Lost in the Fire

by Robin Mahle

A woman stops me in the street. She’s young, pregnant, and she looks at me like she knows me.

“I’m Sophie,” she says. “We used to be best friends.”

“Please don’t marry him,” she whispers. “You don’t know who he really is . . . “

I’ve rebuilt my life from the ashes.

I lost my husband and child in a devastating house fire. I woke up in hospital with no memory that they ever existed.

And now I might be about to marry a man who might have killed them.

AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF BREATHTAKING SUSPENSE AND NAIL-BITING TENSION WITH A SHOCKING FINAL TWIST.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Alice Feeney, Shari Lapena, K.L. Slater and T.M. Logan.

314 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

From thrillers and suspense to sweeping historical fiction, Robin Mahle's novels feature unforgettable characters.

Reviews

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new to me author and I am excited to read more from their backlist. I really enjoyed how fast paced this book was and how quickly we fell into the plot.

[Riette Beling · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrifying story!

So I think possibly the worst way to die for any person is in a fire. If it's not the smoke inhalation that gets you, it's the fact that you are being burned to death. I can't even begin to imagine that pain. But @authorrobinmahle takes it a step further and poor Avery has retrograde amnesia on top of it!

Can I just say that this book had me on the edge of my seat, every new clue or revelation had my heart jump at a million miles an hour! I loved this pace, it was almost like a fire burning , trying to reach you....very cleverly done!

The twists was jaw-dropping and even a bit sickening at some stages, it never let up though, from the first page till the last I was gripped in terror, anticipating the worse!

Fantastic read, I would highly recommend!

[Ney oh the thrill of it FN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew what a ride! Twisty doesn't cut it! It just felt like there were so many cogs constantly turning with interconnecting parts I kept thinking I was working it out and another part would shift into place. Some parts were a bit obvious but others I felt just as shocked as Avery, the main character, as they came out! 

Avery tragically loses her family in a fire that she survives. She wakes up and has no recollection of the life and family she has lost. You feel for Avery but she lurches from one bad decision to another.

My favourite character was definitely Jordan Campos, a fire department inspector. I've never seen a fire man so actively involved in an investigation...but I don't think Ihated it. He was like a dog with a bone, he wouldn't give up and followed his instincts.

This story was really suspenseful. It kept you guessing and made you continously question what you knew to be true. At one point I was questioning if it was me or Avery who had the ammnesia! 

The ending was good, especially when all was revealed, although I may just have 1 or 2 questions to fully feel like all is resolved.


This is great for those who like the amnesia trope, and a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller with characters you can love to hate.

Thank you to Robin Mahle and Joffe books  for this advanced complimentary copy via Netgalley. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOST IN THE FIRE BY ROBIN MAHLE
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Well I thought I had this book sussed from the start but by gum was I wrong 🤣 a really brilliant psychological thriller ☺

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.5🌟

I want to say that I liked the premise of the book. The story follows our FMC who was involved in a tragic fire and happens to lose her family and her memories. She tries to build her life after the tragedy and gets involves with a guy. Her friend whom she doesn't remember meets with her to warn her off the guy and that's when she starts seeking answers.

It was all so interesting to follow along except for the part where it dragged. Everything was so slow, the fire investigator who kept questioning the nature of the fire, Avery who kept being suspicious of Cole and the whole business with her memory, the mysterious figure who kept following them both, which by the way is revealed towards the end. It was honestly so frustrating. It felt like the whole mystery was being forced on me. Because if Sophie went to meet with Avery to warn her off, why not just let her spill her guts.? She didn't remember anything anyway. I just didn't see the point of it all. Even when the revelations were finally done I wasn't that much shocked, it was just so disappointing. Not to say that the book is bad, but it would have been better not to have dragged it and rush it towards the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to ZooLoo's Book Tours, Robin Mahle, and Joffe Books for the gifted digital copy to read and review.

Lost in the Fire kept me on my toes until the very end! It opened with a gut wrenching bang and didn't let up. The twists had twists. Each time I thought I had it all figured out, I was proven incorrect. This is a nicely plotted thriller. And I love that we get the perspective of the fire inspector throughout in addition to Avery's perspective. Thriller fans will want to check this one out!

[Faye Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Fire by Robin Mahle
🌟🌟🌟💫
I really enjoyed the storyline and the character Campos. He wouldn't let it lie
He knew the fire wasn't Accidental and he was determined to get justice for Avery
Cole - just happened to be in the right place at the right time!
At times i thought Averys memory loss was a blessing, not knowing her life before. But she was the key to the whole storyline
An enjoyable thriller

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting

I found this premise very engaging. I was immediately pulled into the story and wanted to know what was really going on. I did guess the perpetrator. The story seemed to really speed up and it made the ending feel rushed for me.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Deadly Warning from Avery Shaw's Forgotten Past

"Robin Mahle delivers pure psychological tension. By perfectly weaponizing the unreliable narrator trope, LOST IN THE FIRE hooks you from the first warning and refuses to let go until the final ashes settle."

The Hook
Imagine waking up with no memory of the horrific house fire that destroyed your life, only to realize that the ashes are still warm—and a pregnant stranger named Sophie approaches you on the street, whispering a terrifying warning about Cole, the man you are about to marry.

Elevator Pitch
In Robin Mahle's chilling psychological thriller Lost in the Fire, Avery Shaw wakes up in a hospital with absolute amnesia regarding the devastating blaze that claimed her husband, Michael, and her young son, Elias. As Avery tries to rebuild her life from the ashes and pieces together a fragile new existence, she prepares to walk down the aisle with her new fiancé, Cole. However, when her former best friend, Sophie, suddenly reemerges with a cryptic warning, Avery is forced to confront a horrifying possibility: her memory loss is the only thing protecting her. How is Cole connected?

Setting
~The Present: A suffocatingly tense suburban town where Avery's fragile new life with Cole is meticulously constructed on a foundation of forgotten trauma.
~The Past: The charred, skeletal remains of the Shaw family home that holds the deadly secrets Avery's mind has blocked out.

Vibe
Claustrophobic, paranoid, and intensely fast-paced. It delivers the exact sinking feeling of realizing you are trapped in a room with a predator, but the door is locked from the inside.

Genre
Psychological Thriller / Domestic Suspense.

Themes
~The Fragility of Identity: The disorientation Avery faces while rebuilding a life when her foundational memories have been entirely erased.
~The Illusion of Marital Safety: The terrifying realization that Cole, the person sharing her bed, might be her worst enemy, forcing a devastating re-evaluation of both her past with Michael and her future.
~Betrayal and Gaslighting: How easily an unreliable, amnesiac mind can be manipulated by those claiming to protect it.

Standout Characters
~Avery Shaw: Vulnerable, amnesiac, and desperately trying to look forward; her journey becomes a breathless race to uncover her own past before her upcoming wedding.
~Cole: Avery's chillingly charismatic fiancé, keeping both Avery and the reader constantly questioning his true motives.
~Michael & Elias: Though lost to the flames, the ghost of Avery's past marriage to Michael and her maternal grief for Elias heavily haunt every page, serving as the emotional core of the mystery.
~Sophie: The catalyst of the narrative; a pregnant former best friend whose sudden, shocking reappearance shatters Avery’s fragile peace.

Author Writing Standout
Mahle excels at maintaining narrative tension through sharp, claustrophobic pacing and brilliant structural misdirection. By keeping the reader entirely aligned with Avery’s selective amnesia, Mahle ensures that every clue regarding Michael, Elias, Cole, and the fire feels like a sudden jolt of electricity, masterfully maximizing the domestic paranoia.

Takeaway
The past never truly burns away; the secrets we try hardest to bury are often the ones that leave the deepest scars.

Title Significance
"Lost in the Fire" carries a sharp, dual meaning. Literally, it refers to the tragic blaze that took Avery's family—Michael and Elias—and her memories. Metaphorically, it represents how her true identity, discernment, and sense of safety were entirely consumed by the trauma, leaving her vulnerable to Cole's dangerous deception.

Metaphor
A pristine, freshly painted house built directly over a smoldering sinkhole—beautiful and serene on the surface, but destined to collapse into the flames below at any moment.

Why You Should Read
This belongs on your radar if you love fast-burning domestic suspense that relies on psychological dread rather than just cheap shock value. It is a perfect match for readers who enjoy unraveling twisted relationship dynamics and fighting through the fog of an unreliable memory.

My Thoughts
The Terrifying Space Between Forgetting and Cole's Secrets.

"A masterclass in domestic paranoia. Mahle weaves a claustrophobic, heart-pounding web of deception where memory loss is a survival mechanism—and the truth is absolutely devastating."

As a long-time thriller reader and huge fan of the author (standalones and detective/cop procedurals), Mahle delivers a masterclass in domestic suspense with LOST IN THE FIRE. The confrontation between Avery and Sophie sets off an absolute avalanche of paranoia regarding how Cole is involved, keeping you guessing as the tension is dialed up until the final pages. Handling the amnesia trope can be tricky, but Mahle keeps the stakes intensely grounded and emotional, making the final twist land with spectacular, devastating force.

Verdict 5/5 Stars
"Brilliant pacing, visceral dread, and a twist that lands like a jolt of electricity. Lost in the Fire is an addictive, unputdownable psychological thriller that kept me guessing until the very last page."

With its relentless pacing, tightly woven tension, and phenomenal execution of marital dread, this is a must-read for seasoned thriller fans. For those who appreciate a plot that respects the reader's intelligence, delivering a flawless balance of emotional stakes and genuine, earned jaw-dropping twists that will keep up way past their bedtimes.

Recs or Read Alikes
~The Housemaid by Freida McFadden: For readers who love razor-sharp pacing, intense domestic deception, and explosive twists that subvert your expectations.
~The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager: If you enjoy a deeply unreliable narrator parsing through the psychological aftermath of an old trauma where memory and truth clash.
~Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney: Perfect for fans who crave a chilling, isolated atmosphere where marriage secrets are weaponized and nobody is who they seem.

Special thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: July 21, 2026
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[Mona Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Lost in the Fire before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Lost in the Fire is a tense and fast-paced psychological thriller centred on memory loss, grief and the terrifying possibility that the person you trust most may be hiding the truth from you. The main character has rebuilt her life after surviving a devastating house fire in which she was told that her husband and child died. She woke in hospital with no memory of them or of the life she had before the fire, leaving her dependent on other people to explain her own past to her.

Her life finally appears to be moving forward, and she is preparing to marry again. However, everything changes when a pregnant woman named Sophie approaches her in the street and claims that they were once best friends. Sophie gives her a disturbing warning: she must not marry the man she is with because she does not know who he really is. Even more frighteningly, Sophie suggests that her fiancé may have been responsible for the fire that destroyed her former life.

This was an immediately intriguing premise. The narrator’s memory loss creates an unsettling sense of vulnerability because she cannot rely on her own recollection to confirm whether anyone around her is telling the truth. Every fact she knows about her past has been provided by someone else, and she has no way of knowing whether important details have been concealed or deliberately altered. That uncertainty creates tension from the beginning and makes even ordinary conversations feel potentially threatening.

I particularly enjoyed the way the book explores the fear of not being able to trust your own mind. The narrator is not simply investigating a crime; she is attempting to recover an entire identity. She has to question whether the life she has built since the fire is genuine or whether it has been carefully constructed for her by someone with an ulterior motive. As fragments of information emerge, the reader is encouraged to reconsider earlier assumptions and question which characters can be trusted.
The relationship between the narrator and Sophie adds another compelling layer to the mystery. Sophie insists that they were once extremely close, yet the narrator has no memory of her at all. This places Sophie in a strange position: she may be the only person prepared to tell the truth, but she could also be manipulating a vulnerable woman for reasons of her own. Her sudden appearance raises as many questions as it answers, particularly because her warning is so serious and because she seems to know details that others have never shared.

The fiancé is also written in a way that creates constant doubt. At times, his concern and protectiveness appear completely genuine. At other moments, his behaviour feels controlling or evasive. The narrator’s dependence on him makes the situation even more uncomfortable because confronting him could place her in danger, but continuing with the wedding could mean committing herself to a man who played a part in the deaths of her family.

Robin Mahle maintains a strong atmosphere of suspicion throughout the novel. Nearly every character appears to be withholding something, and the truth about the fire is revealed gradually rather than through one large explanation. The story repeatedly raises the possibility that the narrator’s understanding of her past is incomplete, forcing her to examine not only the people in her present life but also the person she may have been before she lost her memory.

The pacing is quick, with short chapters and frequent revelations that make the book very easy to continue reading. New pieces of information are introduced at regular intervals, and most of them complicate the mystery rather than immediately resolving it. Just when one explanation begins to seem convincing, another detail emerges that points the story in a different direction.

The book also deals with grief in an unusual way. The narrator has been told that she lost her husband and child, but she cannot remember loving them or mourning them. She carries the knowledge of an enormous personal tragedy without having access to the memories that would allow her to fully understand it. This creates a painful emotional conflict, particularly when she begins questioning whether everything she has been told about their deaths is true.

Although the central premise requires some suspension of disbelief, the story moves quickly enough that I remained invested in discovering what had really happened. Some of the characters’ decisions are frustrating, and there were moments when I wanted the narrator to be more cautious or ask more direct questions. However, her confusion and vulnerability are also essential to the story, as she has spent years being taught to distrust her own instincts.

The novel contains several twists, and the later chapters become increasingly dramatic as the truth about the fire begins to emerge. I correctly suspected parts of the mystery, but there were still revelations that changed my understanding of the characters and their motivations. The final section is particularly tense and brings the themes of memory, identity and betrayal together effectively.

Overall, Lost in the Fire is an entertaining and suspenseful psychological thriller with a strong central premise. The combination of amnesia, a mysterious former friend, a suspicious fiancé and a fatal house fire creates an absorbing mystery filled with uncertainty and deception. It is the kind of book that keeps the reader questioning every character and searching for clues hidden within apparently innocent conversations.

This will appeal to readers who enjoy domestic thrillers involving unreliable memories, dangerous relationships, buried family secrets and dramatic final revelations. It was a gripping and addictive read that kept me interested in discovering who was telling the truth and what had really happened on the night of the fire.

[Alison Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Mahle’s Lost in the Fire opens with an intense and terrifying scene as someone fights desperately to escape a burning building. The fear and desperation are written so vividly that you immediately feel the danger and chaos unfolding around them. It’s a dramatic and gripping start that instantly pulls you into the story.
The following chapter shifts to an incident report detailing the aftermath of the fire. According to the report, there were two fatalities and one survivor. Investigators believe the blaze may have started in the garage and suspect an accelerant was used, hinting at possible arson. The victims were Michael Shaw, found in the upstairs hallway, and toddler Elias Shaw, discovered in his bedroom. The sole survivor, Avery Shaw, was found unconscious on the front lawn.
The story then focuses on Avery as she wakes in the hospital with no memory of the tragedy. She is devastated to learn that her husband and son died in the fire, yet she has no recollection of them or the events surrounding that night. At the same time, fire investigator Jordan Campos is examining the scene, convinced the fire was deliberately set. He has many unanswered questions — why was Avery the only survivor, and how did she escape while her husband and child remained inside? Although the case is eventually ruled a probable accident, Jordan cannot shake the feeling that something isn’t right.
After leaving the hospital, Avery attempts to rebuild her life with a new job and apartment. However, strange events begin to unsettle her. She repeatedly notices someone watching her, though she can never be certain whether the person is real or simply a product of her fragile state of mind. Alongside this, fragments of memory begin surfacing, leaving her confused and uncertain about what really happened the night of the fire.
Jordan, meanwhile, also becomes aware of the mysterious figure shadowing both him and Avery, adding another layer of suspense to the story.
At her new workplace, Avery meets Cole and soon begins a relationship with him, despite her family believing she is moving on far too quickly. Five months later, they are preparing to move in together. But just as Avery decides during her final therapy session that perhaps it’s better not to recover her memories, an unexpected encounter changes everything.
A woman approaches her and introduces herself as Sophie Grant, claiming they were once best friends. Over coffee, Sophie warns Avery about Cole, urging her not to marry him because she doesn’t truly know who he is. Sophie even suggests that Cole may have been connected to the fire scene before the tragedy occurred, though Avery refuses to hear more. Shortly afterwards, Sophie disappears, raising even more questions. Did her disappearance have something to do with Cole?
The novel alternates between Avery’s perspective and Jordan Campos’ investigation, which works incredibly well in building tension and keeping the mystery unfolding at the perfect pace. Seeing events from both viewpoints adds depth to the story and keeps you constantly questioning who can be trusted.
The suspense steadily builds throughout, with plenty of twists and moments that make it impossible to stop reading. The conclusion is explosive, satisfying, and ties the story together brilliantly. Overall, Lost in the Fire is a gripping psychological thriller packed with suspense, mystery, and intrigue — an excellent read that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s my review for Lies In The Fire by Robin Mahle

I absolutely loved this suspenseful and addictive psychological thriller that was totally gripping right from the very first page. Avery Shaw manages to survive a house fire in which her husband and son die inside upstairs. She obtained a massive hit to the back of her head and has got retrograde amnesia so can remember nothing for about ten years before now or the fire. She has to start afresh with the help of her parents and a therapist who helped with her memory. She was an architect by trade and managed to get a job with a company after sitting an exam. She met Cole Mercer there and before she knew it, they were engaged but she was happy with him. Then, Sophie Grant got in touch and they met for a drink in Luna Cafe. Sophie told Avery she knew Cole before the fire and not to marry him as she doesn't really know who he is. Avery left Sophie at the cafe not knowing what to think.

Wow, I was on tenterhooks reading this intriguing story. Who was Cole Mercer and what was his interest in Avery? The story was superbly plotted, and extremely well thought out. The descriptive writing was superb and everything was described in great detail. I felt like I could visualise the story playing out in my mind as I was reading it and that just heightened my experience with this brilliant book. I believe the author did some extensive research before writing this story as it shows in the information contained within the novel. The characters are intriguing, well thought out and very realistic. I really like this author’s books and I'm already looking forward to reading the next book.

Synopsis :


A woman stops me in the street. She’s young, pregnant, and she looks at me like she knows me.

“I’m Sophie,” she says. “We used to be best friends.”

“Please don’t marry him,” she whispers. “You don’t know who he really is . . .”

I’ve rebuilt my life from the ashes.

I lost my husband and child in a devastating house fire. I woke up in the hospital with no memory that they ever existed.

And now I might be about to marry the man who might have killed them.

AN EXHILARATING BLEND OF BREATHTAKING SUSPENSE AND NAIL-BITING TENSION WITH A SHOCKING FINAL TWIST.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Alice Feeney, Shari Lapena, K.L. Slater and T.M. Logan.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third of Robin Mahle's books I've picked up through the Zooloos Book Tours, and after enjoying the first two so much, there was no way I was passing this one by when I saw it on offer. There's something lovely about finding an author whose books you can trust to deliver, and Mahle has become one of those for me.

Lost in the Fire doesn't ease you in gently. It opens with real force, the main character's house going up in flames, and within the first few pages we lose both her husband and her son to the fire. I'll admit this part gave me pause, as a mother myself I kept thinking, surely your first instinct is to go for your child? It sat a little uneasily with me, but it didn't stop me turning the pages.

Avery wakes up in hospital afterwards with amnesia, and this is where the story really gets its hooks into you. She can't remember being married. She can't remember having a son. And now everyone around her expects her to grieve for a husband and child she has no memory of loving in the first place. It's such a heartbreaking, almost impossible position to be in, how do you mourn a connection you can't feel? I found myself really sitting with that question long after I put the book down.

Five months on, Avery meets a co-worker and things move fast, engaged before you know it. That's when the story shifts gears completely. Old friends from her past start warning her away from this new fiancé, and then, one by one, they start turning up dead or simply vanish. Was he somehow tangled up in the fire that took her family? Did she know him before the accident stole her memories? The not knowing, right alongside Avery, is what makes this such a gripping read.

Robin Mahle has a real gift for psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the very last page, and this one is no exception. It's the kind of book you curl up with meaning to read one chapter and then realise it's midnight. If you love a slow-burn mystery with real emotional weight underneath the suspense, Lost in the Fire is well worth adding to your shelf.

[Lori Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will spend a lot of time thinking about Lost in the Fire as you read it. This book grabbed me at the start and didn't let go! I was telling others about it when I was only halfway through it because it's just that good! Avery Shaw wakes up in the hospital with no memory of how she got there. Avery lost her husband and son in a house fire that she miraculously made it out of. She was found on the front lawn and no one knows how she got there. Avery awakens in the hospital, but can't remember the last 10 years or so. She has no memory of her husband or son so when she finds out they died in the fire, it's very weird. People keep stopping by to visit, but she doesn't know any of them. Her neighbors, her co-workers, her friends, and Avery has no idea who they are. Her parents are the only people she remembers when they visit.

Avery decides to move to a new part of town and get a new job because she's tired of people acting like they know her when she doesn't know them. When Avery meets a man named Cole at her new job. She likes him right away and they start spending time together after work. Is it too soon as it's only been 6 months since she lost her husband and son? Since Avery can't remember her family, she just wants to move on. One day when Avery is out walking, a woman approaches her and says they used to be best friends. Her name is Sophie and Avery can't remember her. She tells Avery not to marry Cole because she doesn't know who he really is. Is Cole dangerous? Did Cole have something to do with the fire? Should she really be worried about Cole because she's now living with him and sleeping next to him every night! The suspense builds at a feverish pace and you won't be able to put this book down. I loved Lost in the Fire as it kept me on edge throughout. I rate Lost in the Fire 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. If you love a good thriller, this is the book for you! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advanced copy of Lost in the Fire in exchange for a fair review.

[Phil Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A shocker of a thriller ! Robin Mahle succeeds again with her mastery of the craft.
Avery Shaw fights for her life to escape a devastating house fire. She feels the heat, feels
her skin burn and her hair crackle, but she’s trapped in the burning building. Then she finds
herself outside on the front garden and she’s is being helped by someone. She doesn’t
know how she got out. That’s all she remembers as she comes awake, wired up and
bandaged in hospital. The pain is intense but it is overshadowed by her confusion, she can
remember her name, her parents and some of her childhood but that’s about all. She has a
head injury and combined with the trauma of the fire, she has no memory of her recent life,
she doesn’t recognise her work colleagues or even where she worked. Worse still she can’t
remember her husband or her child who died in the fire! All she can remember in brief
flashbacks is the smoke the heat and someone helping.
Everything points to an accidental fire caused by faulty wiring in the garage but Fire
investigation officer Jordan Shaw is not convinced, something is not quite right. Despite
being pressured to sign the investigation report off as an accident and to stop wasting time
and resources on the case he continues to dig deeper. It becomes an obsession.
Within a few weeks Avery is befriended by a work colleague in her new job and quickly fall
in love. However things do not go smoothly as her past is gradually revealed and she begins
to doubt the new man in her life.
A fast moving thriller with dark undertones of gaslighting and shocking reveals.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Mahle has once again delivered a fantastic book, but Lost in the Fire is more than a story filled with tension, it's a devastatingly tender exploration of grief, identity, and what it means to rebuild when everything you knew has been reduced to ashes.
What struck me most wasn't the mystery itself, but the aching humanity Mahle brings to Avery.
She writes trauma with such care and precision that Avery never feels like a plot device, she feels like a real woman clawing her way back from an unimaginable loss, caught in the impossible situation between wanting to remember and needing to forget. That dilemma alone is one of the most emotionally honest things I've read in a long time.
Mahle has a gift for balancing heartbreak with suspense without ever letting one undercut the other. The grief is never used as cheap ornamentation for the thriller elements, it's woven so tightly into the plot that you feel Avery's fragility in every page-turn, every twist, every moment of doubt about who she can trust. That sensitivity is rare, and it's what elevates this book above a typical domestic thriller.
I was completely gripped, reading into the wee small hours, not just because of the twists, but because I was so emotionally invested in Avery's survival. The ending doesn't just resolve the mystery, it lingers with you, like the embers of that devastating fire that refuse to go out.
Lost in the Fire is proof that Robin Mahle can break your heart and keep you white-knuckled at the same time.

My thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow, Avery is the lone survivor of a horrible house fire that killed her husband and young son, but Avery didn't make it out completely unscathed. She's lost all memory from the night of the fire and from about 10 years leading up to the fire. She doesn't remember her husband, her last name, where they lived, and sadly, she doesn't remember her son either.
Avery just wants to move on with her life. She gets a new job and moves in with a supportive man who wants her to keep moving forward and not look back and becomes engaged.
This is when another woman approaches her and says I know you don't remember me, but we were best friends, and begs Avery not to marry the man she has fallen for. Sophie tells Avery he's not who he says he is.
Avery wants to move on but can't stop the little piece of her mind, telling her maybe she should listen to Sophie.
Avery starts asking questions about the night of the fire and the lead-up to it, and this is when things get dangerous. She begins to suspect that no one is telling the truth and the man she fell in love with is more dangerous than she ever could have suspected.
Little pieces of memory start returning.... Avery survived the fire, but will she be able to survive her returning memories?

This is the third book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it to other readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books, and Robin Mahle for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[TJ Wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost in the Fire by Robin Mahle was exactly the kind of popcorn thriller I enjoy. It checks a lot of my boxes: short chapters, multiple POVs, and a brisk pace.

Avery survives a house fire that claims the lives of her husband and son, but she wakes up with no memory of what happened. As she tries to rebuild her life, she meets Cole and eventually becomes engaged to him. Then a woman claiming to be Avery's former best friend suddenly appears with one warning: Don't marry him. Of course, Avery has no idea who to believe, and neither did I.

This was a fun, bingeable thriller that never dragged. If you're looking for something grounded completely in reality, you'll probably have to overlook a few things. I was happy to go along for the ride because that's exactly what I expect from a popcorn thriller.

I also really liked Robin Mahle's writing style. The pacing was quick, the chapters were short, and the multiple perspectives kept things interesting. The big twist wasn't exactly earth-shattering, and I had a feeling where things were headed before the reveal, but it was still an entertaining journey getting there.

Not every thriller has to reinvent the genre. Sometimes you just want an engaging mystery that's easy to get lost in for a few hours, and Lost in the Fire delivered exactly that.

3.75 stars, rounded up to 4. I'll definitely be checking out more of Robin Mahle's backlist.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Avery Shaw regains consciousness in the hospital, she has no memory of how she arrived or what transpired. Upon waking, she provides the doctor with her maiden name and her parents' address.

Unaware that her husband and son perished in the fire she survived, Avery doesn't even recall having a family. Her parents arrange for a psychologist to help her recover her memories.

Avery secures a position as an architect and meets an appealing colleague at work. She soon moves into his apartment, and with Cole as her fiancé-to-be, her life appears to be improving.

Then Sophie approaches her—a former best friend Avery cannot remember. "We used to be best friends," Sophie says. "Please don't marry him. You don't know who he really is."

Uncertain of Sophie's identity and credibility, Avery is reluctant to engage further. Nevertheless, she begins investigating Cole's background.

The narrative alternates between Avery's perspective and that of Jordan Campos, the fire investigator who questioned the fire's circumstances from the start.

This book is exceptional. It's genuinely page-turning—I needed to know what would happen next.

This was my first Robin Mahle novel, and I'm thrilled to discover she's written several others. I look forward to reading more of her work.

I'm grateful to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Susan Belman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a nightmare scenario. Waking up after a devastating house fire with no memory of your husband or child... and then learning they both died in the blaze? My heart immediately broke for Sophie.
This story grabbed my attention from the very first chapter and never let go. Between the amnesia, the tragedy, and the constant uncertainty over who could be trusted, I was completely invested. Every new piece of information made me question someone else. Honestly, I suspected everyone. 😂 Every character earned at least one side-eye from me... except the three-year-old. He got a free pass.
One of my favorite parts of the story was how the amnesia kept me guessing alongside Sophie. When the main character can't even trust her own memories, you're left questioning everything right along with her. Was someone lying? Was Sophie remembering things incorrectly? Was the danger in the past... or was it still very much in the present? The pacing kept me turning pages, and I loved trying to piece together what really happened the night of the fire. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another clue had me rethinking everything.
If you enjoy psychological thrillers full of secrets, unreliable memories, and characters who all seem to have something to hide, this is an easy recommendation. I had an absolute blast trying to solve this one.

[Zara Dal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I thought the premise of this book was really interesting. The idea of surviving a devastating house fire only to discover you've lost all memory of your husband, child, and the life you once knew is both heartbreaking and incredibly intriguing.

Avery is pulled alive from the blaze that claims her husband and son, but with no recollection of either the tragedy or the family she's supposedly lost. As she attempts to rebuild her life, unsettling questions begin to surface, and she slowly realises that the truth about her past may be far darker than she ever imagined.

One of the things I enjoyed in this was the dual POV. The story is told through both Avery and Jordan, the fire inspector connected to the case. Watching them investigate the same mystery from different angles added depth to the story and kept me eagerly turning the pages.

The tension builds steadily throughout, but once the pieces start falling into place, the pace really ramps up. The final section becomes a gripping race against time, packed with suspense and revelations that kept me hooked.

Fast-paced, engaging, and full of twists, this is a thriller I devoured in less than 24 hours. If you enjoy psychological suspense, buried secrets, and mysteries that keep you guessing, this is well worth picking up.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost in the Fire blends memory, trauma, and creeping dread into a tense, addictive read that never lets up.

The premise is instantly compelling: a woman who lost her husband and child in a devastating fire—and lost every memory of them too—suddenly confronted by a stranger claiming to be her former best friend. From that moment, the story becomes a taut, unsettling puzzle. The warning Sophie gives is chilling, and the idea that the man she’s about to marry might be tied to her past is handled with brilliant slow‑burn tension.

I loved how the author plays with fractured memory and identity. The uncertainty of what’s real, what’s forgotten, and what’s being hidden creates a constant undercurrent of unease. Every new revelation feels like another spark landing on dry tinder, building toward an explosive final twist. The emotional stakes are high, and the suspense is sharp enough to keep you reading “just one more chapter.”

It’s atmospheric, twisty, and deeply addictive—perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Alice Feeney, and Shari Lapena. A fast‑paced psychological thriller that delivers both heart and tension, and leaves you thinking about the characters long after you’ve finished.

With thanks to Robin Mahle. the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Mahle's Lost in the Fire was such a GREAT book that I read from cover to cover in one sitting. Fast paced right out of the gate, there is no lacking of action through the entire book.

Avery lost everything, including her husband and son in a fire. She also lost her memories of the last several years. Ready to move forward and leave her forgotten memories in the past, she begins a new job. It's here that she meets Cole, who helps her through some of her tougher moments. When a friend from her past visits her, she stirs up some fragmented memories and more than a few doubts. Along with the help of the fire innvestigator who was in charge of her case, Avery begins to piece together the puzzle, but will it help bring back her memory.

This is a story that alternates between raw emotions and strength and resiliency. It's a perfect balance between the two, making the MFC real and multi-layered. The chapters are short and alternate perspectives. I only discovered Robin Mahle recently and have now read a few of her books. She has quickly become a favorite author, leaving me anxiously waiting for her next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the advanced copy

[Laura Connelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avery lost her husband and son in a tragic house fire, but she has no recollection of them or her life before the fire. 6 months on, she’s engaged to Cole and trying to move on with her life when she meets a woman who claims she used to be her best friend called Sophie. Sophie warns Avery about Cole, saying “please don’t marry him. You don’t know who he really is” Avery doesn’t know who to believe but she starts to worry she is going to marry her husband and son’s killer? Will she remember what happened and what her life was like before the fire?

Well this was a great, quick read! Short snappy chapters with the POVs of Avery and the fire inspector Campos. I was on tenterhooks reading this, wondering if Cole was really the bad guy or is someone else playing tricks on Avery. I guessed a couple of the twists but the main twist I didn’t expect at all! I found the characters to be very believable and the whole situation could happen in real life. I managed to read this so quickly as I just wanted to know how the story ended! Great book and I’ll definitely be reading more of this author!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first book by Robin Mahle and it was just okay. I was really bored until about 30% in and thinking about stopping, but then it got somewhat better. Avery Shaw survived a terrible house fire that killed her husband and young son, but she can't remember anything about it. She has retrograde amnesia and can remember things from long ago (like recognizing her parents), but nothing recent. She's trying to move on and focus on the future with her way-too-soon new boyfriend Cole who's totally controlling and creepy. One day, a woman she doesn't recognize stops her in the street, tells her that she used to be her best friend, and warns her that she doesn't know who Cole really is. At this point, she's engaged to him which seemed totally ridiculous for someone who just went through what she did. Avery's whole story seemed totally unrealistic, the characters were impossible to like and connect with, and a lot of the storylines are sad and dark. I just couldn't get on board with the whole premise of the book and would not recommend this one. Thanks to #Netgalley and #JoffeBooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in the Fire by Robin Mahle is an extraordinarily original, fiercely compelling, and brilliantly paced psychological thriller that grips you by the throat from the very first chapter and refuses to let go.

Told through short, high-octane alternating perspectives between Avery—who is grappling with traumatic amnesia—and Jordan Campos, a sharp fire investigator questioning the official narrative, the story strikes a flawless balance between raw emotional depth and relentless suspense. Mahle delivers a devastatingly tender exploration of grief, resilience, and identity, crafting a complex and intensely relatable lead in Avery. The narrative masterfully executes a captivating slow burn for the first two-thirds, steadily stacking layers of tragedy, paranoia, and suspect after suspect, before exploding into an action-packed, twist-filled finale.

Elevated by phenomenal originality and a relentless series of shocking end reveals, it stands as an unputdownable, deeply moving crime thriller, earning 5 hot, breathtaking stars.

[Casca Wardle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that was a very intense rollercoaster ride indeed! A very intriguing storyline, and once you start, it is a struggle to put down. We follow Avery Shaw who suffers memory loss after losing her family in a house fire, which already sounds absolutely horrifying and tragic enough. When this story starts to unfold, it feels like you are living her never-ending nightmare with her when her memory randomly starts to come back. This is a super addictive psychological thriller, it will torment you right to the end. I had to take a few breaks now and again because some of the characters infuriated me when they showed their true colours and malicious intentions. This story is full of shocking twists and turns, it will mess with your head all the way through. Absolutely menacing and insanely brilliant!


5 out of 5! This was one of those stories that will stay with you for a while. I was left completely speechless after that ending. Wow!

[LooseBoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read. Have to confess I was slow on the first couple of days reading but today at lunchtime I was only 34 % in but couldn't put the book down.

As other reviewers have written , fire is a terrible thing and I don't normally do spoilers but the main character has survived a house fire but has no memory of it.
We see the story developing when people take advantage of her memory loss. People are never what they seem. Who do you trust , especially when you don't know if they are friends or foes.
At times you could cut the tension with a knife but at least the story had a proper ending, no cliffhanger.

As I mentioned before, I was literally glued to this book, as I am with most of Robin's books. Such intensity and passion and lies and deceit all rolled into one.
Absolutely brilliant read. Thank you Robin for trusting me with your book.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I really enjoyed this suspenseful book with all the twists up to the last page. I was very disappointed in the use of God's name in vain constantly and the words Christ and Jesus constantly. Totally not necessary. I would have given a much higher rating if it wasn't for these words being used abundantly.

The story follows Avery who loses her husband and toddler in a house fire. She is seriously injured from barely escaping but has completely lost her memory. She is soon engaged to Cole but when her friend, Sophie, shows up out of the blue and warns her not to marry Cole, that's when everything starts going out of control for Avery.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a harrowing read. Fire - lost family - lost memory. And I can swear I could smell smoke while I was reading it.

A little slow in the beginning, but hotted up later on. (Excuse the pun).

I like Robin Mahle's books, I am a huge fan of her writing and her plots.

This book really got to me. I was absorbed by the investigator's persistence and determination to get to the bottom of the cause. He was convinced that the fire was deliberate. I liked that he teamed up with the detective.

The ending was a shock. All the red herrings and the culprit wasn't who I suspected most of all.

Emotional and suspenseful, I enjoyed the book a lot.

I recommend.

4/5 stars from me.