What a fantastic read! So well-written, fabulously twisted and thrilling, The Deadly Spark is a great example of police procedural.
I listened to it and finished it in one day. It's so so good that I just couldn't stop. There's something really captivating in the way it's written, in the story itself, it had me hooked right from the first sentence.
DC Eve Starling is a great lead, tenacious, strong and yet vulnerable. I do hope there'll be more books featuring her in the future.
I absolutely loved The Deadly Spark and highly recommend it to all crime readers out there.

What a brilliant and well executed debut book! This well written story uses multiple points of view which allows us as readers to connect more with the characters.
The pacing of the book overall is great even if the beginning feels slow, however I feel as if this leaves it feeling deliberate as it allows for a good foundation for the story to be built. The story does quickly pick up its pace which will leave you on the edge of your seat whilst trying to work out what is going on with Evie, our main character.
The seamless transitioning between the timelines and characters perspective are absolutely fantastic because they really allow for you to build up a picture of what's going on and the feelings of everyone involved while being able to easily follow along as it weaves the story together so smoothly.
Overall I find this to be a great story filled with great twists. I enjoyed this so much that I found myself finishing this off in one sitting. I really hope to see more work from Roxie Key and to rejoin Evie and her colleagues on another intriguing case.

DC Eve Starling and her team will investigate a house fire that killed a mother and daughter. A suspect flees and hopes to prove her innocence before she is found.

Enjoyed the tension in this well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook). Great characters and twisting plotline. Eve must search for the truth which may bring her into danger whilst trying to save others.

Good first novel, enjoy.

Firstly I requested this purely because I loved the title and cover. The book is well written and the narrator was very good as doing the different perspectives through out but I did find the pace a bit slow and thought it was missing something and needed something extra. This was a solid debut book and would look into reading more by the author. Thanks to the publisher and to net galley for this audio arc.

Trigger warnings: child neglect, child death, baby death, alcoholism, suicide, drug use,

An enjoyable flame themed romp set in Brighton. The female characters could have used some enhanced characterization as the voices were very similar which could be confusing.

Narrated by Imogen Wilde
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Story by Roxie Key ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The premise of the story was promising, and the use of multiple characters and perspectives was well-executed. However, I felt that the story lacked a certain depth and emotional connection that would have made it truly captivating. While it was an enjoyable read, it did not leave me with a strong desire for more.

This is my first time hearing or trying this author and even though I didn't love this book I would definitely try another one by her.

The storyline is told from a few different perspectives and in past and present timelines. It was well done and easy to follow. The characters were well developed and likeable and I got a feel for the main character Eve more than the others. The pace needed a little oomph and needed a little more in the way of the suspense factor. The narrator was engaging and held my attention throughout. It was a solid debut read and I’d be interested in reading the next instalment.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #TheDeadlySpark

"The Deadly Spark" by Roxie Key, narrated by Imogen Wilde, was a thrilling audiobook that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The story follows DC Eve Starling as she investigates a series of deadly fires in Brighton, with the latest case hitting close to home as a mother and daughter tragically lose their lives in the blaze. As Eve delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers uncomfortable truths from her past that add a personal dimension to the case. With the key witness disappearing and the killer always one step ahead, Eve is determined to solve the case at any cost.
One aspect of the story that I particularly enjoyed was how it unfolded in different timelines and from various characters' points of view. This narrative technique added depth and complexity to the story, keeping me engaged and constantly guessing what would happen next. The tension and suspense were palpable, and the plot twists kept me on my toes.
While the story started slowly, it gradually picked up pace and soon hooked me. The character of DC Eve Starling was brilliantly written, a multifaceted detective with a compelling backstory that added layers to the plot. The modern approach to police work and the fast-paced nature of the storytelling made for an exciting listening experience.
Overall, "The Deadly Spark" is a gripping debut novel that delivers a thrilling ride from start to finish. With its well-developed characters, intricate plot, and unexpected twists, this audiobook is a must-listen for fans of crime thrillers. Brace yourself for a heart-pounding climax and a shocking twist that will leave you reeling.

3.5 stars

A mother and daughter die in a house fire. Arson is suspected. For DC Eve Starling, the case forces her to confront a past she has tried to run from.

This is a dual timeline, dual POV thriller/police procedural that moves at a fast pace. It is decently twisty with a cast of interesting and compelling characters. I always enjoy Imogen Wilde as a narrator and this audiobook was no exception. She does regional British accents so well!

Not quite a 4 star read as I really didn't care for the final twist.

I received this audiobook for free on NetGalley.

The Deadly Spark by Roxie Key. Thank you to NetGalley for my audio arc.

I rather enjoyed this story. It unfolds in different timelines and told from various characters point of view. We follow DC Eve Starling who has to investigate a fire. There has been a slew of arson attacks in the region but this time a mother and her 5 year old daughter don’t make it out alive.

The fires are very personal for Eve as we find out that earlier in her life something tragic happened to her. One witness, who said he saw someone in a rainbow coloured cardigan running away from the scene, disappears. The police are following up on various leads but always seem to be one step behind the killer.

Wow what an outstanding debut novel. I genrally enjoy thrillers or psychological genres, and this was slightly different following more of the detetective role that I loved. The split timelines of the main character Eve from when she was a young girl at the (then timeline) and how this impacted her life to the (now timeline) was brilliantly done. She had to face various personal triggers as anyone would, in reality, making this totally relatable to the reader.

There were various twists in this storyline I didn't see coming, and it really had me gripped from the beginning right until the very end. I absolutely loved it. I hope this is the beginning of a series because I'd most definitely like to read more and could see alot of potential for this character and the team she worked with to grow and continue in the future. This really was fantastic. It gets all the stars from me 🌟

Regarding the narration this was well narrated imo it flowed well and I had no problem following the storyline and listening to tones, frequency and pitch of all the various aspects and depicting moments within this story. The emphasis was done well where required etc overall really I can't offer any constructive criticism on this book at all.

Thank you to Harper Collins Audio UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this book in return for an honest and open review.

#Mostrecommended
#Allthestars

Brace yourself for a thrilling ride! This gripping debut novel grabs you from the very first sentence and throws you into the world of DC Eve Starling. With a perfectly modern approach to police work, the plot unfolds at breakneck speed, filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Starling is a brilliantly written character, a complex and intriguing detective you won't soon forget. The story builds to a heart-pounding climax with a shocking twist you'll never see coming. This is a definite must-read (or listen!), and I eagerly await news of a future series featuring the formidable DC Starling.

And as a Sussex resident I found this an even more thrilling ride--Bravo!!

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The Deadly Spark
Roxie Key

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I'd had this on my wishlist for so long and am so pleased that I finally found time to get it read as this was such a brilliant and twisty psychological thriller.

I found it pretty difficult to get into at first - not in terms of content as such - but there were such a lot of names and different timeframes running around that I just found it hard to keep track of this!
Having now finished reading - I totally blame the fact that I was reading this on audio book and the narrator wasn't using different voices/accents - again...not their issue - all characters at this point were female and from the same area, so this made total sense.

Each chapter was quite clearly labelled with whose pov it was and which timeframe we were in - then or now.
But not having it there in front of me, just meant that it took me a little longer to get to grips with each section of the storyline.

Once I got used to all the names and references to events, then everything clicked into place and I absolutely loved how the different timelines began to make sense.

Ok, I was about to dive into a bit of the plot - but the blurb doesn't really give anything away at all....so sorry - but no spoilers coming today....

All I can say is that we follow a couple of main characters through their stories past and present and the stories weave around each other, slowing coming together and finally merging in the best way possible.

I found the characters relatable and believable - just enough morally grey to keep you wondering how each thread of the story might unfold and conclude.

I absolutely loved the ending where everything was fully explained and revealed. Maybe I was a little less focussed than normal on this - but I hadn't worked through any theories during reading and so each reveal came as a shock for me.

The writing style (after getting over my initial confusion) was fast-paced and exciting and I know that I would have raced through this one much quicker had I not had it on audio (just because of the broken up times that I listen Vs sitting down to read)
This definitely fitting nicely into my favourite genre and although my first read by this author - I'm super keen to see what is in store for us next.....



💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I listened to the audio of this, and it was great.
Eve was a fantastic character, strong, independent, baggage, does her own thing and rolls her eyes almost as much as I do.
It felt like a slow step (not in a bad way) by step process to piecing together the murder, then bam.... all systems go.
That bit made me sit up and go "what?" in a very definitely good way.
Great narration, and enjoyable story throughout.
More please.

4.5 stars
To be honest I am not too much into dedective stories and police proceduals but this story really got me!
We meet DC Eve Starling who investigates a crime that on it's own would fill a book perfectly but as an addition we also learn a lot about her private background!
The story is well paced and all characters are given plenty of time to develop. Not somebody suddenly appearing within the last chapter to be the culprit; what I don't always like.
I am very much looking forward to hearing more from Eve!
It was a great pleqsure to listen to the beautiful Imogen Wilde narrating this story!
Thank you #Netgalley #HarperCollins UK Audio | HQ for this audiobook

An absolutely belting debut novel, right from the first words I was completely gripped. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know DC Eve Starling, and her team. I’d be intrigued to know if there are plans for a series. She’s such a well written character that I’d be keen to follow up with.

The plot was absolutely solid, there’s a definite “up to date” feel around the style of policing. The story was fast paced, intriguing and there were some heart hammering moments, along with a massive twist that I did not see coming. Absolutely well deserved 5 stars 🌟 #Jorecommends

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Audio UK for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC audio copy of this debut novel.

I’m originally from Sussex and loved the Brighton setting merged with the police procedural. The characters all had realistic yet complex situations and the plot was great with split timelines and POVs really adding to the pace.

I’m hoping there’s another one in the series at some point from this author as I think it could really become something

Very good audiobook narration. This had lots of tense places and was a really gripping listen from the start. The characters were great