The Burning Air - Hardcover

Erin Kelly

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1444728318 ISBN 13: 9781444728316

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton, 2013

Synopsis

Gripping and chilling, with a killer twist, THE BURNING AIR reaffirms Erin Kelly as one of Britain's foremost psychological thriller writers. Of course it was love for my children, love for my son, that caused me to act as I did. It was a lapse of judgement. If I could have foreseen the rippling aftershocks that followed I would have acted differently, but by the time I realised the extent of the consequences, it was too late. The MacBrides have always gone to Far Barn in Devon for Bonfire Night, but this year everything is different. Lydia, the matriarch, is dead; Sophie, the eldest daughter, is desperately trying to repair a crumbling marriage; and Felix, the youngest of the family, has brought a girlfriend with him for the first time. The girl, Kerry, seems odd in a way nobody can quite put their finger on - but when they leave her looking after Sophie's baby daughter, and return to find both Kerry and the baby gone, they are forced to ask themselves if they have allowed a cuckoo into their nest . . .

About this title

About the Author:

Erin Kelly is the author of The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind and Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the mega-hit TV series. In 2013, The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2011. Born in London in 1976, she lives in north London with her husband and daughters.www.erinkelly.co.ukwww.twitter.com/mserinkellywww.facebook.com/Erin-Kelly-Author

Review:

[Kelly] has proved herself - with three books - to be among the most accomplished and pin-sharp of writers working in the crime genre. -- Barry Forshaw * Independent * If you were a fan of Erin Kelly's first novel, THE POISON TREE, you'll love this. It's definitely her most psychological thriller yet and is the very essence of a page turner - we literally couldn't put it down . . . Obviously, it wouldn't be a thriller without a twist and this one was truly a shocker - it made us turn those pages even quicker so we could see exactly how it would all be resolved. A taut, yet extremely readable novel, this is the perfect companion for a cold winter's night! * goodtoknow.co.uk * THE BURNING AIR once again highlights the originality of Erin Kelly's plot lines and her ability to build anticipation that, in my opinion, is rarely matched by other thriller/suspense writers. Her ability of taking something everyday and warping it into something dark and twisted, whilst effortlessly weaving sequences from all parts of the characters' lives is not something everyone can do . . . This book is a definite page turner that once picked up cannot be put down, with an inventive plot and characters that grab you and hold on tight whilst steering you through the subtle complexities. * crimesquad.com * Very cleverly written and full of unexpected twists as the tension keeps being ratcheted up another notch before the big reveal at the end . . . Deeply enjoyable but deeply unsettling: the perfect mixture for a psychological thriller! * Sun's Fabulous blog * Creepy and claustrophobic * Sunday Mirror * Gripping new thriller about family secrets and revenge. Perfect for getting spooked on dark January evenings in. * Top Sante * Suspenseful and clever, this book, Erin Kelly's third, is her best so far. * Literary Review * Extremely clever... The writing is exemplary... If this was a film, it would be an Alfred Hitchcock great. * TheBookBag.co.uk * Erin Kelly has produced another excellent psychological thriller in THE BURNING AIR. Dark, chilling and with nail biting twists, I read deep into the night, unable to put it down . . . A must read for all fans of the psychological thriller. * newbooks magazine * A skilfully woven web of revelations, showing how past mistakes come back to haunt the future . . . a chilling, atmospheric book that is almost impossible to put down. There is no-let up in the tension as we hurtle towards the shocking conclusion * Press Association * Full of can't-bear-to-look intensity, this is a great, taut read * Red * If you were glued to ITV's recent psychological drama THE POISON TREE, get your nose in the author's latest spine-chiller, pronto . . . Family politics mixed with revenge make for a super-spooky read * Look * Brilliant * InStyle * Compelling: a macabre tale of motherhood and vengeance * Woman's Weekly * A masterfully plotted dark tale of how a small injustice can have devastating consequences. I devoured it in one sitting. * Irish Independent * Written with empathy, psychological insight and a real feel for the menace and conflict at the heart of families, it's a superior example of its genre. * Big Issue * THE BURNING AIR is a clever, creepy exploration of the deceit hidden even within the most apparently loving of families and the very fine line between justice and revenge. Erin Kelly is brilliant at showing the relentlessness of obsession and the evil that can be done in the name of love. * Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner * In a strong field, Kelly is among the strongest. Her formidable control of plot twist and character keep you gripped, unsure of the outcome, until the bitter end. * Alex Marwood, author of The Wicked Girls * A classic dark thriller combining suspense with gorgeous, evocative prose . . . With writing so seductive and multiple voices that are pitch-perfect for the characters she's created, Kelly shows that she is a writer who doesn't need to keep repeating herself to stay in the game. * Kirkus Reviews * 'THE BURNING AIR is a classic of the psychological thriller genre and puts Kelly firmly in the same league as Ruth Rendell writing under her Barbara Vine pseudonym; both women showing a great gift for characterisation and a mastery of understanding human nature's twisted desires . . . I loved it . . . Erin Kelly puts a satisfying contemporary spin on her genre, showing a sympathy for all her characters, even the supposed 'baddies', and a love of a moral dilemma which could happen to any one of us. It is this realism, a hand-grenade thrown into uneventful and supposedly comfortable lives, which makes THE BURNING AIR such an involving read'. * Sunday Express * 'You won't be able to get anything else done until you've finished it . . . completely compelling: just take the phone off the hook and cancel any plans you might have.' ***** * Heat * A tense family drama that demands to be read in one sitting * Daily Record * You'll be transfixed as you uncover the truth in this unputdownable novel * Easy Living * Erin Kelly masterminds her most psychological thriller yet . . . has a twist so shocking you'll need a lie down * Grazia * An atmospheric setting and an absolutely genius twist . . . Nothing is as it seems in this tense domestic drama, as fresh revelations uncover a maze of interconnected secrets. * Marie Claire * Everything you want from a psychological thriller - elegant writing, clever plotting, shocking twists and a looming sense of menace . . . Erin Kelly just gets better and better with every book! * Good Housekeeping * Her creepiest and classiest yet * Elle * Her new book is every bit as dark and intriguing as her previous novels * Bella * It's not often I read a book where the twist is so surprising, I have to go back and work out how I missed it, but that's what happened here . . . Brilliant and heart-stopping. * Woman * Erin Kelly is a seriously good writer, and this gripping novel is her best yet. I really loved it - couldn't put it down! * Sophie Hannah * Expect dark secrets and a killer twist. So thrilling, this book will have you sleeping with the lights on. * Company * Her narrative choreographs a succession of hints, twists and revelations with elegance and precision. The novel is beautifully written and the characters have a dreadful plausibility about them that engulfs you in their untidy lives. Like all the best psychological thrillers, this one leaves the reader feeling mildly traumatised - and hungry for the author's next book. * Spectator * Kelly excels at thrillers set in middle-England idylls, that sidestep the cliched and the cosy to go for the jugular. [THE BURNING AIR] sees her reach another level. * Independent on Sunday * An author in total command of the tensions within dysfunctional families . . . Gripping all the way. * The Times * Kelly's most accomplished book to date . . . a gripping tale of secrets, revenge and obsession, masterfully done. * Guardian *

About this edition

• Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1444728318
• ISBN 13: 9781444728316
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 368