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‘Patricia’s shoes. That’s what I’d heard that morning, echoing outside of my bathroom window.’
After her best friend’s mysterious death, Elizabeth Smith’s picture-perfect life in the Memphis suburbs spirals out of control, causing her to hire an assistant to keep her world from hurtling off its axis. In comes the composed and elegant Brianna. But Elizabeth’s obsession is catching, and Brianna quickly becomes accomplice rather than diversion.
Why? Because Brianna has questions, too…
She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighbourhood saw him and thought to call the police. Who she can hold responsible for his death. As the two women hurtle towards the truth, it becomes clear that neither of them is who they claim to be.
A scorching debut that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling, examining the intersection of race, class, female friendship, and the devastating consequences of everyday actions.
After her best friend’s mysterious death, Elizabeth Smith’s picture-perfect life in the Memphis suburbs spirals out of control, causing her to hire an assistant to keep her world from hurtling off its axis. In comes the composed and elegant Brianna. But Elizabeth’s obsession is catching, and Brianna quickly becomes accomplice rather than diversion.
Why? Because Brianna has questions, too…
She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighbourhood saw him and thought to call the police. Who she can hold responsible for his death. As the two women hurtle towards the truth, it becomes clear that neither of them is who they claim to be.
A scorching debut that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling, examining the intersection of race, class, female friendship, and the devastating consequences of everyday actions.
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Reviews
"Fast paced and thrilling, While We Were Burning is also heartbreaking in its portrayal of a grieving mother forced to confront both the person who caused her son's death and the systemic injustice that led to it. I was riveted the whole way through."
"While We Were Burning is the fresh take on the domestic thriller we need right now, a provocative observation of racism and classism embedded within a searing, fast-paced revenge story. By placing a heartbreakingly familiar tragedy at the emotional center of the book, Koffi deftly blurs the lines between hero and villain, not only surprising the reader with every twist but challenging them with complicated moral questions. This is more than a riveting suspense about two women who form a tenuous friendship-it's a page-turner with serious things to say about who gets to be a victim and what justice looks like."
"A riveting page-turner...Koffi's fresh, bold, and sharp prose sweeps you right into the murky gray spaces and wide spectrum of conflicting human emotion filled with messy characters. This is the type of contemporary fiction I crave-raw, original, and unapologetic. Gasp-inducing scenes, sensational twists, and brilliant writing make While We Were Burning one unforgettable and unputdownable debut not to miss."
"A scorching revenge tale set in Memphis."
Fast paced and thrilling, While We Were Burning is also heartbreaking in its portrayal of a grieving mother forced to confront both the person who caused her son's death and the systemic injustice that led to it. I was riveted the whole way through.
While We Were Burning is the fresh take on the domestic thriller we need right now, a provocative observation of racism and classism embedded within a searing, fast-paced revenge story. By placing a heartbreakingly familiar tragedy at the emotional center of the book, Koffi deftly blurs the lines between hero and villain, not only surprising the reader with every twist but challenging them with complicated moral questions. This is more than a riveting suspense about two women who form a tenuous friendship-it's a page-turner with serious things to say about who gets to be a victim and what justice looks like.
A riveting page-turner...Koffi's fresh, bold, and sharp prose sweeps you right into the murky gray spaces and wide spectrum of conflicting human emotion filled with messy characters. This is the type of contemporary fiction I crave-raw, original, and unapologetic. Gasp-inducing scenes, sensational twists, and brilliant writing make While We Were Burning one unforgettable and unputdownable debut not to miss.
A scorching revenge tale set in Memphis.
One of Paste's Most Anticipated Mystery and Thriller Books of 2024
While We Were Burning is a fast-paced, sharp edged pressure-cooker of a story that shows us the duplicity that lives beneath the veneer of the American dream in one engrossing, twisted ride. Sara Koffi is a fantastic storyteller.
Never has revenge been so eloquently written. This page turner delivers.
Just finished While We Were Burning and really enjoyed it. It was utterly captivating! I've never been to Memphis, but I felt I could recognise the people, the environment ... felt like I was there.