After the Fire

Someone is dead because of Jamie. Yesterday they were alive. When we woke up yesterday and argued about how many pairs of shoes I could take, that person was alive, making coffee maybe. Scratching her arm or yawning in the mirror...

Newly qualified as a firearms officer, Jamie Worth is called to a domestic disturbance. Events get out of hand, and he shoots and kills a teenaged girl who appears to have been unarmed. Already wracked with guilt, he is horrified when, with the media baying for blood, he is accused of murder. How can a cop survive in prison, when he suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the law? And how can his wife Cath and ex-lover Anna come to terms with what has happened?

From the author of THE TWILIGHT TIME, AFTER THE FIRE is a chilling glimpse of the flipside of life as a law enforcer, written in 'stiletto-sharp prose' (The Herald) by one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction.

“'This book is the best that I have read all this year, with a truly gripping plot and a really atmospheric characterisation . . . only the second [novel] by this astonishingly good new author . . . The quality of the writing was exceptional.'”

The plot is wonderful, the characterisation of a family in crisis is both sharp and sympathetic, and the author does not shy away from examining the less palatable aspects of relations between the police and the public. - Guardian

It's a cracking plot, and Campbell's writing is informed not only by her own experience, but by the considerable amount of research she has put into the legal and psychological risks run by firearms officers - Daily Mail

The characters from Campbell's blistering debut THE TWILIGHT TIME return and they bring with them the sharp, perceptive prose and meticulous attention to detail that are fast establishing the author as a literary force to be reckoned with. - Daily Record

Looks set to cement her reputation . . . she handles this topical and gripping tale with expert skill. - News of the World

Raw, real and so evocative you can almost hear the screams. Bang those drums and get the word out... if this debut is a true reflection of her talent then she's going to be huge. - Daily Record

This book is the best that I have read all this year, with a truly gripping plot and a really atmospheric characterisation . . . only the second [novel] by this astonishingly good new author . . . The quality of the writing was exceptional. - on AFTER THE FIRE

Karen expertly weaves her prose so well, that you feel yourself living, breathing and even sympathising with the characters . . . thought-provoking and engaging, ideal book club fodder -

Karen Campbell is a former police officer who lives in Glasgow with her family. She began writing in earnest on the renowned Glasgow University Creative Writing course. AFTER THE FIRE is her second novel.

Someone is dead because of Jamie. Yesterday they were alive. When we woke up yesterday and argued about how many pairs of shoes I could take, that person was alive, making coffee maybe. Scratching her arm or yawning in the mirror... Newly qualified as a firearms officer, Jamie Worth is called to a domestic disturbance. Events get out of hand, and he shoots and kills a teenaged girl who appears to have been unarmed. Already wracked with guilt, he is horrified when, with the media baying for blood, he is accused of murder. How can a cop survive in prison, when he suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the law? And how can his wife Cath and ex-lover Anna come to terms with what has happened? From the author of THE TWILIGHT TIME, AFTER THE FIRE is a chilling glimpse of the flipside of life as a law enforcer, written in 'stiletto-sharp prose' (The Herald) by one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction.

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