Out of the Ashes

Stalking. Arson. Murder.

Butler and West are back together… and the stakes have never been higher.

When an old friend tells DS Freya West that she’s being stalked by someone she met online, Freya promises to help. But there are no leads, and the dating site refuses to give up their data.

To make matters more complicated, DI Robin Butler is back in town. He’s investigating a string of arson attacks that have escalated to murder, and the cases seem to be connected somehow. They’re going to need their wits about them…

Because this is a killer more devious than any they’ve hunted before, and he wants to obliterate everything they hold dear.

The climatic finale of the gripping Butler & West series, perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Jane Casey and Susie Steiner.

Praise for Louisa Scarr

‘From the first flicker of fire to the final explosive climax, Out Of The Ashes is a scorching finale to a riveting crime series. The narrative crackles with menace and suspense, and I enjoyed every moment!’ Cameron Ward, author of A Stranger On Board

‘What an ending to the series! Louisa masterfully weaves together the strands of the investigation and the characters’ personal lives. Full of intrigue and threat and superbly paced.’ James Delargy, author of Vanished

‘Scorchingly brilliant. A heart in the mouth thriller with the ultimate chemistry between its leads, this is a breathtaking end to the series.’ Heather Critchlow, author of Unsolved

‘Scarr has finished her series with a heart-pounding flourish. It may be the last we see of Butler and West, but rest assured I’ll keep reading her, whatever she comes up with next.’ Alison Belsham, author of The Girls on Chalk Hill

‘I love this series... the last one was perfect. A finish so tight I couldn’t breathe.’ Rachael Blok, author of The Fall

‘I loved every instalment of this brilliant series, but Scarr has saved the best ’til last. Masterful.’ Jo Furniss, author of All the Little Children

What readers are saying about Out of the Ashes


‘One of my favourite series. I love the characters and the team dynamics are excellent. There is plenty of suspense, red herrings and the ending all wrapped up neatly. A brilliant ending to an excellent series which I highly recommend.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘Keeps you guessing until the explosive ending. And what an ending! I feel sad when I come to the end of a Butler and West book; it’s like having to say goodbye to dear friends. An exciting read with believable characters, a solid plot, and page-turning action.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘Oh my Louisa Scarr you have saved the best for last. An absolute cracker of a book and I got the ending I hoped for! A hell of a book to end a hell of a series.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! This book had a bit of everything – suspense, intrigue, action, murder, mystery, arson, a great whodunnit and great police work! The storyline had me glued to my Kindle!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘This cannot be the last in the Butler & West series! These police procedurals quickly became one of my favourites. There are so many strong, well described characters.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review