What do you think?
Rate this book
Aftermath
Janet Wright left tiny Graylee, Georgia at five, when her mother fled a destructive marriage. Now forty and reinventing herself after a failed engagement, Janet returns as the sole inheritor of her recently murdered father’s valuable estate. Life should be easy, but she can’t resist pulling at the threads of the apparently open-and-shut case. Before long, she finds herself tangled in Graylee’s web of secrets, lies, and scandals—and in fear for her own life.
- GenresThriller
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2018
288 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
George Weinstein
12 books63 followersGeorge Weinstein is the author of the Southern historical novel Hardscrabble Road, its sequel Return to Hardscrabble Road, the kidnapping thriller Watch What You Say, the amateur-sleuth murder mystery Aftermath, the novel of forgotten US history The Five Destinies of Carlos Moreno, and the contemporary relationship drama The Caretaker, as well as the children's adventure book Jake and the Tiger Flight.
He has always written: by six years old, he had written a collection of superhero plays for his stuffed animals to act out, to entertain his brother and sister. And, his family will attest, he loved telling lies as a youth, even when there was no penalty for telling the truth, just to see what he could get away with and for how long. So, it’s little wonder he now writes fiction.
His work has been published in the Atlanta press and in regional and national anthologies, including A Cup of Comfort for Writers. His first novel, the children’s motivational adventure Jake and the Tiger Flight, was written for the nonprofit Tiger Flight Foundation, which is dedicated to the mission of leading the young to become the “Pilot in Command” of their lives. He wishes that there had been such an organization in Laurel, Maryland, where he misspent his youth.
George is the current Executive Director of the Atlanta Writers Club (AWC) and has twice-served as President. Since 2008, he has directed the twice-yearly Atlanta Writers Conference for the AWC, bringing in acquisition editors and literary agents to help members understand the business of writing and achieve their dreams of publication. The AWC was established in 1914. George was established only a few years later; he has a self-portrait in his attic that looks like hell.
He lives with his wife, her two daughters, and their cats in Marietta, GA.
He has always written: by six years old, he had written a collection of superhero plays for his stuffed animals to act out, to entertain his brother and sister. And, his family will attest, he loved telling lies as a youth, even when there was no penalty for telling the truth, just to see what he could get away with and for how long. So, it’s little wonder he now writes fiction.
His work has been published in the Atlanta press and in regional and national anthologies, including A Cup of Comfort for Writers. His first novel, the children’s motivational adventure Jake and the Tiger Flight, was written for the nonprofit Tiger Flight Foundation, which is dedicated to the mission of leading the young to become the “Pilot in Command” of their lives. He wishes that there had been such an organization in Laurel, Maryland, where he misspent his youth.
George is the current Executive Director of the Atlanta Writers Club (AWC) and has twice-served as President. Since 2008, he has directed the twice-yearly Atlanta Writers Conference for the AWC, bringing in acquisition editors and literary agents to help members understand the business of writing and achieve their dreams of publication. The AWC was established in 1914. George was established only a few years later; he has a self-portrait in his attic that looks like hell.
He lives with his wife, her two daughters, and their cats in Marietta, GA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 8, 2019
A small town. A big secret.
After the death of her father, Janet doesn’t know what she’s walking into. All she knows is the way that the townspeople look at her. As she begins to slowly learn the town’s awful secret she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous web of lies, the same one that led to her father’s death.
This audiobook was enrapturing from the beginning. I loved the way the author created so drastically different personalities for all the characters. The MC was both funny and determined, a real delight in this little mystery/suspense audiobook.
The narration was perfect for the story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
After the death of her father, Janet doesn’t know what she’s walking into. All she knows is the way that the townspeople look at her. As she begins to slowly learn the town’s awful secret she finds herself in the middle of a dangerous web of lies, the same one that led to her father’s death.
This audiobook was enrapturing from the beginning. I loved the way the author created so drastically different personalities for all the characters. The MC was both funny and determined, a real delight in this little mystery/suspense audiobook.
The narration was perfect for the story.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
June 30, 2020
I met George Weinstein at a Hometown Novel Night event in Hogansville, GA in June 2020. I was impressed by his experience, reputation among Georgia Writers, and the eclectic assortment of books he had written.
I say all this to explain my hesitancy in writing this review. Aftermath is the first of his books that I have read. It is a very fast-moving tale that introduces the reader to the setting, atmosphere and characters quickly, clearly and efficiently. But . . .
I was almost immediately struck by the personality Weinstein assigns to the heroine of the piece. By page four, she has already antagonized one of the pillars of the town she hopes to settle in. Now I am a Native New Yorker and I am well aware of our reputation for brusqueness. This quality may be in stark contrast for the subtler approach to human interaction more common in the Rural South, where the novel takes place. But I’m not aware of a NY reputation for being fools. Her demonstration of either naïveté or idiocy this quickly is just silly. She continues this behavior throughout.
(Also, I have had a certain amount of experience with New York women. Maybe it’s just me but I didn’t find most of them to be quite as horny as Janet.)
On reflection, I finally realized that this was the reason for my mixed reaction to Aftermath. I enjoyed the book and admired the twists and turns throughout Janet’s adventure in small town Georgia and gave it four stars. But the drawing of all the characters seemed rushed and slightly two-dimensional. This seemed more appropriate for the opening page of a screenplay, where the screenwriter gives a two sentence physical description of the players and their relation to others. The actors and director fill in the rest.
Perhaps, Janet’s approach was necessary to hasten the book to its conclusion. I’ll leave that for others to decide. But for me it seemed a little forced. In a thriller of this type I would have expected more development of each character’s motivation and raison d’etre. I found that missing in Aftermath and that detracted from my enjoyment a little. I still look forward to reading Hardscrabble Road and his other work.
Tom Walsh
I say all this to explain my hesitancy in writing this review. Aftermath is the first of his books that I have read. It is a very fast-moving tale that introduces the reader to the setting, atmosphere and characters quickly, clearly and efficiently. But . . .
I was almost immediately struck by the personality Weinstein assigns to the heroine of the piece. By page four, she has already antagonized one of the pillars of the town she hopes to settle in. Now I am a Native New Yorker and I am well aware of our reputation for brusqueness. This quality may be in stark contrast for the subtler approach to human interaction more common in the Rural South, where the novel takes place. But I’m not aware of a NY reputation for being fools. Her demonstration of either naïveté or idiocy this quickly is just silly. She continues this behavior throughout.
(Also, I have had a certain amount of experience with New York women. Maybe it’s just me but I didn’t find most of them to be quite as horny as Janet.)
On reflection, I finally realized that this was the reason for my mixed reaction to Aftermath. I enjoyed the book and admired the twists and turns throughout Janet’s adventure in small town Georgia and gave it four stars. But the drawing of all the characters seemed rushed and slightly two-dimensional. This seemed more appropriate for the opening page of a screenplay, where the screenwriter gives a two sentence physical description of the players and their relation to others. The actors and director fill in the rest.
Perhaps, Janet’s approach was necessary to hasten the book to its conclusion. I’ll leave that for others to decide. But for me it seemed a little forced. In a thriller of this type I would have expected more development of each character’s motivation and raison d’etre. I found that missing in Aftermath and that detracted from my enjoyment a little. I still look forward to reading Hardscrabble Road and his other work.
Tom Walsh
October 19, 2019
3.5, round up
I quite enjoyed a lot of this, but also thought it fell into some disappointingly cliched ruts too. There was the femme fatale who was literally described as a Jessica Rabbit clone (even down to the red dress). There was the Colonel Sanders-esque southern lawyer and all of the down-trodden and oppressed minorities that the main character desperately wanted to rescue. (White savior much?) The New Yorker with her brusque attitude and high priced branded clothing. The woman who was apparently obsessed with her relationship status and assessed every man as a potential partner. Etc.
I also didn't understand some of the events. Why exactly did Janet try and help Tara? That seemed beyond stupid. Why exactly did the inn keeper get so mad at Janet? The reaction seemed out of proportion and misdirected. Mostly, however, I thought the particular version of evil engaged in by the father was cliched and over-used. I had hoped for something a little more original.
Having said all of that. I did find it engaging and I liked the characters a lot, especially Tim. And the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing it all to life.
I quite enjoyed a lot of this, but also thought it fell into some disappointingly cliched ruts too. There was the femme fatale who was literally described as a Jessica Rabbit clone (even down to the red dress). There was the Colonel Sanders-esque southern lawyer and all of the down-trodden and oppressed minorities that the main character desperately wanted to rescue. (White savior much?) The New Yorker with her brusque attitude and high priced branded clothing. The woman who was apparently obsessed with her relationship status and assessed every man as a potential partner. Etc.
I also didn't understand some of the events. Why exactly did Janet try and help Tara? That seemed beyond stupid. Why exactly did the inn keeper get so mad at Janet? The reaction seemed out of proportion and misdirected. Mostly, however, I thought the particular version of evil engaged in by the father was cliched and over-used. I had hoped for something a little more original.
Having said all of that. I did find it engaging and I liked the characters a lot, especially Tim. And the narrator did a wonderful job of bringing it all to life.
April 6, 2017
Absolutely a must-read! As soon as I opened this book, I was transported right back to the small town I grew up in and this book continued to deliver. Fast-paced and funny at times, I couldn't put it down and read it the entire day. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something happened to change my theory. Highly recommend!!
February 5, 2017
Review to follow
May 27, 2021
Awesome
I was having trouble getting into any book I picked up and tried to read—I just couldn’t connect with anything. Then almost by
mistake I heard the audio version of this book’s first pages. I immediately liked the main character and the flow of the unfolding story. The plot became interesting so I switched to reading so I could take it in faster. I finished the book in less than a day.
I’m amazed to find the story was created by a male author! He has female insecurities down pat. He writes in first person as the main character, Janet, with a perfect balance of plot action and growth of the main character, with humor thrown in.
I switched from audio to reading and back, and at first I liked the narration. Towards the end when I tuned in to audio, the narrator did what I’ve came to believe most narrators do: read in a hushed, breathless, almost desperate tone. I find it irritating and distracting, but not so much that I didn’t listen to the story while driving.
I look forward to reading more by this author. He wrote a page at the end of this book about a prologue and an epilogue to the story. I hope I can find both of them. I’m hooked into this character and her little Georgia town.
I was having trouble getting into any book I picked up and tried to read—I just couldn’t connect with anything. Then almost by
mistake I heard the audio version of this book’s first pages. I immediately liked the main character and the flow of the unfolding story. The plot became interesting so I switched to reading so I could take it in faster. I finished the book in less than a day.
I’m amazed to find the story was created by a male author! He has female insecurities down pat. He writes in first person as the main character, Janet, with a perfect balance of plot action and growth of the main character, with humor thrown in.
I switched from audio to reading and back, and at first I liked the narration. Towards the end when I tuned in to audio, the narrator did what I’ve came to believe most narrators do: read in a hushed, breathless, almost desperate tone. I find it irritating and distracting, but not so much that I didn’t listen to the story while driving.
I look forward to reading more by this author. He wrote a page at the end of this book about a prologue and an epilogue to the story. I hope I can find both of them. I’m hooked into this character and her little Georgia town.
July 17, 2020
I really enjoyed reading "Aftermath" and it kept my interest throughout. The characters were each well developed, yet the author was able to still retain a bit of ongoing mystery as to their ultimate part in the main story until skillfully unwinding the interwoven threads at the end. Meanwhile, the story took some wild turns as the main character, Janet Wright, kept digging up dark secrets. I look forward to taking the author up on his offer at the end of the book to provide reviewing readers with Janet's Prologue and Epilogue. This book left me wanting to know more about how Mr. Weinstein envisioned Janet's early life and how it would shape circumstances that resulted in her being the only surviving heir of her estranged father. I also really want to know how Janet's life story progressed following the strange aftermath of that heirship (pun intended!) Aftermath is a great Southern Murder Mystery that I would definitely recommend.
August 14, 2017
What a story!! Small town Georgia at its best or worse – you decide. That may depend on just how sarcastic you can be! Janet Wright is a person whose mouth can get her in a lot of trouble, but I love her! I would want answers just like she did. Whoa, what a surprise some of those answers were! It makes a great book, let me tell you. The characters are all believable, even if you don’t want them to be sometimes. If you’ve ever lived in a small town, you’ll be able to see some similarities in some of the “going ons”, thankfully not all of them. We chose this book for our book club. I cannot wait for the discussion I know we’ll have! When you start the book, have some time, cause you’re going to want to know what is happening next!
January 6, 2020
I picked up this book from the author, locally and selected it based off the genre alone. I love when a story paints such a visual picture in my mind of every detail. I could see each scene in color of the small Georgia town where Janet landed. From the homes and roads, to the police station and Mexican restaurant. Everything felt so real.
At times I wanted to jump through the pages and scream- don’t trust them! Or Janet, stop being so brazen! This was a page turner for me I can’t wait to read the prologue and epilogue!
At times I wanted to jump through the pages and scream- don’t trust them! Or Janet, stop being so brazen! This was a page turner for me I can’t wait to read the prologue and epilogue!
March 12, 2019
Read in 2 day's
Good read. Kept me interested as Janet went from one plot to the next......had to read the next chapter.....like now! Enjoyed all of the characters and could see their faces in my mind with the authors description which definitely kept me interested as I wanted to see what happened to each of them. Especially loved Tara and Tim. Thought Cindy was a hoot the way she kicked out Janet! Really enjoyed this book and hope to read more stories from this plot!
Good read. Kept me interested as Janet went from one plot to the next......had to read the next chapter.....like now! Enjoyed all of the characters and could see their faces in my mind with the authors description which definitely kept me interested as I wanted to see what happened to each of them. Especially loved Tara and Tim. Thought Cindy was a hoot the way she kicked out Janet! Really enjoyed this book and hope to read more stories from this plot!
July 24, 2019
Wow!What a twisty book! Janet comes back to the small town she left at a young age.Her mother had moved them away from her dad and she never saw him alive again.The man that killed her father was also killed.Everyone in town hates her and she has no idea why. What she finds is beyond imagination. Amy Deuchler was a fine narrator. I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
March 31, 2020
It was good to read a book with a different premise. Janet Wright inherits her father's home and businesses in a small town. He's been murdered. I don't want to reveal the plot but her husband was a despicable man. Janet gets interested in what happened and gets in serious danger herself as she learns more and more. Janet had not known her father since she was small. As you reach the middle of the book it's impossible to put down.
September 13, 2020
I don't know what to think of this book. Over halfway through and nothing makes sense, the characters are irritating and I haven't figured out whether this is supposed to be a romance or crime thriller.
Janet comes into town to take over her late father's estate after his murder. She immediately gets the hots for the local cop, so much that she is jealous of the fact that he's had or has a romantic relationship with a local author, who she also seems to be interested in. Meanwhile, her rental car gets vandalized by someone unknown.
I was unable to finish this because I found the main character and another character too irritating to listen to.
Janet comes into town to take over her late father's estate after his murder. She immediately gets the hots for the local cop, so much that she is jealous of the fact that he's had or has a romantic relationship with a local author, who she also seems to be interested in. Meanwhile, her rental car gets vandalized by someone unknown.
I was unable to finish this because I found the main character and another character too irritating to listen to.
Read
April 28, 2022I am a big fan of Mr. Weinstein’s books and this was no disappointment. It was full of twists and turns, villains galore and I loved the secret, writing room!
Having met and talked with him at length at local book signings and enjoyed his presence at a Bookmiser book club several years ago I especially value the time and research he pours into each story.
I look forward to the next Weinstein winner!
Carol
Having met and talked with him at length at local book signings and enjoyed his presence at a Bookmiser book club several years ago I especially value the time and research he pours into each story.
I look forward to the next Weinstein winner!
Carol
November 26, 2018
Disappointing
I was excited to read Aftermath having just finished and enjoyed Hardscrabble Road. This book was a very disappointing read, unfortunately. From the unlikable protagonist to the unrealistic conversations with the townspeople, it never really caught my interest. Even the revelation of the big mystery felt forced and unrealistic. I wouldn't recommend.
I was excited to read Aftermath having just finished and enjoyed Hardscrabble Road. This book was a very disappointing read, unfortunately. From the unlikable protagonist to the unrealistic conversations with the townspeople, it never really caught my interest. Even the revelation of the big mystery felt forced and unrealistic. I wouldn't recommend.
May 3, 2019
I became totally immersed in the book. The author did such a good job of describing I felt like I knew some of the characters. Janet, I wanted to slap sometimes based on a few of her snide comments, and how stupidly she behaved with some characters. I have never lived in a small town, this book let you know what it could be like.
May 16, 2019
This is a well-written mystery thriller with fully developed, compelling characters. And Amy Deuchler gives accurate and distinctive voices to these characters. The story is relatively realistic and suspenseful. It's an exciting listen.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Read
October 17, 2019Aftermath, my first read from author George Weinstein. Well-written, slow-developing mystery/suspense with stereotypical main characters. Narrator Amy Deuchler’s narration added to the book’s enjoyment. I would read another book by this author. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
February 27, 2021
An Entertaining read
The book is an easy and pleasant read. Some parts are a little unrealistic,but that's OK since it's entertaining. Never really bonded with the main character though. Not as good as some of the author's other works, but still enjoyable. Good book for reading on a beach trip.
The book is an easy and pleasant read. Some parts are a little unrealistic,but that's OK since it's entertaining. Never really bonded with the main character though. Not as good as some of the author's other works, but still enjoyable. Good book for reading on a beach trip.
February 12, 2023
I thought it was a great read. Very engaging, kept you guessing and had a little plot twist as well. I love it when a book describes a character or scene just enough to allow you to envision it with room for your own take on a scene. Overall I recommend this book. On to the next George Weinstein book, The Five Destinies of Carlos Montero.
December 22, 2023
A twisting, weaving plot kept me guessing until the very end! Couldn't put it down. As Janet navigates the wreckage left behind after her father's murder in small town Graylee, Georgia, her big city personality ruffles the feathers of almost everyone in town. Her only allies, Tim and Police Chief Cade Wilson, do their best to shield her from her father's true legacy and Graylee's dark secret.
February 6, 2019
Really enjoyed
I really enjoyed this book by George Weinstein, after reading Hardscrabble Road I was intrigued to read more by this author. If you like a good suspense novel this one is for you! Lots of twists and turns that I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait for more on Janet!
I really enjoyed this book by George Weinstein, after reading Hardscrabble Road I was intrigued to read more by this author. If you like a good suspense novel this one is for you! Lots of twists and turns that I thoroughly enjoyed. Can't wait for more on Janet!
May 13, 2019
The small town setting and the way the mystery unfolds was done very well
Lots of twists kept me guessing till the final reveal
Amy’s narration Fit each character nicely
Recommended To any mystery Fan
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
Lots of twists kept me guessing till the final reveal
Amy’s narration Fit each character nicely
Recommended To any mystery Fan
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
February 16, 2020
This book was fantastic! This was the first book by George Weinstein that I read. I got super pulled into the story and could not stop reading - I read the whole book in about 4-6 hours which is probably a record for me. Loved everything about this book!!
March 4, 2020
I found both the plot and the characters to be unbelievable and I really did not like the main character. It was intriguing enough that I finished it but do not care enough about the characters to read any future stories.
November 12, 2021
Don't bother
The lead character, Janet, is so annoying. It was hard get through this book.. It's easy to tell a man wrote this because every man she came in contact with was considered as a "love interest" I would not recommend.
The lead character, Janet, is so annoying. It was hard get through this book.. It's easy to tell a man wrote this because every man she came in contact with was considered as a "love interest" I would not recommend.
August 21, 2023
Very complex novel!
I really like Mr. Weinstein's books. He brings each character to life in a very unique way, sometimes you love them and then they break your heart. Hard to put down!
I really like Mr. Weinstein's books. He brings each character to life in a very unique way, sometimes you love them and then they break your heart. Hard to put down!
January 6, 2024
Aftermath
I loved the book but could tell it was written by a guy! It had plenty of suspense. I would still recommend reading this book. The truth about a father she didn't even know since she was 5 when her mother took her and her brother to live far from him.
I loved the book but could tell it was written by a guy! It had plenty of suspense. I would still recommend reading this book. The truth about a father she didn't even know since she was 5 when her mother took her and her brother to live far from him.
March 5, 2024
Love a good mystery!
I love mysteries! This, I truly enjoyed. I chose this because I had read Hardscrabble Road and the Return and was not disappointed. I wanted to read from an author I knew could write well.
I love mysteries! This, I truly enjoyed. I chose this because I had read Hardscrabble Road and the Return and was not disappointed. I wanted to read from an author I knew could write well.
May 12, 2017
It was a page turner I'll say that for it. But to be a good book for me I have to learn something I didn't or gain understanding that I didn't have.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews