The Deadly Spark is a crime thriller told from different perspectives and in different times. Eve Starling has a traumatic past that is slowly revealed through the novel. She is currently investigating a deadly arson attack that killed a mother and daughter. Anya is the main suspect in the crime and has secrets in her past that she is trying to hide.
I felt this book made a great start and quickly drew me in. Unfortunately the pace was not consistent and I felt the plot lost its way a little though over explaining. Fans of the genre will enjoy the many twists and turns.

The Deadly Spark surprised me in a good way. For a police procedural it has an amazing storyline and plot with great characters. The tragic case of a mother and daughter who have died in an arson attack is hard read about but also written with compassion, empathy and self-assuredness.

This is a standout debut and an author I would defiantly like to read more from.

Many thanks to HaperCollins UK for and advanced ALC. Narrator Imogen Wilde did a fantastic job, keeping me wholly entertained from start finish.

An interesting tale with a good group of characters. The author writes well about police procedure and whilst it wasn’t very thrilling it was a book worth listening to.

Roxie Key is a new author and I was keen to read her debut book, The Deadly Spark. I thought the promotional blurb was interesting and I was drawn to the artwork of the book cover.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and really liked the protagonist DC Eve Starling. I thought she was a strong and really well-rounded character with her own interesting back-story and history that she needs to address and overcome.

There were twists and turns, which kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t see coming.

This e-audiobook was expertly narrated by Imogen Wilde.

I look forward to reading more books by Roxie Key!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ, for making the e-audiobook available to me in exchange of a fair and honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a whirlwind, with multiple twists and turns that keep the listener on their toes from start to finish.

The pacing is perfect for a mystery/thriller novel and, while the characters aren’t always the most relatable or particularly engaging, the plot is.

I really liked the story, it was intriguing and suspenseful. It was so well written and I loved the main character Eve Starling. I would love to have read this in physical form, I listened to this on audiobook. Unfortunately the narrator wasn’t for me. I felt the story was lost a bit as the narrators voice just didn’t fit the story. This is very much a personal option, I loved the story but I didn’t love the audio version.
This was a great debut novel and I can’t wait to see what else this author writes. I would totally recommend this - just in ebook or physical format.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key in exchange for an honest review.

This was a little disappointing. The characters and their storylines were so similar I was constantly confused as to which point of view we were reading. They had nothing to make them stand out and the majority of the characters felt pretty 2D and bland.

However, I did like the big plot twist - it was not predictable at all and it redeemed some of the book for me.

This is a solid debut from yet another good British author that I am looking forward to reading more of.

The story-line is told from different perspectives and in past and present timelines which I found a little confusing as I was listening to the book rather than reading it; I definitely think it would have been easier to follow had I been reading an actual book. The plot was engaging and the characters were well developed, especially Eve, and they are pretty likeable and relatable. The pace was a little slow to begin with but it ramps up as the story moves on when the tension and suspense increases.

Overall, a decent police procedural with a good narrator who kept me engaged even in the slower parts and I must thank the author, HarperCollins UK Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts of The Deadly Spark.

When a head teacher and her young daughter die in a house fire Brighton Police are soon on the case. It appears an open and shut case. The victims girlfriend appears to have the motive, means and was seen running away from the crime scene. DC Eve Starling is one of the case officers who doesn’t think things fit together quite right. With demons of her own to confront, can she get to the truth before time runs out and others are hurt.

Great debut novel from Roxie Key. As a police procedural there’s plenty to keep you gripped from the dual aspect and dual time line to well rounded characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I enjoyed this audio book, and the twists and turns, it was told from 2 main characters points of views which added to the depth of the story, I felt there were a couple of bits of the story that were not completely explained. I felt the characters could have been explored abit more which would have added to it.

#TheDeadlySpark by #RoxieKey It’s been a while since I listened to an audio and was completely enthralled. I’m excited to read more by this author. Loved all the twists and turns. #DCEveStarling investigates a house fire whilst also confronting her own past. In a dual time line we have Anya trying desperately to prove her innocence.
The narrator @imogenWilde has amazing regional accents.

Many thanks to #netgalley and #HarperCollinsUKAudionfor gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
#netgalleyuk #thriller #policeprocedural #teacherswhoread #bookstagramuk #audiobooks #audiobookstagram #oneadventureafteranother #goodreadschallenge

A well written book that had me gripped! DC Eve Starling has to face her traumatic past when people are dying in fires in her hometown of Brighton. When a mother and her young child are the latest victims, all of Eve's emotions are triggered.

Told from Eve's POV in the present and the past, and from Anya's POV as the main suspect in the case, the pacing is spot on and the twists are plentiful.

I really enjoyed getting to know Eve and the balance of personal and police procedural within the story. I hope there is more to come.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Roxie Key and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook version of this title and really enjoyed it.
The narrator kept my interest and was of the right tone.
The story itself was gripping, I liked it that there were so many angles and so many different individual stories going on. The main character Eve, her boss Jilly, her colleagues & the others.
It was all put together really well and completely kept my interest.
I'd like to see a 2nd in the series, would definitely read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key 🔥 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️

🐈‍⬛️ What is it about?

Deadly fires are lighting up Brighton. The blaze was deliberately set, and a mother and daughter didn’t make it out of the smoke.

Eve’s investigation takes her deep into her own uncomfortable past. When her key witness disappears, and with the killer always one step ahead, Eve is desperate to solve the case – But playing with fire can get you burned…


🐈 My thoughts:
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this audiobook but pleasantly surprised that I really did (this is not my go to genre but the cover and good reviews caught my attention). I got gripped quite early on and there was always something happening to keep me engage and interested.
The narrator was quite good, and there are not a lot of characters so I quickly put my head around the names and events. The plot is good and I quite enjoyed the twist. I enjoy my thrillers when they are full of suspense, with a big wooww moment and darker subjects. This one is quite light, making it quite perfect for a weekend away or holiday read 👌🏼
Well written, if you like policial murder investigation books you should definitely give this one a go.

DCI Eve Starling and her team are investigating an arson case that stirs up a lot of memories for Eve after traumatic events in her childhood. With a woman and her child dead, she needs to focus on the case as the pressure is mounting from all sides to find them.

This was a solid police procedural that could easily be the first in a series, Eve was a great MC and it has the makings of a great team to keep revisiting, I would certainly read more! It was also an assured debut from the author.

The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key and narrated by Imogen Wilde is a brilliant debut police procedural novel that has great potential to grow into a powerful series

Eve Starling is so well written, strong, dealing with the events of her past, just the right type of FMC for my tastes!

The narration was excellent and I hope the same narrator will continue with this author

Absolutely brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ, Roxie Key and Imogen Wilde for this fantastic ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Thank you Rosie Key, Netgalley and Harpercollins Uk Audio for the audio Arc of The Deadly Spark
Narrated by Imogen Wilde.

This debut book that has been released by Roxie Key and it will not disappoint! The Deadly Spark is set in the South East of Uk, Brighton and is a Police Protocol narrative, with plenty of mystery and psychological thriller twists which with subtle foreshadowing, you may suss out the end game. DC Eve Starling picks up arsonist case which leads her to believe that it's possible murder. Eve Starling has a great fleshed out personality and her backstory is weaved through her POV as this case gets investigated. I really gelled with Eve, her sense of loyalty, even though she's vulnerable in which she's perpetually torn between pushing people away, or letting people in. She's methodical in her work and has a likeable personality.

The other POV of the story is from Eve's key witness of an arsonist case, Anya. Again, Anya is very well fleshed out with her own backstory which is well weaved within the story. As you will see once you read The Deadly Spark, I had a lot of empathy for her.

The narrative itself was paced very well, like rolling down a hill, it gathered pace and the pay off, with the psychological twists made for a fantastic first book. The timelines of both Eve and Anya were well set out, relievemt and clearly marked. Which added to the whole emotional ride.

The audiobook was narrated by Imogen Wilde. Imogen has a very well suited voice for these genre of books. She's very melodic and clear in speaking.

I do vary the speeds of my audios and I found that her voice didn't distort on the slightly higher speeds. My personal speed is around 1.25/1.5

A solid 4 stars

"The Deadly Spark" by Roxie Key is a gripping debut thriller set in Brighton, where DC Eve Starling races against time to stop a deadly arsonist. The latest fire hits too close to home, killing a mother and daughter, and dragging Eve deep into her troubled past. As she chases the elusive killer, secrets ignite and the stakes rise.

Roxie Key masterfully blends suspense, complex characters, and a vividly atmospheric setting. I had to double check this is the authors debut novel as the tale Key weaves feels that of a much more seasoned author.
Eve’s quest for justice is both compelling and intense, making this book a must-read for thriller fans! Fast-paced and full of twists, "The Deadly Spark" will keep you hooked until the very end.

What an amazing debut! A strong central character, tight plotting and tension builds almost from the start. It’s basically a police procedural with an interesting lead in Eve Starling. She has personality and vulnerability and I’d love to see more of her. She leads an investigation into a fire which kills a mother and child and it turns into a race against time.

The narrative has a mixed timeline and multiple viewpoints, but it’s skilfully handled and a great way to keep the action tight and the plot moving forward. Some difficult themes are explored including suicide and abuse, but this is done with sensitivity. Excellent narration throughout and I polished this off in a couple of sittings.

I really enjoyed listening to the The Deadly Spark, It's a Flame-tastic debut, The mystery was intriguing and alongside her plethora of colleagues, DI Eve Starling is a great character, that I am keen to hear more about, she's definitely one to watch