ARC Review: Burn This Night by Alex Kenna

Burn This Night
Author: Alex Kenna
Publication: Crooked Lane Books (November 12, 2024)

Description: Told in alternating timelines, this gripping mystery about a PI and her quest for answers is full of twists and turns, perfect for fans of Allison Brennan and Gytha Lodge.

Struggling private investigator Kate Myles is shattered to learn her late father isn’t her biological dad. She’s still reeling when she discovers that an unknown distant relative is the prime suspect in a decades-old murder investigation. Trying to convince her to take on the case for free, an old colleague recommends her as an investigator for a recent arson murder in the same small town.

After giving up on a failed acting career, Abby Coburn is starting over as a promising social work student. With her life on the right track, she’s determined to help her brother, Jacob, whose meth addiction triggered a psychotic break and descent into crime. But when Abby dies in a fire that kills two other people and destroys part of the town, the police immediately suspect Jacob.

As the Coburn family grapples with the tragedy, Kate begins unraveling the cold case but finds herself caught in the middle of an emotional minefield. Pretty soon, she discovers that this town is full of dark secrets, and as she comes closer and closer to figuring out the truth, Kate must solve both murders before she becomes the next victim.

My Thoughts: In the second Kate Miles mystery, Kate is hit with a bombshell. She learns that the man she believed was her father was not her biological father. She loved and wanted to be like her dad, but this news explains a lot of things. She has never looked like the rest of the family. She has ADHD. She isn't the athlete her father was. Her mother is stonewalling her leaving her floundering for answers.

While she's still reeling, she gets a call from some retired cops who are now investigating cold cases for the county. She learns that she is a distant cousin of the prime suspect in an old murder case. They want her to investigate for free but have arranged to have her hired to work with an attorney to investigate a much more recent crime. A meth-addicted man is accused of setting a fire that killed his sister and two other people. 

Kate travels to the small town with the intent of trying to find her biological father and maybe solving the old murder while doing her current investigations. The cases soon become intertwined as Kate tries to track down the killer in the old murder and finds connections - and distant relatives - with roles in the current investigation.

This was an engaging story filled with interesting characters. I liked Kate who is struggling to rebuild her life and make a life for herself and her daughter. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.