Reader Reviews

this was a strong opening chapter to the Alpha Flame series, it had that psychological thriller elements that I was hoping for and enjoyed from this type of book. It was a unique concept and worked with the world that was going on. The characters had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. Catherine Lynwood wrote this well and left me wanting more.

This is a fabulous book, I’m an avid reader and fell in love with this book. It’s the first book by this new author but you can tell that Catherine Lynwood has lived the experiences that she has written about. This author will be a household name very soon. This is the first book in a 3 part series so there’s a lot more to look forward to! Please read this and share it with your friends!

This is the best book I have read in years! It’s a very strong story about several women who face challenges and struggles. Their stories are told from many different angles and the sisterhood that the two main characters have created is the basis of the relationship between them that surprised both of them due to their different personalities. Taking place in the early 1980’s when mean things were happening and brutality was common the main characters learned to fight for freedom. I’m an avid reader and a new fan of Catherine Lynwood, this is the first book in a series of three and I’m ready for Volume #2 ASAP! Well done Catherine!

I don’t usually write reviews, but this book really got to me. What stood out most was the bond between Maggie and Beth. By the later chapters their connection felt so strong and real that I couldn’t put the book down.

I felt especially connected to Beth. Her life at the start of the book is so sad and painful, it was hard to read at times. But when she meets Maggie, things slowly begin to change, and I loved seeing how their friendship gave her strength.

I also really liked Rob. He can be a bit clumsy with Maggie, but in a sweet way that made me warm to him straight away. Rick was the total opposite, a proper villain, and I loved how much he made me want to see him get what he deserved.

The part that touched me the most was a chapter that mixed pain with real tenderness. It completely pulled me in and actually made me cry. It reminded me that even in the hardest moments there can be comfort, and that scene will stay with me for a long time.

Overall, it’s raw, emotional and such a powerful story. I’m really glad I read it.

I went into The Alpha Flame: Discovery not really knowing what to expect, and what I found was a raw, powerful story that gripped me from the first page. Catherine Lynwood has created something that feels both intimate and epic at the same time, following Maggie and Beth through a Birmingham of 1983 that is alive with grit, danger, and quiet moments of tenderness.

The thing that struck me most was the characters. Maggie is incredible, fiery, protective, and unafraid to stand her ground, while Beth broke my heart more than once, such a sad story. Together, their bond becomes the heart of the book, and I found myself rooting for them in every chapter. Their journey isn’t easy, and at times it’s deeply uncomfortable and made me flinch, but that’s what makes it so real. I couldn’t put it down.

I love the way the book is written. Each chapter clearly tells you who’s narrating it. Some scenes are quite dark, but necessarily so, however there is always another that balances this out, and is full of love and tenderness. It’s a difficult balance and Catherine has managed this perfectly. There’s a rhythm to the chapters that kept me turning pages, one minute I was tense and on edge, the next I was smiling at a flash of humour or tenderness.

If you like your books gritty and character driven, with heart and intensity, The Alpha Flame: Discovery is one I would wholeheartedly recommend.

A beautifully crafted, haunting tale of drama and secrets.

As a reader, you never know what to expect when starting a book. I was thrown into chaos and the raw emotion of grief during the first few pages.

Alpha Discovery had me hooked from page one, as I felt like I was intimately viewing a story of grief, sorrow, and hidden secrets as the main characters, Beth and Maggie’s relationship, is explored throughout the novel. It is a well-written story that provides the reader with an intimate view into the author’s descriptive perspectives on the characters' emotional state of mind.

Loved it , can't wait for the next one

“The Alpha Flame: Discovery” was a wonderful read. I really loved the story.

The characters, Maggie and Beth, are outstanding in their own ways. Their connection and the strength they show in looking out for each other are portrayed brilliantly. I like how each chapter provides clues about who the narrator is; it made following the story easier. That said, there were times I had to go back to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself who was speaking to whom.

Even the side characters are well-written and given substance. The chemistry between the characters is also amazing. While you can sense where the story is headed, there are still quiet surprises sprinkled throughout. There were a few instances where the details felt very explicit and descriptive, which surprised me a little, but I knew what I was reading, so it wasn’t an issue.

Overall, I’d give this story a 4.5/5. I’m looking forward to reading more chapters ahead!

Some stories are soft. But this one right here is fire.

The Alpha Discovery doesn’t ease the reader in like some psychological thrillers will do. It throws you straight into the aftermath of loss, and from there, peels back the layers of trauma, memory, and identity with unflinching honesty.

At the center of it all are two women: Beth, a girl forced into survival, and Maggie, a force of nature with a buried past she’s trying to outrun.

The writing is tight, emotionally raw, and sometimes intentionally chaotic — but so beautifully written. It just mirrors the characters’ experiences. They’re flawed, impulsive, and at times hard to understand — and that, I believe, is part of the point.

It’s not a story of comfort, but of chaos, longing, and a search for connection…

And Maggie. She is a whirlwind of contradictions: fierce, fragile, and trying to understand who she really is.

I love that the author was so descriptive, even though at times it was a bit much. But those who enjoy internal monologues and complex emotional layering (meee) will find a lot to sink into here. The narrative unravels like a therapy session you didn’t realise you needed. ??

This is a story about what happens after the damage, and how women navigate the aftermath. It explores the kind of trauma that isn’t easily explained, and a survival of that kind doesn’t look pretty.

Fans of dark literary fiction and psychological thrillers that centre complex women will find something powerful here. You should read it.