Left in the Ashes: Detectives Martin and Stern, Book 3

by Anna Britton, Yasmin Mwanza (Narrator)

Jealousy. Arson. Murder. When a fire claims the life of young influencer Zara in the New Forest, DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin face a web of her cold and distant boyfriend, her jealous best friend, an old acquaintance bent on revenge and a stranger with a history of criminal activity.

As they investigate, Gabe's past resurfaces when The Barrel Man, the serial killer who kidnapped her and her brother as a child, abducts someone close to her.

Detectives Martin and Stern must juggle both cases and hope they make it out the other side...

An immersive, pulse-pounding police procedural perfect for fans of Susie Steiner, Gytha Lodge and Cara Hunter. An avid reader, Anna Britton began writing around ten years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Anna works as a freelance editor and loves helping out other authors.

Audible Audio

Published September 18, 2025

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and have read the others in the series, so good to have the opportunity to follow these detectives further. Gabe has had a traumatic event in her childhood which has affected her whole life with PTST and there is a lot about that in this book. She and Juliet are looking into an arson attack where a body is later discovered in the building. At the same time, colleagues are investigating the discovery of a child's body. This is directly relatable to Gabe's childhood and there are a lot descriptions of Gabe's mental state now and in the past as well as the the relationship with others . This was very well written and felt very believable, though I was questioning how some one with problems like that could be a detective.
Juliet is not really a big part of this book, though she is around .
I like the multimedia approach to the book, though messaging, telephone calls etc which give a vivid picture of what is going on. The ending felt a little rushed for me and I am left with a feeling that this wasn't quite what I needed and Gabe needs to do a lot to resolve her own issues. There are cliffhangers at the very end so I am curious to read the next book .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Left in the Ashes by Anna Britton. This is my first Anna Britton novel, and it was easily read as a standalone. When a body is discovered in a burnt-out building in a New Forest estate, DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin must unravel the tangle of clues which take them to unexpected places. The plot is even more personal for Gabe when the Barrel Man, a figure from her own childhood, returns.

I particularly enjoyed the storytelling style, which shifts smoothly between perspectives using texts, social media, interviews, emails and phone calls to keep the plot moving. Recommended for fans of Janice Hallet.