This story takes us to a small Texas town where the veneer of a self-help movement conceals a powder keg of secrets. The novel follows three determined women—Nichole Miller, Jenny Martin, and Robin—who join forces to unveil the truth behind the drowning of sixty-five-year-old Beverly Hoffman in the Guadalupe River, a death initially dismissed as a mere slip and fall.

As elementary school teacher Nichole stumbles upon Beverly's body, she instinctively senses foul play and reaches out to her best friend, journalist Jenny Martin. The two women, fueled by a desire for justice, enlist the help of Beverly's daughter-in-law, Robin, to peel back the layers of deception surrounding the beloved woman's death. What unfolds is a suspenseful journey into the heart of a community and a self-help movement, Genetive, Inc., that conceals dark secrets.

The novel skillfully blends elements of mystery, scandal, and Southern intrigue, creating a tapestry of tension that keeps us engaged from the first page to the last. The characters, each grappling with their own challenges and motivations, add depth to the narrative. As the women dig deeper, they uncover a sinister underbelly beneath the picturesque facade of their town.

The author's vivid descriptions of the Texas setting contribute to the atmospheric tension, creating a backdrop that mirrors the simmering secrets at the heart of the story. The dynamics of a tight-knit community entangled in the web of Genetive, Inc., amplify the suspense as the women unravel the scorching lies that threaten to tear Edenberg apart.

This is a riveting suspense novel that delivers on both the mystery and Southern storytelling fronts. The unraveling of secrets and the pursuit of justice by the trio of women make for a compelling narrative, offering readers a front-row seat to a town teetering on the edge of revelation. If you love Southern mysteries with a blend of scandal and suspense, this novel is a must-read, showcasing a gripping tale that lingers in our mind long after we've finished reading.

I just reviewed Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird. #WatchItBurn #NetGalley

Wow! This book instantly hooked me and never let me go. It was a crazy journey getting to know Nichole, Jenny, and the inside secrets of a woman who is found dead (at the beginning of the book). Not only does this book take a deep dive into a cult-like environment, but it also takes us on MANY twists and turns that I did not see coming. The way the 3 perspectives come together is just *chefs kiss*. Kristen Bird has the recipe down for the perfect thriller. This was easily 5 stars for me! You have to put this on your TBR!

4/5 stars

This was a weird one!

A twisty ride about a small community, dead women, and a pyramid scheme gone straight up cult, this book comes from the POVs of a group of friends who reconnect after the death of one of the most influential women in their midsts. Secrets abound, and it's not always the ones that seem the most obvious.

This was honestly so much fun to read. We even got a POV from the dead woman which I wasn't sure about at times, as I'm not usually a fan of because it often feels like the author doesn't trust ya to Get It but I thought it was used well.

I WISH we had more in depth action into the cult itself. The Founder, his son, and everything that came with it were infinitely fascinating and scary but I felt like we just simply didn't get enough time to internalize how awful they really were and how all encompassing their plan to expand was.

This was a quick read for me, so if you are looking for a juicy story with a plot that runs fast, I definitely recommend this book.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for granting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Watch it Burn!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🤯 want to be shocked by twist after twist
🔥 have ever started a fire for the greater good
👀 love reading about cults
🛶 grew up by the water

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Three women work to uncover the scorching lies and scandal behind a self-help movement, igniting a powder keg of secrets that could blow their town apart, in this suspense novel perfect for readers who love Southern mystery.

It’s early morning in the small Texas town of Edenberg when the body of sixty-five-year-old Beverly Hoffman is discovered in the Guadalupe River—drowned in only two inches of water.

After elementary school teacher Nichole Miller discovers the woman's body, she makes two phone calls: first to the police, who call Beverly's death a slip and fall, and second to her best friend, journalist Jenny Martin. Jenny is attempting to revive her flailing marriage and her all-but-DOA career, and she knows foul play when she sees it. The two women enlist the help of Beverly’s daughter-in-law, Robin, who’s eager to expose the truth.

Beverly had been beloved in the tight-knit community, having cofounded the wildly popular personal-development company Genetive, Inc., alongside her influential husband. But something sinister has been smoldering beneath the surface of their picturesque hometown. And Genetive is at the center of it all.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a twisty, fun thriller! The POVs from the three different women really helped keep my interest and helped the story to flow in a fast paced way. I loved getting to know each of them, especially Beverly, the deceased. Her POV was probably the most interesting to me and the most unreliable as well. I wasn’t expecting a cult to be in this story but I liked the way it unfolded. The author definitely drew the line between not a cult and cultish! I wasn’t 100% sure how to feel about them, so I loved that aspect. Overall, this is a fast paced thriller with lots of great twists!

Kristen Bird knocked it out of the park with this one! This was the perfect recipe for a satisfying thriller: multiple povs (including one from a dead woman), local cult with questionable intentions, and surprising reveals throughout that had me gasping out loud. Easily a 5 star read.

Watch it Burn is about a couple who developed an empire from nothing. With death, lies, corruption, and destruction this book will have you flipping each page quicker than you can possibly imagine. It keeps you thinking until the last page as to what happened to this couple, friends, and family.
Fire can change you and kill you in an instant, but can you fight the fire to make it out or will your lies and faults in life be forgotten forever within the fire.
This book is a must read. Go ahead and put it on your list!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the third Kristen Bird book I have read, and although I liked the two previous books better, I did enjoy this one. I found it very intriguing and thought provoking that she wrote from Mrs. Hoffman's perspective. Such a mystery in itself death is, and to put it down in writing is clever. I loved the push and pull of the cultural hot topics. Such smart timing to bring them to life in this way. Overall a good read.

This was so fun! conservative Texas setting, women infiltrating a cult, a dead body, and fire! Loved it
Out 3/12 preorder now

- Creative and cleverly crafted mystery thriller centred around a cult like self-help/personal development organisation.

- Told from the POVs of three connected women; including one deceased, providing an all knowing, hind sight perspective which was a really unique concept that I definitely appreciated!

- Good commentary around current issues. I particularly valued the discussions on a lot of current society’s problematic views of gender roles and race.

- I resonated with the subtle feminist themes in the story; this is an element of fiction I always seek out and enjoy, and I loved how this was represented in the narrative.

- Overall, this is definitely one of my favourite thriller reads of 2023 and I look forward to reading more of Kristen Bird’s works.

This is such a great read! There are some excellent twists and the POV from three different characters really makes it interesting, especially given who those characters are. There is the perfect amount of thriller vs. creepy vs. mystery to it. It was hard to put down! Great storyline and great read!

Beverly Hoffman was the beloved co-founder of the ultra successful self-help company, Genetive Inc., in partnership with her prominent husband. Nichole Miller discovered Beverly’s body in a local river during her morning run. After learning that she’d drowned in a mere two inches of water, Nichole enlisted the help of her journalist best friend and Beverly’s daughter-in-law to uncover the truth behind this suspicious death.

Watch It Burn was a highly addictive read brimming with drama and salacious secrets. I was quickly engrossed in this book and was determined to figure out who was responsible for Beverly’s murder. I loved the chapters written from Beverly’s point-of-view. She was speaking from “beyond the grave” and was speaking her truth about her life and the events that led to her demise. There were a ton of highly controversial political views embedded into the plot. While this translated into a more impactful read, it also bogged down the plot in some areas. I would recommend checking this book out if you’re a fan of thought-provoking suspense!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A copy of this review will be posted on my Instagram account (whats.amy.reading) during the week of December 25.

Watch It Burn is an intense thriller! As layers and layers are revealed, the characters and plots are developed and dimensioned into a captivating story. The inclusion of an omniscient narrator is brilliant! I enjoyed reading Kristen Bird’s book and did not want it to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Kristen Bird for my advanced copy, all opinions are my own. This is the third book I read by this author, and I actually liked it the most out of three. I enjoyed the writing style and alternating POVs. Kristen Bird continues writing small town stories with lots of drama and crazy events. Beverly's character was my favorite, it was a lot harder to relate to anyone else for me. I liked the ending of the book, but I also wish to learn more about Christina/ or maybe her perspective. That was a missing piece for me unfortunately, but at the same time it gives me room for my own imagination. Solid 3.5 stars

This was a drama filled mystery with multiple P.O.V.'s including one from beyond the grave. The storyline was great and well structured with plenty of mystery in an isolated setting surrounded by cultish vibes and devastating loss. The only issue I had with this was that I never felt fully connected to any of the characters. Mind you, that may be because of a minor slump I was in since this is full of five-star reviews from other readers. So if this piques your interest, give it a shot, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. Three stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

The thing I enjoyed the most about WATCH IT BURN is how carefully the details of the story are unfolded by the author. The storyline did not feel rushed or too overly drawn out. I loved the element of the small town and how intertwined histories of characters were without some of them knowing until later in the book. I have never read anything from this author, but now I’m hooked and can’t wait to read more! I also really loved the two timelines of present day along with the historical timeline as told by a deceased woman watching from the afterlife. What a great book.

Highly recommend, I couldn't put it down! This story of a death in a small town hooked me right away with its cult vibes and how it weaved in real-life issues currently happening in municipal politics with several twists that kept me intrigued for the entire book.

The details of the setting in Texas hill country really came to life on the page. The author also did a great job taking ripped-from-the-headlines elements of small town politics and their impact on people's lives and seamlessly incorporating those into the mystery. The multi-person points of view kept me turning the pages, just like the author's previous book, I LOVE IT WHEN YOU LIE. Kristen Bird is a master of the multi-POV thriller that keeps you guessing!

Publication date: March 12, 2024

Wow! This was such an interesting story.
I loved the alternating POVs, especially Beverly’s. We rarely see the point of view if the deceased. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but I think it worked so well.
I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to put the whole story together. I think everything came together so nicely at the end. 3.5 stars!

Kristen has done it again! What a fantastic story filled with a roller coaster of events! From the history to the current, Watch It Burn keeps you on the edge of your seat! You find yourself wanting to get to the next chapter quickly because you simply can’t wait for more “clues” into the next part of the story. I love a great thrill ride of suspense and this book delivers! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Cannot thank the publisher enough for a digital copy of an ARC. I throughly enjoyed the mystery, suspense, overall character relationships through Watch It Burn. I cannot wait to see what else this author publishes.

I really liked this book, truly....I think I was perhaps expecting more...drama?... or something. That said, I didn't see the end coming, and felt that it was a pleasant way to end the book. I was happy that Beverly got her comeuppance, even if it was in death. This book was definitely worth reading- one I'd pick up and be pleased that I did so. Absolutely one to check out!