For a treat as the nights started drawing in I bought myself A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins (see my blogs on her previous books in Thailand Reading 3 and The Girl on the Train). It is a gripping read from the very start and I loved every minute of it.

Theo, a successful writer, is still in love with his ex-wife Carla, and they both blame Carla’s sister Angela, for the death of their son Ben, who died as a toddler in her care, ending their lives as they knew them. Angela is found dead at home, and her elderly neighbour Irene sits alone mourning her death. Meanwhile, not far away across the streets of Islington, middle-aged Miriam lives on a narrow boat, fuming against Theo for plagiarising the story of her teenage ordeal escaping a murderer. Next to Miriam’s boat moors Daniel, Angela’s son, who has a one night stand with Laura. Laura lives alone in a council flat, constantly in trouble with the law, after a difficult upbringing and some very dubious parenting.

These characters make their way through the same small neighbourhood, their lives intertwining, as a horrific crime unfolds that they all become caught up in it. Will justice be done and will the killer or killers be caught? You’ll just have to read it to find out. And don’t plan anything else for a couple of days whilst you do.