Oh, that ending. It came out of nowhere, but in a good way. I wasn't expecting it at all. While this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, I really recommend starting from the beginning as I have. They're all good books and seem to be getting better as they go along. The characters are very rich and I've come to have a sense of knowing them. They continue to change and evolve through the books, though Jessica Daniels continues to have that edge to her.

Martin Chadwick has just been released from prison. In a private moment between him and Jessica Daniel, he seems to greatly regret the actions that led to the death of a young man. He set a fire to a pub that he thought was empty, earning him seven years in prison. His release has been covered in the paper, and it including a quote from the young man's father that sounded vaguely threatening. While Martin seems to simply want to get back to a semi-normal life with his teenage son, that may be impossible. Someone is setting buildings on fire again, and no one can figure out how they're connected. Jessica doesn't believe it's Martin, but is suspicious of his teenage son who appears to be a quite angry young man. Then there's the father of the man who lost his life years ago... could he be setting them hoping Martin will get the blame?

The story also deals with Jessica's personal life: her marriage to the job, her new engagement to Adam, and her reluctance to plan the wedding or set a date. She's starting to have doubts about the whole thing, and can't understand why. As usual, she throws herself into her work. In addition to the fires, two young women who knew each other have killed themselves and no one can figure out why or if more suicides will come. She also begins to work with a new character, PI Andrew Hunter. I hope to get more background information about him in later books, he's very likeable.

Very fast paced and well written. Jessica is brilliant and snarky as usual, and I always enjoy the other characters as well. I'm looking forward to continuing the series!

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

I am so glad I found this author through Netgalley! This series just keeps getting better and better with each book. The stories are not only beyond interesting but creative and suspenseful and I just fly right through them because the writing and the characters are just that good! While these books can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the whole series. I am very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

3 stars

Jessica Daniels is making her way through book five. In this book, she is investigating a pair of suicides and some arson fires.

As usual, we learn a little more about Jessica’s life; her engagement to her boyfriend, her reluctance to set a date for the wedding, her getting on with her job.

Although the book is well written, a plot device that simply doesn’t work for me is telling the reader that Jessica has an “ah ha” moment, but not telling us what the “ah ha” is about. It simply drives me crazy. Because of this device, I rated the book lower than I would have otherwise.

I want to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

Really enjoyed this instalment in the Jessica Daniels series. The story was great, kept me guessing all the way through and I didnt guess the outcome right until the end so that was good. Found it hard to put down, the characters are so likeable that you just want to keep reading. Excellent book.

Another great read in the Jessica Daniel series. A good plot, arson and teen suicide, and I loved the developing character of Dave.. I never guessed who the arsonist was, a great twist! If I had one complaint, it was just a bit too slow. Many thanks Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

We are now on book number 5. In this book Jessica is engaged to Adam. Adam is keen to set a wedding date, but Jessica seems less keen. At work she is investigating two teenage suicides and a series of arson attacks. There’s no reason why they would be linked but Jessica has a feeling that they are. Also running alongside all this, Martin Chadwick, a convicted arsonist, is released from prison and is the victim of a series of crimes. The father of the boy that Chadwick killed in a fire that he set is set on revenge – is it him that is doing all this or is everything being stirred up by some news articles written by the new local journalist.

We are also introduced in this book to Andrew Hunter. Andrew is a private investigator who has been hired by a worried father to find out who got his daughter pregnant. Andrew, so I’ve worked out, also features in his own series by the same author – a series which I will have to start when I’ve worked my way through the other 6 books in this series!!

I didn’t feel that this book started as good as the others. It felt a bit slow for me, in parts at the beginning, hence the 4 stars. It got almost half way before I felt the pace pick up and the story got going. I still love Jessica Daniels, and probably will right through to the end of the series, unless she does something really bad!! I love how we get to see a bit more to Dave Rowlands in this book, and how he obviously has feelings for Jessica – will we see more of this in the following books?!

Again, another great book from Mr Wilkinson (I’ll forgive you for the slower start!). I have the next book ready and waiting!! Roll on book 6!

This fifth in the DS Jessica Daniel series features arson and suicide with these two complicated cases showing us more about this detective where "everything about her personality was to act first and think later."

Martin Chadwick is released from prison after serving time for starting a fire in a pub that ending up killing a young man. That young man's father, Anthony Thompson, wants revenge. In the other situation, two young girls commit suicide. The cases are unrelated but Jessica is involved with both.
Meanwhile she is learning to live with Adam as they contemplate a future together though Jessica is not that keen to go ahead with a wedding. More fires...who is setting them, and why? Jessica again finds herself in peril when it it all comes too close to home.

I like the characters and the evolution of Jessica's personality as she begins to mature and grow into her job. She's still a maverick and keeps too much to herself and that always puts her in danger. The one thing I did not like is that the author uses a device of hiding the reveals from the reader and dangling "what Jessica figured out" before finally getting that information to us a chapter or so later. I like to know what Jessica knows right when she knows it and then watch how she acts -- not evaluate it all after the fact. Other than that, I like the writing and the structure. I wouldn't really call this a thriller, more a police procedural. This wasn't a particularly suspenseful read, but I enjoyed the guessing about what was going on with these cases.

Can't wait for the next one in the series as I do like the setting and the stories. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for always granting me the e-book ARC for reviews.

DS Jessica Daniels determination to solve a case causes her break some of the rules to get
the evidence she needs. There is so much going on in her case and her personal life at the same time, it creates fast paced subplots that all come together in the end. There's lots of suspense and action that keep you riveted throughout. The relationship of the main characters continue to grow and Jessica, with her strength and her determination begins to see that her own actions are the reason things always happen to her. A very well written series, and although you could read each one as a standalone, I highly recommend you read them all.

Playing with fire by KerryWilkinson is a mystery and thriller and general fiction (adult) read.
Martin Chadwick is about to be released from prison, seven years after setting fire to a pub, killing a teenage boy. But the victim’s father doesn’t believe justice has been served. He wants retribution.
A media storm is swirling and it’s not long before journalists have a story to follow. First, a series of arson attacks and Martin Chadwick’s own son, Ryan, is at risk.
This was a fantastic read with brilliant characters. I love kerrys books.
I love jessica. She is still my favourite character. Do hope there is more to come. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.

Another brilliant book in a brilliant series! I have read every single one so far and have loved each one. The author raises the bar with each book and the series keeps getting better and better. It is wonderful to watch Jessica Daniel mature with each book - amazing series, one of my favourites by far. Cannot wait for the next!