"Bokat reveals the solution to the mystery bit by bit, like a jigsaw puzzle, leaving the full picture obscured until the final piece is finally in place....A tumultuous narrative that will confound readers' expectations and keep them guessing." Their verdict: Get it.
— Kirkus Reviews
"Hang onto your breath because you’ll be holding it the whole time you read Nicole Bokat’s fascinating thriller about love, loyalty, family and the secrets that could save—or even kill us. Set against a backdrop of a mysterious fire, Bokat introduces characters so real and vivid, you swear they’re beside you. Just extraordinary."
—Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Days of Wonder,
Pictures of You and With or Without You
"Intense, heart-wrenching, and instantly addictive, Will End in Fire took my breath away. Nicole Bokat expertly follows the fault lines between a character’s past and present — and how they can collide with the force of a lightning strike. An unforgettable read."
— Hilary Davidson, bestselling author of Her Last Breath
“A page-turning mystery, a suspenseful domestic drama, a deep psychological character study of warring siblings, and a heartbreaking addiction saga all rolled into one poignant, powerful novel. Unputdownable."
—Susan Shapiro, New York Times best-selling author of
Unhooked, Lighting Up, and The Forgiveness Tour
Will End in Fire
Ellie Stone, a journalist focusing on climate science, is staying with her 24-year-old brother, Josh, so their parents can have an anniversary getaway. Josh is an addict, a former D1 soccer star whose post-college life has unraveled, but he’s also still, somehow, the golden boy. Ellie’s resentment at being overlooked by her parents took root in childhood, so when she and Josh argue during her visit, she decides that she’s finally had enough. In her hurry to get back to Manhattan from New Jersey, Ellie realizes she forgot her laptop and turns around, arriving back to discover the home ablaze.
Though alive when rescued by firefighters, Josh is severely burned and fragile. Ellie is heartsick. But then she also begins to fret: is it her fault? Did she forget to snuff out her cigarette? It’s the second time she’s been involved in a devastating fire—another holdover from childhood—and she feels guilt-ridden and overwhelmed. Plus, social media turns ugly, reacting as fast as the flames that devoured her family home. In the aftermath, Ellie leans on Josh’s best friend, Drew, and Josh’s girlfriend, Audrey, but as time passes, she realizes Audrey and Josh didn’t have the rosy relationship she thought they did. The police are asking questions. Suddenly, Ellie is, too. In this page-turning story of disloyalty, sibling rivalry, and love gone wrong, suspicions abound and the tension ratchets up, right until the chilling conclusion.
Ellie Stone, a journalist focusing on climate science, is staying with her 24-year-old brother, Josh, so their parents can have an anniversary getaway. Josh is an addict, a former D1 soccer star whose post-college life has unraveled, but he’s also still, somehow, the golden boy. Ellie’s resentment at being overlooked by her parents took root in childhood, so when she and Josh argue during her visit, she decides that she’s finally had enough. In her hurry to get back to Manhattan from New Jersey, Ellie realizes she forgot her laptop and turns around, arriving back to discover the home ablaze.
Though alive when rescued by firefighters, Josh is severely burned and fragile. Ellie is heartsick. But then she also begins to fret: is it her fault? Did she forget to snuff out her cigarette? It’s the second time she’s been involved in a devastating fire—another holdover from childhood—and she feels guilt-ridden and overwhelmed. Plus, social media turns ugly, reacting as fast as the flames that devoured her family home. In the aftermath, Ellie leans on Josh’s best friend, Drew, and Josh’s girlfriend, Audrey, but as time passes, she realizes Audrey and Josh didn’t have the rosy relationship she thought they did. The police are asking questions. Suddenly, Ellie is, too. In this page-turning story of disloyalty, sibling rivalry, and love gone wrong, suspicions abound and the tension ratchets up, right until the chilling conclusion.
Praise and Press:
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Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of Days of Wonder, Pictures of You and With or Without You"Hang onto your breath because you’ll be holding it the whole time you read Nicole Bokat’s fascinating thriller about love, loyalty, family and the secrets that could save—or even kill us. Set against a backdrop of a mysterious fire, Bokat introduces characters so real and vivid, you swear they’re beside you. Just extraordinary."
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Hilary Davidson, bestselling author of Her Last Breath"Intense, heart-wrenching, and instantly addictive, Will End in Fire took my breath away. Nicole Bokat expertly follows the fault lines between a character’s past and present — and how they can collide with the force of a lightning strike. An unforgettable read."
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Susan Shapiro, New York Times best-selling author of Unhooked, Lighting Up, and The Forgiveness Tour“A page-turning mystery, a suspenseful domestic drama, a deep psychological character study of warring siblings, and a heartbreaking addiction saga all rolled into one poignant, powerful novel. Unputdownable."
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Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days"Nicole Bokat has once again weaved together scintillating storytelling with gorgeous prose. Will End in Fire is a haunting poetic thriller."
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Tess Callahan, author of Dawnland and April and Oliver"I blazed through Bokat’s fiery, fast-paced new thriller in a single sitting. Navigating the perilous terrain of sibling rivalry, arson, addiction, rape culture, climate change, and a pandemic, the novel’s riveting twists are driven by the questions: Who can Ellie Stone trust? What will it take for her to trust herself? What is the price if she doesn’t? You’ll turn these stunning pages with your heart pounding and your hands on fire."
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Anastasia Zadeik, author of Blurred Fates and The Other Side of Nothing“This novel will grab you from the first sentence and won’t let you go until the last. A riveting story of love, loss, and fear that raises questions about how childhood events and family dynamics shape us, influencing what we remember, who we believe, and whether we can change the patterns of our lives.”
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ReadHerLikeAnOpenBook.com: Essay: "For the Love of Disturbed and Disturbing Characters"
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CrimeFictionLover.com“Guilt, whether earned or simply perceived, is a rich vein that runs through Nicole Bokat‘s Will End in Fire – and it will have you second-guessing its central character, Ellie, from the get-go.”
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Bookclubs.com 'Best Indie Book Club Picks Fall 2024'“A page-turner perfect for fall reading.”
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cmtloveswineandbooks"This book was absolutely unputdownable for me! Ellie was such a compelling character and my heart ached for her in so many ways. The complicated family dynamics and interesting characters kept me guessing and oh my goodness - - that ending!!! This was my second book by this author and both have been page turners."
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miswbookreviews"....an excellent domestic thriller that I really loved....perfect pacing and complex characters."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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marilynjgon"Will End In Fire was fantastic. It was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. This domestic thriller was so suspenseful. I really liked Nicole Bokat’s writing style and just the overwhelming sense of apprehension I felt the entire time reading this was really good."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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novelsnlatte"A twisted story of family, sibling rivalry, obsession and things not being what they seem. I really liked this. It's not the average mystery to figure out."
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booksandcoffeemx"If you like intense and dramatic this book is for you. A suspenseful and pulse pounding story that mixes past and present, will make you guess everything and keep you at the edge of your seat. Twisty, full of drama and engaging until the end."
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bookapotamus"Cleverly plotted and a page-turning whodunit, you’ll be full immersed in the secrets and suspense woven throughout this one - up until the very last page - with a shocking and satisfyingly rad finale."
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Hasty Book List
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Crime Fiction Lover
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Anne Leigh Parrish
