Burn This Night by Alex Kenna

 

Burn this Night by Alex Kenna.

Published 12th November 2024 by Crooked Lane Books.

From the cover of the book:

Struggling private investigator Kate Myles is shattered to learn her late father isn’t her biological dad. She’s still reeling when she discovers that an unknown distant relative is the prime suspect in a decades-old murder investigation. Trying to convince her to take on the case for free, an old colleague recommends her as an investigator for a recent arson murder in the same small town.

After giving up on a failed acting career, Abby Coburn is starting over as a promising social work student. With her life on the right track, she’s determined to help her brother, Jacob, whose meth addiction triggered a psychotic break and descent into crime. But when Abby dies in a fire that kills two other people and destroys part of the town, the police immediately suspect Jacob.

As the Coburn family grapples with the tragedy, Kate begins unravelling the cold case but finds herself caught in the middle of an emotional minefield. Pretty soon, she discovers that this town is full of dark secrets, and as she comes closer and closer to figuring out the truth, Kate must solve both murders before she becomes the next victim.

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PI Kate Myles is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after an injury that meant the end of her police career, and led to a struggle with opioid addiction, the break-up of her marriage, and the loss of custody of her daughter. Learning that the man she thought was her dad was not actually her biological father is an extra blow she does not even know how to deal with.

When an old colleague comes to her for some free help with a cold case that he suspects might have something to do with a distant relative, Kate is unsure about the prospect of finding a possible murderer in her family tree, especially without payment. But a solution presents itself... there is also a paying role on offer as an investigator into a case of arson in the same small town where the cold case death took place. Kate will be able to take on both cases at the same time after all... if she is prepared to confront what she may find.

Kate arrives in town to find the Coburn family struggling with the tragic loss of their daughter, actress-turned-social worker, Abby. Their distress is made worse by the fact that their son Jacob has been arrested for the murder of the sister who had been trying to help him with his meth addiction, and for subsequently setting fire to her cabin to hide the evidence of his crime. As Kate gets to work, she soon finds holes in the investigation into Abby's death, and a web of secrets and lies as the heart of this small community. Can she get to the bottom of the sins of the past and present before she becomes a victim herself?

Burn this Night is the second book featuring PI Kate Myles, following on from Alex Kenna's debut, What Meets the Eye. It can, however, easily be read as a standalone.

The story unfurls in past and present via a prologue and the narratives of Abby, Jacob and Kate. This does make the beginning a little fractured, as there are multiple time hops and the different voices come at you thick and fast before you have a real handle on the characters (though possibly this is easier in Kate's case if you have read the first book).

However, once Kate rolls into town and gets into the nitty gritty of both the mysterious cold case connected to her family and the arson/murder case involving Abby and Jacob, the story absolutely takes off  - there is a well-spun thread of romance for Kate too. It was not long before I was hooked, and fully invested in following all the nicely contrived twists and turns to their truly gripping conclusion, and discovering what this would all mean for Kate's heart too.

Kenna does a great job of keeping the slow-burn, small town suspense going in every aspect of the story, whether it be in Kate's personal life, or the cases she is investigating, and she throws in so much lovely misdirection that you will find yourself looking completely the wrong way when the grisly truths are revealed. She also explores some very thought-provoking themes in the telling, especially around second chances, family, broken marriages, parenthood, and addiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of mystery, thriller, and romantic elements that make this a real page-turner. I really hope Alex Kenna picks up Kate's story from the ending of this cracking second book too, because I really want to find out what happens next!

Burn this Night is available to buy now in hardcover and ebook formats.

Thank you to Alex Kenna for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter. Her first novel, What Meets the Eye, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Kirkus Reviews called it a “righteous, painful debut,” and Bookpage called her “a master in the making.”

Alex lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and giant schnauzer. Before law school, she studied art and art history, worked as a freelance culture writer for the Atlantic and other publications, and sold paintings in a gallery. 

When she’s not writing Alex can be found exploring Southern California, toddler-wrangling, and playing string instruments badly