Scan barcode
emille_93's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nixbix_reads's review
3.0
This starts off with a bang, but I found it hard to get into - it was only in the last quarter of the book that everything started to click. However, it's this last quarter that kept me reading, wanting to know who & why. All the characters were linked by some degree of separation, which is something that I both loved & struggled with. It's very character driven, and while we only get the perspective of a few characters, we get to see everyone's secrets eventually and why they did what they did.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Head of Zeus & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
njwyllie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
wafflepolly's review
4.0
A helicopter falls from the sky, and suddenly the reader is whisked back to the day before, to learn about the events leading up to it. It's a gripping way to begin a book, and got me instantly hooked.
The third in Blok's DCI Jansen series; each book can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the previous book so was excited to dive into this one.
I have an instant fondness for books set in places that I know particularly well. Having grown up just outside St Albans, I was able to picture the exact location where this book takes place. And in a Christie-esque closed circle mystery way, almost all of the story takes place in one manor house.
Eleven people — each a success story in their field — gather in a grand house on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the Roman amphitheatre. They've been invited, several internationally, to spend the weekend celebrating the launch of a groundbreaking VR game, focusing on ethics throughout the supply chain while securing enormous financial deals.
There is a large cast of characters from the beginning, however I found them easy to follow as each one was distinct. The book utilises POV chapters from a number of them, which greatly enhanced the mystery as the cast of characters are all far more deeply connected than first appearances would suggest, and therefore each POV character gives insight into different characters. Everyone in this house has secrets, and the pace at which they're slowly revealed was practically perfect. Rachael Blok was juggling a lot of narrative balls in the air throughout this story, and I was half waiting to see if she would drop any of them, but that didn't seem to happen.
As with the previous book in the series, the number of coincidences that occur to connect the characters — whether during the 3 day narrative or as part of backstory — definitely pushes the suspension of disbelief limits. However the story was more than engaging enough for that to not be an issue for me.
One thing I'd say is to recommend not leaving large gaps between reading sessions. The sheer volume of characters, the amount of key things that happen, and the ever-changing suspicions and motives could be difficult to fully keep track of if things aren't fresh in your mind.
I've been meaning to go and read the first in the series — [b:Under the Ice|41089945|Under the Ice|Rachael Blok|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533909337l/41089945._SY75_.jpg|64200877] — since reading [b:The Scorched Earth|51156403|The Scorched Earth|Rachael Blok|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565518772l/51156403._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72728741] and am yet to get around to it, however this third instalment has moved that higher up my tbr list. Another great, meaty crime mystery from Rachael Blok.
The third in Blok's DCI Jansen series; each book can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the previous book so was excited to dive into this one.
I have an instant fondness for books set in places that I know particularly well. Having grown up just outside St Albans, I was able to picture the exact location where this book takes place. And in a Christie-esque closed circle mystery way, almost all of the story takes place in one manor house.
Eleven people — each a success story in their field — gather in a grand house on the outskirts of the city, overlooking the Roman amphitheatre. They've been invited, several internationally, to spend the weekend celebrating the launch of a groundbreaking VR game, focusing on ethics throughout the supply chain while securing enormous financial deals.
There is a large cast of characters from the beginning, however I found them easy to follow as each one was distinct. The book utilises POV chapters from a number of them, which greatly enhanced the mystery as the cast of characters are all far more deeply connected than first appearances would suggest, and therefore each POV character gives insight into different characters. Everyone in this house has secrets, and the pace at which they're slowly revealed was practically perfect. Rachael Blok was juggling a lot of narrative balls in the air throughout this story, and I was half waiting to see if she would drop any of them, but that didn't seem to happen.
As with the previous book in the series, the number of coincidences that occur to connect the characters — whether during the 3 day narrative or as part of backstory — definitely pushes the suspension of disbelief limits. However the story was more than engaging enough for that to not be an issue for me.
One thing I'd say is to recommend not leaving large gaps between reading sessions. The sheer volume of characters, the amount of key things that happen, and the ever-changing suspicions and motives could be difficult to fully keep track of if things aren't fresh in your mind.
I've been meaning to go and read the first in the series — [b:Under the Ice|41089945|Under the Ice|Rachael Blok|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533909337l/41089945._SY75_.jpg|64200877] — since reading [b:The Scorched Earth|51156403|The Scorched Earth|Rachael Blok|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565518772l/51156403._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72728741] and am yet to get around to it, however this third instalment has moved that higher up my tbr list. Another great, meaty crime mystery from Rachael Blok.
debbiejane's review
3.0
An enjoyable thriller of the Agatha Christie genre … a small group of suspects and a lot of clues and red herrings. I particularly enjoyed the end and the way the different story strands came together.
laurenbowes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
faysieh's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anybody. Whilst it is a thriller it is also exceptionally well written with some lovely descriptions of the season and location.
The characters are well drawn, believable and buzzing with past burdens which could light up a small county without any need for the national grid. Alive, alight and burning bright with tension, secrets and some dark motives, just why does Maarten, in charge of the police presence at a rambling countryside house, feel so uneasy?
The guests are assembled, investors, owners, partners of interested parties, to finalise and celebrate the imminent launch of Archipelago's new virtual reality game. However there is so much more to this gathering than signing on the dotted line and it is the complexities of each character, the convoluted dynamics and hidden connections which make this read so entertaining, mysterious and thrilling.
Nothing goes according to plan, although Marieke, who has been subject to some nasty hate mail and threats, which is why Maarten and his team are there, isn't necessarily the only target.
Why does someone want to sabotage events and who will be the victim or victims and not survive beyond the weekend?
I loved reading along, courtesy of Pigeonhole, so much, that I am determined to read the preceding two novels in this series as soon as I possibly can.
If you like drama and cliffhanging chapters, Into the Fire is the book to set your reading addiction ablaze!
The characters are well drawn, believable and buzzing with past burdens which could light up a small county without any need for the national grid. Alive, alight and burning bright with tension, secrets and some dark motives, just why does Maarten, in charge of the police presence at a rambling countryside house, feel so uneasy?
The guests are assembled, investors, owners, partners of interested parties, to finalise and celebrate the imminent launch of Archipelago's new virtual reality game. However there is so much more to this gathering than signing on the dotted line and it is the complexities of each character, the convoluted dynamics and hidden connections which make this read so entertaining, mysterious and thrilling.
Nothing goes according to plan, although Marieke, who has been subject to some nasty hate mail and threats, which is why Maarten and his team are there, isn't necessarily the only target.
Why does someone want to sabotage events and who will be the victim or victims and not survive beyond the weekend?
I loved reading along, courtesy of Pigeonhole, so much, that I am determined to read the preceding two novels in this series as soon as I possibly can.
If you like drama and cliffhanging chapters, Into the Fire is the book to set your reading addiction ablaze!
urbansapphire's review
4.0
Into the Fire starts with a literal bang. A helicopter crash lands onto the lawn of the manor house it was due to land at, bursting into oily flames around the unlucky occupants. Will any of them get out alive? What happened to make it fall from the sky in such a way? It's certainly an attention-grabbing way to start a book and it was so descriptive and tense, that I was thoroughly hooked, right from that unexpected start.
Set in St. Albans, this novel is an Agatha Christie-esque version of a closed-room mystery novel where all the events occur in one place; in this case it's a large country home belonging to sisters Ebba and Lois who have gathered together their investors prior to the launch of their new venture: Archipelago, a virtual reality game. One of Archipelago's major selling points is that the game has been produced ethically, from start to finish, making a stance against the exploitation of workers and intellectual property. This is a Big Thing causing waves in the tech community and getting them masses of positive publicity and also some unwanted attention. Amongst the eleven high-profile guests are a politician who has been receiving death threats for her support of the anti-exploitation movement, some glamorous Brits, a successful Dutch banker and his aloof movie star wife and an abrasive Swedish financier. DCI Jansen is assigned to Marieke the politician as her security protocol and early on we learn that they have somewhat of a past, and this storyline plays out alongside the main themes. There are lots of little connections between these people, some more obvious than others. With all these characters effectively locked up in a house together and millions of pounds at stake, what on earth could go wrong?
Well, quite a lot it seems, as first a member of the group is attacked, quickly followed by a murder - but you'll have to read it to find out what happens next. It's a sl0w-burner, but the hints are there if you can read between the lines. Even if you can't, you'll enjoy flip-flopping between each character, wondering who is behind this dastardly behaviour. They've all got backstories, and reasons, and although at times I did think there were a few too many weird connections between this small group of people it didn't spoil any of the enjoyment of the book for me. A great read.
I read an advance copy of this book with the Pigeonhole book club and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set in St. Albans, this novel is an Agatha Christie-esque version of a closed-room mystery novel where all the events occur in one place; in this case it's a large country home belonging to sisters Ebba and Lois who have gathered together their investors prior to the launch of their new venture: Archipelago, a virtual reality game. One of Archipelago's major selling points is that the game has been produced ethically, from start to finish, making a stance against the exploitation of workers and intellectual property. This is a Big Thing causing waves in the tech community and getting them masses of positive publicity and also some unwanted attention. Amongst the eleven high-profile guests are a politician who has been receiving death threats for her support of the anti-exploitation movement, some glamorous Brits, a successful Dutch banker and his aloof movie star wife and an abrasive Swedish financier. DCI Jansen is assigned to Marieke the politician as her security protocol and early on we learn that they have somewhat of a past, and this storyline plays out alongside the main themes. There are lots of little connections between these people, some more obvious than others. With all these characters effectively locked up in a house together and millions of pounds at stake, what on earth could go wrong?
Well, quite a lot it seems, as first a member of the group is attacked, quickly followed by a murder - but you'll have to read it to find out what happens next. It's a sl0w-burner, but the hints are there if you can read between the lines. Even if you can't, you'll enjoy flip-flopping between each character, wondering who is behind this dastardly behaviour. They've all got backstories, and reasons, and although at times I did think there were a few too many weird connections between this small group of people it didn't spoil any of the enjoyment of the book for me. A great read.
I read an advance copy of this book with the Pigeonhole book club and I am leaving this review voluntarily.