I thoroughly enjoyed this story, with all its twists and turns, a very mature debut novel. The story is complex but well thought out, and Kristen Ritter is surely a name to watch out for in the future. Abby Williams is a lawyer, working for an Environmental Advocacy in Chicago. She was brought up in Barrens, Indiana, a small town; where she was a bit of a misfit, with few friends. Her mother died when she was young, and her father turned to religion, and was very strict and harsh with her. Abby left town as soon as she could, and has been living in Chicago for ten years, and has been a lawyer for three years.

She is forced to go back to Barrens to investigate an environmental issue. She doesn't really want to be there, and all her fears and insecurities start to haunt her. She annoys the rest of her team with her insistence that various things are happening in the town that impinge on their case, without being able to prove the connection. She suspects almost everyone being involved in a cover up, and is sure that she is right, despite the lack of evidence. She drinks too much, which doesn't help her thought processes, and she is haunted by the disappearance of a one-time friend, Kaycee Mitchell, who by high school had become the leader of the group who used to taunt her and make her life a misery.

Abby's search for the truth puts her life in terrible danger. The author has been excellent at making the reader feel the emotions that Abby is feeling, having to return to the place where her life was so difficult, you can understand her determination to find the answers to questions that have haunted her for years, and her horror when the secrets she uncovers are even more murky than she ever imagined.

A good story. If you enjoy a small town mystery read this book. You won't be disappointed.

Can you ever outrun your past?

Krysten Ritter's debut novel is like some bizarre mash-up of Erin Brockovich and Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects and it kind of works.

I found that it seemed to borrow a little too heavily, for instance Sharp Objects is a pacy thriller that follows a newspaper journalist who returns to her small and slightly odd hometown to report on a series of brutal murders. Bonfire follows Abby Williams an environmental lawyer who returns to her small and slightly odd hometown to investigate a scandal. Sounding familiar so far?

Both focus on teenage girls running wild in a small American town from the POV of an unreliable narrator with an entire suitcase of personal problems, from a troublesome family, a morally ambiguous love interest and alcohol consumption bordering on addition.

However, that's not to say it wasn't thrilling to read. Like Sharp Objects it's a gripping and at times uncomfortable read, letting the action pick up pace before hurtling to slightly predictable outcome.

Personally I found Flynn's novel more accomplished and would recommend it over this, but this tale isn't without merits if you manage to pick it up for a quick read.

Like many I was interested to read this debut novel because I am familiar with Krysten Ritter as an actress, in particular as Jessica Jones. For the most part I found Bonfire to be surprisingly well written, especially as a first attempt. Right from the off we are exposed to Abby and her demons as she returns to Barrens, Indiana. Ritter writes about small town life in an assured way, including the struggle as high school ends and real life begins. The story does get a little complicated though and not in a good way, I feel the ever present 'twist' at the end is a little heavy handed and clumsy. I wasn't at all satisfied with the explanation of events which was a real shame. That said, I think the author is one to watch in future as she can only get better and her writing style shows real promise for more good things to come.

Bonfire is one of those books that succeeds on almost every level. Co-written with Lauren Oliver (an author who writes with confidence and flair), Bonfire is the story of Abby, returning to the hometown she fled years before, trying to unravel the mystery of what's happening in the town, and uncover the truth of the past.

Bonfire is dark - Ritter doesn't hesitate to delve into the depths of ourselves, into the secrets we'd rather keep buried. But it is a masterpiece, and it's gripping.You'll finish it too quickly, like I did, but it'll stay in your mind afterwards.

I'm actually in the process of writing my own novel, another coming-of-age, semi-autobiographical, going back to your hometown to face your demons kinda book, in a similar style to Bonfire, so not only was this an excellent read, it also served as research. Every good writer must also be a reader, after all. Ritter must be an avid reader, for she has created what might well be my book of the year.

This is a really richly evoked and tightly plotted novel with some very dark corners and hidden secrets. A women returns home, reluctantly, in her official role as investigator. When she looks into the very company credited with saving the town from extinction, people start to turn on her, yet the same company are suspected of poisoning the water supply.

This is a town with secrets and secrets from the past, things which haunt the present and hidden anger too. There is an interesting cast of characters in this town, a black gay lawyer, the head of the local school who was a very different character in the past, and let’s not forget Abby’s role in all of this…

Abby is a very interesting character who developed well over the course of the book. Her return to a town which had spat her out is a gritty premise and one explored in all uncomfortable and tantalising detail. Best of all is the town they call Barren. Barren by name and barren by nature. A remote, claustrophobic place which is aptly suited to the themes of the story.

Past and present blend seamlessly – you can smell the bonfire throughout. The flames consume everything in its path but you can’t take your eyes of the destruction.

Lawyer Abby Williams is heading to the place she promised herself she would never return to: the small town of Banners in Indiana where she grew up. She is going there to start a lawsuit against Optimal, the big water company that gives jobs and money to the whole town but that she suspects is poisoning the town water. Her return brings back memories of her unhappy adolescence as she meets with her God-fearing father and the kids who used to bully her at school and now, as grown-ups, want to become her new friends. Her investigation risks bringing to light much more than water poisoning, but not everyone wants to co-operate and Abby can't help but ask herself: what secrets is the town hiding? And what happened to Kaycee, her once best friend and then tormentor, who suddenly disappeared after graduation?

I'll admit that the principal reason I first started reading this novel is because of its author who I loved in the TV series Jessica Jones, but I was quickly engrossed in this well-written and gripping thriller. There are more trips down memory lane than actual present action and the author does a great job in using Abby's memories to develop the characters, some of which seem to come straight out of a Stephen King's novel for their twisted psychology. Set in a small town that nobody wants to leave and where everyone appears to be a villain, this is a compelling and twisty novel that, although sometimes it seems to drag along, will keep you nevertheless hooked.

I thought I’d love this from the start: a large corporation suspected of leaking chemical waste in a small town; a legal investigator going back to where she grew up. The writing is slick with moments of snarky wit yet, somehow, it started to get a bit dull.

Abbie hooks up with two men from her adolescence but it’s all too clear to us which one is a good ‘bad guy’ and which just a bad guy – and she starts to lose credibility that she can’t see that too.
Then there’s the mean girls posse and a past story about bullying turns into a melodramatic tale where sexual abuse and murder mingle with corporate abuses and blackmail – ending in a conspiracy which involves everyone in the small town and beyond.

Ritter has the skeleton of a good story here – albeit one done before of the small-town girl going home. Inexperience has made her throw everything at it and while it just about holds together, our emotional connection to the characters dissipates. Fewer plotlines, a deeper and slower engagement with characterisation and more focus would have kept this on track for me. For all my criticisms, Ritter has an easy writing style that’s a pleasure to read.

Abby Williams walked away from her life in Barrens, Indiana, and never looked back. She moved forward, becoming a successful environmental lawyer in Chicago, but something is about to bring her home for the first time in ten years.
Optimal Plastics dominates the town but there are serious concerns about the effects on the locals of the factories. And more disturbing to Abby – more disturbing that the faces from her past that she had long tried to forget – is the similarity to something that happened when she was at school there. When the popular girls all became mysteriously ill. When the most popular girl in school, Kaycee Williams, vanished without a trace…
As Abby begins to dig, not just into Optimal Plastics, but also into the past, she becomes convinced that everything is connected. And that someone is determined to keep the past buried.
It’s been a while since I tackled a modern thriller – not since A Patient Fury. I’ve been drifting away from the genre – picked up a couple in the meantime to try but they all just seemed same-y. The usual did-the-boyfriend-do-it-unreliable-narrator stuff. But it was clear from the start, this was something different.
I took a look at Bonfire for two reasons. First, I’m a big fan of Jessica Jones, the Netflix show which Krysten Ritter stars in. Second, a tweet about the book referring to Ritter as “the girlfriend from Breaking Bad”, ignoring two shows in which she played the lead. Not entirely sure why this bothered me so much, but my reaction was to give the book a go, so, probably in the wrong way, it worked.
And this is an impressive debut. Abby’s character – who narrates the tale – is incredibly layered, a vulnerable but tough, smart but capable of making bad (some very bad) choices. The “About The Author” section reveals that Krysten Ritter founded a production company that aims to highlight complex female protagonists. Well, she certainly has one here. And I think one of the main achievements here is that Abby is still likeable – when she hurts (and she goes through a lot here) you feel it too.
The blurb describes this as “slow-burning” and it does take a while for the plot to get going, although the narrative is strong enough to keep the reader hooked, and when the plot accelerates in the second half, the effect of the build-up is to make the ending more powerful. There’s a decent mystery under the surface as well, although that’s not the primary strength of the story, and credit to Ritter for taking the time to drop some actual clues into the story.
A very pleasant surprise, this one. A powerful thriller with a compelling voice. Highly Recommended.

I was intrigued by the blurb for this book and I’m pleased to say I enjoyed reading this story.
It centres around a small town called Barrens which is where Abby grew up. She didn’t have a great time at school and when she returns home, it all comes back to her.
She’s there to find out what is making people ill and suspects it’s the towns water supplier, Optimal.
This takes her back to her schooldays when her friend was ill and she tries to prove these incidents are linked.
There are a few twists in this book and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for sending me a copy of the book.

I am going to be honest here, I love Krysten Ritter, especially as Jessica Jones, so I did ask for this book as I wanted to see if she could put her talent to writing, and I am so glad I did.

I did not know what to expect from this book, but I am happy with what I got. I found the story to be fast paced, and so well written, that even the flashbacks to when Abby was younger flowed so well into the present day scenes.

I found Abby to be a great character, she was strong, and she never gave up, especially when it came to investigating what happened to Kaycee.

I found the perpetrator to be a bit predictable (I guessed quite early on, which is why it didn't get the 5 stars), but how they were doing it I didn't click to.

I was throughly impressed with this book and just loved Ritter's writing, and really can't wait to see what else she comes out with.

If you're looking for a quick read, mystery thriller, pick this one up it won't disappoint you.

Very interesting thriller that doesn't follow the usual formula. Strong female protagonist and gripping story. Would definitely recommend!

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I’ve been itching to get a hold of a copy for months. I somehow knew it was going to be something I’d love, and I wasn’t wrong. I’d already pre-ordered a signed copy, but Net Galley UK approved my request and sent me a Kindle copy at the beginning of the week. Full of cold, I set myself on the sofa with a cuppa and a blanket, and past a whole autumnal day within Ritter’s world.

The Characters

Abby is so relatable, its rather scary. She’s a little bit of a loner, fuck up and passionate about her job. However, that’s not where the comparisons end for me. It’s Abby’s relationship with father that will haunt and sooth me for many days; the difficulty, the pain and guilt are all things I understand and help me to be drawn into the plot. It wouldn’t matter what the plot was; I’d have followed her into the depths of hell because I had her back, and many other readers will feel the same.
The supporting characters are all explored through Abby’s thoughts and memories and, as a result, you trust them as much as she does. Condor is one of my favourite characters, and I wish we’d been given more time with him. However, as Abby goes, so goes my nation.
There’s enough mystery behind a lot of the characters and it’s organic; allowing you to suspect and dismiss as the novel progresses.

The Plot

It’s a perfect slow burn plot that is set in motion way before the book begins. Being a book within the crime thriller genre, it would be easy to fall into the stereotypical pit falls or become so convoluted that it loses its readers. Bonfire escapes both of these, by giving a clever plot that will keep you guessing right up until the final reveal.

Underlying the law suit that the environmental lawyers are trying to uncover, Abby is returning home and opening up old wounds she never expected to face. It brings about a heart to the book that some crime novels of this ilk often lack.

The Writing

There’s a wonderful voice presented in this first-person narrative, one that I trust; Abby fast becomes a person I would love to get to know. The development of the plot and the sleep deprivation is well presented in the narration; without losing clarity of written structure.

This is a solid debut novel by Ritter, and I for one will be looking forward to any and all future offerings.

SHOW US OFF:

Like many others, I requested this book as I am a big fan of Kristen Ritter's acting career and was intrigued to see whether her writing would be equally great.

The story is interesting and kept me gripped throughout. The opening was especially intriguing, and this is something many writers struggle with. The characters are well written, and the small town setting is described brilliantly.

Overall a fanatstic debut from Kristen, and I hope to see more from her in the future as she develops her writting style further.

I was super excited to get an advanced copy of this novel for review from NetGalley. I'm a fan of Krysten Ritter's acting and there's been a lot of hype around this, her first novel. The premise of this novel is very similar to Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn which is one of my favourite mystery novels. A now successful 20-something reluctantly returns to her hometown to investigate some strange goings-on that may be related to events for her past. Despite the parallels to Flynn's work I think Ritter has created an interesting story featuring a well written and slightly flawed main character. I liked the character of Abby and her hectic, confused narration of the events. I enjoy books that feature unlikable characters - why should they all be likable - and I still rooted for her to uncover the truth. The plot is fast paced and intricate, however I would have enjoyed a bit more of a deep dive into the political corruption surrounding Optimal, the corporation she's investigating. I felt I had to suspend my belief slightly to go along with some of the plot developments, but I still enjoyed the ride and flew through this book in two days.

I'm not normally as fan of celebrity books, however I thought I would give this a chance. I'm glad I did, the author does a brilliant job in describing emotions throughout the book. I love the start where she is describing how it feels to return to a past that Abby clearly would love to just forget. I think it could be enjoyed by many ages, it has that mean girl feel for the teens, and who to now trust plot for the adults.
I have not watch anything with this author in so I can safely say my review is not bias in anyway towards her. I this from this book she has a promising career in writing. The story is gripping and you tend to feel what Abby is feeling, while is had twist and turns I was not socked by the ending. This did not matter, the story flowed and still kept me engaged.

I really enjoyed the book overall. An interesting mystery that kept me turning the pages.

A good 3.5 stars.

Krysten Ritter has written a compelling story of small town America and layered different strands involving bullying, small town economics, pollution and blackmail that captivated me and kept me reading until the small hours.

Abby is a fantastic character; flawed, traumatised by the childhood bullying that she endured, but determined to get to the bottom of what it is about the town of Barrens that won't let her move on. As the past sinks its claws into her she starts to unravel, and her drinking and hazy memories make her an unreliable narrator adding to the suspense of what exactly is happening and who is running "The Game"

I did guess quite early on who was responsible for what was happening in Barrens, but there was enough intrigue to keep me reading. The last few chapters were a little derivative and I found myself yelling at the book "Don't let him in", but overall it is a well written, fast paced, intriguing debut and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publishers and net galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

10 years since leaving home Abby Williams confronts events of her childhood after returning to Barrens, Indiana for a work investigation. Her past quickly catches up with her as she battles for answers in this gripping tale from actress Krysten Ritter. It's the kind of mystery crime thriller where nothing is quite as it should be. The eerie landscape and a location where everyone knows everyone ensure that suspicion is cast in every different directions. Corporate corruption, missing school friends and perspectives blurred by alcohol. It's the kind of 'what is actually going on here?!' rollercoaster ride where you are not even sure whether to trust the protagonist.

Never dull the story relentlessly and unpredictably charges onwards as Ritter weaves complex threads together to build an engaging story. It's the kind of novel that you have to keep reading just to see where it ends up. Quite impressive for a debut author famous for star performances in Marvel's Jessica Jones and Breaking Bad.

If you are a fan of gritty thrillers then you can't go too wrong with this book.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for providing me with the ARC for this! All opinions in this review are my own.
I have to admit that I was sceptical going into this with Krysten Ritter being the celeb that she is, I think how good could this book be? But wow did she prove me wrong and make me feel like an idiot because I loved this!
Abby Williams left her hometown of Barrens and didn’t look back, moving to Chicago and making a career for herself as an environmental lawyer. But she’s brought back when her Law firm starts investigating Optimal Plastics which proves highly unpopular with the Barrens-Locals as Optimal has single-handedly rebuilt their town. Abby arrives back and has to deal with her father and his possible illness along with seeing all her high school friends and reliving the mystery of her missing best-friend, Kaycee. She soon realises that things really don’t see to have changed that much in Barrens despite how much people try to prove that they have.
I really enjoyed the character building in this and felt that I got to know not only Abby really well but also the side characters who help to make the story. This was a thriller / crime and so this intense character building for the main side characters just made the plot really come together when the twists were revealed and I felt like I wasn’t missing any information on the characters which would have helped with the plot outcome.
The sub-plot about Abby’s father was really well done and it didn’t feel like it was shoved in as an after-thought to try and pad the book out or to give the main character even more to deal. It was well thought out and actually added to the story and plot as a whole. There was also a love triangle involved here with two of the old boys she knew from high school and yet again this wasn’t made a focus of the book. It added more to the story but didn’t compete for attention against the main plot and yet again, it added to it which was great. The way it was concluded was also very well handled so well done Krysten Ritter!
I wouldn’t say it was a quick read, especially at the start and I know I read things near the beginning and thought ‘Why do I need to be told this?!’ only for it to make so much sense later on in the book when it all came together. But I loved that! It’s annoying when a write includes a lot of stuff that just isn’t required for character building but then isn’t needed later on in the book and is just unnecessary information.
One of the other great things about this was that I saw some of the twists and plot devices coming but there were also a few which I didn’t see coming at all! Plus the twists that did happen seemed so believable because of the character and story development and I think they actually benefited best from the reader knowing what was coming for some of the story.
I really hope that Krysten writes another book – be it a continuation of Abby Williams and her dealing with the fall-out from the this book & more of her twisted environmental law practices or a different thriller crime book. Either way I’d definitely be picking it up and I’ve been really pleasantly surprised.

I really enjoyed this more than I expected. It did feel like it took more than a few hours to read.
Some of the twists I didn't see coming but the odd thing I did expect.