Reading in the Mountains

This psychological thriller follows three women—Margot, Anna, and Liv—each hiding dark secrets. The story begins with a chilling scene: a woman trapped inside a towering bonfire, moments from death. Flashing back eleven months, Margot, a washed-up TV star, and her friend Anna observe the arrival of the glamorous Liv and her seemingly perfect family. As the women form a fragile friendship, Liv begins to sense something sinister lurking beneath their polished facades. As lies spiral and tensions rise, Bonfire Night looms with a deadly conclusion—someone is about to burn, but who?

My first John Marrs book—hello, glad to be here!

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Margot and Liv. It’s obvious they can’t stand each other, yet somehow, they manage to make Anna look like the most innocent woman in the neighborhood. I can’t wait to see which one of them goes up in flames by the end. I also loved that the book started in December, but I have to say, I was disappointed that the author skipped over Christmas—once a Christmas lover, always a Christmas lover!

Now, to keep it short and spoiler-free—all three of them are absolutely unhinged. To be honest, I almost DNF’d this book by the 30% mark because, despite the short chapters, I was bored. But I’m so glad I kept going because the twist at the end completely changed my mind. I did not see that coming! The story really picked up in the second half, and while I expected something different, I never imagined that.

I think I’ll be picking up more books by Marrs, even if his characters are a tough pill to swallow.