This riveting mystery unfolds in the midst of a 16-year investigation into the disappearance of Ellie Byrd, a case that may be linked to the vanishing of two young teenagers. As power outages and wildfires add to the tension, the compelling pacing draws you deeper into the central mysteries, which intertwine the past and present with a web of secrets and tragedy.

The narrative revolves around three key characters: Leyna Clerk, a 28-year-old working menial jobs to make ends meet, consumed by the quest to uncover the truth behind her missing sister Grace's disappearance; Olivia Duran, mother to Adam, Dominic, and ten-year-old Thea, still holding out hope for her son's return while harboring secrets from her husband and nursing resentments towards the Clerk family; and Meredith Clerk, a professional art forger estranged from her daughter Leyna, grappling with her own troubled past and the secrets surrounding Grace's disappearance.

Leyna's chance encounter with young Ellie Byrd sparks memories of her missing sister and raises suspicions about Adam Duran's involvement. When Ellie herself goes missing, Leyna is compelled to return to her hometown and join forces with Dominic, Adam's brother and her long-time crush, to uncover the truth. As tensions escalate amidst the chaos of wildfires and power outages, long-buried secrets come to light, and the simmering animosity between the Clerks and the Durans threatens to erupt into violence.

Overall, I found the pacing and twists of the story to be engaging, though I was left with some lingering questions. The unlikable characterization of Olivia and Meredith, with their dysfunctional attitudes towards their children, detracted slightly from my enjoyment, but the intriguing storyline and satisfying conclusion ultimately earned it a rating of 4 stars.

As always, I'm a big fan of Heather Chavez's fast-paced thrillers that grip you from the start and keep you hooked until the very end.

Many thanks to Heather Chavez and NetGalley for providing me with an unputdownable digital review copy of this thrilling novel in exchange for my honest feedback.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒅.

𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧. 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞. 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡. 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐫. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞. These are just a few of the many verbs that highlight the ferocious power of fire. They are also appropriate words to describe the all-consuming guilt one may feel over a loved one's disappearance. How do you keep going without being torn apart by all the things you didn't say and the things you wish you hadn't?

No one knows this better than Leyna Clarke. When she was twelve years old, she watched her older sister Grace walk away from their home with her boyfriend Adam. Neither was seen again. Sixteen years later, Leyna looks for remnants of her sister in strangers, holding fast to the belief that she is still out there somewhere, alive. Leyna is working at a diner, making just enough to pay the rent, when she sees someone that makes time freeze--someone who looks just like Grace, but it can't possibly be her, because the mysterious stranger is around the same age as Grace was when she disappeared. Completely stunned but not wanting to miss the opportunity to speak to the girl, she attempts a conversation and is shocked by something the girl reveals before hurrying out the door. To her horror, Leyna finds out the girl disappeared, and that Leyna was the last known person to speak to her.

This is a story that unfolds deliberately and languidly, and just as a spark may seem negligible, its effects can quickly turn insidious, devouring everything in its path. Be patient with the many layers of this story and the diverse characters who all seem to be hiding something because as you peel back those layers, you will uncover secrets that have been tucked away for years.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the early copy. This title will publish July 23, 2024.

This one gets your heart racing with the family drama, a missing girl and a fire heading your way i'ts an adrenaline ride you don't want to miss.

Leyna was twelve when her sister left the house with her boyfriend and was never seen again. Now, Ellie shows up at and speaks to her and goes missing. This all leads back to her old neighborhood so it is time for her to go home.

Some secrets are about to be revealed and the truth will come out. So many cover ups made this a brilliant read.

This was a good overall book. I do feel as though I would have liked more in the way of character development, but the twists and turns were solid.