Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Only my second CRH novels I’ve read (first was The Trap). Gripping and suspense throughout. Thanks to CRH, the publisher and NetGallery for this ARC!

I’m sorry to say that I really struggled with this book. The plot was bizarre and convoluted and the characters two-dimensional. There was nothing remotely believable about the storyline and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. There were parts that did grab me, notably the parts about cycling, but they were few and far between. Thanks, however, to the publisher for giving me access to this ARC in return for an honest review.

A good book but definitely not her best. I found there were times when it dragged a bit, but that might just be because I never had much time in one sitting to really get into it. There were definitely tense and creepy moments which put you on edge but I found the ending to be a bit of a let down.

This is my first Catherine Ryan Howard book and it certainly won’t be my last! From the very start of the book I was enthralled!

The opening chapter starts with Emily who wakes up to find someone just leaving the apartment she is in. She then realises the apartment is on fire and she is trapped.

The book then goes back to one week prior to this and we find that Emily is a writer who has written a number-one bestseller book over five years ago. She hasn’t delivered her second promised book to which she’s received money for, so she is asked to be a ghostwriter for a man who is ‘Ireland’s most famous innocent guilty man’, and who’s wife was found dead in their house. Emily goes to interview him in Florida and this is where the majority of the story is set.

I felt a range of emotions whilst reading this book: sorrow, anxiety, compassion, annoyance and helplessness! I loved reading this book and found myself rushing to get home from work so that I could continue reading it!

I'm a massive fan of this author's work and this book, like her others, is insanely good; I genuinely believe she is a genius! There is alot I'd like to talk about but, as I don't want to give even a smidge of this plot away, I'm going to keep it short.

The setting is creepy and the mystery element brilliant. Little nuggets of information are drip fed and this , along with occasional flashbacks from another character's perspective, make for a thrilling propulsive read; I couldn't put it down.

In addition to the thriller/crime element, topical issues are also explored, a main one perfectly depicted (I really want to talk about this but I can't) Ah dammit, I can't say much more so I'll end here with .......READ THIS BOOK!!!!

This book was for me, a slow burn, but in the best possible way! It was a departure from the fast paced psychological fiction I am used to, but it was no less enjoyable for all that!

The story is shared by Emily, a woman who previously wrote a successful novel, but much to the disdain of her publisher, was unable to produce the promised second novel. Having been paid an advance by the publisher to deliver the second novel, she feels obliged to accept their request that she steps up and act as 'ghostwriter' to a man who is notorious in the local community, as despite trying to save his wife from a home fire, suspicion is cast in his direction when it comes to light that she died before the fire. The husband, Jack, proclaims his innocence and hopes that a novel will help clear his name. Right from the get go we discover that Emily has put herself in danger by being associated with this book and this novel plays out at a pace that really builds up the tension, it is deliciously dark...and once you are into it, kinda hard to put down!!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

Another twisty novel from this author who has a terrific head for plotting in a way that keeps readers on their toes.

Burn After Reading has a classic psychological thriller feel with well rounded and intriguing characters, some twists in the tale and a huge addictive quality.

It was predictable but not in a bad way, it was gripping and entertaining.

‘Burn After Reading‘ is the latest psychological thriller by Catherine Ryan Howard. This is an atmospheric psychological thriller full of tension that leaves the reader suspecting every characters motives. I enjoy this authors novels and loved ’56 Days’ and although I enjoyed this novel in my opinion fell short of some of her other books.

Jack Smyth is a former professional cyclist whose life fell apart after his wife’s brutal death. A year on after a fire destroyed their home and claimed her life, Jack remains a prime suspect in the public eye. Jack was never charged but a cloud of suspicion remains above him and feels the need to tell his story. Emily Joyce is a ghostwriter who accepts the task of telling Jack’s story although she is doing it mainly for the financial reward rather than a career move. What Emily doesn’t anticipate is how quickly she’ll become entangled in a much darker dangerous web.

Jack’s story is unreliable and forces Emily to constantly re-evaluate what is the real truth. Emily herself has her own agenda and so is also unreliable which gives the story an added layer. The more Jack tells of his story the more Emily loses control of the interviews. The dynamic between Emily and Jack is both fascinating and disturbing.

I enjoyed the read and would rate this book 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Saved this for a holiday read
Liked the concept of the book, thought having a ghost writer to find out what happened to Jack's Wife is quite clever
There are plenty twists and turns and some stings in the tale
The plot opens at a perfect pace and then picks up speed
There is quite a lot going on which means you never know which direction and keep you on your toes
I also like the front cover of this book draws you in

Thank you Catherine Ryan Howard for a great read, Netgalley and Random House UK

I devoured this book. I actually tried to slow down so I could savour it!

Catherine Ryan Howard’s writing is so engaging and I was hooked from the start.

A ghostwriter in a ghost estate in a ghost town with a possible killer … what could possibly go wrong?

I loved the premise of this book! The vivid descriptions of the uninhabited town transported me there and the feeling of isolation for Emily is palpable from the beginning.

I’m incredibly grateful to have read an early copy of this book. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

My go to author for thrilling twisty trashy holiday novels...I still think of The Nothing Man it was chilling and so well written...so much more than what's on surface Ryan's books. This was no exception full is eerie moments that make you question what you are reading you are kept on the edge of your seat. For it dragged a little to begins with picked up pace and it had me racing towards the end. The characters are bit two seminal but the plot and the concept of the ghostwriting levelled that off. I predicted some parts but for the most I still was shocked with some of the twists. It's a good read but lacks the padding to make it a great novel but nonetheless I enjoyed it and it is perfect for a thrilling escape read that packs a bit more than the run of the mill.0

I love Catherine Ryan Howard, her work is clever, well thought out and twisty as hell!

This book hit slightly different. I was expecting more of a twist at the end, you get plenty throughout the book but the ending fell a little flat for me unfortunately.

I do however still recommend this book and all of her previous work

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

Catherine Ryan Howard never writes the same book twice, and challenges herself with every novel. This time, a ghost writer grapples with the fear that her subject might not be the innocent man she has been led to believe. Throw in a cold look at the publishing industry and a bit of Florida glamour and you have another great CRH read.

I could not put this book down!! The twists in this book had my mind racing! The whole " who can Emily trust " has me going back and forth for page after page. Amazing Read!

A cool plot idea, and a stunning cover with a great title. There's lots of reasons to pick up this book. It was a good story too, but felt very 'early' if that makes sense, as if it needs some more work. But it has loads of potenital!

Twisty thriller that tells the tale of writer Emily who has been selected to ghost-write a book looking into the murder of Kate. Her husband has always been a suspect which he has strong denied and now he has asked if he could publish a memoir via the publishers Emily works for declaring his innocence. However when Emily flies out to America to discuss the book with him, all isn't as it seems. This book made me want to carry on turning the pages to find out exactly what really happened to Kate back in Dublin the year before and why now does Mark her husband want to try and clear his name. Other characters added into the mix added death to this storyline. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend to others who enjoy thriller mysteries.

I really enjoyed this, the descriptive writing was fantastic of the newly built town, i could picture it so vividly. The story grabs you from the beginning but there was a bit too much repitition for me. I would have preferred not to have known at the beginning that there was going to be another fire but overall very good, will definitely read more by her

I really liked the idea behind this story. It has all the essential elements of a gripping thriller. I particularly liked elements of the publishing world being part of it. The characters were all well written and we do feel we understand their behaviour. However, I felt there was far too much explanation of the setting. It was convoluted at times when all the reader needed was a sense of isolation for the MC. Overall, it felt like a first or second draft that still needs work. But the idea of the plot was very good and I did want to know what happened in the end.

Perfectly paced, great scene setting and a slow reveal, this was my kind of thriller.

A year ago Jacks wife died in a house fire and despite rushing into the burning building he was unable to save her and suffered terrible burns in his attempts to get her out. What looked like a straightforward case took a new turn when it was discovered that her injuries indicated that she was dead before the fire took hold.

With it looking more and more likely that an arrest warrant is about to be issued, Jack wants to tell his story. He's found a publisher and needs a ghostwriter, author Emily under contract to the same publisher having already received an advance for a second novel she's failed to deliver isn't really in a position to say no.

Taking up residence with her subject at an isolated beach house Emily is uneasy from the outset, their meetings leave her with more questions than answers and the other side of a connecting door is a man who may or may not have killed his wife.

I found this novel easy to get into and hard to put down. The first novel I've read by this author and I'll definitely be checking out her previous
books.

I've read a few of this author's books and enjoyed them, so I was very excited to be given the opportunity to read an advance copy.
The premise is good. Jack's wife is found dead inside a burning building and he is under suspicion but did he do it? Author Emily has been given the chance to ghostwrite his story and flies out to a strange half completed town in Florida to meet Jack and hear his story.
I enjoyed it to a degree, it was an intriguing story. Did he didn't he? But new characters are introduced and they don't act normally. Why are they lurking in the background why don't they just say hi my name is .......like a normal person. Obviously it to add mystery and add to the who did it aspect of the story but to me it felt a bit convoluted.
There where a few mild twists but to be honest nothing came as a surprise. The book lingered over the whole booked writing aspect and then ended quite abruptly. I'm giving this 3 stars because it wasn't a bad book but not her best.