What do you think?
Dead Heat
'A real scorcher. You won't want to miss this one!' HARLAN COBEN
'Gloriously dark and wildly engrossing' LISA JEWELL
'Sun-drenched and dripping with suspense, this is the perfect summer read’ LUCY CLARKE
----
Former journalist Matt Grimshaw's life is at a low ebb. He's been 'let go' by the paper where he's worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck.
So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it.
It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play.
But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay.
As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone's motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow - until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks.
At least, it looks like an accident…
Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant’s new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping.
-----
Praise for Dead Heat . . .
‘No one writes suspense like Sabine Durrant. Dead Heat is perfection’ Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Game of Lies
'Better than every season of The White Lotus spun into one, and drenched with danger, sex, and revenge. Sensational summer reading' Sarah Hilary, author of Black Thorn
‘A deliciously dark, modern Greek Gatsby’ Julia Crouch, author of The Surprise Party
'Tense, clever and so vividly written, I could really feel the deceit and betrayal sizzling under the hot Greek sun. I raced through it in one sitting' Ruth Mancini, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge
‘An unputdownable, unguessable, sun-drenched thriller’ Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said She Said
'Drenched in atmosphere and menace with a Greek setting to die for. Literally.' Tammy Cohen, The Wedding Party
‘Compelling, evocative and fiendishly smart, this unsettling literary thriller is a five-star triumph’ Isabelle Broom, author of The Orange House
‘I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved it!' Marika Cobbold, author of On Hampstead Heath
'A genius story of infatuation and twisted love, as brooding as a Greek heatwave' Jane Thynne, author of Midnight in Vienna
‘Dangerously addictive’ Esther Freud
'Gloriously dark and wildly engrossing' LISA JEWELL
'Sun-drenched and dripping with suspense, this is the perfect summer read’ LUCY CLARKE
----
Former journalist Matt Grimshaw's life is at a low ebb. He's been 'let go' by the paper where he's worked for years, and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend has come unstuck.
So when an invitation arrives from his two closest friends, Celia and Adam Murphy, to join them at their house in Greece, he jumps at it.
It may be harsh and unwelcoming on the Mani Peninsula but Matt determines to stay there for the whole summer and to write his much put-off screen-play.
But then the Murphys plus children arrive, and a wealthy newcomer to the area starts throwing loud and lavish parties in his big house across the bay.
As the nights become hotter and the parties wilder, everyone's motivations darken. Envy rises, resentments grow - until a terrible accident stops the summer in its tracks.
At least, it looks like an accident…
Set over one blazing Mediterranean summer, Sabine Durrant’s new thriller is tense, claustrophobic and utterly gripping.
-----
Praise for Dead Heat . . .
‘No one writes suspense like Sabine Durrant. Dead Heat is perfection’ Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Game of Lies
'Better than every season of The White Lotus spun into one, and drenched with danger, sex, and revenge. Sensational summer reading' Sarah Hilary, author of Black Thorn
‘A deliciously dark, modern Greek Gatsby’ Julia Crouch, author of The Surprise Party
'Tense, clever and so vividly written, I could really feel the deceit and betrayal sizzling under the hot Greek sun. I raced through it in one sitting' Ruth Mancini, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge
‘An unputdownable, unguessable, sun-drenched thriller’ Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said She Said
'Drenched in atmosphere and menace with a Greek setting to die for. Literally.' Tammy Cohen, The Wedding Party
‘Compelling, evocative and fiendishly smart, this unsettling literary thriller is a five-star triumph’ Isabelle Broom, author of The Orange House
‘I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved it!' Marika Cobbold, author of On Hampstead Heath
'A genius story of infatuation and twisted love, as brooding as a Greek heatwave' Jane Thynne, author of Midnight in Vienna
‘Dangerously addictive’ Esther Freud
352 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2026
About the author
Sabine Durrant
20 books628 followersSabine Durrant lives in London, England, with her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
August 13, 2025
The usual Sabine Durrant brilliant writing, I love her books.
The Court of First Instance, Sparta, February 2025
A trial with only one member of the old gang attending to watch proceedings, but where does it all begin?
The Mani Peninsula in Greece is a fairly remote area and a cottage retreat for Matt Grimshaw whose life has gone into freefall following a relationship breakup and job loss. The cottage belongs to good friends Celia and Adam Murphy and it’s in the grounds of the family holiday property of Villa Mimosa. Matt sets about writing a screenplay, something he has long put off. The Murphys duly arrive and to Adam‘s dismay, they discover that a billionaire has moved into the area with whom he has history. Reynash de Souza’s success incenses Adam and gives rise to envy amongst other things with his noisy, lavish parties being both an irritant and an irresistible draw. The scene is set, will it be a Greek tragedy?
The five stars says it all. I love Sabine Durrant’s books which have always appealed to me, being very well written with a vice like grip to the plots. This cleverly titled slow burner thriller is fabulously rich in atmosphere, something the author always does incredibly well. The searing heat, the building hot tension and suspense, at first uneasy and puzzling but which rapidly builds in intensity. There’s a terrific sense of place and time which adds to the dark, sultry and at times claustrophobic ambience. There are subtle and less subtle hints of the promise of a summer unravelling and the anticipation that at some point it’s all going to boil over, but to what?
The plot is extremely well thought out, there’s never dull moment as it’s a Russian doll style thriller with layers within layers and to add to it’s believability the author cleverly weaves fact with fiction adding gravitas to the plot. The characters around which it is woven are deeply flawed, not necessarily likeable, indeed, some are downright unlikeable but for me, that makes it much more intriguing and interesting.Some are entitled and rich, some are manipulative , devious, huge dishonest and way worse as their true colours are revealed. Around whose orbit is the web woven as some go head-to-head? The tone becomes increasingly ominous and there are premonitions of an impending Greek tragedy. Who is true and truthful? Only time will tell. As for the end, wow, what masterful, terrific twists.
Overall, in my opinion, this is a superb slow burner thriller with moments of high tension that keeps me engrossed from beginning to end. Highly recommended as are the author’s previous books.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
The Court of First Instance, Sparta, February 2025
A trial with only one member of the old gang attending to watch proceedings, but where does it all begin?
The Mani Peninsula in Greece is a fairly remote area and a cottage retreat for Matt Grimshaw whose life has gone into freefall following a relationship breakup and job loss. The cottage belongs to good friends Celia and Adam Murphy and it’s in the grounds of the family holiday property of Villa Mimosa. Matt sets about writing a screenplay, something he has long put off. The Murphys duly arrive and to Adam‘s dismay, they discover that a billionaire has moved into the area with whom he has history. Reynash de Souza’s success incenses Adam and gives rise to envy amongst other things with his noisy, lavish parties being both an irritant and an irresistible draw. The scene is set, will it be a Greek tragedy?
The five stars says it all. I love Sabine Durrant’s books which have always appealed to me, being very well written with a vice like grip to the plots. This cleverly titled slow burner thriller is fabulously rich in atmosphere, something the author always does incredibly well. The searing heat, the building hot tension and suspense, at first uneasy and puzzling but which rapidly builds in intensity. There’s a terrific sense of place and time which adds to the dark, sultry and at times claustrophobic ambience. There are subtle and less subtle hints of the promise of a summer unravelling and the anticipation that at some point it’s all going to boil over, but to what?
The plot is extremely well thought out, there’s never dull moment as it’s a Russian doll style thriller with layers within layers and to add to it’s believability the author cleverly weaves fact with fiction adding gravitas to the plot. The characters around which it is woven are deeply flawed, not necessarily likeable, indeed, some are downright unlikeable but for me, that makes it much more intriguing and interesting.Some are entitled and rich, some are manipulative , devious, huge dishonest and way worse as their true colours are revealed. Around whose orbit is the web woven as some go head-to-head? The tone becomes increasingly ominous and there are premonitions of an impending Greek tragedy. Who is true and truthful? Only time will tell. As for the end, wow, what masterful, terrific twists.
Overall, in my opinion, this is a superb slow burner thriller with moments of high tension that keeps me engrossed from beginning to end. Highly recommended as are the author’s previous books.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
March 14, 2026
This book was a struggle for me right from the start. I have enjoyed this authors previous work but this was a disappointment.
I think there were a few big things that stopped me enjoying this one.
First off, I really disliked our main character Matt, I found him to be very unlikable and irritating. And the fact that we see the story through his eyes only, really ruined it for me.
I also thought before starting this that it was going to be more of a literary thriller, when I found it to be more like literary fiction.
I thought the plot was unbearably dull and so boring that I really had to force myself to finish the book.
Because of these reasons, by halfway through, I had lost all interest in the story and the characters. I was so bored.
The characters all felt very surface level to me and I just couldn't connect to the writing or the story throughout.
Thanks to Random House for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
I think there were a few big things that stopped me enjoying this one.
First off, I really disliked our main character Matt, I found him to be very unlikable and irritating. And the fact that we see the story through his eyes only, really ruined it for me.
I also thought before starting this that it was going to be more of a literary thriller, when I found it to be more like literary fiction.
I thought the plot was unbearably dull and so boring that I really had to force myself to finish the book.
Because of these reasons, by halfway through, I had lost all interest in the story and the characters. I was so bored.
The characters all felt very surface level to me and I just couldn't connect to the writing or the story throughout.
Thanks to Random House for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
Did Not Finish
April 20, 2026Again too slow to develop. Not much is happening and you really have to clutch some straws to vibe with the book. 44 pages in and the lack of anything happening other than Matt going about his adventures in Greece? We just see his routine, accidental incident with a sea urchin but I’m struggling with this book. Not for me. Too slow, too bland nothing really is happening. Not really vibing with the characters and personality of Matt/Celia and Adam. Lost interest already, no intention of picking this up. Other than 3 pages of a tense sentencing, the next scene completely drops off
If you have a lot of patience then I guess you can stomach the book. But this was straight up bland.
If you have a lot of patience then I guess you can stomach the book. But this was straight up bland.
August 3, 2026
I don’t even know where to start
1. Needed another couple of rounds of edits because “there was a women” was one of far too many
2. There was so many random sentences it genuinely felt like they’d been copy and pasted in from another book because they made no sense in any context
3. One character continuously saying that another character doing something HEINOUS is fine because the person he did it to is fine now and he had a rough childhood is horrifying because I fear that wasn’t satire
4. The ending…
1. Needed another couple of rounds of edits because “there was a women” was one of far too many
2. There was so many random sentences it genuinely felt like they’d been copy and pasted in from another book because they made no sense in any context
3. One character continuously saying that another character doing something HEINOUS is fine because the person he did it to is fine now and he had a rough childhood is horrifying because I fear that wasn’t satire
4. The ending…
July 1, 2026
Dead Heat is a slow burn of a read with characters you will love to hate . The slow pace totally suited this atmospherical read and it kept me wanting to carry on reading as I finished each chapter . The story revolves around Matt Grimshaw. A journalist who has recently lost his job and to make matters worse his relationship has also ended . To try and get his life back on track he needs some quality time to relax. So he goes to a Greece to stay in the holiday home of his friends Celia and Adam . What follows is a dark and atmospherical read with characters that you honestly don’t know who to trust . As mentioned it’s a slow burn but this 💯 suited this story .
April 5, 2026
Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone | Century, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review. I also listened to the audiobook for comparison.
Sabine Durrant’s Dead Heat is a masterclass in psychological suspense - a novel that begins as a glossy, sun-drenched social drama and quietly tightens into something far darker, sharper and more unsettling.
Set against the heat and beauty of the Mani Peninsula in Greece, the story initially feels like a study of privilege, relationships and curated lives. But beneath that polished surface lies something much colder: a world in which boundaries are blurred, truths are manipulated and bad behaviour is not only tolerated, but absorbed. From early on, there’s a creeping sense that something is off - and that instinct proves entirely correct.
What makes this novel so compelling is its structure. The opening courtroom framing immediately signals that something has gone wrong, shifting the reader’s focus from what happened to how and why. Durrant uses this brilliantly, layering in detail, misdirection and subtle foreshadowing. Seemingly minor elements - such as - later reveal themselves as carefully placed Chekhov’s guns, rewarding attentive readers.
The character work is exceptional. Adam is immediately repellent, but the real brilliance lies in how Durrant complicates everyone else. , initially composed and enigmatic, becomes increasingly unsettling as capacity for control and moral compromise is revealed. And constantly shaping the narrative and subtly influencing the reader’s perception.
Another aspect that stood out to me was just how flawed every single character is. Some are deeply unlikeable, and a few have virtually no redeeming qualities at all. It reminded me strongly of when I first started watching the TV series Ozark - for the first few episodes I genuinely considered giving up because I disliked everyone on screen. But I’m so glad I persevered, because it went on to become some of the best writing I’ve experienced. Dead Heat gave me that exact same feeling. It challenges you to stay with characters you may not like and ultimately rewards that patience with a far richer, more complex and compelling story.
One of the most striking aspects of Dead Heat is its thematic depth. This is a novel about performance versus reality, about how people construct identities and maintain appearances even in the face of disturbing truths. It explores complicity in all its forms - not just overt wrongdoing, but silence, inaction and the quiet enabling of others behaviour. By the end, it becomes clear that there are no innocent parties here. Everyone is implicated. Everyone is, in their own way, responsible.
The title itself is a stroke of genius. Initially, 'Dead Heat' seems to refer to the oppressive Greek setting or the physical reality of death. But in the final reveal, it takes on a far more meaningful interpretation:
The ending is particularly effective because of its layered ambiguity. While the mechanics of what happened become clearer, the emotional and relational aftermath remains deliberately unresolved. The final scenes between are tense, uneasy, and psychologically complex. Whether they are
Durrant also plays cleverly with narrative perspective. Matt’s retrospective account raises constant questions about reliability, framing and omission. Even in the final pages, there is a sense that we are being guided toward certain conclusions, rather than handed objective truth. This makes the reading experience feel active and engaging, encouraging interpretation rather than passive consumption.
There are also clear echoes of The Great Gatsby in the structure and dynamics: the observer narrator, the enigmatic woman, the outsider figure and the morally compromised social world. But where Gatsby is nostalgic and tragic, Dead Heat is colder and more forensic, concerned less with longing and more with accountability.
Ultimately, Dead Heat is a brilliantly constructed thriller that rewards close reading. It is unsettling, intelligent and deeply satisfying - not because it offers easy answers, but because it refuses to. Instead, it leaves you with a lingering question: not just what happened, but how easily people can justify, reshape and ultimately live with the truth.
A particularly intriguing layer emerges when comparing formats. In the audiobook version, a crucial phrase present in the printed text - explicitly detailing the mechanics of - is omitted. The removal of those five words shifts the ending from a more concrete resolution to a noticeably more ambiguous one, leaving listeners to infer the exact balance of responsibility between It’s a subtle but powerful adaptation choice, reinforcing the novel’s core concern with narrative control and the slipperiness of truth: even the form in which the story is told can alter what we believe actually happened.
I would happily read more of Sabine Durrant’s books after this - Dead Heat has firmly cemented her as an author I’ll be seeking out again.
A truly outstanding read.
#DeadHeatSabineDurrant #NetGalley
Sabine Durrant’s Dead Heat is a masterclass in psychological suspense - a novel that begins as a glossy, sun-drenched social drama and quietly tightens into something far darker, sharper and more unsettling.
Set against the heat and beauty of the Mani Peninsula in Greece, the story initially feels like a study of privilege, relationships and curated lives. But beneath that polished surface lies something much colder: a world in which boundaries are blurred, truths are manipulated and bad behaviour is not only tolerated, but absorbed. From early on, there’s a creeping sense that something is off - and that instinct proves entirely correct.
What makes this novel so compelling is its structure. The opening courtroom framing immediately signals that something has gone wrong, shifting the reader’s focus from what happened to how and why. Durrant uses this brilliantly, layering in detail, misdirection and subtle foreshadowing. Seemingly minor elements - such as - later reveal themselves as carefully placed Chekhov’s guns, rewarding attentive readers.
The character work is exceptional. Adam is immediately repellent, but the real brilliance lies in how Durrant complicates everyone else. , initially composed and enigmatic, becomes increasingly unsettling as capacity for control and moral compromise is revealed. And constantly shaping the narrative and subtly influencing the reader’s perception.
Another aspect that stood out to me was just how flawed every single character is. Some are deeply unlikeable, and a few have virtually no redeeming qualities at all. It reminded me strongly of when I first started watching the TV series Ozark - for the first few episodes I genuinely considered giving up because I disliked everyone on screen. But I’m so glad I persevered, because it went on to become some of the best writing I’ve experienced. Dead Heat gave me that exact same feeling. It challenges you to stay with characters you may not like and ultimately rewards that patience with a far richer, more complex and compelling story.
One of the most striking aspects of Dead Heat is its thematic depth. This is a novel about performance versus reality, about how people construct identities and maintain appearances even in the face of disturbing truths. It explores complicity in all its forms - not just overt wrongdoing, but silence, inaction and the quiet enabling of others behaviour. By the end, it becomes clear that there are no innocent parties here. Everyone is implicated. Everyone is, in their own way, responsible.
The title itself is a stroke of genius. Initially, 'Dead Heat' seems to refer to the oppressive Greek setting or the physical reality of death. But in the final reveal, it takes on a far more meaningful interpretation:
The ending is particularly effective because of its layered ambiguity. While the mechanics of what happened become clearer, the emotional and relational aftermath remains deliberately unresolved. The final scenes between are tense, uneasy, and psychologically complex. Whether they are
Durrant also plays cleverly with narrative perspective. Matt’s retrospective account raises constant questions about reliability, framing and omission. Even in the final pages, there is a sense that we are being guided toward certain conclusions, rather than handed objective truth. This makes the reading experience feel active and engaging, encouraging interpretation rather than passive consumption.
There are also clear echoes of The Great Gatsby in the structure and dynamics: the observer narrator, the enigmatic woman, the outsider figure and the morally compromised social world. But where Gatsby is nostalgic and tragic, Dead Heat is colder and more forensic, concerned less with longing and more with accountability.
Ultimately, Dead Heat is a brilliantly constructed thriller that rewards close reading. It is unsettling, intelligent and deeply satisfying - not because it offers easy answers, but because it refuses to. Instead, it leaves you with a lingering question: not just what happened, but how easily people can justify, reshape and ultimately live with the truth.
A particularly intriguing layer emerges when comparing formats. In the audiobook version, a crucial phrase present in the printed text - explicitly detailing the mechanics of - is omitted. The removal of those five words shifts the ending from a more concrete resolution to a noticeably more ambiguous one, leaving listeners to infer the exact balance of responsibility between It’s a subtle but powerful adaptation choice, reinforcing the novel’s core concern with narrative control and the slipperiness of truth: even the form in which the story is told can alter what we believe actually happened.
I would happily read more of Sabine Durrant’s books after this - Dead Heat has firmly cemented her as an author I’ll be seeking out again.
A truly outstanding read.
#DeadHeatSabineDurrant #NetGalley
September 18, 2026
Read this as our book club book for our trip to Greece and it was… underwhelming? I liked that the setting was Greek and all of the references to Greek things but the actual story was very dull and drawn out. Not much happens until 80% of the way through and then it’s fairly predictable.
September 1, 2026
It took me so long to read this book… even though I haven’t had a lot of time to read I just struggled to get into it.
I still don’t really know what happened and who killed Adam. I don’t think the writing was the clearest and at points I was confused. Even the ending left me with questions and not in a good way.
I thought the descriptive elements of the book were good and the location of Greece was fun but I didn’t really engage with any of the characters that much and they all got on my nerves at points. Adam was giving gross man, Matt also was just irritating and obsessive and Celia annoying.
I still don’t really know what happened and who killed Adam. I don’t think the writing was the clearest and at points I was confused. Even the ending left me with questions and not in a good way.
I thought the descriptive elements of the book were good and the location of Greece was fun but I didn’t really engage with any of the characters that much and they all got on my nerves at points. Adam was giving gross man, Matt also was just irritating and obsessive and Celia annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 26, 2026This was too much of a slow burn for me. For about 85% of this book, I was waiting for a big twist or an increase in pace but it never came.
Please know this is not a bad book. It's fine. But I prefer fast-paced thrillers. If a book is going to be a slow-burn thriller, then I am expecting the "big reveal" or "big twist" at the end to take my breath away, or the feeling of dread leading into the story's climax to be intense. For me, the ending and "big twist" in this story fell flat for me and the tension never got there.
The story is set in Greece, which I loved. I have been to Greece and the rich imagery transported me back to the sights, sounds and smells of Greece.
One of the characters in this book is one of my top 10 most hated book characters. He was diabolical and terrible. I respect authors who insert terrible, toxic or diabolical characters into their stories. Even though I'm left seething mad because of their toxicity, arrogance or shallowness, I appreciate the skill in making me feel this way about a fictional person. I do wonder sometimes whether diabolical characters are based on real-life people from an author's life. I hope I never meet an "Adam Murphy" in my life.
3 Greek sailing boats out of 5 ⛵⛵⛵
Please know this is not a bad book. It's fine. But I prefer fast-paced thrillers. If a book is going to be a slow-burn thriller, then I am expecting the "big reveal" or "big twist" at the end to take my breath away, or the feeling of dread leading into the story's climax to be intense. For me, the ending and "big twist" in this story fell flat for me and the tension never got there.
The story is set in Greece, which I loved. I have been to Greece and the rich imagery transported me back to the sights, sounds and smells of Greece.
One of the characters in this book is one of my top 10 most hated book characters. He was diabolical and terrible. I respect authors who insert terrible, toxic or diabolical characters into their stories. Even though I'm left seething mad because of their toxicity, arrogance or shallowness, I appreciate the skill in making me feel this way about a fictional person. I do wonder sometimes whether diabolical characters are based on real-life people from an author's life. I hope I never meet an "Adam Murphy" in my life.
3 Greek sailing boats out of 5 ⛵⛵⛵
August 4, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Located on the Mani Peninsula, Greece and set over one long, hot summer, Matt Grimshaw’s life isn’t going well, he’s lost his job and his girlfriend, so when his two close friends, Celia and Adam Murphy invite him to spend the summer with them at their villa in Greece he doesn’t really have anything to lose. He may even get to write the screenplay which he’s been putting off.
When the wealthy newcomer who bought the villa next door and who throws lavish and loud parties turns out to be somebody with whom Adam has a complicated history with, the idyllic summer that they had planned starts to unravel.
This is a slow burn thriller, and is a story told solely from Matt’s perspective as he recounts his story of what happened over the summer. There is underlying tension throughout, and the unease builds gradually, as the scene is set. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, they are deeply flawed, rich and entitled, but this only adds to the already tense atmosphere. The setting was also a big part of the story, and the author did an excellent job of transporting me to Greece, I would however like my holiday to be much more relaxed!
I really love Sabine Durrant’s books and this one just confirms why. It’s a very well thought out and cleverly plotted thriller. I loved it!
Located on the Mani Peninsula, Greece and set over one long, hot summer, Matt Grimshaw’s life isn’t going well, he’s lost his job and his girlfriend, so when his two close friends, Celia and Adam Murphy invite him to spend the summer with them at their villa in Greece he doesn’t really have anything to lose. He may even get to write the screenplay which he’s been putting off.
When the wealthy newcomer who bought the villa next door and who throws lavish and loud parties turns out to be somebody with whom Adam has a complicated history with, the idyllic summer that they had planned starts to unravel.
This is a slow burn thriller, and is a story told solely from Matt’s perspective as he recounts his story of what happened over the summer. There is underlying tension throughout, and the unease builds gradually, as the scene is set. The characters aren’t particularly likeable, they are deeply flawed, rich and entitled, but this only adds to the already tense atmosphere. The setting was also a big part of the story, and the author did an excellent job of transporting me to Greece, I would however like my holiday to be much more relaxed!
I really love Sabine Durrant’s books and this one just confirms why. It’s a very well thought out and cleverly plotted thriller. I loved it!
January 28, 2026
Light murder mystery story in Greece. A well written slow burner
September 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
A fun and easy read, ideal for a holiday, but it actually felt like nothing happened for most of the book. Also the characters are not very likeable, including the narrator.
A fun and easy read, ideal for a holiday, but it actually felt like nothing happened for most of the book. Also the characters are not very likeable, including the narrator.
September 18, 2026
Took ages to get going and then was a bit weird tbh
September 10, 2026
They’re calling it the most misogynistic book ever written by a woman!
Main character lacks any sense of character or personality, is supremely passive and yet unflinchingly evil as he consistently dismisses the awful behaviour of his best friend - who is a serial cheater, racist, harasser and rapist (but he makes the main character laugh! so it’s easy to forgive him!)
Main female character is bland and weirdly infantilised the whole time with literally no personality outside of being fucked by men and being lusted after while simultaneously having zero agency. Additionally I know more about the breasts of main character’s ex-wife than her personality. The ambitions of the couple’s son are laid out in the two paragraphs he appears for but their daughter is only ever talked about in reference to all the boys she’s going to party with and is then weirdly slut-shamed by her own father.
Despite what the blurb promises, no mystery or “accident” occurs until TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX pages into the book at which point ever fuck I ever gave is completely vanished.
Bland, boring, offensive, and so incredibly disappointing. One star is too generous.
Main character lacks any sense of character or personality, is supremely passive and yet unflinchingly evil as he consistently dismisses the awful behaviour of his best friend - who is a serial cheater, racist, harasser and rapist (but he makes the main character laugh! so it’s easy to forgive him!)
Main female character is bland and weirdly infantilised the whole time with literally no personality outside of being fucked by men and being lusted after while simultaneously having zero agency. Additionally I know more about the breasts of main character’s ex-wife than her personality. The ambitions of the couple’s son are laid out in the two paragraphs he appears for but their daughter is only ever talked about in reference to all the boys she’s going to party with and is then weirdly slut-shamed by her own father.
Despite what the blurb promises, no mystery or “accident” occurs until TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX pages into the book at which point ever fuck I ever gave is completely vanished.
Bland, boring, offensive, and so incredibly disappointing. One star is too generous.
September 7, 2026
A summer cocktail of irredeemable characters and an unlovable sleuth. Mixed with a dash of Gatsby. Leaves a tart, tawdry taste.
June 27, 2026
Matt Grimshaw is the narrator of this summer thriller, his life has imploded and so is happy to accept an invite from friends. His plan is to write a screenplay but he finds himself the centre of a twisted plot by a wealthy neighbour. This Gatsbyesque thriller is a perfect holiday read.
August 6, 2025
I have read lots of Sabine Durrant’s books and have loved them all, so I was very excited to get an ARC copy of Dead Heat which is being published by Century in March 2026.
I don’t think this author gets the credit or recognition she deserves as a superior author of psychological thrillers and if you haven’t heard of her before, I can highly recommend Lie With Me, Finders Keepers, Under Your Skin and Take Me In whilst you wait for the publication day of Dead Heat.
Dead Heat is being praised by critics and early readers as The White Lotus meets The Great Gatsby. Set against the blistering backdrop of the Mani Peninsula in Greece. The story follows Matt Grimshaw, a former journalist whose life is slowing falling apart. Seeking solace and inspiration, he accepts an invitation to stay with friends in their remote Greek home. But what begins as a retreat quickly spirals into a tense, claustrophobic summer of envy, secrets, and betrayal and death.
This is a highly atmospheric psychological thriller with Durrant’s brilliantly complex and flawed characters jumping out of the pages and getting right under your skin.
From lavish parties, secret affairs, relationships at breaking point and a mysterious death to unravel, the reader is taken on a scorching journey of infatuation and resentment.
I absolutely LOVED this book and highly recommend it to any fan of tense, character-driven suspense. Also, I often recommend books to Lisa Jewell as we seem to love the same books, so when I sent her a Whatsapp telling her she must read it, I really should have looked at the cover first as there is a wonderful quote from Lisa calling it “gloriously dark and wildly engrossing” so if my review isn’t enough for you, take Lisa’s word for it.
I don’t think this author gets the credit or recognition she deserves as a superior author of psychological thrillers and if you haven’t heard of her before, I can highly recommend Lie With Me, Finders Keepers, Under Your Skin and Take Me In whilst you wait for the publication day of Dead Heat.
Dead Heat is being praised by critics and early readers as The White Lotus meets The Great Gatsby. Set against the blistering backdrop of the Mani Peninsula in Greece. The story follows Matt Grimshaw, a former journalist whose life is slowing falling apart. Seeking solace and inspiration, he accepts an invitation to stay with friends in their remote Greek home. But what begins as a retreat quickly spirals into a tense, claustrophobic summer of envy, secrets, and betrayal and death.
This is a highly atmospheric psychological thriller with Durrant’s brilliantly complex and flawed characters jumping out of the pages and getting right under your skin.
From lavish parties, secret affairs, relationships at breaking point and a mysterious death to unravel, the reader is taken on a scorching journey of infatuation and resentment.
I absolutely LOVED this book and highly recommend it to any fan of tense, character-driven suspense. Also, I often recommend books to Lisa Jewell as we seem to love the same books, so when I sent her a Whatsapp telling her she must read it, I really should have looked at the cover first as there is a wonderful quote from Lisa calling it “gloriously dark and wildly engrossing” so if my review isn’t enough for you, take Lisa’s word for it.
October 4, 2025
I went into this book not knowing very much about the author or their style of writing. I have not been left disappointed.
I really felt like I was in the life of Matt Grimshawe and found myself heavily invested in the way things he was seeing and his perspective. I actually enjoyed seeing his true colours come out for the further into the story you got.
Sabine Durrant has a brilliant descriptive writing style and sets the scene spectacularly. You develop a love-hate relationship with each individual character which is a very clever skill. Sabine is able to show that every person has a flaw, and how well this can be hidden. From being entitled, to dishonest, but also show a side that softens you at the same time.
Initially, it was a slow burner, but it always left you wanting to read more, and I was hooked from the beginning.
I would recommend this book and will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you, Netgalley and Random House UK, for the ARC
I really felt like I was in the life of Matt Grimshawe and found myself heavily invested in the way things he was seeing and his perspective. I actually enjoyed seeing his true colours come out for the further into the story you got.
Sabine Durrant has a brilliant descriptive writing style and sets the scene spectacularly. You develop a love-hate relationship with each individual character which is a very clever skill. Sabine is able to show that every person has a flaw, and how well this can be hidden. From being entitled, to dishonest, but also show a side that softens you at the same time.
Initially, it was a slow burner, but it always left you wanting to read more, and I was hooked from the beginning.
I would recommend this book and will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
Thank you, Netgalley and Random House UK, for the ARC
July 30, 2026
Matt’s on a bit of a downward spiral. Unemployed, fresh out of a relationship, there’s nothing on the horizon to look forward to. So when he gets an invitation from his best friend Adam, and his wife Celia, to join them at their Greek holiday home for the summer, well there’s no hesitation. This will be the perfect opportunity to lick his wounds and perhaps write that screenplay he’s been thinking about for years.
But when he gets to the Mani Peninsula, something feels a little wrong. The house across the bay has a new owner, who seems hell bent on throwing lavish, noisy parties which seem both alluring and irritating in equal measure. The summer of solace that Matt had originally envisaged, quickly turns into a full on season of jealousy, suspicion, secrets and lies…
I think Sabine Durrant is an outstanding author and I’m surprised that she’s not more well known, because definitely should be. She writes books with a dark edge that I find hugely compelling. Matt isn’t a particularly likable character, in fact no one in this book really is. But that doesn’t matter at all, in fact it enhances the sinister undercurrent of danger and intrigue which is continually beneath the surface here. It’s a stylish and clever read, where it becomes increasingly difficult to know who to believe. Is Matt an unreliable narrator or does he genuinely mean well? Well you’ll have to read this one to find out. (Trust me, you won’t be disappointed).
An idyllic sunny setting contrasts perfectly with the simmering sense of tension and menace. Every page is a delight, this is one Greek odyssey you really don’t want to miss.
Another one for the suitcase, readers! 🧳 ✈️🌞
But when he gets to the Mani Peninsula, something feels a little wrong. The house across the bay has a new owner, who seems hell bent on throwing lavish, noisy parties which seem both alluring and irritating in equal measure. The summer of solace that Matt had originally envisaged, quickly turns into a full on season of jealousy, suspicion, secrets and lies…
I think Sabine Durrant is an outstanding author and I’m surprised that she’s not more well known, because definitely should be. She writes books with a dark edge that I find hugely compelling. Matt isn’t a particularly likable character, in fact no one in this book really is. But that doesn’t matter at all, in fact it enhances the sinister undercurrent of danger and intrigue which is continually beneath the surface here. It’s a stylish and clever read, where it becomes increasingly difficult to know who to believe. Is Matt an unreliable narrator or does he genuinely mean well? Well you’ll have to read this one to find out. (Trust me, you won’t be disappointed).
An idyllic sunny setting contrasts perfectly with the simmering sense of tension and menace. Every page is a delight, this is one Greek odyssey you really don’t want to miss.
Another one for the suitcase, readers! 🧳 ✈️🌞
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Slow Burn of Dead Heat! Sabine Durrant never fails to paint a picture that draws the reader in from the start. In 'Dead Heat' Matt retreats to a cottage on the grounds of his friends’ Greek home, intending to write and recover after losing his job and partner. However, the sudden presence of wealthy Rey from his host Adam's past, a man once bullied by him, shatters the peace.
Durrant expertly transports us to the Mediterranean, where the shimmering heat mirrors the rising friction.
She brilliantly illustrates the dark corners of the human psyche envy, lust, and betrayal.
A true talent of hers is how the characters become increasingly complicated and unlikable as the story progresses; it is this deepening moral complexity that kept me turning the pages faster than a hamster in a wheel.
Against this beautiful backdrop, the story races to a stunning conclusion I could never have predicted.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
Durrant expertly transports us to the Mediterranean, where the shimmering heat mirrors the rising friction.
She brilliantly illustrates the dark corners of the human psyche envy, lust, and betrayal.
A true talent of hers is how the characters become increasingly complicated and unlikable as the story progresses; it is this deepening moral complexity that kept me turning the pages faster than a hamster in a wheel.
Against this beautiful backdrop, the story races to a stunning conclusion I could never have predicted.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK Cornerstone for the ARC. This is my own opinion.
July 19, 2026
I’ve been a fan of Sabine Durrant’s writing since reading LIE WITH ME many years ago – I particularly like the way she creates dysfunctional characters you will love to hate and intricate plots that never fail to take me by surprise. Again, we return to the atmospheric setting of the Greek Isles, which made for the perfect backdrop to a holiday gone wrong. As the characters entangle themselves in their web of lies, I was certain that this could not end well. Admittedly, I wasn’t overly fond of the main character, Matt, who irritated me intermittently with poor decision making and a strange co-dependent relationship with his friend Adam. However, I was intrigued to find out what would happen and loved the unexpected outcome of this sinister tale.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
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March 14, 2026Washed-up journalist Matt accepts an offer from old friends Adam and Celia Murphy to spend the summer at their villa in Greece.. But it's not the opportunity for rest and recuperation that Matt anticipates. First, the Murphies arrive with their children, then the whole group is distracted by a noisy billionaire neighbour with whom they discover they have shocking and unexpected history.
Another sultry and evocative thriller from Sabine Durrant. Ideal for fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Another sultry and evocative thriller from Sabine Durrant. Ideal for fans of the genre.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
September 21, 2025
Sabine Durrant has done it again with Dead Heat, a scorching psychological thriller set against the unforgiving sun and shadowy secrets of the Greek Mani peninsula. What starts as a seemingly idyllic summer getaway quickly spirals into something far more unsettling, as resentments simmer and truths start to slip through the cracks.
The narrator, Matt Grimshaw, is a former journalist hoping to reset his life by retreating to a remote villa with old friends. But instead of peace, he finds himself entangled in a web of envy, obsession and deceit, magnified by the sweltering heat and the eerie sense that something isn’t quite right. When tragedy strikes, you’re left wondering if it really was an accident.
Durrant is a master of slow burn suspense and Dead Heat delivers that creeping dread she’s known for. The Greek setting isn’t just beautiful, it’s suffocating in the best way, mirroring the emotional intensity of the story. If you enjoyed the unease of Lie with Me or the intrigue of Sun Damage you’ll be right at home here. This is the kind of book you stay up all night reading because you have to know how it ends. Atmospheric, claustrophobic and utterly addictive. Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
The narrator, Matt Grimshaw, is a former journalist hoping to reset his life by retreating to a remote villa with old friends. But instead of peace, he finds himself entangled in a web of envy, obsession and deceit, magnified by the sweltering heat and the eerie sense that something isn’t quite right. When tragedy strikes, you’re left wondering if it really was an accident.
Durrant is a master of slow burn suspense and Dead Heat delivers that creeping dread she’s known for. The Greek setting isn’t just beautiful, it’s suffocating in the best way, mirroring the emotional intensity of the story. If you enjoyed the unease of Lie with Me or the intrigue of Sun Damage you’ll be right at home here. This is the kind of book you stay up all night reading because you have to know how it ends. Atmospheric, claustrophobic and utterly addictive. Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
April 12, 2026
My first read from this author. I found this one quite descriptive going in and it took me a minute to get to terms with the writing style. I enjoyed the destination vibes this book gave off and I will be trying more of this authors books in the near future.
August 6, 2026
Sabine Durrant's latest 'outsider on holiday with the rich' thriller follows the usual enjoyable trope - who will be killed as much as who did it.
This time it felt a little more forced and the Ripleyesque protagonist was just a little too humourless and dull and the story fizzled out at the end.
This time it felt a little more forced and the Ripleyesque protagonist was just a little too humourless and dull and the story fizzled out at the end.
September 7, 2026
I did enjoy this as an easy holiday type read. But as others have picked up, definitely needs another once over editing. I picked up at least 4 missing words in very basic sentences. And some odd sentences that seemed incomplete.
I sometimes enjoy these types of holiday novels from a male perspective but whilst enjoyable overall it sort of fails to deliver anything gripping.
I sometimes enjoy these types of holiday novels from a male perspective but whilst enjoyable overall it sort of fails to deliver anything gripping.
September 8, 2026
A solid thriller that is a bit different than your standard murder mystery. The characters are all unlikeable but interesting. The ending is also mostly satisfying.
It won’t live long in the memory but it’s an enjoyable enough read.
It won’t live long in the memory but it’s an enjoyable enough read.
April 24, 2026
Utterly disappointed. Lie with me is my favourite thriller ever. This story with Greece and its vibe is such a let down. Matt is pathetic, Celia dry . And the only interesting character Adam made into a pantomime villan. So judgemental and obvious.
July 23, 2026
Lol. Ok
August 22, 2026
Decent read for hot summer days.
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