The House Fire by Rosie Walker

An intense, chilling read.  A thriller that delves into true psychology, family dynamics, self control and coercive control. Perfectly paced writing.

A university student, along with her boyfriend, decides to make a documentary about historic arson attacks on local buildings. This plan is taken over by the onset of new attacks although the student is not comfortable with this angle. At the same time she is having to navigate the new domestic situation as her mother has remarried and her younger sister really doesn't like her step-father.

The narrative heavily relies on the unique atmosphere of an aging, weather-beaten beach town hiding deep-seated community secrets. It is set in the fictional town of Abbeywick, and is typical of the many rundown seaside towns in England. It really is quite eerie at times.

The story is told mainly from the two sisters' point of view with the odd chapter from the arsonist's. The characters are fully formed and their motivations are expressed well. The derelict house, moorland, old letters and photographs add atmosphere and an excellent level of creepiness. This is a very well written book with concise language that adds tension without being trite.

Of course, this ends up as a whodunnit within the mystery, but the reasoning is scientific and not sensationalist. Plenty to think about once the book is closed. Brilliant.

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Published by HarperCollins UK One More Chapter on 6 January 2022.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

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