Burn This captured my interest right from the start. Although I had to pause after the first few chapters due to a busy work schedule, I found myself repeatedly thinking about the story and wondering what would happen next. What had happened all those years ago? What had her mother seen?

I returned to it as soon as I could and finished it within the week. It held my attention throughout, and the ending was satisfying. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the read!

I very much enjoyed the twists this story took me on, I was sceptical of everyone but no matter who I thought was the culprit something changed my mind, and the ending was a surprise with a novel justice. Some great linking between characters and their past and present relationships without being confusing. I did feel, however, that some of the MC’s sleuthing should have raised more suspicion rather than explaining it away easily. The final star was dropped because, unusually, I was wanting a bit more suspense and length to some of the events, they felt rushed and over before I had chance to start wondering what would happen.

Thank you Canelo & NetGalley for the ARC.

Bellas lost her best friend when she was a child. this was bad enough. but what happens when she turns out there is way more to it. more to it that involves her own mother. because after her mother dies and she clearing out her things she finds a unfinished piece of writing. one that tells of her mother being involved. of knowing what happened? and knowing did it? and that person is.... well this is where Bella wont let it go. she has to know and doesn't care that the police are trying to put her off or dismiss her questions.
i had my suspicious but i was never quite sure. the themes in the book are sad and dark at times but handled well.
you are never sure if you should doubt even the narrator of the book which lends itself to you being in that thriller space of unease and questioning every single person and thing.
its been decades but can Bella get the answers or just put herself or her heart at more risk?
i was really interested in the premise of this book as it seemed to unique and original. im not sure i was hooked as i thought i would be but it was still a book i needed to find the answers to so that mean alot in itself.

This sounded like it would be a good read, but the pacing was a bit slow for me, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged.
The introduction of too many characters too quickly made it hard to keep track of who was who and to build any attachment to anyone in particular.
Sadly, it just didn't hit the mark it was a frustrating read for me. I hope others will enjoy more.
Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for the ARC.

Burn This by Sophie McKenzie is packed with twists and mystery. Narrated by Bella who was Vicky’s close friend. Vicky passed away by a mysterious killed named K.
I’m still reeling from the final reveal. The real killer caught me completely off guard. I’d been pointing the finger at someone else the entire time.

I’m sorry but unfortunately this book was not for me. I found it super hard to get through. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book had so many twists !
At first I think Vicky was Bella,s mother’s friend and Bella was a teenager with the blurb but Bella was Vickys friend as a child!
It had so many twists. The end was so shocking I definitely didn’t expect that . For ages I thought Bella killed Vicky as she was jealous of her . It still doesn’t make sense with who was the killer and why Vicky had to die . I don’t think Bella was a reliable narrator but it had to be the person it said murdered Vicky as it made sense for it not to be Bella otherwise it would have turned out that way .

I really loved all the twists and turns. It just had me second guessing every very pages but that’s what makes a good story.

When Bella was ten years old her best friend was murdered.
Now twenty years later Bella has returned home to clear out her parents house to sell it.
She finds a notebook belonging to her mother with an instruction to burn the book. Inside her mother reveals that she knows who killed Bella’s friend but the rest of the pages are missing.
Bella decides she has to find out who this person is.
Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a decent read with an interesting idea. The diary and old murder mystery pulled me in at first, and I liked the setup. Some parts were suspenseful, but other parts felt slow and a bit repetitive.

I didn’t always connect with Bella or her choices, and some of the twists were easy to figure out. It kept my attention, but I wanted more tension and surprise.

Overall, it was okay but not a favorite. A good pick if you enjoy slower-paced thrillers.

Good god, this was a trip. I loved Bella, and the plot was amazing. It doesn't happen often that I don't see the twist coming. This book did it. I'm going to read more books by Sophie McKenzie, I finished this one in an evening, I couldn't stop reading!

Very good book that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It was very fast it keeps you interested wanted to know what the plot is going to be. I love how the story came together and made me say wow what am I reading? The plot caught me in a grip

Burn This follows Bella, whose best friend Vicky was murdered as a child. After her mum dies and her dad is diagnosed with dementia, she finds a piece of text where her mum confesses to having witnessed the murder and helped cover it up "for the benefit of everyone". After the police dismiss her, Bella follows the clue to solve the mystery of her childhood friend's murder. Who's the person behind the letter K?

This book touches on very sensitive themes in a respectful manner. That being said, I hated the ending. I was suspicious of the villian from the first moment they are introduced and was dreading it. Sadly, I was right. The main character's actions at the end were, in my opinion, also wrong. I can't say much without revealing the plot but big yikes.

Aside from the negatives, this is not a bad read (if you can stomach the subject) It was a fast read and the mystery behind with the clues about the letter K was clever.

3.5 starts rounded to 4.

They were meant to be best friends forever. But forever doesn’t last long if one of you is dead. Bella Wilkins is clearing out her mother Barbara’s house when she finds a hidden diary. On the cover, two words are written: BURN THIS. According to the diary, thirty years earlier, Barbara witnessed the murder of Bella’s childhood friend, Vicky! Very good book! This book had great suspense, murder, mystery, dark family secrets, intrigue, and some shocking twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Not one for me I’m afraid, the story didn’t grab my attention and I was skimming the pages to get to the end. When I found out the answer to ‘whodunnit’ I actually groaned out loud.

Burn This is a frustrating read for all the wrong reasons. From the very beginning, the story is overwhelmed by an overabundance of characters, many of whom are introduced within the first few chapters. As a result, there’s little opportunity to connect with anyone before another name is added to the mix. By the end, even if you think you’ve sorted out who is who and who belongs with whom, you’ll likely be proven wrong—and not in a good or satisfying way.

The writing doesn’t do much to help. There’s a lack of emotional depth, with events piling on just to stretch the page count rather than to meaningfully develop the plot or characters. Much of the book feels like filler. Honestly, you could read the first few chapters, skip to the end, and still understand what happened—though you’ll likely still be disappointed. The ending, driven by baffling character decisions, falls completely flat and leaves little satisfaction or closure. Overall, the story lacks strength, cohesion, and purpose.

Twist after twist, lie after lie.
Gripping storyline and well written characters.
Raced through this!
Enjoyable read apart from the rather abrupt ending.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

Burn This by Sophie McKenzie is a compelling and suspenseful read that keeps you guessing until the very end. Bella Wilkins’s discovery of her mother Barbara’s hidden diary sets off a rollercoaster of questions and revelations. The chilling words, "BURN THIS," on the cover hint at secrets buried deep—secrets that could change everything Bella thought she knew about her childhood and the murder of her friend Vicky. The story expertly weaves between the present and the past, unveiling long-held secrets with each new clue Bella uncovers. As her suspicion grows that her mother’s fictionalized stories might actually be truth, the tension mounts. The plot takes some clever twists, and the emotional stakes are high as Bella comes face-to-face with chilling connections to her own life. While the pacing occasionally slows in the middle, the suspense and revelations ramp up towards a satisfying climax. McKenzie skillfully explores themes of friendship, trust, and how some wounds refuse to heal. This is a book that will keep you hooked—and leave you pondering long after you turn the last page. Overall, Burn This is a thought-provoking, edge-of-your-seat mystery that fans of psychological thrillers and family secrets will enjoy. A solid four stars for a story full of surprises and haunting truths.

This book was addictive, fast-paced and a drama-filled rollercoaster ride! WOW!! Never in a million years did I see that twist coming out it literally blew my socks off!

Every chapter was as fabulous as the next, I was reading on the edge of my seat it was truly amazing! From the minute I picked it up I struggled to pull myself away I was hooked!

There were SO many twists and turns it was amazing! My heart was pounding throughout! Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

This was truly first-class thriller writing! I’d highly recommend this book it’s a must read when it comes out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

I couldn’t put this down. There were so many clues and red herrings and potential suspects that I had to read until everything was revealed. The author writes incredibly clearly and uses character creation and engagement to wonderful effect. The dialogue is believable with no unnecessary fluff and the actual resolution of the mystery itself is well managed both in terms of the details of the crime and how it is ultimately exposed. A terrific thriller.