Book 2 in the Detective Harlow Duran series.

When the charred remains of a body is found in Saranac Lake, Harlow and Lucas are called in to investigate.

Will a serial killer already stalking victims in nearby McKenzie they need to work fast to stop this killer before the unimaginable happens.

Still fighting her own personal demons, this case will push Harlow to her limits.

A fast paced serial killer thriller that will keep you hooked to the final shocking page. I can't wait to read more in this great series.

Great book with lots of twists and turns that you cant put this book down. There is a cliffhanger involved . It is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone.

The Girls in the Fire is the second book in the Detective Harlow Durant series and, whilst I would recommend reading the first in the series, this does still work as a standalone novel.

This book sees Durant and her partner Lucas go to Saranac Lake to solve a homicide where a woman has been mutilated and set on fire. After spending some time speaking to the locals, it fast becomes clear that there is a serial killer at large.

The book is punctuated with little chapters flashing back to twenty years previous, where Durant was a child and living with her serial killer Father. I really enjoyed reading these chapters as I felt that it helped me understand Durant more.

The Girls in the Fire is fast paced and full of unexpected twists, it kept me guessing right to the very end. I can't wait for the third installment!

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

Wow from start to finish. Loved loved loved this thrilling, addictive,roller coaster of a book. Amazing from start to finish. This book and series is just great. Do read it. You will be wowed.

Detective Harlow Durant is reeling from her last case when she is called upon to investigate a burnt body. Meanwhile there are missing women reported: could one of them be this victim? Harlow is also worried about the media reporting on another case and her own family history...
The Girls in the Fire is the second book to feature Harlow Durant and I have not read the first. There are mentions of events in the last book so I feel that I would have preferred to read the books in sequence.
The burnt body and murder investigation takes a while to get underway as they attempt to disocver the identity of the victim. The rest of the department are dealing with a serial killer nearby but it appears the cases are unconnected. Harlow clashes horns with other officers but I loved the relationship between Harlow and her partner Lucas. They have a gently teasing banter which softens the harsh reality of the case they are investigating.
The majority of the book is written from Harlow's perspective in the present day case. However, there are also chapters from 20 years ago to show events from her childhood. There are also some chapers from a mysterious 'Him' which raises the anticipation and tension as we wait for him to be identified.
The chapters set in the past provide background to Harlow's character. Her own father was a serial killer but she was desperate for him to stay with her mother who neglected and abused her when he wasn't around. Both of these angles are emotive and have had a profound effect on her personality.
The Girls in the Fire is an interesting detective thriller book with a great lead detective.

Book 2 in the Detective Harlow Durant series, i totally recommend picking up the first book before starting this one.


With tensions still high within the department Detective Durant is still on the outside of her team, so when she begins to think their cases are linked she can't help but be worried as she doesn't want to appear like she's taking over the other case also. When the remains of a young woman are discovered on the edge of picturesque Saranac Lake, Detective Harlow Durant races to the scene. The area is already under watch after hikers discovered several bodies, stabbed to death in the national park. But as Harlow stares at the charred remnants of an innocent young life, she knows that this is a different killer with a very twisted motive.

I really enjoyed this instalment of the Detective Harlow series, i found myself on edge constantly because i wanted to know what was going on, the idea of people being burned to death is terrifying if i am being completely honest and i couldn't for the life of me work out who was behind the murders and more importantly why? i was hooked from beginning to end. I had very little idea 'who dunit' so it was great when it was revealed, of course was someone on my list of suspects but let's just say it was a super long list :D

I love detective Harlow she is a legend, we are still unsure whether or not she had anything to do with her colleagues death so i was looking forward to hints and clues, i love a recurring mystery with a series so i look forward to when we eventually find it out what happened that fateful night, roll on book number 3 i'm ready and waiting!!!! Honestly though Detective Harlow is an amazing character i love the fact that she is a hot mess and so relatable as a lead. I am excited to see where her story takes us.

The prose is written with such flare, you cannot help but read more and more then realise it's a completely new day (if you are anything like me anyway, who needs sleep?). The description makes you feel like you are there witnessing everything as it's happening. I found myself in the pages on the case with them. It's this kind of writing that i love.

In conclusions, i would totally recommend The Girls on Fire i was so excited when i found out this series continued and i am completely a fan! This instalment was just as reverting with a great storyline and a crime i haven't read before. I am ready for book number 3. 5 stars.

Thanks to Dea Poirier, Bookouture and netgalley for the digital ARC of The Girls on Fire in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

review found on
Goodreads.com/jasminwebb
Instagram @jazzreadsreviewsrepeats

Second in this series featuring Detective Harlow Durant. Complex,dark and twisted thriller. Fast paced story with lots for Harlow to unravel as well as facing her own past.

have changed my mind, in the first book I didn’t like the cliché way the author was taking the main female character, but now it has grown on me. I like the darkness in this series. I like the three storylines- the present crime, the unknown man, and her past. The murders so far have been interesting and not predictable. I actually like the characters which is rare even though the female one can be a bit annoying. I will definitely continue reading this series.

I have changed my mind, in the first book I didn’t like the cliché way the author was taking the main female character, but now it has grown on me. I like the darkness in this series. I like the three storylines- the present crime, the unknown man, and her past. The murders so far have been interesting and not predictable. I actually like the characters which is rare even though the female one can be a bit annoying. I will definitely continue reading this series.

The Girls in the Fire by, Dea PoirierOk this story definitely clamped it’s claws into. How there some things that had me questioning the writing of the book, but there were other areas that gripped me to the core of needing to know who the killer was. I was confused on some parts of the story where Harlow, was talking to Lucas, but then the story says that she’s talking to Dirby. I’m like, when he come on scene. There are some miss spelled wording or wrong wording to use in a sentence.
I was to look beyond this and continue with the story. I would of like to see Lucas asking more questions and taking the lead on some of the investigation. When Harlow kept saying my case, I was taken aback, because I thought that Lucas and her were a team. The plot kept me guessing all the up to the last page. I guessed the first killer correctly, but the others I didn’t see coming.
I found some moments to the book heart pounding. This book is definitely a page turner. Some parts of the story are intense. Some parts are very rough and raw, but that’s the magic of making a thriller novel. The book has some excitement and a lot of entertainment.
I absolutely loved the end. Hands down it was that shocking stare that people have when they have turn into their favorite tv show next week. Until next time my fellow readers… read on!

This is the second book of the series and can be read as a stand-alone. Dea Poirier holds nothing back, throwing one twist after another at readers. As if one serial killer isn’t enough, Poirier challenges the storyline with not just one but two other killers. The plot moves at breakneck speed, jumping between points of view and time lines. Highly intriguing and compulsive. However, the lack of resolution is a sticking point as not only is there a cliffhanger but unresolved accountability and questions. Hope it smooths out in the next book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the ARC of #TheGirlsinTheFire which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

Detective Harlow Durant’s newest case involves the tragic murders of two young women. Both bodies were beaten and burned. As Harlow and her partner Lucas begin investigating, they look for a connection, one they did indeed find. Apparently both women had dated the same man. Meanwhile, there are snippets of Harlow’s past throughout the book as she grew up the child of a serial killer.

Due to her tragic past, Harlow easily identifies that a serial killer is at work now and she strives to find them before yet another body is found. Harlow’s past and present consistently clash, especially when her mother comes storming back into her life. Harlow is determined to push her violent memories aside and hopes to ignore her mother as she is determined to find the killer before yet another body is found. The harder she pushes, the more personal things become. In fact, she is seemingly unconcerned for her safety as she draws closer to uncovering facts about the possible identity of the killer.

With riveting twists and turns, excellent pacing and an intriguing protagonist, this book was an utterly compelling read, one impossible to put down. Written from Harlow’s first-person POV, readers can easily see things from her perspective, especially as she uses her disturbing past to identify critical clues. As things come to a head, the book closes with a cliffhanger, thus creating an intense desire to read the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Dark, disturbing and terrifying, Dea Poirier’s The Girls in the Fire is a twisted thriller that will send shiver after shiver racing down readers’ spines.

The remains of a young woman are discovered on the edge of Saranac Lake in upstate New York. Detective Harlow Dunant is called onto the scene and the sight that greets her chills her to the bone. A young woman has been burnt to death a couple of feet away from a lake where families gather to spend time together and make wholesome memories. Harlow has no clues or leads that could lead her to the victim’s identity and starts scouring missing persons reports hoping to find out who this young woman is.

The victim is identified as Ellie Gordon, a twenty-six year old woman who worked in a bookshop and enjoyed meeting up with friends. When Ellie’s mother comes to identify the body, she reports that her daughter’s gold crucifix is missing. Harlow is determined to find this missing piece of jewellery as it could lead her closer to the killer. However, the killer is watching from the shadows and isn’t done with Harlow yet because another body is found murdered in similar circumstances.

Witness statements lead Harlow to a local man who was obsessed with the two women. With video evidence found showing him pawing Ellie’s crucifix, Harlow is sure that she has her man – until he is also found dead. Harlow doesn’t know which way to turn – especially because the only other link to the two victims is the most powerful man in town with alibis up to his eyeballs.

With Harlow’s own life in danger, the intrepid detective soon realises that the only way she can solve this case is by facing up to her demons and bringing to the light a dark secret from her past that will lead her straight to the killer…

My heart was in my throat the whole time I was reading Dea Poirier’s The Girls in the Fire. This talented writer certainly knows how to up the ante, ramp up the tension and keep readers turning the pages terrified of whatever twists and turns are going to come next. The Girls in the Fire is a fast-paced, nerve-jolting and nail-biting chiller with a detective who is flawed, gutsy and determined.

A first rate crime thriller, Dea Poirier’s The Girls in the Fire will keep readers turning the pages late into the night.

The Girls In The Fire
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Thriller / Detective Series
Date Published: 3/4/22
Format: ebook
Author: Dea Porier
Publisher: Bookouture
Pages: 313
GoodReads Rating: 4.23

First thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ebook to read.

Synopsis: The remains of a burned body discovered, Ellie Gordon, Detective Harlow Durant gets to work. When another body is discovered in a similar manner, it is believed to be the same killer. The first person of interest is found dead. The case becomes personal when her life is at risk. Murder, secrets, lies all come to a head in this suspensive thrilling story.

This story is told from 2 POV, one current and one 20 years ago,both by Detective Harlow Durant. Her father was a serial murderer, which drew her to law enforcement. The chapters were short. The beginning was a bit of a slow burn but then it heated up and was a page turner. This is part of a series, being Book 2, however, it can be read as a stand alone, as I did. The character development was strong. The twists kept coming, even at the very end, and intrigued you to turn the pages with an inability to put down. Author does an incredible job with laying out the descriptions, you felt like you were there with Detective 🕵️‍♀️ Durant solving the murders. This book was so incredible, that I will go back and read the first book, Find Me In the Dark. This author really sustained me into reading more.

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Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was very excited to jump back in.

Harlow and Lucas are a great team and I love their relationship. Harlow struggles to open up to anyone given her past but Lucas has broken down some of her walls.

This case was very interesting. It had a everything that makes a good crime thriller. The suspense, the mystery and the twist and turns. I loved it.
I loved the different POV and timelines. I am a huge fan of seeing different POV as I feel it give a much more realistic view of the story. I like to see the whole picture.

Dea really roped me into this story and I cannot wait for the next instalment.

While helpful to read the first book, #FindMeintheDark, this one can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first & #DeaPoirier did a fantastic job of giving background information on #DetectiveHarlowDurant, having a story all her own. She talks about her past in this one. I’m off to read the first and anticipate the next as the ending leaves you ready for book 3!

I really tried but I couldn't get into this. My dislike of Harlow just distracted me from the rest of the story so I gave up.

The Girls in the Fire by Dea Poirier is the second book in the Detective Harlow Durant series and what a superb book this was. Detective Harlow Durant is a homicide detective for the Bureau of Criminal Investigations is called to the picturesque Saranac Lake, to a gruesome scene of an unknown body which is badly burned and is barely recognisable.

Who are they?

Why have they been murdered like this?

The victim is then identified as twenty-six-year-old Ellie Gordon—a seemingly normal girl with no known enemies. But when Detective Harlow Durant, begins to piece together the evidence, Another body is found the same way at the lake.
The only connection, is a man they used to date. But why would he want them dead?

Will she figure out who the killer is before another body is found!?

This book is full of great twists and turns throughout that will have you hooked.

I highly recommend this book especially if you have not read the first book in this series you're ok, but I do recommend you go back and read it. You will not be disappointed!

Big Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the second in Dea Poirier’s Detective Harlow Durant series. I haven’t read the first, but didn’t have any trouble reading this one as a stand-alone. Enough back story was filled in that I could make sense of it.

Here, she and her partner Lucas are called to Saranac Lake to investigate a grisly murder. A young woman’s body has been found, burned almost beyond all recognition. Then a second. Then a third. Another detective, Chad, is already in the tourist town investigating a serial killer. Is this a second serial killer in the same area? Harlow and Lucas have got to figure out what’s going on.

There were a number of unlikable people in this book, starting with the main character. Harlow Durant is a detective, a loner with a troubled past. She’s constantly on the move, trying to stay ahead of her parents and anyone else who might unravel her history. There are very few people she trusts enough to let them know her story. Her partner Lucas is one person that she lets in. He knows the details of her dark past, and trusts and likes her regardless.

Harlow’s parents are both detestable characters – her father is a serial killer (yes, you read that right), her mother is just abusive and horrible. Chad, a fellow detective, is a jerk. He’s constantly needling Harlow, giving her grief about anything he can, and she returns the favor. The pawn shop owner from whom they’re trying to get video evidence is just low-level sleaze. The common thread among the victims, a well-to-do gentleman, is hitting on Harlow every chance he gets. It’s a grimy undercurrent to an interesting story.

That being said, even with all the characters you’ll love to hate, it was still a very compelling read. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but once I did, I was hooked. The victims, though it was revealed that they had their own issues, were characters you cared about. They deserved justice, and I was cheering for Harlow as she worked to provide that for them.

And if you don’t like cliffhangers, boy, you will not like the end of this book. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I read that last page. I didn’t see it coming, and I’ve got to read the next book now!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Girls In The Fire' by Dea Poirier.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Dea Poirier, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 4th March 2022.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the second book in the 'Detective Harlow Durant' series but can be read as a standalone.

I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'An addictive serial killer thriller perfect for fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni.' I am a huge fan of Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in New York, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Detective Harlow Durant and an unsub. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

'The Girls In The Fire' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Dea discusses/includes domestic abuse.

WOW!!! WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY GRIPPING PAGE TURNER WITH AN EXPLOSIVE ENDING!!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the picture leaving you feel the heat of the fires on your skin. The cover and the title suit the book perfectly.

The storyline is realistic and I was completely invested throughout. I absolutely loved reading this book in the series and I'm looking forward to going back to read book one along with any future books in this fantastic series. It is filled with murder, secrets, lies, mystery, tension, suspense and red herrings galore, especially one in particular! I was completely hooked and could not put it down even at 3am!!! The atmosphere was perfect and I was kept on the edge of my seat. It took me ages to work out the killer which is an accomplishment as it is getting harder and harder to surprise me with the amount of crime books I've read so a huge well done to Dea. The storyline is also multi-layered with not only one but TWO serial Killers on the go which is unique for a crime book but also the investigation into Officer Greens death along with Harlow's family history. There is so much going on, not too much to confuse you but the perfect amount to keep the suspense going from page one until the end. The explosive ending is definitely the cherry on the top leaving it on one heck of a cliffhanger!!

I hope your busy writing the next book Dea as I, for one, cannot wait to find out what happens next!!

It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.


Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but strangely I find it important that I like the pathologist too along with other team members. In this case the pathologist was Doctor Pagan and I am pleased to say that I clicked with her immediately.

The characters are all strong, well developed and realistic. I really enjoyed getting to know the team in this book. I absolutely love Harlow who is a strong female lead. I always enjoy meeting strong women in books being female myself. I like the fact that she is full of sarcasm, kick butt but also shows a side that is vulnerable. Harlow has history that has affected her and it is nice to see someone who isn't constantly soldering on but is struggling with their past and getting through it. I enjoyed seeing her relationship with her partner Lucas grow and develop throughout the book. Lucas made me laugh on several occasions with his sarcasm but you can also see that he cares greatly for Harlow and worried about her. They both make a great team and I'm looking forward to meeting them again in the next book. Ashley Gordan and Harlow's parents are horrific and I'm not surprised how they treated her has affected her so much but it was interesting to see how her mother seems to realise how much damage she caused and was possibly trying to make up for it. However, I do believe that it was too little to late. I also really clicked with Dr Pagan and Racquel and am looking forward to meeting them again along with Sergeant Dirby. Although we didn't see much of Sergeant Dirby from how Harlow speaks of him he seems like a good boss so it will be interesting to see more of him. A fantastic set of characters who I am looking forward to getting to know more!

Clear your schedules before starting this book as it is a true page turner!!

Congratulations Dea on an absolutely fantastic page turning success and welcome to my favourite author club!! I cannot wait to read more of your previous and future books!!

Overall an absolutely action packed psychological thriller with an explosive ending that will keep you turning the pages until you've finished.


Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:

♥ "I hate the viewpoint that women are only valuable for what comes out of their body. If you don’t breed, your life is worthless. What a crock of shit." Love this as it's very true!!


Genres covered in this book include Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedural, Psychological Thriller, Suspense. and Psychological Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot, Robert Dugoni, PJ Tracy, Carol Wyer and anyone who loves a page turning psychological thriller.



313 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited (at time of review) which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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