#Blogtour Into The Flames by James Delargy

It's a pleasure to take part in the Blogtour Into The Flames by James Delargy.

About the Author

James Delargy was born and raised in Ireland, and lived in South Africa, Australia and Scotland before ending up in semi-rural England, where he now lives. He incorporates a diverse knowledge of towns, cities, landscapes and cultures picked up on his travels into his writing. His first novel, 55, was published in 2019 by Simon & Schuster and has been sold to 21 territories to date. It was followed by the standalone thrillers Vanished (2021) and Into the Flames (2024). Follow @JDelargyAuthor on X

About the book

A town under fire. A detective with something to prove. A killer hiding in plain sight. - The small town of Rislake in the picturesque Blue Mountains is about to be engulfed by a major bushfire. The order has been given for the residents to clear out. But a last sweep uncovers one person is missing: Tracey Hilmeyer, wife of one of the firefighters tackling the blaze.

Detective Kennard is in town to help with crowd control, but instead he finds himself driving straight towards the inferno to look for Tracey at the Hilmeyer home. When he gets there, he finds her dead at the bottom of the stairs, and it’s clear she was murdered.

With the evacuation almost complete there is barely enough time to save the living never mind the dead. But Detective Kennard has something to prove and cannot let this one go. Can he solve her murder before the crime scene, and the entire town, turns to ash?

Review

I think what the author does really well in this book, is describing the voice and imagery of the fire. I'm not sure people realise the level of destruction wildfires can cause. It's more than just a fire burning with such fierce intensity that it devours everything and anybody in its path. It's the miniscule details that help give the situation and the reader a 'right there in the moment' feeling. The tension, the fear, the heat - it's all part of the web around the core.

The core being the crime Kennard is trying to solve, and within that is a complex inner emotional product that he carries around with him. Blame and guilt live rent-free in his head, which is why he is unable to let go of a subconscious need to save and succeed. The save part is especially relevant. He couldn't save the boy, so he has to find the killer.

As I mentioned above, I think the strength of the story is the way the reader is drawn into the moment with such a visceral connection that at times you struggle to breathe in a room full of smoke. Interestingly it almost invites you along to disagree with decision making, especially when Kennard places lives before safety, solving the case before putting many others at risk. It is part and parcel of his inner turmoil.

I enjoyed the read a lot and wouldn't hesitate to read more and to recommend to other readers of course.

Buy Into The Flames at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Publisher: Simon and Schuster Uk, Paperback Original | pub date 4th July 2024 | £9.99. Buy at Amazon com.