PositiveCrime Fiction LoverThe narrative is split between two distinct time frames. The first opens with the events surrounding Lily and Ed’s first meeting with Carla, and closes with the dramatic outcome of Thomas’ re-trial. We then move forward 15 years ... This is quite a long book, but author Jane Corry makes use of the available space to slowly but surely built up a sense of unease and mistrust between the main characters ... There is a dramatic betrayal, a violent death, and we also learn the true reason behind Lily’s obsession with her late brother ... This is a very cleverly written book, and Corry has created enough flawed characters to keep even Thomas Hardy fans happy ... To stick with the fire metaphor, the book is something of a slow burn, but there are twists, turns and upsets a-plenty, not to mention heartaches, in the final third of the story.
