Notes on Surviving the Fire

‘A biting, savage, unflinching story . . . Murphy writes with the nimbleness of a hunter: muscularly and with precision, while also propelled by undercurrents of cold, simmering fury and hot, big-hearted empathy.’
AUBE REY LESCURE, Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of RIVER EAST RIVER WEST

Sarah grew up in the forests of Maine, following her father on hunts. They approached each kill with something close to reverence, honouring the sacrifice the animal made and the sustenance it provided through winter.

Now, she’s a final year PhD student in southern California, caught in an entirely different landscape of extreme wealth and raging wildfires. She spends her time worrying about how she’ll be able to get a permanent academic position, and also doing ketamine and watching 80s movies with her best friend, Nathan.

Nathan was the only person to believe Sarah when she was assaulted by a fellow student during her first year. When he’s found dead of an alleged heroin overdose, Sarah is convinced it is a murder but, once again, the police don’t believe her. As she digs into the case, she stumbles upon a disturbing pattern in the deaths of other young men on campus and begins to piece together a possible link between the victims.

Now, Sarah must confront a different type of killing to any she’s ever known – and decide if it can be justified.