A Killing Breath

by Faye Snowden

Dark, Southern gothic tale of homicide detective Raven Burns, with a complicated past and a desperate case to solve. Black Girls Lit recommends the first book, A Killing Fire "to crime fiction and mystery lovers and fans of Ruth Ware and Gillian Flynn.”

“Full-bodied and dynamic characters carry this one along a mystery, tying a brutal past with a bloody present that will keep you guessing right up to the finale.” — Unnerving Magazine on Book 1 in the series.

Raven Burns owes her life to the kind souls who looked after her while her father, unbeknownst to them, sowed a path of blood and bodies from California to Louisiana as one of the most notorious serial killers ever known, Floyd “Fire” Burns. When Raven was a girl, Floyd brutally murdered one of those kind souls, Miss Ruth Jefferson, when the woman made the fatal decision to open the door to him on a pitch-black 4th of July night. As Raven learned of her father’s crimes, she vowed to do everything in her power to put men like him away. Decades later Raven’s hunt for a serial killer terrorizing the town leads her right back to that 4th of July night, and a memory that will make her question how much Floyd’s evil has settled in her bones.

FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress

Genres: Mystery

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 14, 2026

About the author

Faye Snowden is the author of noir mysteries, poems and several short stories. Her novels include Spiral of Guilt, The Savior, Fatal Justice, and A Killing Fire, a dark, southern gothic tale featuring homicide detective Raven Burns. A Killing Fire is first in a four-part series. The sequel, A Killing Rain, is underway.

Faye’s short story, One Bullet. One Vote was selected as one of the best American mystery and suspense stories of 2021 by editors Steph Cha and Alafair Burke. The story will be anthologized along with many other talented authors in The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021.

Faye has a master’s in English Literature. She has been awarded writing fellowships from Djerassi and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime (SinC) where she serves as Board Secretary for SinC National.

She has participated on many writing panels, appeared as a guest lecture in several university writing classes, and taught information technology courses at the university level. Today, Faye works and writes from her home in Northern California.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

A policewoman who is the daughter of a notorious serial killer, investigates another serial killer. I think maybe I'm done with serial killer novels.

[Runalong · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read in this series and I now need to catch up, fascinating setting, intriguing characters in particular Rave herself and the dialogue is a pleasure to read - strongly recommended!

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...

[Lou Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A KLLING BREATH by Faye Snowden
Publication: April 2026 by Flame Tree Press
Graded: B+


Snowden returns with her third installment involving the flawed and conflicted homicide detective, Raven Burns. She has returned to police investigation in her home town of Byrd’s Landing after leaving her position as homicide detective in New Orleans. She is the daughter of the notorious serial killer, Floyd Burns, who has committed suicide while in prison. She is convinced that a serial killer is stalking her home town, when her nephew is kidnapped, shortly after a doctor and police officer are killed. Unwelcome memories surface, as she recalls early childhood trauma involving her father in the brutal murder of a beloved elderly neighbor. She struggles with the possibility that she has inherited the violence of her father. He continues to live in her mind, offering his unwanted opinions at crucial points in her investigation. She has spent her entire life, attempting to make amends for the sins of her father.
Snowden effectively combines the swampy Southern atmosphere with psychological gothic noir. The environment wreaks of decay , corruption and violence. While pursuing justice our protagonist fears her own bloodline. Raven is haunted with resurfacing traumatic childhood memories. Snowden’s dark noir style invades the dialogue and atmospheric setting, creating an escalating psychological tension. Raven continues to wrestle with the proposition of evil being inherited.
I sincerely look forward to the further tales of Raven Burns, as she fights against the legacy of violence.
Published at Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘A Killing Breath’ is a gothic, simmering dark tale that vibrates off the page! This is the third book in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone. Yes, it might be beneficial to read the previous two, but I managed to understand everything easily. However, I am very intrigued and will be reading them to learn more about Raven and her history!

Detective Raven Burns has returned to her hometown of Byrd’s Landing, despite it being a place of haunted history. She is the daughter of Floyd Burns, a serial killer, and has to confront her past and those relationships, therefore is very emotive. She is also having to investigate three deaths in Old Bottom, a notorious no-go area for the police. It has been linked to gang activity, but Raven thinks there is more to it.

Raven is a brilliant protagonist. She is feisty, has a very complicated back history, but is determined to overcome this and help people. She is someone which you instantly root for! This is a story which is rooted in Southern Black culture and it comes across as a gothic psychological examination. It beguiles the reader, sucks you in, and then you realise you have not looked up from the page all afternoon.

I found this to be an enthralling story and I finished it in one day! Raven was a cracking main character and the plot was entertaining and nuanced! I can’t wait for the next instalment.

Let me know if you pick this one up!

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the A Raven Burns Tale Series but read well as a standalone. Raven had a traumatic childhood being passed from pillar to post whilst her serial killer father Floyd “Fire” Burns wreaked havoc across the country leaving dead bodies in his wake. Determined to be a survivor Raven joined the police force and has recently left her job as an homicide detective in New Orleans to return to her home town of Byrd’s Landing, Louisiana. Told in the present with flashbacks to Floyd’s life before his arrest.

Briefly, a triple murder in the town brings the past back into Ravens life and one of the victims was someone that Raven turned to as a teen when she needed a shoulder to cry on. With multiple suspects Raven is still far from the truth but the closer she gets the more likely it seems that the killings are related to her past.

I’ve always been a fan of police procedurals and this is an excellent read. Raven is one feisty character with a tenacity that knows no bounds. Her past has had a traumatic effect on her life but she is determined not to let it define her. I enjoyed her relationship with her former partner in New Orleans, Billy Rae, as she needs a friend. A dark and gritty read that deals with some distressing issues and a compelling and emotional story. Very entertaining book.

[Laura]

I hoped that I could read this book as a stand alone but unfortunately I think I need to start from the beginning. As much as I tried I couldn’t get into the book. I stopped at 30%.

A very special thanks to @FlameTreePress + Netgalley for the gifted earc.