Book Review: Watch It Burn
Stars: 4 X 5
Author: Kristen Bird
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC

What a great mystery book. The book starts a bit slow but it picks up big time after a bit.
Nichole, a school teacher who is on a run finds the body of Beverly Hoffman. Beverly was the wife of the richest and most influential person in town. Jenny is a journalist who is doing her best to create a comeback and the Beverly Hoffman death story may be just the thing she needs. Beverly’s daughter-in-law Robin just wants justice and she is now decided it her time to speak up.

The Hoffman’s themselves are a strange bunch. They are not only rich and influential but they are also run a self help company called Genetive, Inc. in this Texas town called Endenberg.
The Hoffman’s claim this is not cult but others disagree. The police rule Beverly’s death an accident even though she drowned in 2 inches of water. Friends Nichole, Jenny and Robin believe the death was not accidental. As the three of them investigate Beverly’s death they also start to uncover the truth about Genetive, Inc.. The town of Edenberg is small and the people all know each other and Beverly’s death is a shock to all. As the lady’s investigate there are many personal emotions and journeys that occur with the characters. The books brings out aspects such as alcoholism, death, mental health along with all that involves the aspects of a cult. I thought is was interesting that there are three points of view in the book and on is from the deceased Beverly. I really enjoyed this book and there were many twist and turns no follow which is always fun as a reader.

I was very happy to help promote this book and this was a really good thriller type book. In my eyes it was a very slow burn book but it still held my interest to where I wanted to see what happened. It takes place in the south so moved a bit slow at times but overall liked this.

This book is the second one I have read from Kristen Bird. I previously read “I Love It When You Lie” last year and loved that one, starting with her dedication page to her siblings. Overall, I enjoyed this one, but not as much as “I Love It When You Lie.”

I had difficulty connecting with the characters early on. In particular, I remember thinking midway through the book that I did not like Nichole all that much. As the book went on, though, I came to like not only Nichole, but the other female characters.

I appreciated the use of alternating narrators so the reader was given insight into Nichole, Jenny, and even Beverly. There were parts of the story I found to be a little far-fetched. I overlooked them because of my dislike for Genetive and its founder, Beverly’s husband, by then.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird is a mystery where three women work together to find the secrets behind a woman's death and a self-help movement. It is a highly recommended small town domestic mystery.

When out on her morning run in the small Texas town of Edenberg, Nichole Miller, an elementary school teacher, finds the body of 65 year-old Beverly Hoffman. She calls 911 and then her best friend, journalist Jenny Martin. Jenny has recently moved back to her hometown in hopes of saving her marriage and reestablishing her writing career. Jenny rushes to the scene and immediately realizes that Beverly's death was no accident.

Jenny and Nichole are sure Beverly's death is tied to her husband George Hoffman and his cult-ish personal-development company Genetive. Hoffman has bought up most of the town and controls everything in Edenberg. The two women are friends with Robin, Beverly’s daughter-in-law, and enlist her help to expose the truth behind Genetive. Robin knows the lies, secrets, and manipulation behind the Genetive empire.

Watch It Burn is a well-written examination of a death, small town politics, family trauma, a self-development cult, and a megalomaniacal man trying to control everything. The narrative is told through three points-of-view, Jenny, Nichole, and the deceased Beverly. Beverly is the most interesting narrator because she knows the truth. You know from the opening that you are not only trying to solve a murder, but waiting to discover who set the entire town on fire.

The beginning of the novel does move at a slow pace and it takes some time to really hold your attention. Once the three women decide to register and attend a weekend retreat to the private Genetive compound, the plot picks up the pace. The inside look into the cult of Genetive is interesting, but also serves to increase the tension and a sense of danger. The cult itself seems to be composed of some stereotypes combined with some real cults. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to MIRA for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

How do I explain how much I just love Kristen Bird’s writing? I’m not sure if I have the right words! The creepiness of the cult vibes mixed with all the twists makes this book a must read!!

So thrilled to be part of Kristen’s launch team for WATCH IT BURN, a cult-ish murder mystery releasing March 12th, 2024! 📖🔥🔥

I really enjoyed the alternating POVS, including a POV of the deceased post-mortem which I’ve only seen done once before in a book. I think it’s fun and provides a lot of context in murder mysteries. There were twists especially near the end that I never saw coming and the story kept me interested most of the time.

Thank you so much to Kristen, MIRA, and NetGalley for the e-galley!

2.5 Stars

This book had a bad case of telling not showing. It also couldn’t really make up what kind of book it wanted to be. It’s part mystery that’s really on the back burner most the story (was Beverly’s death an accident or murder; who started the fire), part an interest piece on small town southern politics (a large corporation influencing school teachings, town morals, etc), and part fictional expose into a cult like organization (an “exclusive” membership tiered program with archaic beliefs and secretive lessons). While they did all sort of interconnect, none were particularly fleshed out well as there was mostly info dumping and not a lot of investigation and discovery. I was curious to see what the truth was, so in that aspect it held my attention, but I found the constant telling of events and beliefs to drag on and wished for more.

3.5/5

There was so much about this one that I liked from the cult like vibes to the multiple viewpoints to the conservative Texas setting and while I did like it, I didn’t love it as much as I expected to. I’ve read two other books by the author and her Southern style mysteries are always pretty unique and told in a manner that holds my attention but there was something small missing for me here. The cult vibes were pretty creepy and unsettling and gave me shades of Scientology which is a subject I’ve been endlessly fascinated by for years. I think when it lost me a bit was in the pacing, I would’ve liked a more excitement and tension in the end but it fell flat for me. But overall I’m glad I read it, as I said before lots to like and the overall themes are strong.

Cult drama meets small town murder mystery in Watch It Burn, and whew was this so much better than I could have ever anticipated. While the story is on the slow burn side and takes some time to start to unfold, everything clicks together in the most perfect way with a supremely satisfying ending.

Nichole Miller is on her way to her teaching job when she discovers Beverly Hoffman face down in the Guadalupe River. Beverly's husband George is the famous founder of Genetive, a personal development company that has shaped their town of Edenberg, TX into what it is today. After reporting the body to the authorities, Nichole picks up the phone to call her best friend Jenny, who is restarting her career as an investigative journalist.

As Nichole and Jenny enter a search for truth around what happened to Beverly, they begin to uncover some dark secrets about George and the cult-like community surrounding Genitive. And as these secrets start hitting closer to home, they'll have to face some of their own deep traumas to get closer to solving they mystery.

There was a combination of things that made this a slow start for me - part one of the story is really focused on character development, so I didn't get into the plot until part two, but also the NetGalley edition I had of this book was a MESS. The formatting was extremely chaotic and I'm assuming unintentionally so, so hopefully they fix that when the book is released to the masses!

Genitive gave me the absolute creeps, but the sad reality is this story could totally have some root in truth. People will blindly follow personal development leaders to all ends of the earth, so the story here really isn't all that far fetched. The cult-like undertones of this book made the entire story entirely darker, but in the best way possible.

I wasn't expecting this to have as many great twists as it did. Some of the things that are uncovered in part three really surprised me, but the story wrapped in a way that tickled an itch in my brain. Everything came full circle for what happened in the plot and every connection was made between characters so no one was just a random addition. This is one of the more satisfying book endings that I've read in a while.

Docking half a star for pacing at the beginning, but this one is definitely worth picking up on release day!

Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Mystery Thriller that finds three women working to uncover the scorching lies and scandal behind a self-help movement igniting a powder keg of secrets.

1/5 stars: This is a stand alone by Bird that's told in multiple POVs: an elementary school teacher who discovers a woman's body, her best friend – a journalist and the deceased's daughter-in-law. Bird's writing is well paced and the character work is well done. This just wasn't a book for me, leading me to DNF it at 11%. This book tackles some very tough topics, so take care and check CWs.

I received this eARC thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

I enjoyed Beverly's chapters the most and thought that was a clever addition to the book. In the beginning, it was a little slow for me; definitely a slow burn but there are a lot of pieces that have to get put together.

🔥CULTISH THRILLER MONDAY🔥 review featuring “Watch it Burn” by Kristen Bird!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Three women work together to uncover the secrets behind a mysterious death and the scandal behind a self help movement that has RULED the small town of Edenberg, Texas to its core.

Nichole is an elementary school teacher who comes across a body on her morning run. The dead woman is Beverly Hoffman who is like the First Lady of the town. She is a member of a very powerful family that has complete influence over Edenberg.

Jenny is a journalist who is trying to get back into the game after a work related trauma at her last job. The story surrounding Beverly Hoffman’s death could be just the story needed to resurrect her career!

Robin is Beverly’s daughter in law and married into the prestigious Hoffman family. She has kept her mouth shut for far too long about the Hoffman secrets, lies and manipulation … and is desperate to seek justice for the town!

Together the three women must check themselves into a weekend retreat at the Hoffman’s self development compound called Genetive. The entire weekend is masterfully planned and the women must be careful not to get caught snooping around!

Thank you kindly to @kristenbirdwrites @_mira_books_ @harpercollinsca @htpbooks @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on March 12, 2024!

I really liked this book. Suspicious death. Small town drama. A company that is cult-like. Friendship. The multiple POVs were very well done. Full of suspense. I couldn't put this book down.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

I was provided with an ARC in exchange for for my honest opinion. Thank you to Netgalley and to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA

Beverly Hoffman's drowning in just two inches of water seems quite odd, considering she was a great swimmer. She is married to Dr. George Hoffman, a prominent figure in the town of Edenberg, Texas known for his dedication to Edenberg. Unfortunately, Nichole is the one who discovers Beverly's body while out for a run after a wild night of drinking with a stranger in her bed. Jennie has recently returned to town and is now working at the local paper. Robin, Jennie, Nichole, and Christina used to be childhood friends. However, Christina has since passed away, and seeing Jenny and Robin again is bittersweet, especially when they uncover some unusual postcards.

The story has many layers and components that require close attention, as seemingly insignificant details become crucial in stitching the narrative together. I found the book intriguing; its unpredictable plot kept me guessing, with moments of both acceleration and deceleration. It was a slow burn read for me, but the twists were well-executed and believable, adding depth to the story.

Fire can destroy, but it can also purify… and someone is about to burn the small town of Edenberg, Texas to the ground.

But first, let’s back up a week. Nichole is a school teacher out for her morning run when she comes upon the body of a woman in the Guadalupe River that runs along town. It’s the body of Beverly Hoffman, wife of the most influential man in town. Although authorities rule the death an accident, Nichole and her journalist friend Jenny suspect something more sinister, and they’re pretty sure it’s all tied in to the seemingly all-powerful George Hoffman and his personal development company, Genetive, Inc.

If you like your thrillers a little culty like I do, then this is the book for you! Genetive definitely has shades of NXIVM and Scientology, and I am here for it. Genetive has all the hallmarks: a charismatic leader, ladies with a certain initial tattooed on them, gaslighting, coercion, and delusions of grandeur. This book is so atmospheric with its Southern small town setting where the Hoffmans just seem to be wielding more and more control. You know something’s up when the school board installs a Hoffman lackey to review the books in the classrooms, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This plot is dark and intricately woven and just so dang good as the women investigate the town secrets – my jaw dropped at least three times as the mystery was unraveled! This is my first Kristen Bird book and I can’t wait to catch up on her backlist!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA and the author for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Oh my gossssh!!! Watch It Burn is easily a 5 star psychological thriller. Small town with big secrets, old friends, and something sinister lurking. I appreciated the multiple pov's as it felt fast paced and kept me on my toes.

Watch It Burn is a crime fiction novel that centers around the death of an influential woman in a small Hill Country town and the three women who come to investigate.

Those familiar with Bird’s stories will appreciate the strong sense of place and the courageous Southern women who band together to fix something. Set in the fictional town of Edenberg, the book opens with a fire burning downtown and then flashes back to the previous week when 65-year-old Beverly Hoffman’s body was discovered in the Guadalupe River. Beverley’s niece, Robin, an elementary school teacher, Nichole Miller, and her best friend and reporter, Jenny Martin, are convinced that this was no accident and join together to expose the truth.

Their investigation keeps them busy wading through small-town secrets and lies in a tight-knit community, very aware that one influential family holds the town in its hands. Can they achieve justice without destroying their town? Who started the fire? Who murdered Beverley?

Inspired by the flash-flood Comfort, Texas school bus tragedy of 1987, Bird explores nature and how it affects us and the influence humans have on it. She examines how one person with mishandled power can influence so many people leading to such diverse outcomes, how seemingly intelligent people can fall victim to this power and how this power is even acquired/weilded in the first place.

✔️Book bans
✔️Gender roles; toxic masculinity
✔️Marriage
✔️Adoption
✔️Self-help cults
✔️Small-town politics
✔️Strong women
✔️Southern setting
✔️Murder investigation

I was swept up in the investigation, wanting to know what happened and why…even in the uncomfortable moments. It’s one of those books you’ll want to discuss as you’re reading and would make an excellent book club choice. I know I had lots of ‘what if’ and ‘why do we let things like this happen’ conversations with my bookish friends after reading Bird’s latest book. It certainly had me questioning cult influence.

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Watch it Burn is another stunner from Kristen Bird!

I could not put this one down, and was so engrossed by each character's POV. I loved going along the journey as 65 year old Beverly, school teacher Nichole and journalist Jenny's stories come together to bring out the truth behind Beverly's death and Genevieve, Inc.

I always love a thriller that tackles cult culture and the way they gather disproportionate power, and Watch it Burn delivers on that front.

Let’s talk about my love of WATCH IT BURN by KRISTEN BIRD!

Give me old friends reuniting to solve new mysteries. Small towns with past & present secrets. A charming one-night stand. A devastating accident. A history of tragedy. A suspicious death. And three fierce woman ready to burn it all down.

At the center is Genetive, Inc. — the self-help company that is taking over the small town of Edenberg, Texas and no one in the community is questioning why.

And sure Genetive might sound like a cult, but they swear they’re totally *not* a
cult. So, yeah…totally a cult!

When Beverly Hoffman, the 65-year-old beloved resident and wife to the founder of Genetive, Inc., is found dead in the Guadalupe River the police rule it an accidental drowning — in two inches of water mind you.

It doesn’t take long for Nichole, Jenny and Robin to realize something is very wrong about Beverly’s death. The three friends, who grew up in Edenberg, each have a reason to want to yank back the curtain on the secrets, deceptions and eerily odd happenings around town.

Nichole, still reeling from her sister’s death a few months earlier, is the one who found Beverly’s body.

A phone call to her best friend Jenny, a journalist who knows a good story when she sees it, sets the investigation in motion.

Enter Robin, Beverly’s daughter-in-law, who is becoming increasingly wary of her husband and concerned about her son’s wellbeing.

This is my third KRISTEN BIRD book and love her writing style, sharply crafted stories and surprising reveals. I would also say it’s a step darker so bonus points from me! She masterfully creates the bond between the woman, while also developing believably evil villains, weaving together a story of darkness with flickers of hope.

This story delves into the pain of loss and grief. Toxic teachings. Toxic masculinity. The terrifying reality of those perpetuating antiquated beliefs. And the power that comes with wealth.

WATCH IT BURN will be out on 3/12. Be sure to add it to your preorder basket. And huge thanks to KRISTEN BIRD for sending me the ARC. So incredibly grateful!

What would you do if you found a dead body in shallow water? What if that body was a woman? What if that body was the wife of the most influential family in town?
Told through multiple points of view this novel will keep you guessing till the end. It was fast past and I couldn't put it down I'm ending January on a fabulous note!