Eleven guests. Three nights. One murderer… This is the haunting and atmospheric new thriller from rising star of crime fiction, Rachael Blok.

In a gorgeous mansion in the Hertfordshire countryside, sisters Lois and Ebba prepare to launch their new venture. Archipelago is an exploitation-free tech company whose virtual reality game promises to unite the worlds of technology, politics and the environment.

Invited to the launch party are their investors: current and ex-politicians, international business moguls and activists, one of whom – Marieke – has been receiving online abuse and death threats for her views on eco-politics.

DCI Maarten Jansen has been summoned to join the house party. He is sure the threats are from online trolls with nothing better to do – he’s only offering police protection because his boss wants to put the VIP guests at ease. But when eight of the guests are involved in a suspicious helicopter crash, Maarten starts to uncover long-buried secrets – and a murderer in their midst…

My thanks to Sophie at Midas PR for my review copy and the chance to join the Blog Tour

It is a big weekend for sisters Lois and Ebba. They have gathered together a group of investors, film representatives, politician and activists to showcase their innovative and potentially game-changing Virtual Reality videogame. The sister believe the VR is better than anything else out there and the interaction it offers will have benefits beyond the gaming world for those that want to develop it further.   There is a lot at stake for Lois and Ebba and they are understandably apprehensive as they start to welcome guests to their home, a large mansion where no expense has been spared to make their VIP guests feel welcome.

But also in attendance is DCI Maarten Jansen.  One of the guests has been receiving death threats and the police are on the scene to keep her safe and ensure the weekend goes off without incident.  On that front the police are not successful.  The book begins with a helicopter crash which did not happen by accident. The helicopter had been taking some of the guests to the studios in London where a demonstration of the VR game was to take place, it doesn’t even clear the grounds before it is spinning back to earth with several of the VIP guests on board.

Into The Fire is told with a non-linear narrative so after the early sight of the helicoper crashing down the reader is taken back to the start of the weekend and we get to know the key players in the story. The introductions are done by watching guests arrive at the house as from the viewpoint of some of the guests themselves (the multiple narrative runs through the book).  Not only does this allow us to assess what the guests each have been witness to but we also get their thoughts and background story which allows the reader to know the big issues which dominate the lives.  The positive pregnancy test, the man who adores his wife but feels so inferior to her that he is terrified to even make eye contact, even the policeman who will see his wife meet his ex.

Getting to know the characters can feel a bit of a slow burn but the characters do have quite fascinating and complex backstories so readers will engage with the various dilemmas.  Rachael Blok is ensuring we have all the information we need so when DCI Jansen starts to uncover some of the secrets which surround the death which occurs during the weekend the reader also knows something of what is there to be discovered for him.

Into The Fire is a clever character driven mystery.  Rachael Blok moves her figures around the board and only allows readers the opportunity to glimpse what her overall strategy may be. The characters need to be strong to make this approach work and I felt this was accomplished well.  I had sympathy for some, anxiety for others and the charaters who were the clear villains of the story were not made too toxic that you did not care what may happen to them.

Nicely plotted, engaging characters and a good payoff.  I hadn’t realised DCI Jansen had featured in previous books but I feel returning readers will enjoy his participation in this book.

Into The Fire is published by Head of Zeus and is available in Hardback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B082NZST2T/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0