Play with Fire by TM Payne has an engaging storyline with strong character dynamics and an interesting plot. The drama and tension kept me invested, and there were some truly gripping moments. However, the audiobook experience wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped. The narration felt flat at times, lacking the emotional depth needed to bring the characters to life. Some pacing issues also made certain scenes feel rushed or drawn out. Overall, it’s a decent listen, but I’d recommend reading the book instead for a better experience.

Really enjoyed this book!! I thought I knew where it was going and BAM. This one has me stressing and laughing and jaw dropped.

**Audiobook Review: *Play with Fire* by T.M. Payne 🔥🎧**

Alright, Gen Z crime junkies, this one’s for you. *Play with Fire* is book three in T.M. Payne’s *Detective Sheridan Holler* series, and it does **not** disappoint. Set in Liverpool, the story kicks off with Caroline Crow seemingly dipping out on her own terms—she packs her stuff, lets her friends know, and vanishes. But things get *real* when a severed, burned hand shows up at another address. Enter Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, ready to uncover the truth in this dark, twisty case.

Payne absolutely **nails** the tension and character development, making you feel like you’re right in the middle of the investigation. The plot is layered, the stakes are high, and the audiobook narration? *Chef’s kiss*—it keeps the suspense alive and the characters feeling real.

If you love crime thrillers that hit *hard* with sharp storytelling and killer performances, *Play with Fire* is a must-listen. 🎙️🔥

Big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me dive into this wild ride! 🚔✨

Play With Fire is a twisty detective novel filled with deception, scandal, secrets and murder. It is told from several different points of view, and the plethora of characters got a little overwhelming for me at times, but the story itself kept my attention.

The characters were well developed, and it was evident that a lot of thought was put into the plot development and story line. While the story felt a little drawn out at times, just when I felt myself waning, the author was there with a new twist to reel me right back in.

I listened to the audio version of this book which was enjoyable. The actor's voice was easy to listen to and follow along with and of course I always enjoy an English accent.

This book is part of a series and while it is a standalone book, for those who like to read a series from start to finish, please note that this is book #3.

I would like to thank Brilliance Publishing for the ARC of the audio version of this book to listen to and review. It was an enjoyable listen, and I look forward to reading other works by the author in the future.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ALC.

This is more like a 4.5 for me but I enjoyed it so much that I rounded up.

It’s not perfect (there was a little bit of fluff & the ending was drawn out for about 2 hours (audiobook)), but I really enjoyed listening to this book. Seeing that this is the 3rd in a series, I am going to go listen to/read the first 2 & keep my eye out for anymore.

The plot is extensive and a bit overwhelming/complex at times (but perhaps I’d understand more when I read the first 2 books??).

The narrator was decent but there were a few sections that had a lot of back & forth dialogue with no dialogue tags and the voices weren’t different enough that I at times lost track of who was saying what (so a bit confusing) - I don’t think this would have been an issue in the written version).

There were some curveballs in there that I didn’t see coming but the main story was a bit predictable. What I didn’t expect was for it to be a bit of a tearjerker a couple of times. Was definitely not prepared for that in this genre. Also, please note there is mention of 9/11 so beware of that trigger (it’s a trigger for me; I would still have read/listened to the book but I wish I had a warning about it).

This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it.

The story had lots of suspense and many possibilities as the story unfolded. I had no idea where the story was heading and was intrigued by each twist and revelation.
I really liked the main characters, especially the banter between the police officers.
I will definitely read the other books in this series, however the story read excellent as a stand alone.

I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrative was excellent.

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Playing with Fire, part of the Detective Sheridan series. While this book can be read as a standalone, it left me eager to dive into the rest of the series.

The storyline was packed with twists and turns, keeping me on my toes throughout. The mystery was well-crafted, and I found myself completely invested in the case. The characters were wonderfully written, each adding depth to the story, and Detective Sheridan made for a compelling lead.

The only reason I’m giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 is that it felt a bit dragged out in places. However, that didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. If you love a gripping detective thriller with plenty of surprises, Playing with Fire is definitely worth a read!

If you like British crime dramas or police procedurals you will probably enjoy this book. I listened to the audio version and particularly enjoyed it because of the narrator's lovely accent. The cast of characters was pretty solid, and there were lots of twists and turns which kept things interesting.

Play With Fire is the third book in the DI Sheridan Holler series, written by TM Payne. It’s a series that I have thoroughly enjoyed since reading Long Time Dead, I always look forward to the new instalment.

Play With Fire starts with Hale Street Station seeing an unusually quiet period. A new case presents itself, a missing woman. Initially it doesn’t cause too much alarm, as Caroline Crow seems to have planned her escape. Until a grim discovery escalates everyone’s concern.

The storyline is complex, with so much detail of this tricky case to unpick. The manner of writing drip feeds the details to the reader, keeping me in gripped suspense. I must admit that while reading, I had completely forgotten the first chapter. So when the events re-emerged, I was surprised and thrilled to find that I still had more of the story to be revealed.

With each book, the characters, who already have great depth and individuality, develop further. As the book progressed, I found myself appreciating Sheridan, and her internal moral compass more and more. I also find it refreshing, to have the central character of a leading detective, having a happy and settled home life. I adore the small cameo appearances by Gloria, her mischievous nature always brings me a smile. Her and Elvis being a highlight for me. Maud, as always, is a legend.
The audio was really well narrated. Each of the characters had their own distinct voice and intonation.

I was happy to find that the fourth book in the series, Count The Dead, is due to be published in November. So I don’t have long to wait to see what Sheridan, Anna and Hill get up to next. Anna’s ongoing backstory is causing me a little anxiety, so I’m really hoping for a positive resolution there. (Subtle hint Tina Payne 😂)

Just as you would expect from the author, Play With Fire is an engrossing police procedural; with wonderful characterisation, and a storyline that holds you until the last word has been read. I highly recommend it.

While not normally a fan of detective or procedural novels, this one caught my eye. I opted for the audiobook and found the narrator easy to listen to- but be advised, the book takes place overseas and has an English accent.

This book follows multiple POVs to tell the story of a woman who goes missing and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and attempts to locate her. While early on you can tell there’s a secret the missing woman is keeping, it won’t be revealed until later. I found this story pretty consistent with this trope- many suspects introduced to lead you to a conclusion, then cleared of the suspicion. It took some crazy turns and some less than realistic methods of getting there, but overall an enjoyable read! The audio narrator was easy to listen to and had an easy to understand accent.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC!

**4.5 Stars**

Synopsis
The atmosphere in Liverpool has been extremely calm, almost too calm for comfort. So, when a panicked call to emergency services comes through to Hale Street Police Station about a woman who has gone missing, it signals the start of an investigation. However, for Detective Inspector Sheridan Holler, there are more questions than answers. Why did Caroline Crow pack her purse and suitcase and inform her friends that she was leaving? At first glance, there seems to be no indication of foul play—until a gruesome discovery of a severed, charred hand is sent to a different location.
Lacking concrete evidence that connects the two incidents, Holler’s instincts are telling her that something is amiss, and if her intuition is correct, every moment counts in the search for Caroline. As DI Holler delves deeper into the tangled web of truth and deception, she faces the daunting challenge of piecing together this mystery. Will she and her team manage to solve this case before time runs out, or will they find themselves racing against the clock?

My Thoughts
This is the third book in T.M. Payne’s Detective Sheridan Holler series, and it certainly lived up to my expectations! I really enjoyed both the narration and the overall story. However, I did find myself a bit confused with the plot involving a few characters at times, as there were many intersecting storylines. Thankfully, I eventually got the hang of it. In this installment, DI Holler is on the case of a missing woman, prompted by her worried husband who discovers letters to her lovers. As the story unfolds, strange events start to occur, but DI Holler remains calm and sharp-minded amidst the chaos. All in all, it was a great read, and the ending completely took me by surprise!

Thank You @Netgalley and @Brilliancepublishing for allowing me to review this ALC.

Thank you for the advanced listening. The story was well written. I got a little lost with the storyline for a couple of characters at some points, there is a lot of crossing paths. The big plot twist caught me by surprise.
I’d give this a 3.5 rounded up

T.M. Payne has done it again with her latest DI Sheridan Holler novel, Play With Fire…it was totally fiery and so twisty-turny that I am still getting my bearing back to normal.

Payne has the unique ability to craft unique characters that are rounded, despite being minor players in the plot.

This time, DI Holler was tasked to find a missing person for a seemingly distraught husband, after she went missing and he found what seem to be letters to her lovers.

Then, the truly bizarre things begin to take place, and it’s DI Holler who is able to keep a cool and deductive head about herself, despite chaos reigning down on everyone.

The ending was a total shock to me, as I am sure that it will be for everyone who picks up this amazing mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this brilliant audio ARC!!

Play with Fire is a detective Sheridan Holler mystery/thriller written by T.M. Payne. I was ecstatic to be given access to the advanced copy of the audiobook narrated by Heather Bleasdale and immediately hunkered down to get started. As you can guess this story follows Detective Holler in her investigations. We accompany her down the twisted path of a pretty standard missing persons investigation where all signs point to the woman leaving of her own volition and a seemingly unrelated issue of a burned and severed hand being delivered to someone’s door. There is a lot happening in this story and the way it is written, a lot of the story is revealed without giving you much in the way of who is doing what and the real reason behind everything. Once it drew me in, I was absolutely and utterly hooked. I devoured this within a couple days. Payne knows how to write a thriller and while I had theories, I most definitely had no idea which way was up for the majority of the story. But I had a fantastic time on the journey.

I’ll be the first to say that a narrator can make or break an audiobook. I have been guilty of not finishing books because a specific voice just pulls me right out of the story. This was not one of those time. Bleasdale is a fabulous narrator who did just enough to keep me invested without distracting from the words and the story itself.

This was actually my first Sheridan Holler book and I have immediately found and obtained the other two. If you like mysteries with good twists that keep you guessing Until the very end, give this a read or a listen. Just trust me (but maybe don’t trust anyone in the book).

Thank you to Brilliance publishing for making this audiobook available for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.