I love a good small town mystery and books centered around cults, so I was so excited to dive into this story. This is a slow-burn mystery where you get to see the story unfold through multiple POVs, and the circumstances surrounding a mysterious death. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the POV of the deceased. This is not something you get to see often, and it added to the intrigue and background of the story. This one kept me guessing until the very end. I wanted to keep reading to find out how everything tied together at the end. This was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.

Read of you enjoy:
✔️Small town mystery
✔️Multiple POVs
✔️Books about cults
✔️Conservative Texas setting

Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and Kristen Bird for the ARC.

I love that this story centers around strong female characters fighting against this charismatic man who has a chokehold on their small town. This book kept my interest from beginning to end! I love that the characters are complex with real life problems that make them very relatable. The novel addresses issues that we are facing today and the danger of cultish practices. I was able to read this book through NetGalley, thanks NetGalley! This is a must read thriller.

Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird is a mile a minute kind of psychological thriller. Bird writes with great suspense and the twists keep the plot fresh and mysterious from cover to cover. I loved how the chapters alternated points of view by characters, including giving a voice to the victim.

Dealing heavily in cult-like behavior and brain washing, Kristen Bird was able to make the plot believable and just realistic enough for the reader to honestly wonder what the heck was going on in this small town.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mira Publishing for the chance to read this new novel by Bird in exchange for an honest opinion.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA for the ARC copy of this culty read!! This one is out now!!

While I did enjoy the opening of this book, it somewhat lost my attention too soon and didn't pick it back up quick enough for me to truly enjoy this read. It was decent, and had a fun cult like vibe to it for those that really like that. I thought that the plot was a little wishy washy at times, and then we just kind of had an ending that made everything fit together and be cleaned up quickly.

This one wasn't a favorite read of mine, but I would still give Bird a shot for some of her other reads and any future books!

In a town called Edenberg, the narrative begins with downtown on fire before rewinding to the discovery of 65-year-old Beverly Hoffman's body in the Guadalupe River a week earlier. Beverly's niece, Robin, an elementary school teacher, teams up with Nichole Miller and her close friend, reporter Jenny Martin, convinced that Beverly's demise wasn't accidental and determined to uncover the truth.

This book reminds me of those true crime cases that are either in small towns or not as sensationalized as others, where the more you dig the more comes up and it becomes mind blowing of how much comes up. I’ve read enough investigation type books and this one gripped me from the start, pushing me to unravel the mystery and understand its deeper implications, even during the uneasy moments. It truly prompted me to scrutinize the influence of cults and question their sway over individuals and communities.

As for the cover, I think it’s so pretty and I will be buying a copy for my shelf!

Kristen Bird delivered another great thriller with Watch it Burn. I did not know how this story was going to unfold, and was delighted by the surprises. The added cult-like element made the book more interesting in my opinion. There were a couple twists that were so surprising and timed perfectly. I thought the book kept a good pace and was well written, I really enjoyed the ending, it felt full circle and was satisfying to see it all play out. Kristen Bird writes a compelling thriller and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "Watch it Burn" by Kristen Bird.

"Watch It Burn" by Kristen Bird is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Bird skillfully weaves together multiple storylines, creating a complex narrative that unfolds at a relentless pace. The tension is palpable from the very first page, and the twists and turns will leave you guessing until the end.

One of the strengths of "Watch It Burn" lies in Bird's ability to create vivid and realistic characters. Each character is fleshed out with their own motivations and flaws, making them feel like real people grappling with extraordinary circumstances. Additionally, Bird tackles important themes such as morality and justice, adding depth to the story.

However, while "Watch It Burn" is undeniably thrilling, it can feel somewhat formulaic at times. The plot follows familiar tropes of the genre, and some of the twists may be predictable for seasoned thriller readers. Despite this, Bird's strong writing and compelling characters make "Watch It Burn" a worthwhile read for fans of suspenseful fiction.

I loved the multiple POVs in this one! That and the fabulous cast of characters kept me guessing and intrigued all the way through this must read.

Small town, cult-ish vibes, a mysterious death? Count me in! Watch It Burn was a slow burn and when it caught fire, it was hot! I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the backstory of Genetive before I was able to get the answers I wanted. I did figure out the connection Nicole’s sister had to the Hoffmans pretty quickly but I still really enjoyed the story. Especially that ending!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Small Town Southern Mystery Reminiscent of Malibu Rising. As I begin to think about this book and my experience with it, Malibu Rising keeps coming to mind - which, given that *that* book was a bestseller, tends to be a favorable comparison for this book - or so Ms. Bird likely hopes. Up front, this book does have several different POVs, which is clearly something some readers don't enjoy. So if you're one of those, know this book probably isn't for you. That noted, Ms. Bird actually uses those POVs quite effectively, with the grandma character very much feeling like an old school small town Southern grandma, particularly of the "knows everybody and their business" variety. On some other aspects, at times the tale gets perhaps a bit *too* blatant in its commentary, seemingly coming millimeters from using the actual names (NXVIM, Allison Mack, etc) it is referring to. At other points, it is perhaps a touch too *obtuse*, at times using a few dozen words when a single word or short phrase would have worked just as well.

But ultimately this was a fun book that managed to keep the pacing and mystery solid enough to be entertaining without being so serious and deep as to be dragging. The surprises were done well and the villains were sufficiently creepy, and the humor was just enough to keep everything refreshing. Very much recommended.

This was a very odd, but intriguing book. There are multiple entertaining, overlapping storylines that you get further glimpses of in each POV chapter you get to. There is murder, tragedy, mystery, and a weird culty group running the small town. I found some of the storylines more interesting than others, but breezed through the book waiting patiently to see how everything got tied up nicely together. Weird and enjoyable! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a solid mystery with a touch of suspense. Three old friends reunite in their hometown and join forces to solve a mystery. Beverly Hoffman, the 65-year-old beloved resident and wife to the founder of Genitive, Inc., is found dead in the Guadalupe River. The police rule it an accidental drowning but Jenny, Nichole and Robin don't believe it. In fact, they uncover so many town secrets that it just might burn it all down!

The story touches on the reality of cults and their toxic and antiquated beliefs. Well written and worth the read!

Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird is a novel I would classify as mystery and thriller-light. There was enough here to keep me intrigued but nothing that was too scary to read before bed.

This novel set in Texas is told from the POV’s of three women that are all linked by their connection to their home town. They each have secrets to hide and secrets to share which might play a part in the town going up in flames. This is not a spoiler as we learn in the opening pages that this little Texas town is literally in flames. What we don’t know is why and how these three women are connected.

This slow-burn mystery surprised me in parts and grabbed my attention enough to keep turning the pages to the very end. It’s best to go in knowing only the basic premise and enjoy the ride.

Read Let It Burn if you like mysteries with a southern setting, slow-burn suspense, and cult-ish themes.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of Watch It Burn by Kristen Bird

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and Kristen Bird for the ARC. The premise of the book sounded exciting, but it was just too boring and over-written for me to get into it. I had to DNF around 30%. I tried!

"Watch It Burn" is a gripping novel by Kristen Bird that tells the story of a small Texas town called Edenberg. The book revolves around the discovery of Beverly Hoffman's body, which triggers a thrilling investigation that uncovers the truth behind Genetive, Inc., a "self-help company" that is not what it seems.*cough* CULT *cough*
The narrative is told from the perspective of three women who share a complicated history and emotional struggles, One unique aspect of the book is the fact that we also get Beverly's perspective after her death as a narrator. The plot is layered, and the tension builds up as the story progresses. Bird's writing is sharp, and her descriptions of the setting are vivid.
The story felt slow at moments but its strength lies in its rich character development and the intricate relationships that drive the story forward. Bird’s prose is sharp, her setting vivid, and her ability to maintain tension is commendable.

While having various points of views and different angles of storytelling can be really interesting and really effective in some thriller novels, there is such a thing as too much. Watch It Burn is truly an example of too many and too much: too many POVs, too many angles, too much shifting, too many characters, and a major POV character I just wanted to glaze over every time she came on the page.

Some may call this book timely. I call it tired. It was really just below average on every level for me.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Due to a three star or lower rating this review will not be appearing on my social media. Thank you.

I couldn't put this taut, moody story down. Relationships, small town secrets, culty elements- absolute catnip and well written to boot.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA and the author for the ARC of Watch It Burn.

Let me just start with how much I loved the characters in this. So many well developed personalities. This is a big must for me in any 5 star read, as having a mental picture in my head is very important to me. I don't know how other readers picture books which the read, but for me it's almost like a film going on in my brain; this was a book which I could perfectly pictures the characters and events unfolding like a movie.

There are so many elements unfolding in this book, a town run by a rich white family that appears perfect from all sides, a school teacher with a fear of water that manages to find a dead woman downed in several inches of water and a journalist attempting to uncover how this happened and what is going on in the town by digging through the newspaper's old editions and records.

Our dead woman who happens to be the grandmother and matriarch of the town's beloved 'ruling' family was immediately intriguing because if so beloved, then why killed? Our three main ladies (go girl power) have been friends since high school and all realize that something is incredibly wrong with this death and how can someone 'accidentally' drown in 2 inches of water. Of course our ladies can't help but dig deeper, not to mention that Robin, happens to have married into the family and they hope to keep her safe from whatever evil is lurking.

A complicating subplot is that Beverly (the dead) happened to run Genitive, a personal development company. Although Genitive seems like a genuinely developed self-help campaign, we know many supposed self-help companies and group have a strong tendency to veer into cult territory, regardless of being developed altruistically. Well folks, I have to say some elements start to feel suspect the further you read about Bev's family and genitive.

All three women are incredibly different and I loved each of them. This is a book that I feel like I can't write about without revealing too much. That being said, it was fantastic and takes many twists.

Any lover of small town drama, family drama, mystery, thriller, cult reader should pick up this book. I cannot overstate how much I enjoyed this fast-paced read.

I love stories set in my home state of Texas, and this one did not disappoint. And, it starts with discovering a body. I was hooked! Told from three points of view, including the deceased, kept revealing twists upon twists. This is my second book from Kristen Bird, and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book. I have seen other books by Kristen Bird that I have wanted to read, so when I saw that she had a new book coming out, I thought it would be fun to give it a try. I was definitely intrigued by the cover, synopsis, and title of the book, but I must admit that once I started reading it, it was different than what I thought that it was going to be. I am going to set this one aside for now; I was having a hard time getting into it and connecting with the characters and story, so I think I will try to come back to it at a later date when I am in the right mood for it. I am thinking this might be a better read for a fall day/night.