This is a great novel from a writer who knows how to develop a multilayered psychological thriller. Felicity ran away from home and vowed never to return when hears hears of a young girl missing in that community in a similar way to another when she originally left home. Suspicious, she is drawn back, in a timeline and in reality to see if they are connected. Easy to read, one of those just-one-more-chapter books that are perfect for a sunny afternoon beach read or a cold stay at home winter day. Heatwave is hot for sure.

I loved the synopsis of The Heatwave and wanted to read with interest.

I enjoy a psychological thriller, but one that’s fast paced. This is quite a slow burner for at least two thirds of the book.

But I’m glad I continued to read to the end as it’s ending does not disappoint

Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the copy of this book.

Felicity, our main character, sees a shocking news story that brings a past she'd rather forget flooding back. So overcome to find out what happened and much to the bewilderment of her husband and children, Felicity returns to a town she hasn't set foot in for 16 years.

This story is told in the present from Felicity's point of view and her friend Jasmine's point of view 16 years earlier, culminating in the two worlds colliding.

What follows is a dark psychological thriller that has a rather slow build up but leads to a shocking and disturbing ending.

I enjoyed this book. It was slow but the last 20% of the book made up for that. Highly recommend for the twist ending.

Heatwave is Katerina Diamond's first standalone novel. It is a slow-burn thriller spanning over two time periods. The pacing is quite slow in almost 75% of the book. After that it picks up and culminates with a shocking ending. Though very different from the author's previous books, I really enjoyed this one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Avon Books UK, for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Woah! Set in two time periods and told from two viewpoints. Jasmine as a teenager and 16 years later Felicity as an adult. This book was fast paced, and was clearly leading somewhere throughout. The twist when it came was a shocker. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

As usual from Katerina Diamond, an incredible twisted tale that has you gripped from the first page to the last word!

When Felicity hears of the disappearance of a young girl in the coastal town of Sidmouth, she knows she is the only one who can hekp. After having avoided the place for sixteen years, ever since she fled her family and her past, she heads back, desperate to try to help try to find the missing girl.

Written with the events of the past intermingled with the tale of the prrsent, you are left guessing again and again as to what occurred in Thatcher sixteen years ago, when another girl went missing, only to have your expectations subverted again and again.

An absolutely incredible story from a fantastic author.

When Felicity watches a news story about a missing 16 year old girl in her hometown of Sidmouth in Devon , she immediately heads back leaving her husband and kids behind. She is convinced that this disappearance will somehow give her a clue to what happened all those years ago.

Heatwave by Katerina Diamond is a stand-alone psychological thriller .A slow burner it's a compulsive, enjoyable read full of suspense and tension.. Solid 5 stars

I would like to thank Avon Books UK & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

I hadn’t read a Katerina Diamond book in a while so was really looking forward to this and it didn’t disappoint. She kept me asking questions and wanting to know more all the way through and it wasn’t the ending I expected! A real good page turner.

I've never read a Katerina Diamond before but I definitely shall in the future. This book starts dramatically with an abduction, and possible murder, of a teenager in Sidmouth. The story cuts to Felicity who hasn't been back to Sidmouth for 16 years but on hearing this news returns as the same thing happened all those years ago to another girl. She feels she needs to confront her past so she can move forward. I like the way the story goes from past to present and I love the twists and turns in the plot. An addictive read!

Series Of Unfortunate Events....
A series of unfortunate events leads to Felicity leaving her hometown. Some years later she returns when she hears news that echos the events of that long ago Summer. Will Felicity find the truth? A reasonably paced suspense but with a protagonist that is not so likeable. A slow burn.

WOW! Thoroughly enjoyed this one 👍 two story lines again the present told from Felicity’s point of view and the past by Jasmine her best friend. I’m finding a lot of plots are written like this these days, anyhow, great start to a gripping and dark psychological thriller. It grabs you straight away. The end of the prologue goes like this:

‘She knows she is in trouble. She struggles to stay awake, aware that once her eyes are closed, they may never open again. As her lids draw together she tries to speak, but all she hears is an unintelligible gargle. ‘You’re coming with me,’ the driver says.’

A girl disappears, a community is shattered and Felicity left her hometown knowing a lot more than she let on. However, 16 years later, after building a new life, she is shocked by the news that a second young girl has gone missing in Sidmouth. She must go back, as only she knows the truth about what happened all those years ago. So off she goes, leaving behind the life she has built up in the Lake District.

This is a very cleverly developed plot and leads to quite a disturbing and shocking end. The two timelines come together very nicely. Great crime, mystery and suspense tale.

Diamond crafts and spins together dysfunctional upbringings, loads of suspicion, plenty of mind games, sexual abuse, murder, friendship, young girl activity, relationships, deceit and plenty of red herrings throughout the book. She keeps you guessing.

Jasmine didn’t pick up on what Tim said about her parents about they’re not what she thinks. Tim was staying with Jasmine and her parents, lodging with them in return for helping them around their home. He knew more than he let on too. Tim was a pleasant addition to the plot.

People need to consider the consequences of their actions. There is a lot going on however it all falls into place.

I would highly recommend.

Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this eARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

I did enjoy reading this book but by the time I got to the end I realised there was a massive plot hole and it really bothered me - the story doesn't make sense once you notice it!!

Other than the plot hole the writing was great, the story built up well and was suspenseful. I didn't see the twist coming which is always great as I read many psychological thrillers and often work out the twist well in advance. I also really liked the characters. I felt the were well developed and I grew to like both Felicity and Jasmine.

I will definitely give other Katerina Diamond books a chance as the writing was great and without the plot hole I would have given 4 stars.

The story is told in two timelines. In the present Felicity is returning home after leaving sixteen years previously with lots of dark secrets. When she left a young girl had gone missing and Felicity is returning now as another young girl is missing. Sixteen years ago Felicity was best friends with Jasmine and the story is told from Jasmine’s point of view and some shocking revelations are revealed, I found this book very slow, quite implausible and a disappointing read, I have enjoyed Katrina Diamond’s previous books and I will certainly read her next one, but I am sorry this one wasn’t for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A fast paced psychological thriller set in Sidmouth, Devon. A missing girl sends a woman back to the sleepy seaside town she escaped sixteen years earlier. A satisfying twist at the end made this a great read.

I have loved all of this authors books and this one is up there with the rest. I can't wait to read more from Katerina.

Twist and turns galore in this summer set thriller that casts a decidedly dark shadow. I loved the way in which the author built up the tension, creating all manner of suspects in what was a complex and tense missing persons case. There were a varied cast of characters who I didn't always feel i could trust and enough misdirection to leave readers a little blindsided by the ending. I certainly wasn't expecting it.

There is an uneasy quality to the whole read, something that leaves you a bit uncomfortable. The author skirts around the theme of grooming and of older people taking advantage of teenagers. The book opens in a manner that immediately spells out a sense of doom and that keeps the tension dripping into the narrative right to the last. With an unreliable narrator who is clearly hiding something, and chapters moving from past to present day, this is a gripping summer read that psychological thriller readers will love

I have been a huge fan of all of Katerina Diamond’s books since I read ‘The Teacher’, loving the series. So reading The Heatwave I was a little apprehensive as to what it would be like with it being a standalone thriller. But I was not disappointed! It kept me gripped from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the way the book kept jumping from the present to the past and how the life’s of the characters were slowly revealed. I warmed to the characters of Felicity and Jasmine and despite reading many crime novels, I did not predict the ending.

I would highly recommend this page turner, it will keep you intrigued. It’s style is easy to read and was very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read one of my favourite authors and review this book.

Even though I did buy myself a physical copy of this book, I would also like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Katerina Diamond's 'Imogen Grey' series, so while I was excited for a new book from the author, I was also skeptical if a standalone could compare to the series.
I certainly wasn't disappointed! All the incredibly picture-perfect descriptions certainly made me feel like I was on holiday, enjoying stunning views. And with a little murder-mystery, it had my full attention from the very start.
A fairly easy read that is steadily paced, twisty and highly compelling!
I did prefer one POV compared to the other but I certainly didn't see that ending coming!
Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Katerina Diamond and Avon publishers for my arc of The Heatwave in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: When a chance news report reveals a girl is missing in her home town of Sidmouth, Felicity knows she has to go back, she has to help the missing girl and uncover the secrets of the past as well. Memories of a hot summer return, days at the fair, on the beach with her best friend and a mysterious and attractive stranger. Memories of another missing girl.

Katerina Diamond shot to the top of my list of favourite crime authors a few years ago when I read her first book The Teacher and I've been addicted ever since. The Heatwave is her first standalone novel and it does not disappoint, it's just as addictive as her main series and keeps you guessing until the end. I'd definitely recommend any and all of Katerina's books.

Sixteen years ago a girl went missing in Felicity's small town, she bolted and kept her mouth shut about what she knew. Now another has gone missing and Felicity feels compelled to go back because if the killer is back only she will be able to help find her.

The story goes between present day and back "then", then features Jasmine, a young girl whose closest friend is Felicity. The girls are so different but close and the then revolves around them, what happens to them and what they discover. Now is Felicity leaving her family and going back to the town she would rather have forgotten.

Lots of anticipation, psychological thriller, some unsettling themes. I wasn't sure how the then and now narrative linked in to everything and Diamond keeps you guessing throughout. Felicity seems a bit unhinged at times, reckless making you question and wonder what went down all those years ago, it certainly had a profound impact and maybe now she can address it. Some dodgy characters throughout and I found it hard to put it down because I wanted to know what happened, where it was going and if it was all connected. 4/5 for me this time, I am a fan of Diamond's writing, this is a standalone so you can start with this. I look forward to her next whether it is part of the established series or another new set of characters/standalone.