This one starts out at a rapid pace and doesn’t let up till the end! I didn’t 100% figure out this twisty mystery till almost the very end. Amanda and Trent go after a killer who burned a man alive. The victim hits close to one of our team. Will they be able to solve the mystery before more bodies pile up?
I’m over the relationship drama in this series, it’s time to Amanda to make a decision… and this reader is team Trent :)

I kove the Anna Steele series, This has a storyline which keeps you gripped till the end. I look forward to reading the next book.

Book twelve in the Detective Amanda Steele series
Another great read in this series
Will have you hooked from the first page to the last
Can’t wait for the next in this series
Thanks NetGalley

This is actually the 11th book in the series. This one was full of twists and turns. Im all here for the love triangle. Make sure you read the books in order to get a better understanding.

Thanks to netgalley for providing this advanced copy for the purpose of review.
This is another great addition to the series. Lots of complexity and emotion in the investigation made for a great read.

I'm a fan of the Amanda Steele novels and this one didn't disappoint me. Great story with lots of twists and turns along the way. It could also be read as a stand alone if you've not read the other books.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next one to see what happens with Amanda and Trent!

Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson are on the scene of fire in an alley in Woodbridge, not the nicest area of town. Not just a dumpster fire, but body burned, all that is left is an engraved wedding band. Not just any wedding band, Trent recognizes it as his aunt’s 2nd husband Don’s ring. His aunt has been distant from the family as she is in an abusive relationship with her 2dn husband.
Amanda and Trent dive into the Don’s life, can Trent keep it together, Trent steadfast believing his aunt has nothing to do with it.

4.5 stars rounded up: This is the 11th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series and as long as Carolyn Arnold writes these excellent, crime thriller, I say, keep them coming. The book opens with a woman who has been drugged, locked in a room, in a house that is on fire. She tries to escape but can't, praying that she dies before the fire gets to her. Fast forward to a body found behind a dumpster at a strip mall. He has been set on fire and burned beyond recognition, except for a ring that Detective Trent Stenson recognizes as belonging to his aunt's husband, Don. Don is abusive and has isolated his aunt from her friends and family. Gertrude becomes the main suspect, but Trent knows his aunt couldn't have done this. Amanda agrees to let him stay on the case, but she is the lead and tells him that they must treat her like any other suspect. When Amanda and Trent think they have found another suspect, they find her dead in her home, killed before the murder. Now they are back to Gertrude. She is sure the cases are linked, so must find the killer before someone else ends up dead.

Wow, this was a convoluted case for Amanda and Trent to solve. Having a personal connection to the crime makes it hard for Trent to be impartial, and he and Amanda have some issues, but keep things civil. I am always amazed at how Amanda's mind and gut reactions work together, allowing her to see things others miss. This one kept me thinking right to the end. I thought I had it figured out, then something happened to make me think something else. As the climax approached, I was on the edge of my seat and the culprit was a perfect fit. Amanda's and Trent's personal life play a large role in this story and there were times I got very frustrated with Amanda. She needs to figure out what she wants! I am hoping that this situation is solved soon. Overall this was a great read, with twists to keep you guessing, a great plot, issues of domestic abuse woven throughout and a solid police procedural. I highly recommend this book and series, but recommend you read them in order.

Reading Between the Wines book review #63/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3½ 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Wildfire Girl
Author: Carolyn Arnold
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: I am invested in this series but I have to admit, it is getting a little unbelievable and tiring that Detective Steele or someone on her team knows or has a connection with the victims. Other than that, I enjoy the murder journey and how Amanda always puts together the mystery. I love that she has someone to take care of her and Zoe. I think Logan is a great man and partner but I cannot help that I really want Amanda with her partner, Trent. Every book that comes out in the series, I hold my breath wondering if this is going to be the one where she breaks Logan’s heart and goes for Trent. I don’t want it to be a bad breakup or sad but I just want to see her with Trent.

Cheers and thank you to @Bookouture and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheWildfireGirl.

#TheWildfireGirl #CarolynArnold #Bookouture #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Carolyn Arnold has again done what she always does best - weaving a thrilling and engaging story out of a convoluted police investigation. The 11th book "The Wildfire Girl" in the Detective Amanda Steele series starts with a jolting scene that is part scary and part intriguing.

The readers are then given a glimpse of the dynamics of relationships that Amanda has with her partner Logan, her work partner Trent and niece Zoe; and soon they are brought into a horrid crime that Amanda and Trent are called in to investigate. What begins as a regular investigation, becomes a point of contention between the both of them when it is discovered that the murder victim is Trent's maternal aunt's abusive husband, Darnell.

The fact that the man had a gambling habit and is not a very nice person only widens the suspect pool. The visible problems and distance between Logan and Amanda also add interest in this already convoluted and tension filled story. Who is the one who killed the victim? Is Trent's aunt the murderer? What exactly happened?

Arnold has proved once again why she is the queen of police procedurals. The fact that she is able to come up with interesting avenues and engaging stories time and again is indicative of her enormous potential. She always incorporates emotional elements into her characters - whether they are the protagonists or the perpetrators. This, according to me, gives these people great depth and helps us identify with them.

I greatly enjoyed this book as well; particularly the
triangle between Trent, Logan and Amanda is at a very interesting place towards the end of the book and I can't wait to read the upcoming books in the series.

No Statute of Limitations on Revenge

The body of a man has been discovered burned beyond recognition in a seedy part of Woodbridge and detectives Steele and Stenson are called to the scene. However, the coroners aren’t needed for Trent to identify the victim as the abusive husband of his aunt based off a piece of jewelry he is wearing. But why is Don Lambert burnt to a crisp in the red-light District of Woodbridge, and most of all is Trent’s Aunt Gertrude involved? Trent’s relationship with his aunt is strained at best and broken at worst thanks to years of isolation, alienation and abuse at Lambert’s hands and even with him out of the picture Gertrude is still tight lipped which makes her look like a prime suspect. Not to be deterred, however, the pair dig into Lamber’s current and past dealings and discover quite a few people who could want him dead, but burned to a crisp? That is specific and personal. When a link is discovered that could blow the case wide open they feel as if they may be getting somewhere, but when the possible prior victim/suspect also turns up dead they are back to square one, until the final break that leads them on a chase to apprehend the culprit before one of them are targeted.

Woodbridge is no stranger to cases that hit too close to home on occasion and The Wildfire Girl is no exception, but this time the prime suspect is Trent’s estranged aunt. Having isolated herself years ago from Trent and his family, Gertrude is standoffish and reluctant which does not help her case. Wanting to be there for his aunt and prove her innocent Trent must walk a thin line between professional and personal but this is not a line that is unknown to him as his attraction to Amanda seems to be lingering. At times, the tension between the pair is palpable and I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be the moment that they would both cave in. And with Logan, Amanda’s boyfriend ever jealous and suspicious of the pair this definitely made for some high drama both on and off the clock.

While The Wildfire Girl is the eleventh book in the long running Detective Amanda Steele series by author Carolyn Arnold this should not discourage you from picking up this title. Arnold has structured this series in such a way that each case/installment works just as well as a stand alone as it does part of the overall series and setting. If you like trillers, police procedurals and authors who are not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects within their storylines, I would suggest any of Carolyn Arnold’s books.

Full disclosure: I was provided a copy of this title by the author or their authorized agent, however, have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own.

Followed amanda steele from the beginning the story in this is good though didnt grip me as much as other books have and the killer became a bit oredictable, but that just be me.
I like amanda and trent and their relationship and the bits you get from zoe.

Book eleven in the Detective Amanda Steele series, I have been following this since book three and this is another solid edition to add to this engaging police procedural series.

This series continues to entertain with a new case for Amanda and Trent to investigate, Amanda is a tenacious character and the writing style is intense, fast paced and engrossing.

This series just keeps getting better with each book. Carolyn Arnold has written an amazing series and I for one can’t wait for the next book. Run out and pickup this book you won’t be disappointed. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for this arc.

The Wildfire Girl marks Carolyn Arnold’s eleventh installment in the thrilling Detective Amanda Steel series, and let me tell you, it's just as captivating as the first book!

In this book, we reunite with Gertrude, Detective Trent’s aunt, who finds herself the prime suspect in her abusive husband's murder. Despite Trent's belief in her innocence, all evidence seems to point towards her guilt. Amanda takes on the task of uncovering the truth.

I was completely engrossed in the story, hanging on to every word. If I could award more stars, I definitely would! Carolyn skillfully delves into the bond between aunt and nephew, allowing them to mend their relationship. The potential challenges Amanda faces with Zoe and Logan are worrisome. I sense trouble on the horizon and eagerly anticipate the journey ahead.

I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this book today!

I have read most of the books in this series and once you get hooked you can't wait for the next book to be released. For those wanting to read a brilliant detective series this author is one of the best.
Thoroughly enjoyed it as usual and can't wait for the next instalment.

Great, multi-faceted characters. Suspenseful and interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. A REALLY great read! Can't wait for this series to continue!!!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the eleventh title in the Detective Amanda Steele series.

The prologue opens dramatically with a deliberate house fire where the victim has been trapped by her evil husband.

Then in chapter 1, Detective Amanda Steele and partner Trent Stenson investigate a gruesome scene where burnt human remains have been discovered in an alleyway behind a large bin. Unidentifiable except Trent recognises the wedding ring that the victim is wearing and subsequently a car parked in the adjacent street. Both belong to Don, his aunt Gertrude’s abusive husband, making Gertrude a prime suspect.

Trent is allowed to remain on the case, but he is desperate to prove Gertrude is innocent. Is she? The evidence is stacking up against her.

Meanwhile, like peeling an onion, more and more distasteful sides to Don’s character are revealed.

More potential suspects stack up, but when they find out the address of one and go to question her, they discover she has also been recently murdered, but her death looks to be prior to Don’s.

Is this a coincidence or are the two cases linked? Things don’t seem to quite add up.

As per usual, we get plenty of glimpses into Amanda’s personal life too, which add another good element to the storyline.

A thrilling page turner indeed.

Includes some continuity references to earlier stories for those who enjoy reading the whole series but works excellently as a stand-alone read too.

4.5⭐

The Wildfire Girl is a police procedural that skilfully weaves every twist together and keeps you on your toes.

As Detectives Amanda Steele and Trent Stenson return for a case that hits close to home and has an already fragile relationship crumbling even more. When a burned body is discovered behind a dumpster in Woodbridge and Trent on seeing the burnt remains goes very still and won't tell Amanda why.

But he soon has no choice but to reveal that the victim is Don his Aunt Gertrudes abusive husband.

However, he assures Amanda he can be impartial and handle the investigation. But that his Aunt is 100% innocent. Although she isn't so sure, especially as Gertrude is rather uncooperative and suspicious with her answers when they arrive to tell her Don is dead.

Yet, one thing Amanda and Trent can immediately agree on is Don is a piece of work and the more they dig, the more they learn there were lots of people in Woodbridge who wanted him dead. Including, it seems a face from the past, who is out for revenge.

But that person is soon also murdered and Amanda and Trent are left shocked but convinced the cases are linked.

Yet, who could possibly want these two dead and why?

And as Trent becomes more and more emotionally involved Amanda starts to fear the worst. After all, they are hunting a cold blooded killer who will happily take advantage of any perceived weakness.

And with perfect pacing and a killer I did not see coming. The Wildfire Girl was a cracking read and I would happily recommend it to all.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Wildfire Girl. 😊

The Wildfire Girl by Carolyn Arnold is the eleventh book in this excellent Detective Amanda Steele series and was another excellent book from start to finish especially as it was a great page turner to find out what happens next. Superb book and I have loved all these books within this series. Carolyn Arnold's books are just the best and she never disappoints.

I am looking forward to the next instalment of Detective Amanda Steele.