Key Summary of Into the Fire by Rachael Blok

Welcome to my review for Into the Fire by Rachael Blok. My thanks to Sophie Ransom of Midas PR for my spot on the blog tour. Thanks also to Head of Zeus for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Into the Fire is a crime fiction thriller It’s told from several perspectives and different time points. A new business venture launches at a country house one weekend with disastrous consequences. It’s Blok’s 3rd novel and she’s really making a name for herself in thrillers. I really enjoy the slow burn of this book because the plot line is convincing and the characters are solid. Into the Fire is out now in hardback and ebook.

a copy of into the fire next to a cup off coffee and a bunch of purple tulipsMy Review of Into the Fire by Rachael Blok

This is the story of two sisters launching a new business venture one weekend at a country house in Hertfordshire. Sisters Ebba and Lois own Archipelago, a virtual reality game company. It’s run in sucha way as not to exploit people or the environment (if it wasn’t fictitious it would be exactly the sort of thing which would be reviewed on this blog!). They invite investors to their launch party held at their old family home – a stately pile – which they recently reacquired. One of the guests is a politician whose stance against modern slavery sees her receive regular death threats. So there is also Police presence from the local St Albans constabulary.

The book opens with a great hook because a dramatic event occurs at the start. From this, the reader has a lot of questions and is drawn straight into the story. Was it an accident? Was it murder? The story is a slow burn because author slowly reveals details of different strands but the plot itself isn’t slow. So, we learn how about the past of each character and how strands fit together. The plot is compelling and told from different time points and from different characters’ point of view. This is a popular style of writing and Blok does it well.

The characters are interesting and well developed. The bulk of the story and key events take place at the country house in Hertfordshire, but we learn a lot of the characters backstory which occurs elsewhere. I like how believable and engaging the plot is and how detailed the characters feel. I also enjoy how well Blok has crafted the ‘murder mystery at a country house weekend’ trope in a fresh and modern way.

If you enjoyed my review please check out some other books I’ve enjoyed recently. And don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour if you’ve not already seen them – details in the poster below.

blog tour poster featuring the cover of into the fire along with the dates and blog names

Cover Blurb for Into the Fire

Eleven guests. Three nights. One murderer… This is the haunting and atmospheric new thriller from rising star of crime fiction, Rachael Blok.

In a gorgeous mansion in the Hertfordshire countryside, sisters Lois and Ebba prepare to launch their new venture. Archipelago is an exploitation-free tech company whose virtual reality game promises to unite the worlds of technology, politics and the environment.

Invited to the launch party are their investors: current and ex-politicians, international business moguls and activists, one of whom – Marieke – has been receiving online abuse and death threats for her views on eco-politics.

DCI Maarten Jansen has been summoned to join the house party. He is sure the threats are from online trolls with nothing better to do – he’s only offering police protection because his boss wants to put the VIP guests at ease. But when eight of the guests are involved in a suspicious helicopter crash, Maarten starts to uncover long-buried secrets – and a murderer in their midst…

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