Slow Fire Burning – Book Review

When a young man is found gruesomely murdered in a London houseboat, it triggers questions about three women who knew him. Laura is the troubled one-night-stand last seen in the victim’s home. Carla is his grief-stricken aunt, already mourning the recent death of yet another family member. And Miriam is the nosy neighbor clearly keeping secrets from the police. Three women with separate connections to the victim. Three women who are – for different reasons – simmering with resentment. Who are, whether they know it or not, burning to right the wrongs done to them. When it comes to revenge, even good people might be capable of terrible deeds. How far might any one of them go to find peace? How long can secrets smolder before they explode into flame?

This is the third book I have read of Paula Hawkins so I was excited when I got the book.

The story begins with the gruesome murder of a man named Daniel Sutherland. There were three women involved in his life–Laura a troubled woman who was last seen leaving the victim’s boat house, Carla, the victim’s aunt dealing with the death of a close relative and Miriam, the nosy neighbor with a secret past. All these three women has some sort of connection with each other.

To be honest, initially, the story started slow burn and partially boring. It got interesting towards the middle, and I feel there are two sets of the stories told in the book–one about a notorious serial killer that Miriam escaped from as a young girl back in 1980’s coupled with the murder of Daniel. As a reader we discover each of these women’s deep secrets. It got more and more interesing towards the end, although I wished the author had written a little about the serial killer case more. This wasn’t her best book and still the Girl in the Train, her debut book will be her best but it wasn’t horrible either. But if you are into slow burn thrillers, then try out this book–worth 3.5 stars.