Bonfire by Krysten Ritter REVIEW

Abby Mills does not have happy memories of her hometown in Barrens, Indiana. When she is forced to go back to investigate the company that is the economic heart of the town, Optimal Plastic, she is forced to think back to her past. She begins making connections between the scandal about Optimal that rocked the town when she was younger, and what is happening in Barrens now.

In many ways, Bonfire reminded me of Paula Hawkins’ The Girl On the Train. Abby Mills is a damaged protagonist who struggles to make sense of her past and link it to what is happening in her present day. She has a complicated family dynamic, and a disturbing friendship with Kaycee Mitchell, a friend-turned-mean-girl, that she has yet to come to terms with. At times I found Abby to be a bit too passive – both in her past and her present, leading to a character that sometimes felt a little too stagnant.

The mystery of the novel was compelling. I had enough questions and curiosity to rush through the chapters looking for answers. There were certain parts of the mystery that I guessed way before the conclusion (I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve read way too many Agatha Christie novels or because it’s actually a little bit predictable) but there were other parts of the mystery that took me by surprise.

My major issue with the book was that the ending felt very rushed. It was the most action-packed part of the book with not enough of a denouément to help us get settled into Abby’s new reality now that she has uncovered a very dark part of the Barren.

People might wonder if all the praise Bonfire has received so far is to do with the writer being Krysten Ritter, a.k.a Jessica Jones a.k.a the Bitch in Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23, but the praise really is well-deserved. Bonfire is a solid debut novel with a mystery that will keep you turning the pages.

Review copy provided

Verdict

An intense psychological thriller that will keep you on your toes.

6.5