kate gets trapped in a fire that she suspects is set on purpose due to her ghost writing work….

the writing of the book instantly grips you in leaving you wanting more.

as the book progresses we find out emily is writing a book for a man who is thought to be guilty of kate’s murder. i enjoyed how as the reader we never truly know if the man is guilty, leading us to drawn on our own conclusions.

overall this was a twisty and gripping crime thriller that i really enjoyed

This book had me on the end of my seat. Fast paced, brilliantly written and tons of things happening to keep you in suspense. Catherine Ryan Howard is becoming one of my favourite authors and I highly recommend giving this ago. Wish I could read again for the first time.

Another gripping, page turning thriller from Catherine!
Like her other books, I struggled to put this one down. Great twists!

Synopsis —-

The night Jack Smyth ran into flames in a desperate attempt to save his wife from their burning home, he was, tragically, too late - but hailed a hero. Until it emerged that Kate was dead long before the fire began.

Suspicion has stalked him ever since. After all, there's no smoke without fire.

My thoughts -

Emily, a once-successful author struggling to write her second novel, is hired as a ghostwriter for Jack, a former pro cyclist with a scandalous past. He wants to tell his truth—the truth about the night his wife, Kate, died.

Emily arrived at the Sanctuary, an eerie, isolated town in Florida that seems to hold as many secrets as Jack himself. Emily is welcomed by Grace, Jack’s PA, but as she spends more time with Jack, his charm feels increasingly laced with something darker. Could he really have killed Kate? Or is his best friend, Ben, the one who’s committed all the atrocities that are uncovered ?

With support from her friend Alice and partner Mark—only ever a phone call away—Emily delves deeper into Jack’s version of events. The story unfolds through both Emily’s and Kate’s perspectives, keeping you guessing at every turn. In this gripping psychological thriller, the author’s sharp prose and vivid descriptions pull you in, twisting your suspicions until the very last page!

Burn After Reading is a gripping thriller that masterfully explores the blurred lines between truth and deception, justice and privilege. With an unreliable narrator at its core and a story that unfolds through layers of manipulation, this novel is an engrossing, thought-provoking read.
Jack Smyth has always insisted on his innocence in the brutal murder of his wife. However, stalked by suspicion, Jack is now determined to tell his version of events through a book deal. Enter Emily, a ghostwriter with her own secrets, who soon realizes that even in his own words, Jack is still hiding something. But when the interview process takes an unexpected turn, Emily finds herself unable to produce the book she was hired to write.
Ryan’s storytelling is razor-sharp, delivering a slow-burn suspense that keeps readers hooked from the first page. The novel plays with perception, questioning how much we can ever truly know about a person—especially one with a carefully curated public image. Jack is a fascinating, chilling character, while Emily provides a compelling counterpoint, navigating her own moral dilemmas.
What makes Burn After Reading stand out is its clever structure—Emily’s supposed “non-fictional” account adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the reader question what is fact and what is fiction. The tension builds with every chapter, leading to a conclusion that lingers long after the final page.
For fans of psychological thrillers that dissect power dynamics and media influence, Burn After Reading is an absolute must-read. It’s a sharp, unsettling, and deeply satisfying story that will leave you questioning how some always seem to get away with everything—even murder.

Emily, a once-aspired author, is a good while delayed writing her second book. In order to avoid having to pay her fee back, her publisher offers her to ghostwrite a memoir for a defamed Olympian cyclist, who may or may not have killed his wife. With this tell-all he wants to clear up what really happened THAT night. As the story unfolds, it's pretty clear that Emily finds herself in a delicate and dangerous position.

I absolutely devoured this book. It's suspenseful from start to finish. Catherine Ryan Howard is now officially one of the authors that I'll pick up, without having to know what the story is about. It'll be nail-biting stuff, guaranteed.

I absolutely blooming loved this book! Book hangover for days.

This book follows Emily who wrote a highly successful book The Witness but has been unable to write another book. Following a meeting with Morningstar her publisher, Emily takes on a job as a Ghostwriter for Jack Smyth. Jack ran into his burning home to save his wife Kate but tragically he was to late. Jack was hailed as a hero until the autopsy is performed a few days later and it's discovered Kate was dead long before the fire started. Suspicion has followed Jack ever since. A year after the fire Jack signs a book deal to tell his side of the story, to prove his innocence once and for all. Emily has never Ghostwritten before but she knows what it is like to live with secrets. Some secrets should stay that way.

This book was a slow burner that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I would love another book about Emily, I want to know what happens to her next and more about her past. I also want more Alice, I loved her.

I was thinking this was the first Catherine Ryan Howard book I read. I didn't realise she wrote The Nothing Man, which I also loved. I have 56 days on my Kindle and that will be my next read, as I need more!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK and Transworld Publishers.

Catherine Ryan Howard is the queen of page turning thrillers and her latest offering, Burn After Reading, is no exception to that trend. I loved the author's notes at the beginning of the book where she talked about her inspiration, it added to my enjoyment of seeing how the story played out.
Emily is a writer struggling to figure out what to do about the second book she has been contracted for and has not yet started despite it being due two years ago. When her publisher contacts her to arrange a meeting she's immediately worried about paying back the advance but to her surprise that is not what the meeting is about- or not exactly at least. They have a proposition for Emily, instead of paying back the advance she could work as a ghost writer, helping a celebrity to write his memoir. If that sounds too good to be true it's because the celebrity in question is Jack, a former professional cyclist who may or may not have murdered his wife Kate a year ago and is now looking to tell his side of the story and clear his name.
This book just ticks so many boxes, from a glimpse inside the world of publishing to the nod towards the obsession with true crime. The setting is also fabulous, a partially developed town called Sanctuary in Florida adds the isolation that really feeds the paranoia that Emily experiences as she tries to figure out the truth about what happened to Kate that terrible night while not knowing who she can trust. The author uses a mix of timelines and character points of view to slowly ratchet the tension higher and higher while gradually dropping hints about the truth and that meant that I just kept turning those pages, eager to find out what actually happened. The opening is a little slow but once things get moving the pace picks up dramatically and from then on I was hooked.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I have read all of the author’s novels so was delighted to get my hands on this ARC. It did not disappoint! The twists!! The suspense!! The way I gasped! This definitely felt different to Ryan Howard’s previous books but it had me gripped from the get go. The setting was epic and made me want to find out more about these built-to-order ‘towns’ in Florida. All in all a fast paced psychological thriller I recommend.

We are truly spoiled with all the talented female Irish crime writing we have right now.

The first time I’ve read a book by Catherine Ryan Howard and it won’t be the last!

Great character development, fast paced and kept me guessing till the end.

The way I do a little dance every time I see CRH has a new book! One of my absolute favourite authors! Emily is offered a job as a ghostwriter for a man accused of killing his wife. Everyone, including herself, thinks he’s guilty but she desperately needs the money so she takes the job.
This book is definitely different to the rest of her books but still an absolute page turning masterpiece of a story. Told from three perspectives, Emily’s anxiety and desperation to get out of this situation she’s found herself in, Jack’s desperate plea for redemption and flashbacks to Kate’s final days. Throw in a couple
of characters who may or may not be suspicious and you’ve got another belter from the Queen of Irish crime writing.
As always, I highly recommend

In Catherine Ryan Howard's psychological thriller, a struggling ghostwriter named Emily finds herself entangled in the life of Jack, a former pro cyclist accused of killing his wife. Jack wants Emily to write his memoir, and Emily, battling writer's block after her first successful book, accepts the job to save her publishing contract.

As Emily starts the project, she discovers unsettling details about Jack's wife Kate’s death—Kate was already dead when their house caught fire. Working from the eerie town of Sanctuary, Florida, Emily's life takes a dangerous turn as she exposes buried truths.

Driven by financial troubles and self-doubt, Emily faces these challenges with resilience. Jack, charming yet shrouded in suspicion, adds layers of complexity. Supporting characters like Emily's friend Alice weave in themes of trust and betrayal.

The novel examines the power of perception and its ability to skew reality, mirroring social media's impact today. It addresses the pressures of creative success and failure, making Emily's struggles relatable.

Howard's sharp writing, vivid descriptions, and alternating timelines bring the story to life and keep readers hooked. The setting of Sanctuary, an isolated, unfinished town, intensifies the suspense and echoes the characters' internal battles.

From the chilling prologue to the unpredictable conclusion, the novel balances Emily's unease, Jack's fight to clear his name, and flashbacks of Kate's final days, making it an engaging thriller. It tackles societal issues like crime sensationalism while delivering thrilling twists.

The book is a compelling, thought-provoking read that entertains while challenging perceptions about truth, guilt, and personal narratives.

A really enjoyable read. This author has been recommended to me by so many fellow readers, so I was excited to get stuck in!

Since Emily’s first bestselling book was published, she hasn’t been able to produce anything else. The advance from her publisher is long gone and Emily lives in a constant state of anxiety about when her outstanding commitment will come back to bite her.

When Emily is approached to ghostwrite a book by retired Olympic cyclist, Jack Smyth, who is suspected of killing his beautiful TV presenter wife a year earlier, Emily knows this could be the answer to her problems. But is Jack guilty and will she be putting herself in danger?

The slow burn start was great up to a point, but it did drag on a bit too long for my preference. Once we got into the story, there were some great twists and I really enjoyed the suspense. I was hoping for a mega twist at the end, but the ending fell a bit flat. Overall though, it was a good read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Ryan Howard and Random House, Transworld for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Emily is an author suffering with "Second album syndrome" after the runaway success of her debut novel. Stuck in a rut and making ends meet in a call centre job when the her publisher looks to call in her long spent advance. Offering her a way out, Emily is pushed to take the role of ghost writer for former elite cyclist Jack Smyth. However this is no sports memoir, A year ago, Jack was praised as a hero for rescuing his wife's body from their burning home. But as investigations unfolded, authorities discovered that Kate had died before the fire even started—now, all eyes are on Jack with suspicion and everyone has their opinion. Jack now wants to tell his side of the story and prove his innocence. Burn after reading is an enjotable thriller and all is not what as it seems with both Jack and Emily as both carry their own secrets. The flashback chapters with Jack's wife Kate reveals the truth as we see Emily's conflict over Jack's innocent and her own ghosts.

I’m a fan of Catherine Ryan Howard’s thrillers - especially 56 Days! - so I’ve been awaiting this ever since the title metadata came out. CRH writes top-tier stories, usually with an Ireland connection, and this was no exception: were plunged into the world of elite cycling, American town planning, and ghostwriting. Emily, Mark, and - my personal favourite - her friend Alice, feel so real. This is fitting, considering the focus here on what is real and what is not in the picture-perfect but eerie new town of Sanctuary. (I also kinda want Alice as my dentist and best fiend too!). And as with all CRH books, the structure is *chef’s kiss* impeccable! Twists and turns that I couldn’t see coming, but that were - in hindsight - elegantly woven into the narrative fabric. A Tour de force!

A good story that has twists and turns enough to keep you hooked - if you have the reservoir of patience it requires to reach that point where the thriller really begins. The book is really good but what marred it for me was how slow it was. I enjoy slow burn mysteries, but this one would have done way way better if it had maintained a quicker pace throughout.

Overall, if you don't lose interest by the time the pulse of the novel begins to quicken, you will enjoy a good read. I struggled to maintain my interest in the book, that's why 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Catherine Ryan Howard writes brilliant, unique twisty thrillers and Burn After Reading is one of my favourites. It follows Emily, who has written one book, and has been given a hefty advance to write a second, but is unable to come up with the goods. She is approached by her publishers with a solution, to clear the debt by being a ghostwriter for a forthcoming autobiography of a former professional cyclist, Jack, who lost his wife in a fire less than a year ago. The problem is, Jack is suspected of killing his wife, and the book has to be started next week.
Emily is reluctant to take the job, but keen to clear her debt to the publishers. With no other way to clear the financial advance, she has no alternative but to agree.
Problems start from the outset with Jack but Emily is determined to finish the job, without putting herself in danger. Can she do this? Is Jack really guilty of killing his wife? Will Emily regret taking this job?
An excellent thriller, that I highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The night Jack Smyth ran into flames in a desperate attempt to save his wife from their burning home, he was, tragically, too late - but hailed a hero. Until it emerged that Kate was dead long before the fire began.
Suspicion has stalked him ever since. After all, there's no smoke without fire.

Present day, Emily has been contacted to see if she will be a ghostwriter to tell Jack's story and clear his name. After Emily's first novel was a huge success years earlier, she has not been able to write since and is desperate to settle the advance she was given so she agrees. But when she arrives to write with Jack, things are not as they seem and a twisted adventure unfolds.

This one was so intriguing, with Jack's backstory, his wife's tragic death and also Emily's past, that opens a whole other element to the story. The writing was, as always, absolutely brilliant and the story and twists were fabulous.

Very very slow burner, I thought I
Might give up, I
Plodded on waiting for it to grip me.
A page here & there, It did eventually fire up but a but late for me, Id totally lost interest in all of the characters whom I didn’t even like in the beginning.

A Scorching Good Read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine ignites the viewer’s imagination with the opening pages, then restarts the story with a slow burn. A clever plot, following Emily, an author who is way behind with her second novel, having spent her substantial advance. The publishers employ her as a Ghostwriter for Jack Smyth’s confess all story about the night his wife, Kate, was killed. Clever, as this would include a confessional chapter, but would this be the truth?

Emily travels to a secret location to meet Jack and interview him. When she arrives, there are strict rules and top secrecy. As she starts to find answers to some questions, more arise as additional characters become involved. Emily finds herself anxious as she does not know if she is safe and what the truth really is.

A thought-provoking plot, particularly on the ethical and legal side of publishing. The story was much more subtle than her usual style, slowly revealing details which kept the reader guessing constantly. I enjoyed the simplicity of the big question, did he, or didn’t he? Then, what exactly happened? Also, sub plots of how the other characters fitted into events leading up to and on the night that Kate was killed.

I really enjoyed this story, reminding me, in many ways, of a more up to date Agatha Christie novel. Thoroughly recommended, 4 stars.