Fire: Ash by Hristina Bloomfield is a gripping crime and murder mystery that involves greed, power, drugs, human trafficking, and money laundering. The main characters are Cassy, the Chief of Police of Balkan, Burke the fire chief, Marta, Eleonora, Sully, Steve, Zlotov, and Maria. These people seem to be at the very center of the intrigue and mystery of the fire that burns down the town of Balkan, but not touching the outer suburbs, only cloaking them in soot and smoke. The story starts with a fire set off by a series of explosions. Burke and Cassy start investigating and realize that the fires were set deliberately and in such a way as to only burn certain areas of the town. This is when the twists and turns of this story start to take off, leading the reader down a path of adventure, intrigue, and great danger. The author uses the plot most artfully, leading the reader further and further into the narrative.

Hristina Bloomfield takes the reader on an unforgettable journey through an underworld of crime. The main characters seem to be the only ones trying to solve the mystery but, at the same time, trying to stay alive as they are the target of a hit gone wrong and someone wants them dead. Cassy always thought the town had an air of mystery and danger enveloping it, especially when the mist came down the mountain into the valley. This is a fast-moving story that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The end of the book has such an unusual twist that it will leave the reader gasping for breath. This is not for faint-hearted readers as some sections will leave them wondering about human nature, how cruel people can be to each other, and how they can ruin others' lives. It will cause the reader to take a long hard look at their life and the lives of those around them. It is a book that is well worth reading.

In Fire by Hristina Bloomfield, Cassy has been the chief of police in Balkan for four years. Upon hearing a loud noise, Cassy noticed smoke rising from the town's center. Cassy hurried back to her and Steve’s apartment to get their dog, Charlie. Her neighbor informed her that no one was in the building and that Steve had taken Charlie. With no chance to return, Cassy went to the mountain where Fire Chief Burke found her. Cassy needed medical attention, so she and Burke descended the mountain to go back to town. Burke suspected that the fires were intentionally set, based on their origins. During her time in the hospital, Steve did not come to see Cassy and was unaccounted for. Cassy was dismissed from her role as chief of police and asked that Burke take her to the Capitol. Both Cassy and Burke were in danger, and someone was determined to prevent them from uncovering the truth about what was occurring in the town at any cost.

The storyline in Fire by Hristina Bloomfield was intricate and captivating. I could not flip through the pages quickly enough to see what would happen next. The story was fast-paced, packed with events that held my focus the entire time. The writing style was exceptional. I felt as though I was attempting to flee the flames alongside Cassy. I could genuinely sense the intensity of the heat and the suffocating smoke filling my lungs. The characters felt genuine and relatable. I thought I had truly come to know them, only to discover later that I had not understood them at all or the depths of their potential. Multiple stories were interwoven, incorporating all the elements that made this an unforgettable story. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will remember it for a long time.

Fire: Ash by Hristina Bloomfield is the first book in a thriller series. After losing her partner, Cassy moved with her husband to a small town in the mountains, where she started her new job as the police chief. Four years on and the town is burning but it’s not just the houses that will burn to ashes – so too does Cassy’s life. Working with Fire Chief Burke, she needs to find the arsonist but neither is prepared for what they uncover. The arsonist seems to be untraceable, but other things are simmering beneath the surface in the town of Balkan. Can they find the arsonist before it's too late? And where did Cassy’s husband go?

Ash by Hristina Bloomfield is a steady-paced story with plenty of action that starts almost on the first page. Scenes of violence, fire, human trafficking, and burning bodies may be triggering for some readers. That said, none of this is out of context with the plot, which keeps you guessing all the way through. The characters are well-written, developed into real people with their own personalities and flaws, and all are likable. The main characters work well together to solve the crimes and mysteries they uncover along the way. The disappearance of Cassy’s husband and her dog might appear unrelated at first, but it plays its part as one of many threads weaving through this plot, all being pulled neatly together by the end. Overall, a good read, and recommended for anyone who likes a thriller with a difference.

Hristina Bloomfield's Fire: Ash is a pulsating thriller that puts the reader into the scheme of things from the get-go. It's been four years since Cassy and her husband, Steve, moved to the small mountain town of Balkan, hoping to start their lives anew. As the chief of police, Cassy has a busy life. However, her marriage to Steve has become stagnant. When someone burns down parts of the town, the Chief of the Fire Department, Burke, comes to Cassy's rescue. Recovering from her injuries, Cassy soon learns that Steve has disappeared with their family dog, just like her brother-in-law, Sully. As Cassy follows the clues to uncover the truth, she survives multiple attempts on her life. She also discovers an insidious conspiracy involving human trafficking that could have larger ramifications. Can Cassy solve the case?

Fire: Ash is one of those thrillers that pulls the rug away from under your feet over and over again. Using a fast-paced plot with twists and turns galore, Hristina Bloomfield takes you on a thrilling crime odyssey filled with suspense, mystery, and intrigue. At no point do you feel confident enough to guess which way the plot is taking the story next, as Bloomfield keeps the cards close to her chest until the last few pages. Every character has agency, and their actions and motivations make sense in hindsight. I loved the dynamic between Cassy and Burke, as well as her growing relationship with Aldan. There is a cliffhanger toward the end of the book that has only made me more eager to read the sequel. All in all, this is a fantastic crime thriller for fans of the genre.