Notes on Surviving the Fire is a darkly funny, thought-provoking book that pulls readers into the deeply complex life of Sarah, a PhD student navigating personal trauma, academic pressures, and an unforgiving justice system.
When Sarah’s best friend Nathan—her only ally in a hostile graduate program—is found dead from a heroin overdose, she refuses to believe it’s an accident. Her conviction sets her on a collision course with the institution that has repeatedly failed her, unearthing a sinister pattern of student deaths and forcing her to reckon with the boundaries of justice and revenge.
Murphy’s writing is razor-sharp, her staccato sentences mirroring Sarah’s emotionally detached yet determined mindset. As the story unfolds, Sarah’s past and present are expertly interwoven: her upbringing in the forests of Maine, where she learned to hunt with precision and purpose, and her academic focus on Buddhism and violence, where she grapples with the moral justifications for harm. These elements lend the book an intellectual richness that deepens the stakes of Sarah’s journey.
The themes of Notes on Surviving the Fire are unflinching. Murphy takes on rape culture, systemic injustice, and the societal tendency to dismiss survivors. Sarah’s struggle to be believed after her assault is harrowing but all too real, as is her frustration with the indifference of the Title IX office and law enforcement. When Nathan, the one person who believed her, dies, her grief and rage ignite a need not just for answers but for justice.
What makes this book so compelling is Sarah herself. While I initially thought I might not connect with her—a PhD student whose lifestyle includes recreational drug use—her raw determination and emotional complexity drew me in completely. Murphy handles Sarah’s compartmentalisation of trauma with masterful subtlety, crafting a protagonist who feels achingly real and deeply human.
Notes on Surviving the Fire is not just a mystery or a story of vengeance—it’s a powerful meditation on survival, justice, and the limits of morality. With its gripping narrative, complex protagonist, and incisive commentary, this book is a must-read. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys dark, thought-provoking fiction that challenges societal norms and leaves you questioning where the line between justice and revenge should be drawn.
Thank you so much to Caitlin and the team at Headline for sending me an advance reader copy of the book!
Comments