Cara Hunter, one of Britain’s queens of crime, brings us her latest effort, NO WAY OUT. Set during Christmas time in Oxford, England, the book revolves around a horrific tragedy: a house fire.

Prior to diving into this incident, the novel opens with a report from a firefighter who was called to the scene. Hunter gives us an explicit walkthrough of what happened and the extreme damage done to the house, where it appears no one survived. The residents are identified as Michael and Samantha Esmond, along with their two children: three-year-old Zachary and 10-year-old Matty.

"What truly sets Hunter's novels apart is the inclusion of various reports, emails and media coverage that provide full insight into what drives and impacts a criminal investigation."

The first victim is Zachary, who is found unresponsive in the rubble. The firefighters then locate Matty, who is still alive but in critical condition. However, the most frightening thing is what is not discovered: the bodies of the parents. This case falls in the lap of DI Adam Fawley and his team. Fawley hates Christmas crimes and knows instantly that this one will not be easy as they are now on the hunt for the two conspicuously missing adults.

It turns out that Michael, a college professor, was scheduled to give a lecture out of town at the time of the fire. Surprisingly, Fawley and his squad are unable to confirm his presence there. They do find evidence that his phone has been in use since the fire, but they can’t get an initial trace on it. Conversations with neighbors, family members and friends also go nowhere, and no one is able to speculate as to where Michael and Samantha could be.

Further digging at the site turns up what appears to be Samantha’s body. Once this is confirmed, it is critical that Michael is found. There was an alleged incident at the college involving Michael and a female colleague. Flashback scenes leading up to the day of the fire show the complex family dynamic that took place between the Esmonds. This included Michael's brother, Phillip, as well as a young gardener the family hired. Both individuals play a serious role in what might have happened to the Esmonds.

Cara Hunter expertly reveals the secrets that are uncovered a little at a time. We learn a lot about Michael, as well as a curious video game that Matty was obsessed with that involved setting fires. What truly sets Hunter's novels apart is the inclusion of various reports, emails and media coverage that provide full insight into what drives and impacts a criminal investigation.