Alison survives a wildfire / brush fire in southern Australia by completely wrapping herself in a wet blanket, and by a lot of luck when the wind veered away from her house. When Alison tries to leave her home, she finds a car in her driveway and a dead woman in the car. Who is she? Alison has no idea, but the woman looks a lot like Alison and has a slip of paper in her purse with Alison’s name and address on it.

The fire killed dozens of people, many of whom Alison knew, including her good friend Meg. She is grieving and in shock, staying for a while with an older woman, Sal, whose home was unaffected. As facts come to light, Alison is determined to figure out why the woman (Simone) was coming to see her and what their connection might be.

Alison isn’t a particularly likable character, but we gradually learn her backstory, which includes an abusive boyfriend and parents who died in a car crash, the incentive for Alison having moved home from a city far across Australia. She has an odd relationship with Billy, a local police officer who has had feelings for Alison for years. For some reason, Alison finds it hard to confide in people she should trust and is loath to accept help from anyone. I found it hard to understand some of the choices she made.

The author uses flashbacks to tell Alison’s history, but the flashbacks aren’t noted in any way and it can take the reader a moment to realize they are reading a flashback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my complimentary ebook and audio book. #penguinrandomhousepartners

 When a wildfire tears through Alison King’s hometown, she doesn’t have time to evacuate, so she takes cover in her bathroom under a wet blanket. However, when she comes out to inspect the damage, she finds a dead woman in her driveway! What’s more, the dead woman bears an uncanny resemblance to Alison. Alison then takes it upon herself to investigate the dead woman. She discovers a connection to herself, and then the mystery intensifies!
 
The synopsis of this one definitely piqued my interest! This largely character-driven story includes a good mystery, but it is a slow burn. I read the print version and listened to parts of the audio. I have to give a shout out to the narrator’s beautiful Australian accent! It made listening a pleasure!

Read this if you enjoy:
*Descriptive novels
*Character-driven stories
*Don’t mind a slow burn
*Enjoy a good mystery

Surviving a wildfire when it sweeps through her Australian community killing hundreds, artist Alison finds a car in her driveway with a dead woman, who bears a significantly similar appearance to her. She finds a scrap of paper with her address on it in the car which sends her on a cross country trip back to Cairns, from where she had fled an abusive boyfriend. Simone, the dead woman, had lived in the same building where Alison had lived in Cairns and was fleeing an abusive boyfriend. As more fires threaten, the suspense and stakes heat up.

In Radiant Heat, Alison survives a wildfire only to find mysteries wait for her when she can finally leave the house. These mysteries start in the form of a mysterious woman parked in her driveway, a piece of paper with her name on it.

Alison becomes very focused on what is going on and why the woman is in her driveway. She doesn’t always make good decisions and there were points when I really disliked her. Now some people may not like that, but I find this type of character more interesting, although it can be a frustration when reading!

There are flashbacks as Alison investigates the mysterious woman to fill in some of the questions of Alison’s past. Sometimes these flashbacks came at inconvenient times in the story and it slowed things down a bit and I wasn’t fond of that. It takes away from the gradual build up of tensions and suspense throughout the story. Alison does have a complicated backstory that does need to be told.

There is a will-they – won’t-they between Alison and a cop friend of hers that help to make things interesting, especially since Alison is under suspicion as well.

I did like the story from a number of perspectives. The setting is interesting and the descriptions of the fire are vivid and realistic and elicited a reaction from this reader. I thought Alison was a terrific-ly flawed character that kept me wondering what crazy thing she would do next. The setting was fresh and interesting to me as well. The mystery aspect was dark and complex and some readers might find it uncomfortable. Overall, a complex mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting, but with some flashback sequences that slow things down.

I’m sorry to say that this book was not a good fit for me. It was truly a “dark, psychological thriller” and I don’t know if it was just my current mood or if it was the fact that nothing at all went well for Alison, but it was just too dark for me. I’m not super sensitive about content, but I was surprised to see that there weren’t content warnings: abusive relationship, alcohol, animal death, assault, attempted murder, car accident, cheating, death, emotional abuse, fire (obviously)… and that’s just A-F. There was a lot happening in this book and it was pretty much all dark, scary and sad. It was very twisty. The setting in Australia felt unique and there were lots of country-specific references that I had to look up. This book wasn’t terrible and I think it might be good for the right person, but that wasn’t me right now.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Short synopsis: As a fire tips through the Australian countryside creating devastation in its wake, Alison feels very grateful to have gotten out alive. But during her escape she finds a red car in her driveway, and inside is a dead woman she doesn’t know.

My thoughts: I didn’t really know what to expect with this one, but boy was it a fun unexpected ride! Told from the past and the present timeframe we soon discover along with Alison how the woman in the car is connected to her.

I loved the atmospheric setting and trying to incomes clues along with Alison. It was gripping and had me dying to find all the connections. There are some triggers and difficult scenes relating to abuse so if you’re sensitive please check those out.

I did the majority of this on audio, and the narrator did a fantastic job of telling the story and keeping my attention gripped. The only hesitation I have in recommending audio is I felt like the time hops were hard to keep track of. There was never clear distinctions between the past and the present and I think the physical version was easier to follow.

Read if you love:
- Atmospheric descriptions
- Australian setting
- Gripping thrillers
- Finding connections

• The narrative opens with an intense wildfire, skillfully described, as Alison battles for her life in a bathroom refuge. The vivid depiction of the fire's ferocity creates a compelling and immersive start.

• The discovery of a dead woman in Alison's driveway adds an unexpected layer of mystery. The author weaves a complex web, leaving readers questioning the connection between the two characters.

• The devastated Victoria countryside and scorched Australian bushlands serve as more than a backdrop; they become integral elements, contributing to the overall atmosphere and tension in the story.

• Alison's journey from survival to unraveling the mystery showcases well-crafted character development. Her resilience and determination made her a compelling protagonist.

• Beyond the immediate danger of the wildfire, the plot introduces additional threats, adding depth to the storyline. The suspense builds as Alison navigates through challenges.

• The author's skillful use of descriptive language enhances the reading experience. The bitter char of eucalyptus and the desperation in each breath create sensory impressions that linger after youve turned the page.

• Delving into themes beyond survival, touching on identity, interconnected lives, and the consequences of unforeseen events adds depth to the overall storyline.

• The elements of survival, mystery, and psychological depth, create a captivating reading experience that lingers in your mind long after the final page.

I am not normally a fan of slow burn mysteries, but this one grabbed me from the start. Maybe it’s the Australian setting with the wildfire or something else, but I was taken.

I didn’t really like or connect with any of the characters, but these unlikable ones aren’t the ones you love to hate, but just people you would avoid if you could. Alison is complicated and flawed with a history I just needed to know more about. When she finds a body in a car with her name and address on her, I was intrigued. What connection did these two women have?

As the story unfolded and I learned more about Alison and her life, I felt a little bit of pity for her. But as the details emerged, it was a little of how much happened to her versus what she has played a part.

At times this is unsettling to read and always has a dark undertone, but other than wanting a little more of the ending, I was immersed from start to finish.

Tamsin Carroll did a great job of narrating the audiobook. I loved her accent and that it didn’t cause any issues when listening. She brought the atmospheric setting to life.

The premise for Radiant Heat immediately made me want to pick it up. The action immediately begins on page one as our main character Alison narrowly survives a brush fire. What she doesn’t anticipate is finding a dead woman in her driveway - a woman who Alison has never seen before. But this woman had Alison’s name in her purse and a connection to a dangerous man from Alison’s past.

This book ended up not being what I was expecting. Alison spends most of the book digging into Simone’s past and looking for a connection, but she made so many questionable decisions along the way it really just took me out of the story. I felt for Alison and really wanted for her to be safe, but she just came across as so unlikeable. It also felt like I kept waiting for there to be some kind of shocking twist at the end because of these choices she made, but it never came. The ending fell rather flat for me. The added drama with her friend Meg seemed like it came completely out of nowhere and I found it more distracting than anything else.

I did think the author did a great job of creating an atmospheric setting. I really felt like I was in the brush with these characters and could perfectly imagine the small town Allison lives in. I’m impressed that this was a debut and will read from this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a review copy.

The January pick for @readwithjenna is definitely one that pushed me out of my comfort zone. Also, this is such a gorgeous cover! This is a story where the swamp is almost another character. At times this is a difficult read but it is beautifully written. Check your trigger warnings before you read this one.
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Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads @prhaudio and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A thriller set against the background of a wildfire. Victoria, Australia is beset by wildfires often, the kind that destroy everything in it's way, leaving only ash and char. The MC, Allison, has survived the fire by wrapping herself in a wet blanket and keeping herself wet. When the wind changes direction, Allison becomes one of the lucky ones. Allison leaves her home only to find a bleak future that is complicated by her discovery of a body connected to her past.

Allison will navigate the investigation, trying to keep her history private and keep herself safe. The tension will ramp as her past creeps ever closer and her fear overtakes every second of her day. The story takes a few side steps as the clues are scattered to keep the ending a surprise. A good thriller that kept my interest from the first page to the last.

I love how this book is set in Australia. And the audiobook narrator really brings it to life. This book is another that touches on difficult topics. The main character Alison King can be super frustrating at times. With her past, it can be understandable…to a point. There were times where I just wanted to grab her and shake some sense into her. After a wildfire rips through her hometown, she finds a dead woman in her driveway. To throw in a twist, Alison finds a piece of paper with her name and address on it in the dead woman’s purse. Throughout the book Alison is trying to figure out who the woman is and what connection they may have. We get glimpses of her past with flashbacks woven in. I feel like this was good paced, kept me wanting to read/listen more because I needed to know what was going on! Though I was left with a few unanswered questions, this was a good read overall.

Radiant Heat opens with the backdrop of raging Australian wildfires. Alison survives the fires but returns to her home to find a dead woman in her driveway. Radiant Heat follows Alison's POV to uncover who the woman is and what happened to her. Parallels between the two women emerge including, being in an abusive relationship.

The book is a slow burn mystery with depictions of violence and domestic abuse.
Read this if you're looking for:
-slow burn mystery
-an MC with PTSD representation
-unreliable, at times unlikeable narrator
-environmental pressure pushing the story along

I’m pretty tired of books that use rape and domestic abuse as thriller fodder, and even more tired of publishers masking this kind of content in very misleading publishers summaries.

I’ve long complained about summaries that badly mislead about the content of a book, but usually that just results in the harmless if irritating result of reading something that isn’t actually to your taste.

But it’s a serious problem with books like this, where the summary bills the book as a thriller about a wildfire and a murder mystery, when what you’re actually getting is a very visceral account of prolonged and severe domestic abuse both physical and emotional, rape, and stalking.

Though I’m pretty repulsed by the idea of getting one’s kicks from the abuse and exploitation of women, I don’t think the specific subjects themselves are at all off limits for fiction if they’re well-handled by the author. For the record I think Collins’ portrayal was sensitive and thoughtful, but that all kind of goes out the window once it’s packaged as a Thriller. This is, again, largely the fault of how the publisher marketed the book, but I’m not sure I like the inclusion at all unless it’s largely backstory/off-page or is a part of a satisfying and sensitively executed revenge story.

And that’s perhaps the toughest part of this one. It’s truly a good story in some ways and the writing itself is above average for a thriller. But there’s absolutely no justice in the end, which just makes all the previously mentioned issues that much more frustrating.

I love a setting that is in a totally alien landscape. I don’t read too many novels set in Australia, which adds to the mystique of this novel and an eeriness to the mystery. The pace was somewhat slow, each lead revealed in a manner that added to the intensity as well as the paranoia and fear that Alison is feeling. Is she actually paranoid? Or are her fears coming true? I don’t want to spoil the story should you read it, but despite the slower pace, I was intrigued and hooked. I had to find read the story to its conclusion.

I found it extremely interesting how the author used past traumatic events from Alison’s life and this current mystery to amp up tension for the reader. Is she or is she not reading too much into this connection between herself and the woman found in her driveway? We are taken along on a ride that at times seems slightly unbalanced and have to pick through the plot and her actions to determine the main characters authenticity. That lack of certainty made the resolution to the story even more impactful. I really enjoyed this one!

Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins is an immersive, atmospheric mystery story set during a horrific wildfire in Australia. We meet our protagonist, Alison King, alone, lying in a wet blanket cocoon on the bathroom floor outside her house, engulfed in an inferno. While her home was sparred, everything around her was black and ash. Once beautiful trees are now denuded toothpicks poking through the landscape, and in her driveway is a rare car with a dead woman inside.
“SIMONE ARNOLD LOOKED LIKE FUN, ALISON THOUGHT. HER DIRTY-BLOND HAIR SAT IN A LONG, NEAT BRAID THAT FELL DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER CHEST. SHE WORE JEANS AND A PALE PINK CAMISOLE. ALISON SAW A BLANKET ON THE BACK SEAT, AND SHE REACHED THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOW FOR IT. SHE THREW IT GENTLY OVER SIMONE, NOT WANTING TO LEAVE HER EXPOSED. SHE SOFTLY DRAGGED HER FINGERTIPS OVER HER EYELIDS, CONCEALING THE DULLED STARE.”
Here is where the mystery begins…˙
I found two important things with this novel; first and foremost is the quality of Collins’s writing. People often use the word atmospheric to describe worldbuilding, but a brush fire in Australia will have sight, sound, and smell that belong to that event. It would have a solid sense of place. There is nothing akin to wildfire; it is a beast all on its own, and having lived through some myself, Collins expertly paints the opening scenes—a testament to how the rest of the book is written. Collins is a damn good author. Secondly, I did not much care for Allison as a person. This in itself does not make or break a book. Quite the contrary, again, the story remained engaging and thought-provoking even while Allison was often unlikable and sometimes overwritten and dim-witted. Allison remained a throughly complex character, flaws and all.
Pacing-wise, Collins grabbed my attention back to the plot when my attention began to wander. There are some slower sections of the novel. But enough tension and mystery remain that kept me rolling to the end.
I recommend Radiant Heat for the masterclass in atmospheric writing alone. However, the plotting and characters make this an immersive read and worth the time it takes to read through it.

This was my first audiobook narrated by Tamsin Carroll and it won’t be my last! Did you know you can search for audiobooks by the name of the narrator? I find so many books I may have missed out on this way!

𝙍𝘼𝘿𝙄𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝙃𝙀𝘼𝙏 is immersive, atmospheric, and suspenseful. The fire that consumes the area surrounding Alison’s home is tragic and terrifying but once she finds a strange woman dead in her driveway, her horror story truly begins. This story proves that no matter how far you run from your past, it always has a way of catching up to you.

A main plot point in this story is abuse, both physical and mental. What is brilliant about the writing is how real the author made it. How abuse in any form can change how you think, live, and even breathe. Abuse stories don’t always end badly but more often than not, they do. Sarah-Jane Collins takes this into consideration, giving us a real look at how defeated and lost abuse survivors can feel while trying to get their own justice.

Definitely add this one to your list if you’re a fan of domestic suspense, atmospheric reads, and strong friendships.

Read if you like:
🦘Books set in Australia
🔥 Thrillers
🇦🇺Bush Fires
😡 Unlikable Characters

I didn’t like Alison much at all, but her story was interesting. I didn’t find it to be as much of a thriller as I thought it would be based on the blurb, but it was still very interesting and more of a mystery.

Alison survives a massive brush fire and while she is trying to get to town she finds a woman she has never met parked in driveway dead. This sets off a series of events that bring back parts of her past that she wanted to leave buried.

Alison is a tough character determined to do everything for herself so she doesn’t owe anything to anyone she can’t accept help even when she desperately needs it.

Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

Alison King, in the wake of a terrible firestorm, finds a woman in her driveway. A dead woman. What is more is the woman in possession of a piece of paper with Allison's name on it. As Alison barely survived the firestorm that claimed dozens of life, she has a very different fight ahead of her. This all has to do with whatever connection there was to the woman in the car.

In her desperation, Alison goes through the victim's wallet and learns of the victim's name. Definitely someone she had never met before. Alison cannot let things go. She is determined to find out how the woman ended up in her driveway, and whether or not she died as a result of the wildfire. From desperation to determination, Alison will go to any lengths necessary to get to the bottom of things.

As this book is set in Australia, wildfires are nothing new. So that as the setting in this book was interesting. As a debut novel, I think Sarah Jane-Collins did a good job with this first book. There were areas of frustration for me as a reader, but this in no way lessens the respect I have for anyone talented enough to bring their dream of writing a book to completion.

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

RADIANT HEAT brings protagonist Alison to life as she faces a devastating wildfire, a dead stranger, grief, and a threat from the past.

The Australian setting is a character in itself, and Collins’s detailed descriptions really give the novel a sense of place and desperation. The secondary characters are all well drawn and interesting. Allison, however, is hard to like (perhaps that is the point). She is a selfish train wreck of her own making who does not hesitate to use and chew up those around her.

I liked the story but did not love it. I recommend RADIANT HEAT to readers looking for an Australian setting and willing to look beyond Alison’s flaws.