she also has a few people who do believe in her and support her unconditionally.

I admire her courage and perseverance because she often finds herself in dangerous and eerie situations. Her goals are to uncover the truth, help spirits move on to heaven and reunite with their loved ones, and ensure that wrongdoers end up behind bars.

The on-again, off-again relationship between Rylan and Ford adds a romantic touch to the story, and the cliffhanger at the end guarantees that I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this fantastic series.

You can’t help but be drawn into this story, making it impossible to put the book down.

Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of paranormal thrillers—and I can assure you that I’m not—you simply have to read this series. You won’t regret it, and I can promise you that. 5 stars.

Thank you

[loopyloulaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rylan attends the scene of a fatal fire attack and chats to the ghost of the victim. Will she have enough information to catch the killer...?
The Burning Soul is the 6th book in the Rylan Flynn series of paranormal murder mysteries.
I have to start by admitting I am a HUGE fan of this series and absolutely LOVE all of the books (including this one). My only gripe is that they are too short! I want more!
This book picks up the plot straight from the end of the last book. The ‘something’ has escaped from Keaton’s room and goes around town to cause pain and suffering. Meanwhile Rylan and Ford have had a big argument and split up.
Rylan is called to a fire and speaks to the ghost of the victim before helping her pass to the light. The main suspects are a couple of her friends so she is determined to track down the killer, using ghosts to help her uncover past secrets.
There are some great cliffhangers to end on which leaves lots of potential for the next book: I can't wait!
The Burning Soul is another excellent addition to this supernatural collection.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the evil that Rylan has had trapped is released by the ghost of the little girl living with her and her dead mother. It possess an ugly marionette named Roland. We discover in the book that a ghost in the court house is a relative of Rylan's and was murdered by her husband Roland who originally owned that marionetted. I suspect that Roland is tied to Rylan's brother Keaton, who found the toy in a dump when he was in high school and brought it home. Rylan once again nearly dies while trying to save a victim from a human and an evil spirit, Roland. Flynn finally realizes that he love Rylan which means he accepts that her calling of helping people and helping spirits cross over can be dangerous at times but it is who she is. Thank goodness, I really was getting annoyed with his overprotective alpha male vibe at times. Now unfortunately, I have to wait for the 7th and final book to come out in August. The cliffhanger is Rylan's mom wants her to solve her murder. And Roland turns up saying hello again to an unnamed character.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm thoroughly enjoying this paranormal read
With Rylan Flynn helping ghosts in need.
She helps to solve why they remain here still
Helping them move on, if they can and will.

She can see and chat to the ghosts that she finds
And so discovers what remains on their minds.
This can help sometimes to solve crime
But can highlight others sometime.

In this story Rylan has several mysteries to solve
One is from the past that needs to resolve
Another seems like a vendetta involving her friend
She isn't sure how any will end!

With the help of ghosts - and sugar, too,
Can Rylan help the living and dead to pull through?
With murder and arson, and relatives, too,
She'll face danger as she looks for every clue!

A fascinating paranormal mystery - and romance!
I hope you'll also give this fab read a chance.
For my copy of this book I say a big thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was over way too soon! I can't believe it was the end when I got to the end! I need to get the next one! I mean, finally, we find out what was in that room, and if you aren't a fan of what it is, you are not going to enjoy this! We have a few ghosts crossing over and some distant relatives.

Keaton and Rylan's relationship has taken a change, and I am hoping that it changes for the better.
The book was so full on, and I need to catch my breath because again, I can't believe it is over already!! Gutted doesn't cover it.

Ford and Rylan are now getting back on track, so there is hope. I love this!!

I have no idea which part of the book to think about first or dissect. I loved every bit of it, I really want the next one!!! I'm not going to spoil it, but just know I LOVED this book. This series is everything I want and more, and I WANT more!!

[Danielle Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back with Rylan and her ghosty abilities!
After the events in the last book, Rylan has a lot on her plate. Her brother's room has finally been opened, and the thing that was inside has escaped. It's as creepy as I thought it would be when we could just hear it moving around in there, and now that I know what it is... it lives up to its reputation.
On top of that she's not really sure where she stands with her love interest, AND it seems like one of her friends is in a bit of a pickle when a house he owns burns down and someone dies inside.

This one had perfect atmosphere, kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, and left me wanting more (in the best way) when it was all over. I love Rylan and watching her investigate these hauntings and discovering what's keeping the ghosts here. I can't wait to see what's in store for Rylan next!!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, easy read, fantasy, with romance, humour, peril and ghosts. Rylan’s life seeing ghosts and helping them cross over just seems to get busier and more hectic. Throwing herself into danger once again. We finally find out what’s been hiding in the bedroom. A surprise indeed. Rylan, her friends and the towns people are in for a bit of a shock. But maybe Rylan’s life is starting to be sorted out. Yipes until the last paragraph throws us a mighty cliff hanger for the soon to come last book in the series. Bad things to come for the characters, but more thrills for the readers. Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

[Diana Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for the chance to read the ARC of The burning soul (A Rylan Flynn mystery book 6) by Dawn Merriman. I really enjoy reading this series, and The burning soul is just as good as the previous ones. It picks up right where the previous book ended, and is a quick and easy read, with non-stop action, and plenty of things that go bump in the night. One of the ongoing mysteries has been what has been locked away in the Keaton's bedroom and that mystery is finally revealed. As usual the author ends the story on a cliffhanger, so I cannot wait until the next book comes out!

[Amber Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure anything is creepier than a possessed clown marionette who laughs manically and is trying to kill people. The creepy aspect of the doll kept me engaged, even when there were moments I wasn't connecting with Rylan as much as in past books. While this book was not my favorite in the series, it was still a solid read. I can't wait to see what happens next. I gave The Burning Soul 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the opportunity to review The Burning Soul by Dawn Merriman. All opinions are my own

[Mary Matroni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay story

Since I jumped in to the story reading book 6 first, this was is more like a cozy mystery than an action packed mystery. Despite all fires and deaths, this was more like a ‘Chucky’ the doll paranormal story. It was a quick read. Rylan is typical of female character who thinks she can resolve everything by her self. Hopefully she will be better about including Ford especially since Elsa figured out how to communicate with him.

[Margarette Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth a read

I enjoyed this book very much. I had go series win order I found this e the our an Amazon re commendation . If you like Wendy wang.... I do, and I very much enjoy this series. I love ghost stories and psychic characters. Small town supernatural fantasy. I'd read the in order to get the best idea of e characters mesh together. Real small town feel to it that way.

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 6th book of the series and just like the others I could not put it down,
Houses are burning and people are dying. Rylan can see and talk to ghosts and they help her solve what happened to them and she in turn helps them to the light.
Rylan had trapped an evil spirit ,that was in a puppet, in her brother's room and t is now on the loose and Rylan is wondering if he has something to do with the fires and dead bodies.
There is also a ghost in the court house so the night watchman has asked for help.
Rylan was dating the detective but they have had a falling out and they both miss each other. I love their relationship and am hoping they will get a happy ending at the end of the series,
I received the book from NetGalley and Second Sky to review.

[Thompson615 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo good!

Wow! This book was so good! This series is so good! Rylan is caught up with a mystery of exactly who is burning down houses and who are the victims found inside. As Rylan talks with ghosts to find answers she and Ford are still very much in love but still trying to figure things out. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Dixie LoCicero · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Dawn Merriman's books have been excellent! I didn't typically read a lot of "thriller" or "paranormal" books, but once I read one of hers, I was hooked! It's been my mission to read ALL of her books!

Rylan Flynn is one of my favorite characters. This is the 6th book of the series and it doesn't get old. Each book is a new adventure and just as exciting as the previous books.

[Rebecca Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stubborn, but alive…

So close to the end of the series.. Hopefully Keaton comes around and stops being such a jerk. Ford and Riley should be ok, they just have to survive the puppet. On to the next!

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too many ghost not enough time

So many deaths all together who is behind this and why? Two fires and several ghost from many years ago want to pass over, but for some reason their not ready.. Rylan is beyond tired. What will happen?

[Christina Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable.

This penultimate book in the excellent Rylan Flynn Mystery series was an intriguing and thrilling read.
With Roland, the evil puppet, and a revenge obsessed crazed killer, Rylan and Ford have their work cut out.

I highly recommend this book and series.

[Mrs Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar

This series is special. I suggest everyone read it from book one up until this book. This book has the same heart as the others but also answers questions and gets us prepared for even more twists and turns to come! Fantastic!!

[Kayleigh Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn - just wow. I am on holiday and I finished the whole of the Rylan Flynn books. Thank you so much fantastic quick reads could not put each book down.

I need to know what happens in the final book. I cannot wait for August ♥️

[Kandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series. This book is so good and exciting with some very suspenseful moments. The next book in this series cannot come quickly enough.