Thank you to the Publisher, NetGalley and of course the most incredible soul Mr G. D. Wright for giving me the opportunity to review an advanced reader copy of 'Into the Fire' in return of an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

HOLY SMOKES! I have been waiting for this for what feels like a lifetime. I first read G. D. Wrights debut novel 'After The Storm' last year and that blew me away. 'Into the Fire' has been long craved since I came across G. D. Wright as an author and I can 100% tell you that 'Into The Fire' does NOT disappoint.
I love a good thriller, but my goodness this book made me feel like I was having another cardiac episode. This is something I absolutely need in a book. I need to feel my heart race and feel that suspense. Into the Fire delivered on that front and is yet another brilliant book by a literary magician. I feel like I could now call Gary a friend after numerous exchanges on Instagram and honestly I now have an Auto-Buy Author yet again to add to my list!

The beginning of the book had me rendered speechless and gasping for breath and the middle was a little of a slow burn however it was nice as you learn a lot about some of the characters and even better is a couple of them have been bought over from G. D. Wrights debut novel 'After the Storm' however as the storyline progress the events take a drastic turn and then just as you think you're able to cool off you are hit with yet another twist. I did not expect the ending at all, I thought it was going to end very differently and when I tell you I was GOBSMACKED at the end of the book I honestly couldn't hold it in anymore. I feel I need an IV Transfusion of reading material from this man because I need more and I need it now!

The characters are a mixture of people from all walks of life, 'Into the Fire' wraps itself around your heartstrings and often gives them a tug whilst also feeling as though you are on the edge of your seat waiting for what is to come next. I really enjoyed this book and I feel I am now one of Gary's biggest fans lol.

In all honesty, you NEED to read this book however I do advise that the topics raised throughout this book could be traumatic and triggering to some so please put your mental health first and check out the trigger warnings before reading. I know trigger warnings are controversial but even I had to take a breather at points in this book. I won't list the trigger warnings based on the fact this book is yet to be published and the contents could be slightly adjusted between the time I have written this review and the date Into the Fire gets published.

Well what a book this was. This is the second I’ve read by this author and I absolutely love their style of writing and the tension the book builds up till the unexpected ending . I loved the characters and how both couples coped with their harrowing early life . The ending was totally unexpected with a totally shocking moment . I cannot rate this author highly enough and I’d definitely recommend this book . I can’t wait for the next . Five stars from me

Beachbrook seems such a nice place to live, if you forget about that one murder some years ago.
Steve, a local, becomes a hero when walking home from a night out he runs into a burning house and rescues a baby, leapin from the first floor in an act of complete heroism, something outstanding for a boy from his background.
All is great until Steve suddenly stands accused of that murder he town tries to forget and everything takes a seriously dark turn from that point, with Steve and his family trapped in their home by journalists and the police getting ever closer to the truth.
An absolutely spectacular read!

Into the Fire by G. D. Wright is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that explores the weight of the past and how quickly life can unravel when long-buried secrets resurface. Set in the seaside town of Beachbrook, the story follows Steve, a devoted husband and father who becomes an unexpected hero after rescuing a baby from a burning house. But as his act of bravery propels him into the public eye, scrutiny follows—and with it, an accusation that could destroy everything he holds dear.

Steve has worked hard to build a quiet, stable life with his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Gracie and Oscar. He avoids social media, keeps his past hidden, and has never sought attention. But when he steps into the flames and emerges a hero, he suddenly finds himself at the centre of an investigation. DS Willmott is assigned to look into the claim that Steve is connected to an unsolved murder from years ago, and as she digs deeper, the cracks in Steve’s carefully constructed life begin to show.

The book has a striking balance between fast-paced action and slow-burning tension. The first half is intense and gripping, while the second half shifts focus to the psychological and emotional toll of Steve’s predicament. As his world collapses, we see his internal struggle—desperation, fear, and the lengths he will go to to protect his family. Meanwhile, DS Willmott is given her depth and complexity, making her a compelling investigator with motives beyond just solving a case.

Wright’s writing is immersive, drawing the reader into Beachbrook’s atmosphere while steadily building tension. The exploration of heroism, guilt, and the inescapable pull of the past adds layers to the story, making it more than just a thriller—it’s also a study of character, morality, and the fragility of reputation.

Into the Fire is a deeply engrossing read that keeps you questioning everything until the final pages. It’s a book about secrets, redemption, and how quickly life can turn when the truth comes knocking.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

GD Wright has done it again, with his second novel. What a punch of a book this is!

I love how this book evokes strong emotions and keeps you hooked, but in a totally different way to After the Storm.

When Steve goes into a fire and comes out a hero, he struggles to come to terms with this new title and all the attention that comes with it, but the tides quickly turn when he comes out a suspect...

G.D Wright is the master of getting to the heart of a matter in a really human way, with so much raw emotion, I felt it all as I read along and this book will also stay with me. What a triumph of a book, that isn't straight forward nor predictable.

I'm excited to see where book 3 goes.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Another gripping read by G.D.Wright, following on from his debut novel, After The Storm. It’s a difficult book to read at times, partly from some of the subject matter, but also because it brings emotions to the surface with some of the intensity of the story.

The story is told from different points of view; A coffee shop owner who goes from zero to hero overnight, after rescuing a child from a house fire; the police officer who is investigating the fire, a widow juggling work and caring for her young daughter; : a grieving father who is still trying to make sense of his child’s death some twenty years later. And a reporter keen to get a different angle on this latest big news story.

Really well written, and gripped me from the start, with storylines that felt so real. It’s quite scary when you see how social media spreads news, rumours and opinions so quickly and how it affects people’s lives so dramatically. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming or the twists to a couple of the relationships. This was a book that once I started reading, I had to finish to see how it could possibly end. The only downside for me, was it felt as though it slightly lost momentum around the middle, but did pick up very well after that.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow! What a story! I really liked the debut book by this author After the Storm and this one is even better. Set in the same coastal town and with a couple of references to the previous story , it could still be a standalone novel. A young father runs into a burning building and is a hero. The town love him and then his past begins to surface.
The characters are realistic, the developing narrative is believable. The whole basis of the story is family and how we will protect them. Some friends are family too and we always believe the best in them. The second half of the book really ramped up the pressure and the last few chapters are dynamite! Some heart in the mouth moments, some gasps. What a cracking book. I don’t know how GDWright can follow these two books but I cannot wait!

Into the Fire by G. D. Wright is a gripping crime drama with a lot of emotional weight, and what really struck me was how much it made me think about the idea of perception and how quickly someone can go from being a hero to a suspect.

The story follows Steve, an ordinary guy who becomes famous after saving a baby from a house fire. But instead of being celebrated, his past comes back to haunt him, and suddenly, he’s accused of a crime from years ago. The way Wright unravels this mystery is brilliant there are twists I didn’t see coming, and the emotional depth of the characters really stood out. Even the side characters felt real and layered, which made the stakes feel even higher.

What I loved most was the way the book balanced tension and emotion. The first half is fast-paced and full of suspense, but the second half slows down as the focus shifts more to the characters internal struggles. While it loses a bit of momentum, the story remains compelling, and the character development keeps it engaging.
If you’re a fan crime dramas that are just as much about the people as they are about the mystery, Into the Fire is absolutely worth a read.

🔥 GD Wright has done it again! After being completely hooked by his debut, After The Storm, which I devoured in 24 hours, I was beyond excited to see Into the Fire available for request on NetGalley. I jumped at the chance and was thrilled to be granted permission as an ARC reader!

From the very first page, I was completely engrossed. This is one of those books where you tell yourself, just one more chapter, and suddenly you’ve read half the book in one sitting. The pacing is relentless, with tension simmering in every chapter, and the deeper I got into the story, the harder it became to put down.

Steve is such a compelling and well-drawn character. What struck me most was how real he felt—he’s just an ordinary man trying to be a good husband and father, someone you could easily know in real life. His actions, his emotions, and the weight of his past all felt so authentic that I found myself fully invested in his journey. I could feel his desperation, his fear, and his determination as his world started to crumble around him. It was impossible not to root for him, even as the questions about his past began to surface.

The storytelling is masterful. GD Wright knows exactly how to layer the tension, feeding just enough details to keep you constantly on edge. At times, I felt my heart racing, desperate to know what would happen next. There’s a real emotional depth to this book that elevates it beyond a standard thriller—it’s not just about the twists (though they are brilliant!), but about the people at the heart of the story.

And then, that moment. The moment where my mind just screamed. I did not see it coming. The most heartbreaking lines of the story hit me so hard that I had to read them again just to fully absorb what was happening. It was utterly devastating, and the sheer impact of it left me reeling. Wright’s writing is indescribable—just when you think a thriller can’t possibly break your heart more, he delivers a scene so intense, so horrifying, that it takes your breath away.

By the time I reached the final chapters, I was completely on edge. The intensity, the emotions, and the sheer brilliance of the storytelling left me in awe. Wright has an incredible talent for making you feel every moment, and I know this book will stay with me for a long time.

With Into the Fire, GD Wright cements himself as a must-read author in the thriller genre. He’s now firmly on my will read anything list, and I cannot wait to see what he writes next. If you love gripping, character-driven thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this one is an absolute must-read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is my second book by this author. His writing style is deep and uncomfortable due to the content and I struggled from page one. The chapter layout is not to my liking, jumping back and forth in time. I found it difficult to follow. There is a lot going on in the plot. I finished the book and it did improve in the latter part of the book.

I could not connect with any of the characters. D S Sue Willmott is a dedicated police officer of 20 years service. She is fiesty, committed, dogged and determined in her pursuit of the truth but still I could not like her. Steve Minchin’s character I struggled with. Steve has a troubled past but becomes a hero and ends up a suspect after rescuing a baby from a house fire. He is a wonderful father to Gracie, 7 years old and Oscar 4 years old and loves his children with all his heart. He will do anything for his family. What would you do in Steve’s position?

This novel is about, family, friendship, bereavement, grief and child abuse.

The book was not for me. I give a 3 star rating.


My thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity of reading an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Steve Minchin is just a normal husband, father and local business owner until the night he rushes into a burning house and leaps from an upstairs window with a child clutched to his chest, flames billowing behind him. Immediately propelled to hero status in the public eye, until his past catches up with him. The change is fast, furious and relentless. Everyone has an opinion and the press have a field day.

Emotionally charged and compelling, this novel was the perfect mix of domestic drama, crime and police procedural with great characters, a well plotted storyline and an ending that shocked. The clues were there, I missed them. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Due for publication June '25 - My thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed G. D. Wright's debut novel After The Storm so began reading Into The Fire with high expectations. I did enjoy this book, it began well and I was drawn quickly into the story and its characters. I struggled to like and relate to both Steve and Sarah initially although they did grow on me as the book progressed. I think authors writing and plot line are both good and well thought out and the story flows well. I liked the story being told through the different characters who have their own secrets and issues.
In my opinion the story slowed down after its good start and lost some pace which it did regain towards the end and I found myself desperately needing to know what would happen next. G. D Wright portrays his characters thoughts, feelings and emotions very eloquently and deals with sensitive issues with care well that make this a good and thought provoking read.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed the first book in the Beachbrook series, so I was looking forward to the next instalment and it didn’t disappoint.

Steve runs a successful coffee shop on the seafront and life is good for him and his family. Steve and his wife, Sarah, go out for an evening with their best friends, Phil and Emma. Walking home, they notice a house on fire; Steve spots that one of the windows is obviously a child’s bedroom so, without even stopping to think, he runs into the burning building and rescues the baby.

Steve quite rightly becomes a local hero. Everyone wants to shake his hand, pat him on the back, and thank him on behalf of the baby’s family. He doesn’t really want all this attention, especially when he’s pulled over by the police and has a DNA sample taken back at the station. The secrets then start to come out, and not just for Steve.

Lots of unexpected twists and turns kept me hooked, an absolutely brilliant read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I loved G. D. Wright’s debut After The Storm so was eager to read this book.

It’s a great premise and a brilliant opening. Steve rushes into a blazing house fire to try and save lives, he is hailed as a hero. Steve has secrets he wants left buried in the past, not ideal when the press are desperate for interviews, photos and his backstory.

It’s told from multiple perspectives, including a journalist and police. It’s got all the right ingredients, but it’s really rather slow in the middle, to the extent that I struggled to stay interested. A real shame as I was involved with the characters from early on, it’s very original and has so much potential.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK

HOLY SMOKES! What the heck did I just read? This book is every level of crazy in all the right ways! What I loved about this book? Everything it was fantastic!

I want to take this book and scream from the rooftops and make everyone I know read a copy. This book was enthralling, fast-paced and twisty. I read this one into the night, if you want a hair-raising thriller, then look no further.

This book sank its teeth into me and would not let go until I was done. I am faithfully a G.D Wright fan from this day forward!

It was one of the most thrilling books I have ever read! A MASSIVE 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

Good characters with some excellent writing covering some tough topics! Good pace although a bit slow in the middle. Thank you for allowing me to read this before release

Steve has lived his life through a cloud never sharing his past and the secrets he keeps. That is until one day he acts without thinking and all of a sudden he is in the media lime light. The author lets you in to Steve’s history and shows public opinion on this both good and bad

Brilliant book which also has the courage to look at some of the impact on an adult that childhood can have when it’s beyond that that any child should ever have to experience

Into The Fire starts well, but the pace slows through a lot of its 400 plus pages. The ending is dramatic but it takes a long time to get there.

The novel starts strongly. Steve runs into a burning building and saves a baby. He is feted as a hero, but is covering a dark secret. And, in an unrelated incident, this comes out. Now both hero and villain, he goes back through childhood memories to seek some sort of resolution.

This is a decent read and well written throughout, but could have been a lot sharper. The narrative raises some big questions but they are only dealt with in a superficial way as several sub plots are developed.

Dw i'm yn siŵr iawn sut mae G.D. Wright yn cyflawni hyn, ond mae o wedi llwyddo eto i greu nofel sy'n drawiadol, yn aros yn y cof, yn ennyn pob math o deimladau ac emosiynau, yn cyflymu'r galon ac yn gwneud i chi deimlo loes i'r byw. Mae ei nofel gyntaf 'After the Storm' yn dal i fod yn un o'r llyfrau sydd wedi aros efo fi, ac roedd gen i ddisgwyliadau mawr am y nofel hon, a ches i wir mo'n siomi!
Mae'r cyffro yn dechrau gyda dau gwpl yn dod ar draws tân mewn tŷ ar eu ffordd adref ar ôl noson allan, heb feddwl ddwywaith mae Steve yn rhedeg i mewn i'r fflamau fel arwr, ond wrth i'r stori ddatblygu cawn ddod i adnabod Steve a'i deulu yn well, ac mae sawl cyfrinach yn codi o'r gorffennol. Mae'r nofel yn datblygu gan gyflwyno sawl safbwynt gwahanol, gyda chyflymder y dweud yn berffaith ac yn eich gorfodi i ddarllen mwy a mwy. Fel rhiant mae'r nofel yma'n emosiynol, yn dychryn ac yn creu rhyw deimlad annifyr ym mer eich esgyrn wrth i chi ddarllen ymlaen, gyda diweddglo na'i fyth mo'i anghofio. Awdur dawnus, sy'n gwneud i chi gwestiynu pawb a phopeth. Gwych, dw i'n edrych ymlaen at weld beth ddaw nesaf gan yr awdur ar ôl i'r fflamau oeri!

I'm not quite sure how G.D.Wright does this, but he's once again managed to create an impressive story, that stays with you, ignites all kinds of feelings and emotions, makes your heart race and feel pain so deeply. His first novel 'After the Storm' is still seared in my memory, and I had high hopes for this one, I was definitely not disappointed!
The action starts with two couples discovering a house fire on their way home from a night out, without any hesitation Steve runs into the flames like a hero, but as the story develops we get to know Steve and his family, and many secrets are revealed from his past. The novel is written from several different perspectives, with the perfect pace forcing you to read more and more. As a parent, this story is emotional, causes fear, and an uneasy feeling in your gut as you read on, with an ending so full of twists, I doubt I'll ever forget it. A clever author, making you question everything and everyone. Fantastic, I can't wait to see what this author does next once the flames have cooled!

Woah! I’m feeling a bit shell shocked and stunned after finishing reading G D Wright’s new book. I thoroughly enjoyed his first book, After the Storm, last year - and Into the Fire is every bit as good.

Set again in the seaside town of Beachbrook, we meet Steve and his wife, Sarah, and their 2 young children, Gracie and Oscar. One evening, the couple go on a rare night out with their close friends and on the way home, they witness a house fire. Steve rushes in bravely - emerging from the event a local hero.

But Steve has always liked to keep a low profile. No social media, no talk of his past. Now the spotlight is on him, and things begin to spiral painfully, and inevitably.

Where After the Storm felt quite relentless in its pace, Into the Fire has an intense first half, then becomes quite a slow burn (forgive the pun 🤣) during the second half. During this time, the story becomes very character-led - we learn more about DS Willmott and what motivates her, and we learn more about Steve and his past. I grew very sympathetic of them both.

And then, just when I was foolishly thinking to myself “oh, this one isn’t as harrowing as After the Storm!” Then, there came the ending…. I was not expecting what happens at all.

Another extremely accomplished story, fantastic characters and difficult, upsetting topics, amazingly handled.