Such a thought provoking and emotional read. GD Wright’s books have such a huge moral dilemma in them and this book especially packs a punch in that respect. I loved that this really got me thinking and my feelings for the main character were so mixed because of it. I did find this quite slow around the middle and it felt like not much was happening then or it became a bit repetitive. But overall a book that really got me thinking and questioning!

Most of us would never even consider running into a burning house but that’s exactly what Steve Minchin does without any consideration for his own safety, his only objective to save lives. Hailed a local hero for saving the life of a baby Steve is the object of much media interest however the glare of publicity pays it price and soon events start to spiral and hidden secrets from Steve’s past start to surface, with public opinion once again intruding into his and his family’s life.

I thought this was a really well thought out story and Steve is such an interesting character so that when his life starts to unravel I felt immense sympathy for him, however, his past is such that once his secrets are exposed there is really no turning back for him and a roller coaster of events starts a downward spiral. The author writes these human interest stories with fine attention to detail, drawing on his police background to get the nitty-gritty of the procedure parts of the story spot on. I raced through the book and at over 400 pages that takes some commitment but such is the strength of the story that I found that I wanted to find out just what secrets Steve had carried within him for twenty years and what the outcome would be. There’s a shocking twist I didn’t see coming which made me stop and consider the whole business of nature over nurture and a couple of characters who I really got to dislike but all credit to the author for making the whole thing seem incredibly relatable.

Into the Fire is another well written and gripping story from an author who really knows how to grab the reader’s attention. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented writer.

I have mixed feelings about this book and it took me past 70% to really get into it. The book is told from different viewpoints, Steve, the father of 2, another father, Kevin , a reporter and a police officer. As it begins, Steve senses that a house is on fire, rushes in and saves a little boy and becomes a local hero. Unfortunately something from his past also rears up and causes him problems. No spoilers, but the pace of the book was slow and the events of the past not revealed until well into the book. In retrospect, I can see that earlier knowledge would have given the plot away, but being kept in the dark for too long made me want to give up on the book and meant that I had little engagement with any of the characters.
In the last chapters, the pace picks up and I finally became more invested in the plot.
I didn't particularly care for DS Willmott in this book and the investigation did not seem particularly strong. There is a content warning and there are some heartwrenching moments in the book.
I can't say I really enjoyed the book, the content is at times too harrowing . It is a story that needs to be told though. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

Wow, what a book, I raced through this. A captivating story of a local hero who saves a baby from a burning house, but sets in motion a chain of events that uncovers a long buried secret from the past. The storytelling is compelling, capturing the town and its inhabitants beautifully. A great book that I immediately want to tell people about, excellent holiday read!

Wow I found this an incredible read. Dark in places and it certainly went in directions I wasn’t expecting. I sat and read it in one sitting. An absolute attention grabber.

A gripping crime novel that I really enjoyed as there was vagueness and intrigue to keep me reading.

He runs into the flames a hero. He emerges from the ashes a suspect.
Steve thought he had left his troubled past behind. Living a quiet life with his wife and children, everything changes the night he rescues a baby from a burning house, becoming an unexpected national hero.
But as the spotlight shines brighter, so does the scrutiny, and a shocking accusation is made – that Steve is the man responsible for an unsolved murder in Beachbrook years prior.

I enjoyed this well paced thriller with plenty of cliffhanger chapters to keep you going until a final gut wrenching end. Definitely recommend this book and this author to all thriller lovers.

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.