While We Were Burning
Parasite meets Such a Fun Age in a scorching debut that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling, examining the intersection of race, class, and 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 has spiraled out of control—so much so that she hires a personal assistant to keep her on track. Composed and elegant, Brianna is exactly who she needs and slides so neatly into Elizabeth’s life, almost like she belonged there from the start. Soon, the assistant Elizabeth hired to distract her from her obsession with her friend's death is the same person working with her to uncover the truth behind it.
Because Brianna has questions too.
She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighborhood called the cops on him that day. Who took that first step that stole her child away from her. And the only way she’s ever going to be able to find out is to entwine herself deep into Elizabeth’s life, where the answers to her questions lie. As the two women hurtle towards an electrifying final showdown, and the lines between employer and friend blur, it becomes clear that neither of them is what they first appear.
After her best friend's mysterious death, Elizabeth Smith’s picture-perfect life in the Memphis suburbs has spiraled out of control—so much so that she hires a personal assistant to keep her on track. Composed and elegant, Brianna is exactly who she needs and slides so neatly into Elizabeth’s life, almost like she belonged there from the start. Soon, the assistant Elizabeth hired to distract her from her obsession with her friend's death is the same person working with her to uncover the truth behind it.
Because Brianna has questions too.
She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighborhood called the cops on him that day. Who took that first step that stole her child away from her. And the only way she’s ever going to be able to find out is to entwine herself deep into Elizabeth’s life, where the answers to her questions lie. As the two women hurtle towards an electrifying final showdown, and the lines between employer and friend blur, it becomes clear that neither of them is what they first appear.
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Community Reviews
After the death of a friend, Elizabeth is consumed with solving what she believes to be her murder, now her life is spinning out of control. Her husband, David, recommends hiring a personal assistant and in walks the perfect woman for the job. Brianna Thompson, a smart, savvy, and beautiful black women who seems to know the answer to everything and is able to help hold Elizabeth together. But Brianna has her secret too, and a reason for befriending Elizabeth and wanting to immerse herself in her white, privileged world. As both women seek to uncover the answers to their individual mysteries, the truths lie somewhere around them.
This was a page turned for sure. Sensitive content when Elizabeth’s best friend is found dead of apparent suicide. This thriller examines race, class, mental illness, abuse, and police brutality. This really had me with so many different feelings. I was sad, angry, empathetic, but mostly on the edge of my seat. I would say that it started out a little slow for me but picked up very quickly. This was a hard one to review, as I did not want to give too much away or reveal spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Sara Koffi and the publisher, Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book.
To read more of my book reviews please visit my website https://theshelflifebooks.com
This was a page turned for sure. Sensitive content when Elizabeth’s best friend is found dead of apparent suicide. This thriller examines race, class, mental illness, abuse, and police brutality. This really had me with so many different feelings. I was sad, angry, empathetic, but mostly on the edge of my seat. I would say that it started out a little slow for me but picked up very quickly. This was a hard one to review, as I did not want to give too much away or reveal spoilers.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, Sara Koffi and the publisher, Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader's copy of this book.
To read more of my book reviews please visit my website https://theshelflifebooks.com
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