For possibly the first time since I started my Goodreads account, I’m not going to be providing a synopsis. I accidentally went into this book blind and, after finishing it in one sitting, I went back and read the publisher provided blurb. To be frank, I think it reveals just a bit too much. So if you haven’t read it yet, DON’T. It will be a much better ride if you’re left happily in the dark. Now on to my review…

A toxic friendship. Gasp-inducing twists. A dark and alluring plot. All of the above describes Burn It All to a T. From the compelling characters with deep backstories to the ever ratcheting suspense, this debut psychological thriller captured my attention from the very first page. Don’t get me wrong, the start was, at times, an irritating slow burn, but as the chapters flew by, so too did the pace. Twisting and turning as Thea’s secrets unraveled, this female friendship morphed and mutated until the last brilliant scene.

A character-driven plot if I’ve ever seen one, the storyline drew hypnotic character studies of these two damaged souls. Told via dual alternating POVs and timelines, the mysteries in each were utterly seductive. As unguessable secrets, damaging lies, and unthinkable betrayals came alive on the page, the well-layered plot followed in turn. I honestly don’t know the last time that I read a story with two more convincing personas. Fully fleshed out and relatable, they were a total home run.

All said and done, this propulsive plot was an unmitigated success. With uncomfortable insights into mental health such as suicide, even the more serious topics felt sincere and authentic. Through them, this thought-provoking tale provided a depth not often seen in thrillers. As for the conclusion, it couldn’t have been better. Perfectly wrapped up but also not too pat, this masterful author nailed it in one. Needless to say, if you haven’t heard of this book yet, you need to add it to your TBR ASAP. It’s simply not one to be missed. Rating of 5 stars.

Thank you to Maggie Auffarth and Crooked Lane Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 4, 2024

Trigger warning: arson, suicide, infidelity, mention of: alcoholism, gambling addiction, self-harmadvanced-reader-copy psychological-thriller29 s2 comments Rachel the Page-Turner477 5

This book has me unbelievably conflicted! When that happens, I slip into a pro/con mindset for the review to decipher what I feel about it. In this case, that tactic still didn’t work.

The plot of this story was decent - we have Thea and Marley, BFFs for ages, until a recent falling out. As the book starts, Thea has been found dead in a fire, and the police are thinking it’s suicide, perhaps from guilt…

There is an arsonist in their small town, and many houses have been burned to the ground. Thankfully, they were all abandoned, but this time, there was a person in it, and the police are definitely keen to find out why. Marley teams up with her ex-fiancé/Thea’s stepbrother to make sure Thea’s name is cleared. They just know there’s no way Thea was burning down houses, or that she’d kill herself. So the investigation begins…

To start, the pros:

-Marley and Thea had a long and complicated friendship, and the dynamic between the two was compelling.
-The ending of this book was fantastic, and I didn’t see any of it coming. I think everything was wrapped up quite nicely.

Then, the cons:

-This got confusing in parts with the alternate POVs mixed with alternate timelines, and usually that’s something that doesn’t bother me.
-In some parts, this got really slow. At minimum, 50 pages could have been cut from this book and it wouldn’t be much different.

This one is a wash for me - the ending was the most redeeming part and it felt there was too much to unravel before getting there. The story was decent, but I’m not sure the execution was there. Three stars.

(Thank you to Crooked Lane Books, Maggie Auffarth and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on June 4, 2024.)14 s Carmen196 1 follower

Thank you to Booklist and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.

Marley Henderson used to have it all: a devoted fiancé, a coveted job in fashion, and a lifelong best friend, Thea. But after a drunken mistake in front of her whole small Georgia town, Marley loses everything. Then arson fires begin appearing all over town, and one turns deadly, taking Thea’s life. The police believe Thea herself set the fire, but Marley cannot reconcile this view of Thea with the memory of her childhood friend. Marley begins her own investigation and soon uncovers things about Thea she never knew. How close were Marley and Thea really? Did Marley ever know the real Thea? Auffarth’s debut novel is a triumph. The pace keeps the story moving while still allowing for the emotional ebbs and flows to hit hard. It unfolds through alternating POVs, both unreliable and yet sure to earn readers’ sympathy. Auffarth knits together the past and present for an exciting and unexpected ending. Perfect for fans of the intricately plotted domestic thrillers of Megan Miranda and Mary Kubica.adrenaline5 s Kori Potenzone891 85

Hi,

Fair warning

I’m in one of my “moods”

I yell, shout, and fight the shower curtain.

The floor is just a little too cold for my liking and I have a bone to pick with Mother Nature for throwing a wrench in my plans with this flood!!!!

Yes, that kind of mood.

How do I fix it, you ask?

I go sniff my books.

Just kidding, I read..

I picked up one of my favorite books, poured a cup of coffee and took my bra off for the day.

It’s called an adult time out and it’s almost as nice as an adult spankin’.

Burn It All

Seriously? This is a debut? Someone must be punking me.

Maggie Auffarth, has entered the book circuit and if I have anything to say about it, she’ll be here to stay.

This book is down right thrilling and will have you anxiously awaiting what comes next. I was immediately consumed and devoured this book in one sitting.

Check out this teaser :

This propulsive debut psychological thriller set in small-town Georgia explores rage, redemption, and the many layers of toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Andrea Bartz and Rachel Hawkins.

Marley Henderson is having the worst year of her life. First, a drunken mistake costs her everything, including her engagement and her closest friend, Thea. Then, a series of cruel rumors make her an outcast in the small, Georgia community she calls home. Finally, a string of vicious arsons rip through town, leaving unchecked destruction—and Thea’s body—in their wake.

To the police, the case is cut-and-dry. Thea Wright was an unstable woman with a troubled history, and, with no evidence to suggest otherwise, it seems clear that she was responsible—not only for her own death but for dozens of arsons in the months preceding it. To Marley, though, the truth is less obvious.

Reeling from the loss, Marley teams up with her ex-fiancé to uncover the truth, but the deeper she digs into the night of Thea’s death, the murkier the truth becomes, not just about the fires that have been raging through town all summer, but about the woman she thought she knew. To get to the truth, Marley will have to face Thea’s lies, as well as the darkness she thought she put behind her long ago.

Told in alternating POVs and dual timelines, Burn It All will have suspense fans flying through each twist and turn to reach the stunning conclusion.3 s Kera’s Always Reading1,678 65

Marley, Austin and Thea had always been a trio… but when Marley makes a stupid mistake one drunken night, she loses her fiance and her best friend at the same time.

Now, after a year of trying to dodge horrible rumors all alone and being a town pariah, Marley is barely holding it together. An arsonist has been setting fires all summer and in the latest burned building, Thea’s dead body is discovered. Marley is reeling. She never got to reconcile with the girl who was a sister to her.

It brings Marley and Austin together again when they search for answers, but it takes them deeper into what was really going on with Thea, bringing many more questions before any answers are found.

This was full of twists and the darkness of intrusive thought. I had so much fun. I was able to predict some things, but was floored by others. It was a great time.0-2024-reads 2-241 Poppy Marlowe536 22

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************

This propulsive debut psychological thriller set in small-town Georgia explores rage, redemption, and the many layers of toxic friendship, perfect for fans of Andrea Bartz and Rachel Hawkins.

Marley Henderson is having the worst year of her life. First, a drunken mistake costs her everything, including her engagement and her closest friend, Thea. Then, a series of cruel rumors make her an outcast in the small, Georgia community she calls home. Finally, a string of vicious arsons rip through town, leaving unchecked destruction—and Thea’s body—in their wake.

To the police, the case is cut-and-dry. Thea Wright was an unstable woman with a troubled history, and, with no evidence to suggest otherwise, it seems clear that she was responsible—not only for her own death but for dozens of arsons in the months preceding it. To Marley, though, the truth is less obvious.

Reeling from the loss, Marley teams up with her ex-fiancé to uncover the truth, but the deeper she digs into the night of Thea’s death, the murkier the truth becomes, not just about the fires that have been raging through town all summer, but about the woman she thought she knew. To get to the truth, Marley will have to face Thea’s lies, as well as the darkness she thought she put behind her long ago.

Told in alternating POVs and dual timelines, Burn It All will have suspense fans flying through each twist and turn to reach the stunning conclusion.

Now that is an extensive summation and I cannot say much beyond that except to beg you to read this book – it is expertly crafted and utterly READABLE. I could barely put it down. Highly recommended to friends, family, patrons and book clubs a.

#shortbutsweet ngrev- Melanie Gordon396 16


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