My opinion : 

Set in Washington, D.C. in 1988, Temperature Rising centers on Anna Freeman, a young Rutgers law student who accidentally walks into a closed-door strategy session of the powerful Institute for Energy Independence (IEI). After discovering a massive campaign to discredit early climate change research, she gets drawn into a dangerous undercover operation to expose the cover-up from the inside. Navigating boardroom politics, covert journalism, and a complicated romantic spark with charming industry insider Coy Young, Anna must stay one step ahead of corporate fixers who will stop at nothing to protect their profits.

What I loved most about this novel was its remarkable authenticity. Written by a retired environmental lawyer, the legal maneuvers, Capitol Hill lobbying dynamics, and boardroom strategy sessions feel incredibly sharp, realistic, and grounded. The tension never lets up, and the characters have genuine depth rather than feeling like simple political caricatures. Watching Anna balance high-stakes corporate espionage with the seductive pull of insider access made for a genuinely thrilling ride.

My only minor critique is that a few undercover espionage tropes feel slightly familiar, and the intense physical action beats in the latter portion of the book occasionally overshadow the quieter psychological suspense. However, these moments move so quickly that they never detracted from my overall enjoyment of the plot.

Overall, Temperature Rising is an electrifying, intelligent page-turner that hits all the right marks for fans of fast-paced legal and political thrillers. Joel Burcat weaves institutional intrigue, romance, and environmental stakes into a story that feels both timely and deeply satisfying. I easily give this five stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys smart, investigative suspense in the vein of John Grisham.

Thank you to the author and PartnersinCrime for providing an advance copy in exchange for my honest review! #Ad