Look at the smoke!! You cannot stop coughing, right? Somewhere is burning. Oh no! Morris& Wood’s building which was only built five years ago is on fire! Could it be arson? Or could the old time protestors who were against the modern complex from the beginning be responsible of the fire?
Three women stood at the quay: Eminem’s “I love the way you lie”song plays in my head : just gonna stand there and watch me burn”, mixing with “Disco Inferno” lyrics: “Burn baby” and of course but three women are already singing: “We didn’t start the fire”
Three women: one of them is CEO Harry Wood’s wife Janine who resigned from her rising courtroom career because of her husband and now they’re drifting apart after all sacrifices she made. She is not happy and for her daughters’ sake, she’s trapped in her marriage.Laura, one of the ambitious, rising star of the company, returning back to her office after her maternal leave and she finds out her precious Coopers’ account she’s worked for years were taken over by Mia: the same girl who was her replacement but it seems like Laura has been replaced by her.She knows she is not the person who she’s and she’s after her job even though her sweet pie, lovely husband Nate thinks she’s overreacting AGAIN! Yes, at the past she had another tantrum with a woman colleague that started shit storm and which ended not to so good for her mental condition.
And Laura might be angry to Harry who ignored her hard work and sacrifices she’s made for the company by replacing her with younger and inexperienced version of her.
And Mia, has her own secret agenda, she takes care of her sister and mother, she’s friendly, social, most of the people love her at the office which makes Laura more agitated and jealous. Is she a sweetheart as like people think about her or is Laura right about to be suspicious? Why she’s so keen to keep her job and stay connected to Wood family?
Three of them are lying about the fire. They might be protecting someone or some big secrets can change all of their lives? Who has died at the fire? Who is responsible?
This is quite emotional, thought provoking , thriller and women’s fiction. Especially Mia was my favorite from the beginning. I also empathize with Laura and her reactions about her replacement because her work is the only way to express herself like Janine who got jealous after finding out her best friend’s returning to her job.But Laura’s obsession about getting back her position and exaggerating ambition irritated me as her sweetheart husband did everything to support her. And her lack of interest with her baby’s condition and selfishness also pissed me off.
Janine was neutral character for me. I could her Switzerland character: I didn’t like her or hate her!
The pacing was great. The story telling technique by presenting us police interviews and three women’s POVs brilliantly hooks your interest and you cannot stop reading to learn more about the secrets of these women.
Overall: I loved the powerful conclusion of the story. I loved the author’s approach to the sensitive subjects such as abuse, rape, inequality in work space.
So I’m giving four fiery, volatile, burning stars! This is fast, intriguing, captivating, exciting reading for me!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for sharing this riveting ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.