Wow what a superb book this was to read. Fantastic characters and a storyline that so captures you in. I love the way the storyline slightly differs when you see it through the eyes of the various characters which really helps this book stand out from others and the twists and turns the book takes leaves you gripped and wanting to read on to see what happens. Definitely a book you have to read!

Excellent read. A man with an extremely troubled childhood and youth does an heroic deed. This exposes him and brings questions into his background. Totally gripping and very descriptive throughout

This had the feel of a tv drama series. A pretty dramatic opening and then an outrageously bold ending. Steve is hailed a hero for rescuing a baby from a fire but this is fairly short lived when he becomes the suspect in a murder from some years prior. I liked DS Willmott in book 1 and I still think she is a great character. I do find it a bit weird that the author so rarely refers to her by her name (Sue) even in her off duty time. The main talking point for most readers will be the ending and it was certainly the standout for me. I really didn’t care for it but I can’t deny the impact of it. Two books in this feels like a series that could run on for a while yet.

I really enjoyed the author’s debut novel so was looking forward to reading Into the Fire. I found it to be a mixed read, there’s definitely a good thriller there but I also found some of the writing repetitive and the pacing was uneven. It took me a while to get into it but at times I found it gripping especially the latter half of the book. Overall an enjoyable thriller.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I loved this book! I found it intense, yet enjoyable - as someone traumatized by their past (and their past mistakes) fights to keep their hard won happy life, as they come to terms with childhood trauma and mistakes - excellent!

On to my review...

Into the Fire is more than a title—it’s a declaration. G. D. Wright’s novel doesn’t invite the reader in gently; it hurls them into heat, into trauma, into resilience. What emerges is a scorched but astonishingly human portrait of survival and transformation.

At first glance, this story seems rooted in genre—a psychological thriller with speculative echoes—but Wright defies neat classification. The novel ignites slowly, focusing on character before combustion. The protagonist's journey isn’t linear; it unspools like smoke, looping in time and memory. Wright handles flashbacks not as narrative crutches but as psychological landmines—moments where the past detonates quietly beneath the surface.

Wright’s prose is lean yet poetic. There’s a recurring motif of fire, obviously, but also glass—things that can shatter or smolder. The book simmers with moral ambiguity. No one is innocent, but no one is beyond empathy either. This complexity reminded me of novels like The Sympathizer or Atonement, where guilt is a condition and a compass.

Redemption here isn’t cinematic; it’s feral, raw, and sometimes bitter. That’s not to say the book is hopeless. On the contrary, it glows with a hard-earned dignity.

Recommended for readers who appreciate narratives that burn slowly but leave lasting heat. It’s a novel of trauma, yes, but also of reckoning—and of finding one’s shape again in the ashes.

Tense, heartbreaking, exciting! Daring rescues, murder, trauma, family bonds & love, police procedural - this book has it all. Excellently written, great characters- highly recommended.

Into the Fire was a gripping and rewarding read that pulled me in from the very first chapter. It’s the kind of story that keeps you turning pages late into the night—not just because of the fast-paced plot, but because of the emotional depth and complexity of the characters.

One of the things I appreciated most was how Wright weaves in a powerful secret from the past that slowly unravels as the story builds. The tension surrounding that hidden truth adds an extra layer of suspense and emotional intensity, keeping you guessing about how everything will play out. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story took a sharp, unexpected turn—leading to a surprise ending that completely caught me off guard, in the best way.

There were moments of tension, yes, but also of vulnerability and human connection that gave the book real emotional weight.. The book is about resilience, personal transformation, and how the past can shape (and sometimes haunt) the present. The characters are well developed, with flaws and strengths that make them feel real and relatable.

Overall, Into the Fire is an exciting, emotionally layered thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. It’s perfect for readers who love suspenseful stories with heart and depth. I’m really glad I picked this one up and will definitely be watching for more from G.D. Wright.

Steve is happily married to the love of his life and is a doting father to Gracie and Oscar and appears to have the perfect life.

But after rescuing baby Jack from house fire everything starts to fall apart.

He goes from being a national hero to villain when he past collides with his present day

Was totally gripped from t he start and couldn't put it down finishing it in the wee hours!

I am a little bit late to the party with G D Wright books, having not read After The Storm, but having read this one, I can guarantee I will be reading his first book very soon.

Steve rescues a baby from a burning house and is suddenly thrust into the spotlight and hailed a hero - but Steve has a past he has been running from which catches up with him.

What I loved is how this book very cleverly and skilfully changes pace - from a first half full of action and feeling like more of a “standard” thriller (if there is such a thing?), this becomes much more character driven. Steve is a wonderfully well-drawn character, who it is impossible not to feel sympathy for even when your reactions to him are complicated. And investigating officer DS Sue Willmott is equally successfully brought to life as the doggedly determined detective just trying to get to the truth.

As the book heads to its conclusion the tension really does build - and it was one of those “heart in mouth, can’t turn the pages quick enough” What was unexpected for me was the complicated emotion this book evoked in me - and with a some final twists I never saw coming - and a perfect ending - this is a book that takes you on a rollercoaster, but the best kind! It’s not always easy to read, but my goodness it’s worth it!

I found this book fast-paced and gripping, I was definitely invested from the opening pages where a couple are on their way home and see a house on fire! The actions taken here lead to Steve gaining hero status and more of a profile than he really wanted. We follow his perspective along with the detective and a man whose teenage daughter died years ago. There were niggles with this book - there is a little too much repetition of certain sentences and words in a way that jolted me out of the story. I also found the pacing a little off in places. For the most part though I was engrossed in the story and keen to see how all the ends would tie together and what the outcome would be.

G.D. Wright's Into The Fire is an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that captivated me from the start. It's a dark, intense read exploring justice, vengeance, and profound moral ambiguity. The plot is incredibly well-paced with surprising twists, and the characters are complex and deeply compelling.

The novel's strength lies in its relentless tension and emotional depth, revealing how past wrongs cast long shadows. While intense, it’s a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of human resilience.

I highly recommend this unputdownable thriller to anyone looking for a suspenseful read that delves into difficult questions and stays with you long after the final page.

This was one terrific ride through a really captivating story. All the way through I kept wondering what was causing Steve's nightmares and it is not until just before the end that it all is revealed. Steve does a very dramatic, heroic act of rescuing a chid from a burning house and he becomes famous everywhere, social media, newspapers and TV all publishing his heroism. Sadly this all changes when he is arrested for a very old murder. As a reader it becomes confusing about who Steve really is, did he murder a young girl and why, was this the cause of his nightmares and why now after all these years of being a family man established in a loving famiy and community has he been charged with murder.Steve's history is eventually told in the most absorbing way. It does cover tough sensitive topics that in some places almost made me cry.
Af antastic vacation read that will keep anyone engrossed all the way through.

'Into The Fire is an emotionally intense crime drama. It has a suspenseful build-up to Steve's heroic act and subsequent downfall, which is detailed and intense. It has a cast of complex and relatable characters. Exploring disturbing issues and horrific secrets from Steve's past. It shows the complex spectrum of humanity and the influence of public opinion facilitated by social media. The shocking final twists and resonating end make this an authentic and compelling read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Into The Fire tells the story of Steve, who has left his troubled childhood behind and is living happily with his wife and two young children. One evening, this all changes as he becomes a hero overnight when he rescues a baby from a burning building. As Steve is thrust into the public eye, secrets start to unfold and Steve finds himself arrested for an unsolved murder many years previously.

I enjoyed G. D. Wright's first book because it put characters in difficult situations and makes you think about how you would feel and react in them. This book is no different and I loved it for that. There is a real battle of good vs evil and what happens when the lines between them blur.

The writing was really good and I found myself absorbed in the story quickly, needing to know how it all worked out.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. Having read the author's previous book I was really looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed, once again the characters and the story grab you from the beginning and what follows is a story full of twists with an ending I really did not see coming. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

GD Wright has quickly established himself as an author you will read whatever he releases next. He has a way with words to grip at your heart and leave you unable to stop until the end. Loved it

Thanks to Avon for my copy of the book via Netgalley

After reading Gaz's first book, After The Storm, I know this was going to be gut wrenching and have me in the edge of a cliff the entire book but I did t realise it would be figuratively and almost visually (because I see a little film in my mind when I read!)

This is yet another fantastic book from Mr Wright!

I didn't know what to think from the synopsis of the book but as it slowly unraveled I couldn't work out quite what our main character could possibly have done, because what type of murderer who seems to be an all round good man goes running into a burning building to save people?? No hesitation?

The story is expertly paced with small tidbits of information and hints dropped along the way which are so subtly placed it takes a real eagle eye to spot them!

This book explores so many facets of nature over nurture and whether that plays any sort of role in who we turn out to be. The choices we make and how they shape our lives and those of the people around us.

I found it a brilliant read and with the holiday period coming up this is definitely one I would recommend people grab for their holiday read!

I really enjoyed After The Storm so I looking forward to reading the next book by this Author and I wasn't disappointed .The story poses a number of questions ,can a murderer ever become a hero ? Steve a happily married man with a Family risks his life one night when he sees a house on fire and runs in and saves a baby .He becomes a local hero but also now everyone knows him and he has been hiding his past now for so long it is about to be exposed .I like the characters and it was a very good story with a shocking ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

Into the Fire is an emotive and gripping thriller that keeps you emersed and hoping for the best despite the circumstances.

Steve acts on impulse and runs into the fire to save a life, but the consequences of his heroic actions leave him in the spotlight of the media. A spotlight he has avoided for his whole adult life.

I found myself absolutely captivated by the story from the start. I love the suspense and mystery surrounding Steve's character, with each chapter adding a hint of something more. The multiple points of view add depth to the storyline and allows the reader to try and piece the puzzle together as they read.

This book explores some tough topics in a really sensitive way. Themes include: family love and sacrifice, redemption and revenge, amongst others.
I highly recommend G.D Wright's books to those looking for a thriller that can make you cry, then make your heart race and make you angry within the space of a few chapters.

Into The Fire by @gdwrightwrites

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I read this as part of #TheBigBuddyRead hosted by @ang.all.about.books 🔥 Thank you so much.

Reading this one with a bunch of bookworms was fantastic. It was great to see the different thoughts and theories we each had every day. I like seeing how a book is perceived from someone else's point of view.

I read and loved Gaz's debut novel After The Storm, so when I got the chance to read this one, I knew it would be a good one.

This story centres around Steve. Who opens up the book as a hero. He runs into a burning building and saves a life. But, this one act of heroism leads to opening up a plethora of secrets and hidden stories.

There are trigger warnings for the content in this book.

I will hold my hands up and say there were times in the book where it kind of lulled for me, and I just wanted to get to the action. That's probably my impatience, though ☺️

As the story unfolds and we get to know Steve and his history. This is where the true hard-hitting storyline lies. It really hit me with the feels. And being a parent myself, I couldn't help but put myself in some of the situations the characters found themselves in. Sarah, I wouldn't hesitate to do exactly what she did 😢

If you haven't read any of Wright's books, then right this wrong ☺️👍🏼

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