A little choppy, with a few sub-plots, but over all pretty good. Great ending! ( )

A dark redemption by Stav Sherez
A dark redemption was my first book by Stav Sherez it follows DI Jack Carrigan and DS Geneva Miller trying to investigate a Murdered Ugandan student they both discover she was a student in London. I enjoyed this book ( )

I listened to this on audio book on CDs and I think that becuase of its complexity, the audio book is the better way to take in this novel. I was drawn in by the cover of a house upstairs and downstairs lights on a fiery red sky.

I do not want to go over the plot much except to say that main character, Leigh Huyett is a family law lawyer which turns out to be mostly divorce and custody battles. Leigh is smart, pretty and on her second marriage with Peter and they have a large blended family.

Everything was great until there was an accident involving Peter's son Kip and Leigh's daughter. Chrissy A swerve to avoid hitting a dor, a reverend's collar and a death later of Chrissy from an aneurism that could have been heritary and could have been from the crash.

There are sub plots galore but I enjored all of them, learning about expertise gained in covert mission. And mny moral, religious questions and thoughts about lying and the truth, grief and how it changes rather than goes away. I loved learned about diplomate immunity in more detail and the difficulty of pursuring a divorce if you are not allowed common pieces of indentity.

I enjoyed this audiobook so much that after finishing it I wanted more from the author. ( )

There was a lot going on in this book. It is the story of a blended family which is affected by tragedy. Kip is a senior in high school with his future looking great. He has a terrific summer internship with the governor's office, he is headed to Duke in the fall, and he is doing well in school.
But, at a party one night, his stepsister Chrissy comes to warn him that their parents are on their way home early from a getaway. Kip's life is forever changed that night.
Once tragedy hits, it tears the family apart. Who do you believe, who do you trust, is your love strong enough to endure?
In addition to the tragedy, there are other stories happening. Leigh, the mother, is a divorce attorney, and several high profile divorce cases are sent her way. Peter, the father, is a builder, and there is a storyline regarding his clients and the state of his business.
These stories weave their way in and out of the tragedy happening in the family.
I felt that this story was a bit long, it could have possibly been 50-75 pages shorter and tighter.
#HouseOnFire #BonnieKistler ( )

House on Fire is a fascinating domestic suspense debut by Bonnie Kistler.

Divorce lawyer Leigh Huyett and second husband Pete Conley are on their way home from their anniversary getaway when they find out their two youngest children have been involved in a minor accident. Pete's son, eighteen year old Kip and Leigh's fourteen year old daughter Chrissy crashed their vehicle after swerving to avoid hitting a dog. Kip is arrested for DUI and Leigh hires her best friend Shelby Randolph to defend him. What begins as a case that will most likely result in a suspended sentence turns serious when Chrissy dies from a brain aneurysm the next day. Kip is arrested for manslaughter but he blindsides Leigh and Pete when he changes his story about who was driving. Leigh is incensed that he would blame Chrissy for the accident while Pete immediately begins helping Kip locate the person whom his son claims can confirm his story. The once happy and well-blended family are torn apart as Kip's trial approaches. Will Kip and his defense team locate the mystery person who can back up his story? Can Leigh find a way to forgive Kip for what she considers a lie in order to save himself? Is Pete and Leigh's marriage destined to end in divorce? Or can they find a way to overcome the chasm between them?

Leigh never imagined her happy family and marriage could ever be torn apart. She and Pete have successfully managed to blend their five children into a cohesive unit in which everyone likes and respects one another. Her oldest sons are twins who are away at college and Pete has visitation with his youngest daughter leaving Kip and Chrissy living with the two of them full time. Chrissy is a happy young woman who is a bright light to the rest of the family. Kip is charming but he has managed to get himself into trouble before. With a history of lying to protect himself, Leigh is quick to assume he is being untruthful about a potential witness at the scene of the accident. Her relationship with Pete deteriorates quickly as she is overwhelmed with grief over Chrissy's death. She never imagined their marriage would fall apart so quickly, but she cannot see a way to overcome the divide between them.

Pete might occasionally harbor a few doubts about Kip's story, but for the most part, he believes his son. He is absolutely stunned by Leigh's reaction when he supports Kip, but he continues trying to keep the lines of communication open between him and his wife. However, as the weeks and months pass, he begins to realize they might not able to save their marriage. Pete has no intention of abandoning his son, but as the trial looms closer, he starts to panic. If Kip is found guilty, he is looking at spending time in prison but is there anything Pete can do to save his son?

As Leigh gradually returns to work, she finds herself embroiled in a few interesting cases. She is helping her neighbor's daughter navigate a complex divorce from her wealthy husband but the young woman is resistant to her advice. A diplomat's wife would like to divorce her husband, but the situation is extremely complicated. Her client's circumstances are soon becoming dire, but will Leigh find a way to help her? A highly decorated veteran is seeking assistance in gaining custody of his young son and Leigh is soon in awe at his ability to procure vital information to help move his case along. In a shocking twist, these cases collide in an unexpected manner that is dangerous yet provides Leigh with stunning clarity about her family's situation. But is Leigh's sudden epiphany too late to save Kip, her family and her marriage?

House on Fire is a character driven mystery that explores grief and the dynamics of blended families. Leigh is a sympathetic character who finds herself in the untenable situation of supporting her stepson at the expense of her daughter's memory. She finds help from an unexpected source but will she take his well meaning advice to heart? Pete is a dedicated father and husband whose loyalty to Kip will resonate with readers. Bonnie Kistler brings this compelling mystery to an action-packed yet unanticipated conclusion. I highly recommend this well-written, engrossing novel to fans of the genre.
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