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DCI Jansen #3
Into the Fire
Eleven guests. Three nights. One murderer . . .
A haunting and atmospheric new thriller from rising star of crime fiction Rachael Blok.
In a crumbling old mansion in the English countryside, eleven people gather, each one famous in their field. They have been invited for a three-day house party, to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking virtual reality game that promises to unite the worlds of technology, politics and the environment. DCI Marten Jansen has been summoned to join the house party. His instructions are to offer police protection in case of an outside attack. Instead, he finds simmering tensions, long-buried secrets – and a murderer in their midst.
Rachael Blok is a rising star in crime fiction. Her novels blend elements of police procedural and psychological thriller, and she has won critical acclaim for her lyrical prose, ratcheting tensions and atmosphere of foreboding.
A haunting and atmospheric new thriller from rising star of crime fiction Rachael Blok.
In a crumbling old mansion in the English countryside, eleven people gather, each one famous in their field. They have been invited for a three-day house party, to celebrate the launch of a groundbreaking virtual reality game that promises to unite the worlds of technology, politics and the environment. DCI Marten Jansen has been summoned to join the house party. His instructions are to offer police protection in case of an outside attack. Instead, he finds simmering tensions, long-buried secrets – and a murderer in their midst.
Rachael Blok is a rising star in crime fiction. Her novels blend elements of police procedural and psychological thriller, and she has won critical acclaim for her lyrical prose, ratcheting tensions and atmosphere of foreboding.
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
19 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 1, 2021
Eleven guests, three nights, one murder.
Sisters Lois and Ebba are ready to launch a new virtual reality game and have invited their investors to their large country home for the grand event. The investors are all glamorous, rich and well known, particularly Marieke the controversial politician. She’s been recently receiving death threats, so police presence is also at the house in the form of DCI Maarten Jansen. He’s professional but not overly concerned about the threats, but when a dramatic helicopter crash occurs in the grounds, he begins to realise that there is much more to this event than meets the eye.
This was my first Rachael Blok book. She’s written two previous thrillers starring DCI Jansen which may be useful to read in advance, but certainly my lack of knowledge regarding them didn’t distract from the story at all. It opens very dramatically with the helicopter crash, and then quickly moves back 24 hours in time to slowly reveal the build up of events. It’s a third person narrative and provides points of view from 4 of the main characters.
Into the Fire is a real slow burner (pun intended!). Steady and methodical in pace, it carefully builds up each character and lets you get to know them (and a little of their past) and before you know it you’re gripped. All of the characters are diversely interesting, and there are secrets and insecurities resonating from most. So can DCI Jansen discover the truth before it’s too late, despite having secrets of his own to contend with?
I really enjoyed this book. I felt the style was very reminiscent of a scandi thriller, which I don’t read that many of. As a result it felt unique and fresh and was a winner for me.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & Midas PR for my ARC. All views my own.
Sisters Lois and Ebba are ready to launch a new virtual reality game and have invited their investors to their large country home for the grand event. The investors are all glamorous, rich and well known, particularly Marieke the controversial politician. She’s been recently receiving death threats, so police presence is also at the house in the form of DCI Maarten Jansen. He’s professional but not overly concerned about the threats, but when a dramatic helicopter crash occurs in the grounds, he begins to realise that there is much more to this event than meets the eye.
This was my first Rachael Blok book. She’s written two previous thrillers starring DCI Jansen which may be useful to read in advance, but certainly my lack of knowledge regarding them didn’t distract from the story at all. It opens very dramatically with the helicopter crash, and then quickly moves back 24 hours in time to slowly reveal the build up of events. It’s a third person narrative and provides points of view from 4 of the main characters.
Into the Fire is a real slow burner (pun intended!). Steady and methodical in pace, it carefully builds up each character and lets you get to know them (and a little of their past) and before you know it you’re gripped. All of the characters are diversely interesting, and there are secrets and insecurities resonating from most. So can DCI Jansen discover the truth before it’s too late, despite having secrets of his own to contend with?
I really enjoyed this book. I felt the style was very reminiscent of a scandi thriller, which I don’t read that many of. As a result it felt unique and fresh and was a winner for me.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & Midas PR for my ARC. All views my own.
April 28, 2021
A helicopter falls from the sky, and suddenly the reader is whisked back to the day before, to learn about the events leading up to it. It's a gripping way to begin a book, and got me instantly hooked.
The third in Blok's DCI Jansen series; each book can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the previous book so was excited to dive into this one.
I have an instant fondness for books set in places that I know particularly well. Having grown up just outside St Albans, I was able to picture the exact location where this book takes place. And in a Christie-esque closed circle mystery way, almost all of the story takes place in one manor house.
Eleven people — each a success story in their field — gather in a grand house on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the Roman amphitheatre. They've been invited, several internationally, to spend the weekend celebrating the launch of a groundbreaking VR game, focusing on ethics throughout the supply chain while securing enormous financial deals.
There is a large cast of characters from the beginning, however I found them easy to follow as each one was distinct. The book utilises POV chapters from a number of them, which greatly enhanced the mystery as the cast of characters are all far more deeply connected than first appearances would suggest, and therefore each POV character gives insight into different characters. Everyone in this house has secrets, and the pace at which they're slowly revealed was practically perfect. Rachael Blok was juggling a lot of narrative balls in the air throughout this story, and I was half waiting to see if she would drop any of them, but that didn't seem to happen.
As with the previous book in the series, the number of coincidences that occur to connect the characters — whether during the 3 day narrative or as part of backstory — definitely pushes the suspension of disbelief limits. However the story was more than engaging enough for that to not be an issue for me.
One thing I'd say is to recommend not leaving large gaps between reading sessions. The sheer volume of characters, the amount of key things that happen, and the ever-changing suspicions and motives could be difficult to fully keep track of if things aren't fresh in your mind.
I've been meaning to go and read the first in the series — Under the Ice — since reading The Scorched Earth and am yet to get around to it, however this third instalment has moved that higher up my tbr list. Another great, meaty crime mystery from Rachael Blok.
The third in Blok's DCI Jansen series; each book can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the previous book so was excited to dive into this one.
I have an instant fondness for books set in places that I know particularly well. Having grown up just outside St Albans, I was able to picture the exact location where this book takes place. And in a Christie-esque closed circle mystery way, almost all of the story takes place in one manor house.
Eleven people — each a success story in their field — gather in a grand house on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the Roman amphitheatre. They've been invited, several internationally, to spend the weekend celebrating the launch of a groundbreaking VR game, focusing on ethics throughout the supply chain while securing enormous financial deals.
There is a large cast of characters from the beginning, however I found them easy to follow as each one was distinct. The book utilises POV chapters from a number of them, which greatly enhanced the mystery as the cast of characters are all far more deeply connected than first appearances would suggest, and therefore each POV character gives insight into different characters. Everyone in this house has secrets, and the pace at which they're slowly revealed was practically perfect. Rachael Blok was juggling a lot of narrative balls in the air throughout this story, and I was half waiting to see if she would drop any of them, but that didn't seem to happen.
As with the previous book in the series, the number of coincidences that occur to connect the characters — whether during the 3 day narrative or as part of backstory — definitely pushes the suspension of disbelief limits. However the story was more than engaging enough for that to not be an issue for me.
One thing I'd say is to recommend not leaving large gaps between reading sessions. The sheer volume of characters, the amount of key things that happen, and the ever-changing suspicions and motives could be difficult to fully keep track of if things aren't fresh in your mind.
I've been meaning to go and read the first in the series — Under the Ice — since reading The Scorched Earth and am yet to get around to it, however this third instalment has moved that higher up my tbr list. Another great, meaty crime mystery from Rachael Blok.
April 1, 2021
A familiar crime scenario of eleven people in an English mansion and one is killed – is there a murderer amongst them? Told from different character’s perspective in flashbacks as they gather to celebrate the launch of a new 3D computer game. The saga begins with a helicopter crash in the present and the various relationships and connections are then revealed in hindsight. Unfortunately, the story did not live up to expectations, with a lack lustre group of protagonists and lacking in suspense or tension, so only a two-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.
February 9, 2023
This book kicks off with a helicopter crash then switches back to 24 hours before the disaster. The rest of the book follows the same pattern, switching both between the two timelines & also between the characters - hosts, guests & police - gathered for a launch party.
Well it all sounds pretty gripping doesn't it? And I thought right up my street but sadly, for me it didn't really deliver. While the format is one I usually enjoy, with a lot of characters to keep track of, all hiding something, I found it a bit disjointed. The characters, well there wasn't a likeable one among them & while I don't have to like them I do want to believe in them & I didn't (with special reference there to Filip & his wife) plus two of the other characters seemed completely superfluous to the story!
It has the feel of a locked room mystery but - without giving away spoilers (I hope) - there was a clue that positively screamed "I'M THE MURDERER" at me....though to be fair, while I was correct I didn't get the reasoning behind it...& things were finally wrapped up rather poorly - including an epilogue I could have done without.
Overall verdict? Disappointing....but looking at other reviews, I'm in the minority so make your own mind up.......
*I rec'd this book as a free limited edition proof from Head of Zeus Books & this review is my own*
Well it all sounds pretty gripping doesn't it? And I thought right up my street but sadly, for me it didn't really deliver. While the format is one I usually enjoy, with a lot of characters to keep track of, all hiding something, I found it a bit disjointed. The characters, well there wasn't a likeable one among them & while I don't have to like them I do want to believe in them & I didn't (with special reference there to Filip & his wife) plus two of the other characters seemed completely superfluous to the story!
It has the feel of a locked room mystery but - without giving away spoilers (I hope) - there was a clue that positively screamed "I'M THE MURDERER" at me....though to be fair, while I was correct I didn't get the reasoning behind it...& things were finally wrapped up rather poorly - including an epilogue I could have done without.
Overall verdict? Disappointing....but looking at other reviews, I'm in the minority so make your own mind up.......
*I rec'd this book as a free limited edition proof from Head of Zeus Books & this review is my own*
Read
April 8, 2023A literary, which is to say very well-written and thoughtful, detective novel. Intriguing plot with long buildup and a complex entanglement of characters leading to a reveal I didn't see coming.
As ever I didn't really see the need for present tense narration, especially given the story jumps from past to now with lots of flashbacks and memories, but those who don't object to present tense (apparently literally everyone in the world except me) will have no issues. Interesting series detective and I really liked the St Albans setting and the strong mood.
As ever I didn't really see the need for present tense narration, especially given the story jumps from past to now with lots of flashbacks and memories, but those who don't object to present tense (apparently literally everyone in the world except me) will have no issues. Interesting series detective and I really liked the St Albans setting and the strong mood.
June 3, 2021
Even though this book starts with a dramatic helicopter crash, I really struggled to get into the action of it. It’s something of a locked room mystery, with the timeline rewinding to a couple days before the crash and a group of people gathering at an English country house preparing for the launch of a new tech widget they all have an interest in, whether designers or investors. It’s obvious from context that at least one of them has nefarious motives… but the reality is, they all do. It’s a question of which one of them is willing to kill to cover up their secrets.
With corporate espionage and modern-day slavery themes in the book - a Bangladeshi character almost killed in a factory fire is a major character - it can be pretty heavy going at times. It’s an international cast, with Dutch, Norwegian, Bangladeshi and English characters, and into this mix comes DCI Maarten Jansen, assigned to protect a Dutch politician whose outspoken stance on corporate working conditions has earned her a lot of enemies.
The problem is that I just couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters. Maarten himself barely seems to have any emotions, despite being surprised by one of the characters being an old lover and another one holding potential blackmail material over him. His wife Liv is delightful but barely gets any page time. And I’m not really sure who the protagonists were supposed to be. I quite liked Filip, the industrialist hopelessly in love with his movie-star wife but desperately afraid of losing her; Lois, the ethical inventor was also quite nice, but we barely got to spend any time with her, and she was so clueless about what was going on she frustrated me.
In theory this is a sort of locked-room mystery, but the reality is, there were a whole bunch of people coming and going. There were staff around all the time, most of whom never got the dignity of a name. The villain was one-dimensional and obvious from the start, attempting to seduce every woman and cuckold every man, and the secondary villain wasn’t a villain but a victim. Plus, the book teasingly set up Iqbal’s desperate hunt for his wife and then dropped a total deus ex machina at the end. The whole thing was a bit of a slog with characters I struggled to care about and an unsatisfying ending. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
With corporate espionage and modern-day slavery themes in the book - a Bangladeshi character almost killed in a factory fire is a major character - it can be pretty heavy going at times. It’s an international cast, with Dutch, Norwegian, Bangladeshi and English characters, and into this mix comes DCI Maarten Jansen, assigned to protect a Dutch politician whose outspoken stance on corporate working conditions has earned her a lot of enemies.
The problem is that I just couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters. Maarten himself barely seems to have any emotions, despite being surprised by one of the characters being an old lover and another one holding potential blackmail material over him. His wife Liv is delightful but barely gets any page time. And I’m not really sure who the protagonists were supposed to be. I quite liked Filip, the industrialist hopelessly in love with his movie-star wife but desperately afraid of losing her; Lois, the ethical inventor was also quite nice, but we barely got to spend any time with her, and she was so clueless about what was going on she frustrated me.
In theory this is a sort of locked-room mystery, but the reality is, there were a whole bunch of people coming and going. There were staff around all the time, most of whom never got the dignity of a name. The villain was one-dimensional and obvious from the start, attempting to seduce every woman and cuckold every man, and the secondary villain wasn’t a villain but a victim. Plus, the book teasingly set up Iqbal’s desperate hunt for his wife and then dropped a total deus ex machina at the end. The whole thing was a bit of a slog with characters I struggled to care about and an unsatisfying ending. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
May 12, 2023
Just okay - wasn’t particularly gripped and felt like a slog to get through at times
March 28, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an advance copy of Into the Fire, the third novel to feature DCI Maarten Jansen of the St Albans Police.
An IT company is having a big launch on Saturday so the major stakeholders have been invited to the owners’ country house for the weekend. One of the guests, a prominent Dutch politician, has been receiving threats so Maarten is sent to the Friday evening dinner for security and reassurance. What he finds is secrets and uneasiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed Into the Fire which is a compelling tale of secrets, lies, personal animosities and relationships and murder. The novel opens with a literal bang on Saturday afternoon. This is helpfully labelled “Now” and then it flips back to Friday evening, labelled “Then”. This is needed as the novel flips between the then and now on a regular basis, and, to add to the mayhem, it is told from various points of view, also helpfully identified at the start of each chapter. I would have been totally lost otherwise. Strangely this does not make for a choppy read once the reader adapts to the rhythm, but, instead, is intriguing. None of the narrators knows what is going on so it’s full of secrets from the past, speculation and emotion. What is even more interesting is that several characters do not have a voice, but have either a motive or a dislike or distrust of some others, so the reader is free to indulge in their own speculation and boy, did I speculate. Needless to say I got it all totally wrong, as the twists can attest, but that didn’t stop me, although I remained clueless until the end. That’s not say there aren’t hints throughout the novel, it’s just that I interpreted them wrongly, as the author intends.
Not being a techie I was apprehensive about taking on a novel based in that world, as so many times it all goes over my head. I can confidently state that I didn’t have a problem as both the technical and financial stuff is all broad brushstrokes that even I could understand. The novel is more character and emotion driven, universal themes for all. Even Maarten Jansen has skin in this particular game.
It should be noted that while the appearance of DCI Maarten Jansen would suggest that the novel is a police procedural it really isn’t. He’s more of a catalyst for the unfolding events than the protagonist.
Into the Fire is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
An IT company is having a big launch on Saturday so the major stakeholders have been invited to the owners’ country house for the weekend. One of the guests, a prominent Dutch politician, has been receiving threats so Maarten is sent to the Friday evening dinner for security and reassurance. What he finds is secrets and uneasiness.
I thoroughly enjoyed Into the Fire which is a compelling tale of secrets, lies, personal animosities and relationships and murder. The novel opens with a literal bang on Saturday afternoon. This is helpfully labelled “Now” and then it flips back to Friday evening, labelled “Then”. This is needed as the novel flips between the then and now on a regular basis, and, to add to the mayhem, it is told from various points of view, also helpfully identified at the start of each chapter. I would have been totally lost otherwise. Strangely this does not make for a choppy read once the reader adapts to the rhythm, but, instead, is intriguing. None of the narrators knows what is going on so it’s full of secrets from the past, speculation and emotion. What is even more interesting is that several characters do not have a voice, but have either a motive or a dislike or distrust of some others, so the reader is free to indulge in their own speculation and boy, did I speculate. Needless to say I got it all totally wrong, as the twists can attest, but that didn’t stop me, although I remained clueless until the end. That’s not say there aren’t hints throughout the novel, it’s just that I interpreted them wrongly, as the author intends.
Not being a techie I was apprehensive about taking on a novel based in that world, as so many times it all goes over my head. I can confidently state that I didn’t have a problem as both the technical and financial stuff is all broad brushstrokes that even I could understand. The novel is more character and emotion driven, universal themes for all. Even Maarten Jansen has skin in this particular game.
It should be noted that while the appearance of DCI Maarten Jansen would suggest that the novel is a police procedural it really isn’t. He’s more of a catalyst for the unfolding events than the protagonist.
Into the Fire is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 24, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anybody. Whilst it is a thriller it is also exceptionally well written with some lovely descriptions of the season and location.
The characters are well drawn, believable and buzzing with past burdens which could light up a small county without any need for the national grid. Alive, alight and burning bright with tension, secrets and some dark motives, just why does Maarten, in charge of the police presence at a rambling countryside house, feel so uneasy?
The guests are assembled, investors, owners, partners of interested parties, to finalise and celebrate the imminent launch of Archipelago's new virtual reality game. However there is so much more to this gathering than signing on the dotted line and it is the complexities of each character, the convoluted dynamics and hidden connections which make this read so entertaining, mysterious and thrilling.
Nothing goes according to plan, although Marieke, who has been subject to some nasty hate mail and threats, which is why Maarten and his team are there, isn't necessarily the only target.
Why does someone want to sabotage events and who will be the victim or victims and not survive beyond the weekend?
I loved reading along, courtesy of Pigeonhole, so much, that I am determined to read the preceding two novels in this series as soon as I possibly can.
If you like drama and cliffhanging chapters, Into the Fire is the book to set your reading addiction ablaze!
The characters are well drawn, believable and buzzing with past burdens which could light up a small county without any need for the national grid. Alive, alight and burning bright with tension, secrets and some dark motives, just why does Maarten, in charge of the police presence at a rambling countryside house, feel so uneasy?
The guests are assembled, investors, owners, partners of interested parties, to finalise and celebrate the imminent launch of Archipelago's new virtual reality game. However there is so much more to this gathering than signing on the dotted line and it is the complexities of each character, the convoluted dynamics and hidden connections which make this read so entertaining, mysterious and thrilling.
Nothing goes according to plan, although Marieke, who has been subject to some nasty hate mail and threats, which is why Maarten and his team are there, isn't necessarily the only target.
Why does someone want to sabotage events and who will be the victim or victims and not survive beyond the weekend?
I loved reading along, courtesy of Pigeonhole, so much, that I am determined to read the preceding two novels in this series as soon as I possibly can.
If you like drama and cliffhanging chapters, Into the Fire is the book to set your reading addiction ablaze!
April 2, 2021
This was such a fabulous murder mystery / thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.
It’s the third book in the DCI Jansen series and this was the first I’ve read which I found to be completely standalone.
The story alternates between ‘Before’ the helicopter crash and the ‘Now’ as they investigate what happened. Chapters also alternate between characters and are told from the point of view of either Lois, Maarten, Filip or Iqbal.
This isn’t a fast paced book full of action but it’s not needed in this case. I loved how the author slowly builds the tension with each chapter as we learn more about each of the characters who all have secrets of their own. You are given little bits of clues here and there which I was constantly trying to piece together to work out who was up to no good.
The entire book is set in the one location, this mansion, (with a couple of flashbacks thrown in) which I think helps build that uneasiness that all the characters feel – the not knowing who is to be trusted and whether there is a killer among them. It was such a claustrophobic feeling and really added to the intensity of the mystery.
I don’t want to give too much away but everything was so intricately linked together and whilst Iqbal’s story was linked it also felt like a separate one entirely, especially near the end which I thought was so lovely and the perfect way to end the book!
Overall if you’re a fan of a good murder mystery then I highly recommend this to get your detective skills working!
It’s the third book in the DCI Jansen series and this was the first I’ve read which I found to be completely standalone.
The story alternates between ‘Before’ the helicopter crash and the ‘Now’ as they investigate what happened. Chapters also alternate between characters and are told from the point of view of either Lois, Maarten, Filip or Iqbal.
This isn’t a fast paced book full of action but it’s not needed in this case. I loved how the author slowly builds the tension with each chapter as we learn more about each of the characters who all have secrets of their own. You are given little bits of clues here and there which I was constantly trying to piece together to work out who was up to no good.
The entire book is set in the one location, this mansion, (with a couple of flashbacks thrown in) which I think helps build that uneasiness that all the characters feel – the not knowing who is to be trusted and whether there is a killer among them. It was such a claustrophobic feeling and really added to the intensity of the mystery.
I don’t want to give too much away but everything was so intricately linked together and whilst Iqbal’s story was linked it also felt like a separate one entirely, especially near the end which I thought was so lovely and the perfect way to end the book!
Overall if you’re a fan of a good murder mystery then I highly recommend this to get your detective skills working!
January 14, 2023
2.5 stars - quite a slow burner and a lot of characters to make you question everyone in this ‘whodunnit’ scenario. The end was good with Iqbal but the last 40-odd pages seemed rush and in my opinion didn’t provide a satisfying ending.
Each chapter was a different character which I’m also not a fan of, and made the text repetitive - it definitely could’ve been cut down a bit to make it intense.
Each chapter was a different character which I’m also not a fan of, and made the text repetitive - it definitely could’ve been cut down a bit to make it intense.
September 16, 2022
Seemed a little slow to begin with but soon had me hooked and want to find out ‘who did it’!
December 29, 2024
No idea so much could happen in St Albans 🤣 interesting concept and lots of drama. Second book I've read by this author and both enjoyable
December 15, 2021
At first glance, this book has all the hallmarks of a great mystery – a dramatic helicopter crash, a murder, an isolated country house with a limited number of suspects … Unfortunately I found the book heavy going, and there were too many characters to keep track of – none of them particularly likeable or memorable. By half way through the book I was finding it a real slog & the ending was disappointing/unsatisfying.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via ThePigeonholeHQ. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via ThePigeonholeHQ. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own.
October 16, 2022
Sisters Lois and Ebba are throwing a launch party for their new Virtual Reality Game, in attendance is a celebrity, investors and a controversial politician and the sisters are hoping the weekend goes as planned.
But one guest has other ideas.
Honestly it took me a while to get my head around this book, I couldn't work out who was who, why they were there and what the drama was until one of the guests dies and it slowly started to fall into place. Overall it was an okay read but not one I'd be rushing to read again.
But one guest has other ideas.
Honestly it took me a while to get my head around this book, I couldn't work out who was who, why they were there and what the drama was until one of the guests dies and it slowly started to fall into place. Overall it was an okay read but not one I'd be rushing to read again.
April 3, 2021
It is a big weekend for sisters Lois and Ebba. They have gathered together a group of investors, film representatives, politician and activists to showcase their innovative and potentially game-changing Virtual Reality videogame. The sister believe the VR is better than anything else out there and the interaction it offers will have benefits beyond the gaming world for those that want to develop it further. There is a lot at stake for Lois and Ebba and they are understandably apprehensive as they start to welcome guests to their home, a large mansion where no expense has been spared to make their VIP guests feel welcome.
But also in attendance is DCI Maarten Jansen. One of the guests has been receiving death threats and the police are on the scene to keep her safe and ensure the weekend goes off without incident. On that front the police are not successful. The book begins with a helicopter crash which did not happen by accident. The helicopter had been taking some of the guests to the studios in London where a demonstration of the VR game was to take place, it doesn’t even clear the grounds before it is spinning back to earth with several of the VIP guests on board.
Into The Fire is told with a non-linear narrative so after the early sight of the helicoper crashing down the reader is taken back to the start of the weekend and we get to know the key players in the story. The introductions are done by watching guests arrive at the house as from the viewpoint of some of the guests themselves (the multiple narrative runs through the book). Not only does this allow us to assess what the guests each have been witness to but we also get their thoughts and background story which allows the reader to know the big issues which dominate the lives. The positive pregnancy test, the man who adores his wife but feels so inferior to her that he is terrified to even make eye contact, even the policeman who will see his wife meet his ex.
Getting to know the characters can feel a bit of a slow burn but the characters do have quite fascinating and complex backstories so readers will engage with the various dilemmas. Rachael Blok is ensuring we have all the information we need so when DCI Jansen starts to uncover some of the secrets which surround the death which occurs during the weekend the reader also knows something of what is there to be discovered for him.
Into The Fire is a clever character driven mystery. Rachael Blok moves her figures around the board and only allows readers the opportunity to glimpse what her overall strategy may be. The characters need to be strong to make this approach work and I felt this was accomplished well. I had sympathy for some, anxiety for others and the charaters who were the clear villains of the story were not made too toxic that you did not care what may happen to them.
Nicely plotted, engaging characters and a good payoff. I hadn’t realised DCI Jansen had featured in previous books but I feel returning readers will enjoy his participation in this book.
But also in attendance is DCI Maarten Jansen. One of the guests has been receiving death threats and the police are on the scene to keep her safe and ensure the weekend goes off without incident. On that front the police are not successful. The book begins with a helicopter crash which did not happen by accident. The helicopter had been taking some of the guests to the studios in London where a demonstration of the VR game was to take place, it doesn’t even clear the grounds before it is spinning back to earth with several of the VIP guests on board.
Into The Fire is told with a non-linear narrative so after the early sight of the helicoper crashing down the reader is taken back to the start of the weekend and we get to know the key players in the story. The introductions are done by watching guests arrive at the house as from the viewpoint of some of the guests themselves (the multiple narrative runs through the book). Not only does this allow us to assess what the guests each have been witness to but we also get their thoughts and background story which allows the reader to know the big issues which dominate the lives. The positive pregnancy test, the man who adores his wife but feels so inferior to her that he is terrified to even make eye contact, even the policeman who will see his wife meet his ex.
Getting to know the characters can feel a bit of a slow burn but the characters do have quite fascinating and complex backstories so readers will engage with the various dilemmas. Rachael Blok is ensuring we have all the information we need so when DCI Jansen starts to uncover some of the secrets which surround the death which occurs during the weekend the reader also knows something of what is there to be discovered for him.
Into The Fire is a clever character driven mystery. Rachael Blok moves her figures around the board and only allows readers the opportunity to glimpse what her overall strategy may be. The characters need to be strong to make this approach work and I felt this was accomplished well. I had sympathy for some, anxiety for others and the charaters who were the clear villains of the story were not made too toxic that you did not care what may happen to them.
Nicely plotted, engaging characters and a good payoff. I hadn’t realised DCI Jansen had featured in previous books but I feel returning readers will enjoy his participation in this book.
November 2, 2021
Into the Fire starts with a literal bang. A helicopter crash lands onto the lawn of the manor house it was due to land at, bursting into oily flames around the unlucky occupants. Will any of them get out alive? What happened to make it fall from the sky in such a way? It's certainly an attention-grabbing way to start a book and it was so descriptive and tense, that I was thoroughly hooked, right from that unexpected start.
Set in St. Albans, this novel is an Agatha Christie-esque version of a closed-room mystery novel where all the events occur in one place; in this case it's a large country home belonging to sisters Ebba and Lois who have gathered together their investors prior to the launch of their new venture: Archipelago, a virtual reality game. One of Archipelago's major selling points is that the game has been produced ethically, from start to finish, making a stance against the exploitation of workers and intellectual property. This is a Big Thing causing waves in the tech community and getting them masses of positive publicity and also some unwanted attention. Amongst the eleven high-profile guests are a politician who has been receiving death threats for her support of the anti-exploitation movement, some glamorous Brits, a successful Dutch banker and his aloof movie star wife and an abrasive Swedish financier. DCI Jansen is assigned to Marieke the politician as her security protocol and early on we learn that they have somewhat of a past, and this storyline plays out alongside the main themes. There are lots of little connections between these people, some more obvious than others. With all these characters effectively locked up in a house together and millions of pounds at stake, what on earth could go wrong?
Well, quite a lot it seems, as first a member of the group is attacked, quickly followed by a murder - but you'll have to read it to find out what happens next. It's a sl0w-burner, but the hints are there if you can read between the lines. Even if you can't, you'll enjoy flip-flopping between each character, wondering who is behind this dastardly behaviour. They've all got backstories, and reasons, and although at times I did think there were a few too many weird connections between this small group of people it didn't spoil any of the enjoyment of the book for me. A great read.
I read an advance copy of this book with the Pigeonhole book club and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set in St. Albans, this novel is an Agatha Christie-esque version of a closed-room mystery novel where all the events occur in one place; in this case it's a large country home belonging to sisters Ebba and Lois who have gathered together their investors prior to the launch of their new venture: Archipelago, a virtual reality game. One of Archipelago's major selling points is that the game has been produced ethically, from start to finish, making a stance against the exploitation of workers and intellectual property. This is a Big Thing causing waves in the tech community and getting them masses of positive publicity and also some unwanted attention. Amongst the eleven high-profile guests are a politician who has been receiving death threats for her support of the anti-exploitation movement, some glamorous Brits, a successful Dutch banker and his aloof movie star wife and an abrasive Swedish financier. DCI Jansen is assigned to Marieke the politician as her security protocol and early on we learn that they have somewhat of a past, and this storyline plays out alongside the main themes. There are lots of little connections between these people, some more obvious than others. With all these characters effectively locked up in a house together and millions of pounds at stake, what on earth could go wrong?
Well, quite a lot it seems, as first a member of the group is attacked, quickly followed by a murder - but you'll have to read it to find out what happens next. It's a sl0w-burner, but the hints are there if you can read between the lines. Even if you can't, you'll enjoy flip-flopping between each character, wondering who is behind this dastardly behaviour. They've all got backstories, and reasons, and although at times I did think there were a few too many weird connections between this small group of people it didn't spoil any of the enjoyment of the book for me. A great read.
I read an advance copy of this book with the Pigeonhole book club and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 4, 2021
Given that I already had seven unread library books at home and also own at least 100 physical books I haven’t read yet – I’m not mentioning unread ebooks because that way lies madness – bringing home yet another title was the last thing I needed. But show me a cover featuring an author’s (sur)name that sounds distinctly Dutch and combine that with a blurb mentioning a Dutch banker and a controversial politician named Marieke both featuring in a thriller in which the main investigator is a Dutch expat in the UK, and you may understand why I didn’t have a choice.
I’m delighted to say that I do not regret my decision. Into the Fire is a fast-paced and intriguing thriller filled with secrets, twists and turns, and plenty of suspense. Given the setting, there’s only a limited number of potential victims and perpetrators. With most of these characters (secretly) being connected to each other in one way or another, the tension continues to rise with each new revelation. Those secrets are revealed slowly and not always completely which means that suspicions change, and possible motives keep on coming, keeping the reader on their toes while trying to figure out what on earth might be going on.
I find it ridiculously hard to review a thriller/mystery without giving away too much. Since this book succeeded in keeping me guessing right until the very end and I wouldn’t want to deprive other readers of that pleasure, I’m going to keep this one short. I do want to say that this book is best read in as few sittings as possible. Even while reading the book over the course of twenty-four hours, I struggled at times to keep up with who was who and how everybody related to each other.
I can honestly say that didn’t lessen my reading joy. I loved the red herrings and the fact that for a long time it wasn’t even clear who the intended victim(s) is/are or if the ‘right’ person had died only added to my enjoyment.
After finishing Into the Fire, I discovered that it is the third book in a series. That the possibility of prequels hadn’t occurred to me even once while reading is proof that this book works perfectly as a stand-alone story.
If you’re in the mood for a thrilling page-turner that will almost certainly keep you guessing, look no further.
I’m delighted to say that I do not regret my decision. Into the Fire is a fast-paced and intriguing thriller filled with secrets, twists and turns, and plenty of suspense. Given the setting, there’s only a limited number of potential victims and perpetrators. With most of these characters (secretly) being connected to each other in one way or another, the tension continues to rise with each new revelation. Those secrets are revealed slowly and not always completely which means that suspicions change, and possible motives keep on coming, keeping the reader on their toes while trying to figure out what on earth might be going on.
I find it ridiculously hard to review a thriller/mystery without giving away too much. Since this book succeeded in keeping me guessing right until the very end and I wouldn’t want to deprive other readers of that pleasure, I’m going to keep this one short. I do want to say that this book is best read in as few sittings as possible. Even while reading the book over the course of twenty-four hours, I struggled at times to keep up with who was who and how everybody related to each other.
I can honestly say that didn’t lessen my reading joy. I loved the red herrings and the fact that for a long time it wasn’t even clear who the intended victim(s) is/are or if the ‘right’ person had died only added to my enjoyment.
After finishing Into the Fire, I discovered that it is the third book in a series. That the possibility of prequels hadn’t occurred to me even once while reading is proof that this book works perfectly as a stand-alone story.
If you’re in the mood for a thrilling page-turner that will almost certainly keep you guessing, look no further.
May 5, 2021
This multi-viewpoint mystery starts with a bang - literally - as a helicopter crashes into the remains of a Roman amphitheatre, deep in the English countryside. We move through different timelines as the truth is slowly revealed: who was the real target and who committed the murder?
This appealed to me immediately as I love a group mystery a la Christie and since I work in tech and the weekend when the events take place was the launch of a new VR, this sounded perfect.
Sisters Lois and Ebba are, respectively, the brains and the face of Archipelago, a gaming company about to launch revolutionary VR tech. Their guests and backers are all attractive and successful and there is a lot of high drama as relationships unravel and tensions build. Unfortunately, for me there were a number of issues.
I found out after finishing the book that this was actually the 3rd (?) book in a series about the same police department but it works as a stand-alone. As a new reader of this author, I couldn’t quite work out where the reader was supposed be positioned: with the police officers or with the guests? If viewed as part of a series, then perhaps the allegiance with the police department would be more obvious.
I was confused why this was set in England when all of the characters seemed to be foreign. I think a setting outside the UK would make more sense. I also didn’t find the tech side of The supposedly revolutionary new product terribly convincing.
Overall, I can imagine this as a good holiday read, I just found the tone a little too high octane for my taste all the way through but particularly in the last third of the novel. There are so many multi-POV mysteries around at the moment that I’m starting to long for a 3rd person, omniscient narrative voice. But that could just be me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This appealed to me immediately as I love a group mystery a la Christie and since I work in tech and the weekend when the events take place was the launch of a new VR, this sounded perfect.
Sisters Lois and Ebba are, respectively, the brains and the face of Archipelago, a gaming company about to launch revolutionary VR tech. Their guests and backers are all attractive and successful and there is a lot of high drama as relationships unravel and tensions build. Unfortunately, for me there were a number of issues.
I found out after finishing the book that this was actually the 3rd (?) book in a series about the same police department but it works as a stand-alone. As a new reader of this author, I couldn’t quite work out where the reader was supposed be positioned: with the police officers or with the guests? If viewed as part of a series, then perhaps the allegiance with the police department would be more obvious.
I was confused why this was set in England when all of the characters seemed to be foreign. I think a setting outside the UK would make more sense. I also didn’t find the tech side of The supposedly revolutionary new product terribly convincing.
Overall, I can imagine this as a good holiday read, I just found the tone a little too high octane for my taste all the way through but particularly in the last third of the novel. There are so many multi-POV mysteries around at the moment that I’m starting to long for a 3rd person, omniscient narrative voice. But that could just be me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2021
I loved the start of this book. A helicopter falls from the sky, and we are immediately transported back to the day before. It totally grabbed my attention. And it never let go. Sisters Ebba and Lois have developed a new VR game that uses advanced technology. There is nothing like it on the market and they are sure of success.
The sisters hold a glamorous party at their house to which their investors are invited, together with a few famous faces. There is Marieke, an internationally renowned Dutch politician and a famous actress, together with her exceedingly rich husband. Marieke has been receiving death threats, so there is a strong police presence at the party too. Led by DCI Maarten Jansen, who is already personally involved with a few of the guests.
The back story is extremely interesting and essential to the story. A lot of work has gone into the games development, and everyone is delighted to be at the closing end of this deal. Everyone is expecting to gain huge financial rewards from backing the development of this game. Some people are expecting to gain a lot more than others. And it is this imbalance and individual greed that leads to the situation unravelling extremely fast, before everyone’s eyes.
There is a lot packed into this three day period. So many people holding on to so many secrets. The setting is rather similar to Christie’s as it takes place in and around a large Manor House. It is incredibly tense as you don’t get a true insight into any of the characters, and even the investigating DCI has secrets of his own!
Different chapters give out different perspectives, and it is brilliantly plotted. It is full of suspense and though I managed to guess a few of the twists, I don’t think you get enough clues to work it all out until the very end. If tense and suspense is your thing, you will love this book!
The sisters hold a glamorous party at their house to which their investors are invited, together with a few famous faces. There is Marieke, an internationally renowned Dutch politician and a famous actress, together with her exceedingly rich husband. Marieke has been receiving death threats, so there is a strong police presence at the party too. Led by DCI Maarten Jansen, who is already personally involved with a few of the guests.
The back story is extremely interesting and essential to the story. A lot of work has gone into the games development, and everyone is delighted to be at the closing end of this deal. Everyone is expecting to gain huge financial rewards from backing the development of this game. Some people are expecting to gain a lot more than others. And it is this imbalance and individual greed that leads to the situation unravelling extremely fast, before everyone’s eyes.
There is a lot packed into this three day period. So many people holding on to so many secrets. The setting is rather similar to Christie’s as it takes place in and around a large Manor House. It is incredibly tense as you don’t get a true insight into any of the characters, and even the investigating DCI has secrets of his own!
Different chapters give out different perspectives, and it is brilliantly plotted. It is full of suspense and though I managed to guess a few of the twists, I don’t think you get enough clues to work it all out until the very end. If tense and suspense is your thing, you will love this book!
May 27, 2023
Fiquei doente essa semana, e a única coisa que eu conseguia fazer era ler e dormir. Então nada melhor do que escolher um livro de crime, em que tudo acontece bem rápido pra me deixar bastante curiosa e tentar dormir um pouco menos.
Esse livro, como os outros da autora, se passa em St Albans (a cidade que eu moro *.*) e continua com o mesmo detetive (apesar de eu ter lido esses livros fora de ordem e não lembrar direito da história de vida dele). O principal local que aparece nesse livro são as ruínas do teatro romano da cidade, e me dá um calorzinho no coração saber que eu sei exatamente como o lugar é porque já fui lá várias vezes.
Dentre os que eu li (Under the Ice e The Fall), eu achei esse o mais trágico, e o final me deixou realmente triste. Esse tipo de livro/filme de crime, em que o assassino provavelmente está dentre os convidados que estão ficando em uma casa, está em alta agora. E, por mais que eu tivesse tentado, eu não adivinhei quem seria o assassino.
Apesar de livros de crime não serem meus favoritos, eu fico muito contente de ler os dessa autora!
"We can't save everyone [...]. We have to realise we can't do it. We're not super-beings. We're just human. We just do the best we can do, most days. And some days that best is better than others."
Esse livro, como os outros da autora, se passa em St Albans (a cidade que eu moro *.*) e continua com o mesmo detetive (apesar de eu ter lido esses livros fora de ordem e não lembrar direito da história de vida dele). O principal local que aparece nesse livro são as ruínas do teatro romano da cidade, e me dá um calorzinho no coração saber que eu sei exatamente como o lugar é porque já fui lá várias vezes.
Dentre os que eu li (Under the Ice e The Fall), eu achei esse o mais trágico, e o final me deixou realmente triste. Esse tipo de livro/filme de crime, em que o assassino provavelmente está dentre os convidados que estão ficando em uma casa, está em alta agora. E, por mais que eu tivesse tentado, eu não adivinhei quem seria o assassino.
Apesar de livros de crime não serem meus favoritos, eu fico muito contente de ler os dessa autora!
"We can't save everyone [...]. We have to realise we can't do it. We're not super-beings. We're just human. We just do the best we can do, most days. And some days that best is better than others."
March 29, 2021
This was such a compelling read - the level of intrigue was just off the charts so I had to keep turning the pages at record speed! With a cast of rich and famous characters who all have something to hide, I found myself suspecting everyone and trusting no one - not even DCI Maarten himself!
Taking place in a beautiful mansion with such glamorous suspects, and with all the lies and deception this kind of gave me Cluedo vibes - which I loved 🧡
Yet this story was a lot more than a brilliant mystery - it also brought attention to the heartbreaking topic of modern day slavery, and the way we exploit people working in factories with poor safety measures and terrible pay. The company creating the groundbreaking new VR game which is the reason for the weekend’s activities promises to treat employees fairly, as well as being careful with the environment - something which we can only hope becomes reality.
I really enjoyed this - the author has a way of peppering in little hints at something coming throughout almost every chapter so you can’t help but carry on reading to find out what is going on, and I never managed to guess who our murderer was so that was a brilliant twist for me!
This is ideal for anyone who likes their thrillers fast paced and addictive - so everyone surely?!
Taking place in a beautiful mansion with such glamorous suspects, and with all the lies and deception this kind of gave me Cluedo vibes - which I loved 🧡
Yet this story was a lot more than a brilliant mystery - it also brought attention to the heartbreaking topic of modern day slavery, and the way we exploit people working in factories with poor safety measures and terrible pay. The company creating the groundbreaking new VR game which is the reason for the weekend’s activities promises to treat employees fairly, as well as being careful with the environment - something which we can only hope becomes reality.
I really enjoyed this - the author has a way of peppering in little hints at something coming throughout almost every chapter so you can’t help but carry on reading to find out what is going on, and I never managed to guess who our murderer was so that was a brilliant twist for me!
This is ideal for anyone who likes their thrillers fast paced and addictive - so everyone surely?!
June 23, 2021
An international murder mystery which is set in England but with a global cast of characters. The story has twenty-first-century themes, with a nostalgic nod to classic murder mystery helped by the English setting. I have read the previous book in this series, but this reads perfectly as a standalone.
The cast of characters is plentiful, and some have points of view that illuminate the reader about their lives and motivations. There are many secrets, some of which impact the outcome, and all are complex characters.
DCI Jansen is the objective point of view, even though his personal life threatens to interfere with his professional detachment. The reader is allowed to draw their conclusions, but the twists are plentiful and the reveals gradual. The story keeps most of its secrets until the end.
Like Nordic noir, the story is atmospheric and intense with elements of psychological suspense.
I received a copy of this book from 'Head of Zeus' via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The cast of characters is plentiful, and some have points of view that illuminate the reader about their lives and motivations. There are many secrets, some of which impact the outcome, and all are complex characters.
DCI Jansen is the objective point of view, even though his personal life threatens to interfere with his professional detachment. The reader is allowed to draw their conclusions, but the twists are plentiful and the reveals gradual. The story keeps most of its secrets until the end.
Like Nordic noir, the story is atmospheric and intense with elements of psychological suspense.
I received a copy of this book from 'Head of Zeus' via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
February 23, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus of the arc of Into the Fire by Rachael Blok.
5 stars- this is the third installment in the DCI Jansen series, I Havent read the other two but wow this is great this is set in an English countryside, in an old crumbling mansion and eleven people whom are famous in their field of work all go to the mansion as all of them have been invited to a party but not any ordinary party a 3 DAY ONE infact.... in which to celebrate the launch of this new ground breaking invention of a virtual reality game DCI Jansen gets called, the reason for this is for protection in case of any attacks or unknown attacks which may happen/occur. He is to deal with secrets, a lot of awkward tension as well as that there is a murderer amongst this...
I loved this was such a unique original concept! It was such a great one, the suspense, the mystery the thrills oh my!! such an amazing read
Highly recommend
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5 stars- this is the third installment in the DCI Jansen series, I Havent read the other two but wow this is great this is set in an English countryside, in an old crumbling mansion and eleven people whom are famous in their field of work all go to the mansion as all of them have been invited to a party but not any ordinary party a 3 DAY ONE infact.... in which to celebrate the launch of this new ground breaking invention of a virtual reality game DCI Jansen gets called, the reason for this is for protection in case of any attacks or unknown attacks which may happen/occur. He is to deal with secrets, a lot of awkward tension as well as that there is a murderer amongst this...
I loved this was such a unique original concept! It was such a great one, the suspense, the mystery the thrills oh my!! such an amazing read
Highly recommend
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
October 23, 2021
This is the third book in a series of UK based thrillers with exiled Dutch detective Maart at the centre of the action once again.
The book is set across three days of partying in a mansion, where sisters Ebba and Lois are due to announce an ethical VR game launch to the world. However, one of the guests is a Dutch politician who has been receiving death threats so Maart is sent to keep an eye on things. It’s clear that they have a history, but also that there is LOT going on between all the guests. A helicopter crash (terrifyingly described) ups the ante and it’s down to Maarten to solve a mystery.
This series is becoming a firm favourite. The book is tightly plotted, the writing is excellent and there’s a background of tech company ethics which adds an international dimension.
I’ll look forward to the next book in the series.
Read with The Pigeonhole.
The book is set across three days of partying in a mansion, where sisters Ebba and Lois are due to announce an ethical VR game launch to the world. However, one of the guests is a Dutch politician who has been receiving death threats so Maart is sent to keep an eye on things. It’s clear that they have a history, but also that there is LOT going on between all the guests. A helicopter crash (terrifyingly described) ups the ante and it’s down to Maarten to solve a mystery.
This series is becoming a firm favourite. The book is tightly plotted, the writing is excellent and there’s a background of tech company ethics which adds an international dimension.
I’ll look forward to the next book in the series.
Read with The Pigeonhole.
October 21, 2021
I enjoyed this book! I've not read others by this author but happily it worked perfectly well as a stand-alone read.
This is the story of a Virtual Reality game about to be launched by a group of people, some are investors, some creatives, and then of course the computer savvy people bringing it all together. During the pre-launch party there's a scheduled helicopter flight but as it takes off it crashes back down and one of the group dies.
The characters are so well drawn, and I suspected each of them as the story unfolded. There were beautifully described scenes too, as well as clever plotting - such a good read!
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this novel, and of course to Rachael Blok for writing it!!
This is the story of a Virtual Reality game about to be launched by a group of people, some are investors, some creatives, and then of course the computer savvy people bringing it all together. During the pre-launch party there's a scheduled helicopter flight but as it takes off it crashes back down and one of the group dies.
The characters are so well drawn, and I suspected each of them as the story unfolded. There were beautifully described scenes too, as well as clever plotting - such a good read!
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this novel, and of course to Rachael Blok for writing it!!
February 22, 2023
My thanks to the Author and publisher's for providing me with a Paperback version of this book to read and honestly review.
This is the third book in this series but can be read as a standalone, I did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written character driven each chapter named after a character and seen and told through their eyes. Completely engaging and gripping from first to last page, with plenty of surprises and twists towards the end to leave this reader open mouthed, and some action sequences found me holding my breath with the tension.
If it's so good why only four stars I hear you ask, well there are numerous pages taken up with the guests having dinner and drinks, which add little or nothing to the story for me.
Recommended.
This is the third book in this series but can be read as a standalone, I did and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written character driven each chapter named after a character and seen and told through their eyes. Completely engaging and gripping from first to last page, with plenty of surprises and twists towards the end to leave this reader open mouthed, and some action sequences found me holding my breath with the tension.
If it's so good why only four stars I hear you ask, well there are numerous pages taken up with the guests having dinner and drinks, which add little or nothing to the story for me.
Recommended.
November 5, 2021
A good read, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is a clever and well plotted thriller with some lovely descriptive writing. The book is one of a series but works well as a stand-alone (I hadn’t read any of the previous novels) and has the feel of a scandi-noir in that it is methodical and detailed, allowing us to really get to know the various characters. I enjoyed the pacing of the reveals which kept the book feeling very like it was building in tension throughout, and the in-depth exploration of the history and motivations of the various characters was very engaging. Some level of suspension of disbelief was required at times, but because of how gripping the novel was, this didn’t detract for me at all from my overall enjoyment.
April 25, 2021
This starts off with a bang, but I found it hard to get into - it was only in the last quarter of the book that everything started to click. However, it's this last quarter that kept me reading, wanting to know who & why. All the characters were linked by some degree of separation, which is something that I both loved & struggled with. It's very character driven, and while we only get the perspective of a few characters, we get to see everyone's secrets eventually and why they did what they did.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2021
Wow, I absolutely loved this.
One weekend for a very important deal what could possibly go wrong?
A twisty and tense read it never let up.
There are some really strong characters, some are likeable others not so.
Plenty of red herrings along the way. I did guess some of it but it certainly didn't take away the enjoyment. Very cleverly written.
This was read with my bookclub Pigeonhole and we were lucky to have the author Rachael Blok read along with us which is always a pleasure. Thank you.
Highly recommend.
One weekend for a very important deal what could possibly go wrong?
A twisty and tense read it never let up.
There are some really strong characters, some are likeable others not so.
Plenty of red herrings along the way. I did guess some of it but it certainly didn't take away the enjoyment. Very cleverly written.
This was read with my bookclub Pigeonhole and we were lucky to have the author Rachael Blok read along with us which is always a pleasure. Thank you.
Highly recommend.
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