While I did enjoy the book for the most part, I struggled to like any of the characters. The main character, Rachel, was unlikable from the start and it only went downhill from there. David was even worse and in my opinion had no redeeming qualities at all.

While the book was readable, the plot was ridiculous and the ending was a disappointment. The whole thing is instantly forgettable and I don't care to be reminded of it.

But all that said, I didn't think the book was awful. There were parts that I enjoyed, particularly where the story looked as though it was becoming a mystery ghost story. The atmosphere was great and I didn't have to try hard to imagine the setting of Carnhallow and the mines surrounding it. S. K. Tremayne is clearly a good writer, but this particular novel just did not work for me.

This book had been on my list for a while and when I finally got to it I read it in one go. It's better than her first book, creepier, yet more believable. It is, of course all about the atmosphere and echoes Daphne DuMaurier's "Rebeccah". It's a great read, but maybe better not straight before you go to bed.

Another book I finished within less than 24 hours.

S.K. Tremayne is truly talented, not only with her words but with her plotting, weaving and connecting, all together creating something spectacular. She has mastered the art of captivation and stealth. If you are ever looking for a book to fly through, a book that makes you question yourself, something that keeps you guessing, S.K. Tremayne will not disappoint.

In The Fire Child we follow Rachel Kerthen, née Daly, who has recently married an older, wiser, handsome David, heir of Cornwall's famous Kerthen fortune, attained through a 1000 years of mining. Along with David's 8 year old son, Jamie, Rachel moves with them to Carnhallow, the massive and isolated Kerthen mansion that has passed through generations and overlooks one of the many mining shafts David now owns. Though these mines are inoperative, 18 months prior to Rachel and David's marriage a terrible tragedy occurred, one that Rachel looks to everyday through the tainted posh windows of her own, new home - David's former wife, French beauty Nina, fell to her death, never to be seen again.

Suspicious circumstances surface regarding Nina's death, and Rachel, tasked with mundane refurbishments at Carnhallow, cannot help but be entranced by it. Nina's son, Jamie, does not help the situation; though perfectly friendly with Rachel upon their initial meaning, Jamie is now reserved and displays outward signs of confusion and underlying serious mental conditions. He predicts that terrifying things will happen to Rachel, and has premonitions to do with his mother as he delves further into his grief. David, being a prestigious lawyer, spends most of the week in London, leaving Rachel alone with his son, spare for the Thai housekeeper and David's mother, Juliet, on the brink of Alzheimer's. Rachel, now afraid of Jamie, is having reservations about her seemingly new and perfect life. Is David telling the truth? Why is Nina's death still breaking Jamie? And why can she smell the Chanel perfume Nina used to wear in the Drawing Room? What really happened to Nina Kerthen 18 months ago?

I would highly recommend this novel to any who enjoy fast-past, unputdownable novels thick with mystery and intrigue until the very last page.

This book has taken me so long to finish. The first 49% I was skipping drawn out descriptions. Finally about halfway through I was interested enough to finish it. Not very exciting.

I did not finish. I could not get into this book. It simply didn't work for me.

I was already a fan of SK Tremayne having read the Ice Twins last year and his second novel did not disappoint! This book was genuinely terrifying. Not only did it keep me up at night, but I found myself having to read something light afterwards before I could get to sleep - a haunting and compelling read from undoubtedly one of the most exciting voices in crime/psychological thrillers.

A disappointing follow-up to The Ice Twins, with a meandering plot that never really coalesced and a lot of descriptive passages that brought nothing to the atmosphere.