Will End in Fire

A haunting psychological thriller about sibling rivalry, suspicion, and guilt after a house fire nearly kills a young woman’s brother—and leaves everyone questioning what really happened that night.

Twenty-seven-year-old climate journalist Ellie Stone has spent her life locked in a bitter rivalry with her brother, Josh, a star athlete and golden boy turned drug addict. One night, after their parents leave her to “babysit” him, the siblings fight and Ellie storms out. When she returns for her forgotten laptop, she finds the house engulfed in flames and Josh burned beyond recognition. Social media quickly turns the tragedy into a local cause célèbre, blaming Ellie because of her involvement years earlier in a fire that scarred a high school frenemy. Worse, Ellie can’t remember whether she left a lit cigarette behind. Police initially suspect arson—and Ellie—but an unknown vehicle spotted in the driveway as the fire erupted raises new questions.

As Ellie searches for answers, she grows closer to Josh’s best friend, who soon becomes her romantic partner, and to Josh’s girlfriend, who hints that their relationship was not what it seemed. Drawn deeper into her brother’s inner circle, Ellie uncovers secrets that force her to question whom she can trust, whether she is in danger, and what really happened the night Josh died. With razor-sharp precision, Nicole Bokat weaves fiercely drawn characters, psychological landmines, and twisting revelations into a fiery blend of literary and psychological suspense.

“A tumultuous narrative that will confound readers’ expectations and keep them guessing.”—Kirkus Reviews