Detective Sara Hirst is at a crossroads. Can she take the heat or is she about to burn out?

It's the hottest summer on record. Norfolk is parched in the heat. Sara and her team are wilting as they investigate a series of fires that are breaking out all over the county.

Wildfire or arson?

Then one steaming night an old barn belonging to Wild Thyme Farm is torched. The battle to put out the blaze rages on through the night.

As dawn breaks it becomes clear: there's a body in the wreckage.

Suspicion soon falls on the mother and daughter who run the farm. Their finances are in dire straits and family relations have been kindling for months.

Accident or murder?

Meanwhile, Sara's personal and professional life are reaching boiling point. Her boyfriend seems ready to settle down and Sara doesn't know how she feels. And if that wasn't enough, her boss keeps insisting Sara takes her inspector's exams.

Everywhere she turns, Sara feels like she's stepping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Can Sara solve this case and keep everyone happy - or will she burn out?

This gripping, character-driven crime thriller is perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, J.M. Dalgliesh, Matt Brolly, Biba Pearce, Rachel McLean, Rachel Lynch and Angela Marsons.