Among the Dead

by Kevin Wignall

Emily Barratt's dead... When a group of friends accidentally kill a fellow student they decide not to own up, determined that it won't ruin their lives or their friendship. After all, they weren't at fault - the girl ran out in front of their car. And what good would a confession do? Some things are not so easily forgotten, though. Ten years later they're all haunted in their own way, and strangers to each other. But they're about to become reacquainted. Two of them die within the course of a few weeks. Unanswered questions surround both deaths, raising the disturbing possibility that someone wants to make their common past disappear. Haunting and disturbing, "Among the Dead" has developed a cult following since its first publication, and has often attracted the attention of other writers and artists. Kevin Wignall is the author of five adult novels and, as KJ Wignall, the Mercian Trilogy for young adults.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2012

About the author

Army Child till age nine.

Settled back in a small town in the west of England.

Lancaster University - degree in Politics &
International Relations.

Writer.

Also writes as K.J. Wignall

Email: kevin@kevinwignall.com

Reviews

[Daijw · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERS: I really liked the setup of the story and it made you want to see how it develops. The subsequent focus on Will allowed us into his character more, but you did feel the lack of development of other characters was key to their subsequent fates. I felt the denouement was somewhat unlikely and definitely rushed - the last chapter of Part II didn't have the same slow burn feel of the rest of the novel, and I think this is to its detriment. I liked the inclusion of Part III, a nice way to complete the circle. Overall an enjoyable read, but with reservations.

[Lanelle Wald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, until the end

This story was good but felt unfinished. I mean obviously it could very well end right here but it would make sense to start the next story from Natalie’s point of view or explain why the things happened the way that they did at the end of this story. Hopefully it will be a part 2 to cover the why’s. If not it is still an okay book overall. Worth the read if you like suspense.

[Barry who enjoys well-written thrillers, mysteries , & espionage & loathes romance, horror & supernat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among the Dead is the sixth book I have read that was written by Kevin Wignall. Each of the previous five received a five-star rating but Among the Dead did not hook me initially and, for a time, I deliberated whether to DNF it. The beginning was so ponderous, so slow and so long that it took all of my rather limited patience to stick with it. I fell asleep while reading it and the next night I resolved to give it just one more try.

Well, the beginning ended and the end began, set some ten years later. Now it seemed more like what I had expected out of a Wignall book - not quite as good as the books I had read previously, but significantly better than the beginning.

Five friends attended University together in England, four Brits and one American, four men and one woman. And on one particular night, four passengers and one driver as they left a party for their homes when someone dashed out into the street, into the path of their car, and became a victim. What should they do? The driver had had a couple of drinks but was certainly not drunk. But, you never know how the police would react. One of their number went to check on the victim, a young woman who attended their college but who they didn't know.

He returned with their most feared verdict. She was dead. The driver wanted to summon the police but the others were concerned about what might happen to him. They argued for quite a while about what to do. Ultimately, they drove away.

Ten years later...

Eventually, Wignall's plot captured my interest and I enjoyed the last half to 60% of the book, maybe more. I enjoyed it to the extent that I might have given it four stars if ... well, you know.
In addition to the troubling beginning, Wignall didn't flesh out the characters to the extent that I am accustomed to. The result was, I sometime confused one for another but, of course, that could be because of my rapidly aging mind. Okay, what was I saying?

Having finished the book, I can that it might have made a great short story. Since the book's average rating is 3.96, obviously, some folks loved it. You might too.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a departure from other Kevin Wignall novels that I have read. More of a psychological mellow-drama vs his typical international espionage style thrillers. The storyline centers around a sleep deprivation psychologist struggling to cope with regret 10 years after he & his 4 close college friends were in a hit & run accident that killed a fellow student. Well written, but slow paced. I was hoping for a more impactful ending.

[Foxglove · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped I would. The premise sounds quite interesting, and I think if I’d read this book when I bought it a few years ago, I probably would have liked it a little more. Personally, I found the characters very difficult to connect to, I got quite bored following them. I also felt like the plot was slightly underdeveloped, and didn’t hook me as best as it could have. I wouldn’t say this is a bad book but I didn’t enjoy it enough to rate it above 2 stars.

[MARTIN ASBURY · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have loved reading anything by Kevin Wignall as I think he is one hell of a good writer; but this book was a complete and very surprising disappointment. I felt it was laboured, obvious and I am afraid to admit boring!
I would not recommend it to anyone. I am really amazed that it was published as a novel and not brutally pruned into a not very interesting short story.

[Steven Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts well and takes you inside the mind of people living / coping with guilt. Carried this through the majority of the book. Final two twists were predictable and could see them coming - so slightly disappointed.

[J Balascio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy great googly moogly!
A page-turner from go.
A brilliantly, patiently crafted thriller with surprises abounding.
Strongly urge you to read.
Major upvote!!

[Frederick R Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's next?

Interesting story that requires you to get the next book which I will endeavor to get to finish the saga

[Phillip Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book, subject matter unlike most of Wignall’s others that I have read.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

31/2 stars. Very well written. Development of subject matter excellent

[judy brown lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yee gads

The mother of psychological thrillers
This time I was dying for the book to end
Oops, wrong choice of words

[Joel Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - stunning turnaround at the end

I had no idea even that I was reading the last paragraphs, the last sentences I was so caught up in the forward momentum of the writing.

A group of college friends driving home from a party hit a girl who comes out of nowhere. Who is at fault? They decide together not to go to the police because alcohol is involved and Matt shouldn't have been driving. The story follows the breakup of their tight friendship, sticking closely to Alex, now a doctor whose work centers around sleep disturbance - what affects someone and whether the manifested disturbance can be resolved. He is his own subject, haunted by the young woman they'd killed ten years before.

The writer weaves the main characters and others who come forward into what starts to feel like a murder mystery, though it would be an impossible and improbable mystery to solve. Masterfully done. I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Gina Bonar · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

Pretty good. Kept my interest. Good ending. Well written. Why do I have to review to end my reading experience?

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry but the ending was so anti-climactic - after a terrific story - that I was left with the impression that the author was just tired of the story and couldn't figure out where to go with it. The writing was good, no issues there. When I only had 15 pages left and was wondering how the author is going to wrap this up and start thinking "there must be a second book..." only to find out on the very last page, that it's just done, without resolution or conclusion is very disappointing.

[Richard Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tought provoking read

[Ulli · Rating 2 out of 5]

IT starts out very interesting but then just looses momentum and becomes too predictable and too paranoid.

[Eric Grounds · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very reliable author whose books I will continue to read.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually thought the book was good. However I was very disappointed in the ending!

[Sailco26 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a departure from Wignall's fare that I've read to date, almost even Stephen King-ish at times. Very interesting ending, but when you think about it the ending makes perfect sense.

[Jo Faith Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead

Interesting, another good book by Kevin Wignall. He has such different twists and turns in this sad story. I am looking forward to more of his books

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book up until the abrupt ending. The epilogue was a great twist but the chapter before felt rushed and a little confusing. But overall it was a great short read!