What Happened in August

by Michael Whiting

Book Description

One year after the disappearance and brutal murder of his father, Reuben Drake discovers an old cassette tape in his father’s belongings.

The voice on the tape is his father speaking directly to Reuben and his sister.

A sister he has no memory of.

A sister who, as far as he knows, doesn’t exist.

As Reuben plunges into the dark secrets of his father's hidden past, he unravels a nightmare that stretches back over a century. What he uncovers will shatter his understanding of family and drag him into a terrifying legacy that refuses to stay buried.

About the Author


Michael Whiting is an emerging writer from South Wales, now residing in the South West of England. With a BA in English and Journalism, Michael channels his vivid imagination into crafting dark and suspenseful thrillers. When he’s not weaving his twisted daydreams into fiction, he can be found indulging in his love for professional wrestling and hip-hop. This is his debut novel.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2024

Reviews

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thriller that will have you hooked from the first chapter, really the prologue.

The author’s vivid descriptions of situations and scenery creates an immersive experience, while their mastery of blending fantasy and suspense keeps the story interesting yet thrilling.

The protagonist finds himself in an emotional situation with lots of unanswered questions. The narrative is fast-paced, with cliffhangers and twists that keep you guessing until the epilogue.

There are mentions of murder, kidnapping scenarios, and shifting timelines — trigger warning if you are sensitive to those

[Abhay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot of What Happened In August by Michael Whiting is still making people already eager for what is next, quite understandable owing to an event titled ‘revelation’ at the core of every thriller – Psychos Throughout my life for as long as I remember, I became acquainted with, the name of the work says it all and has published a significant amount in this genre, if it would be, this definition of mine for a writer. As the only factor which separates these self-proclaimed writers and acclaimed authors is the craft, slightly adding in the roller-coaster part into the writing was the intention as the reader only has to pay attention. The bonds you have with your family can run so deep it can deviate you, Reuben Drake, among many I guess for now struggling with that very concept, was able to locate one of his father’s belongings, strangely a cassette tape Would you mind gifting it to me in exchange for a promise to return it in time as an interesting perspective came to mind? Why doesn’t Reuben have any recognition of his father? One possibility I have is that they shared a bond that didn’t require speech, oh wait, can’t no longer hear him speak or see him alive.

The painful yet blissful attempt of disrecovery begins, pacing with Reuben the disarray we have in our heads slowly begins to be glossed over by a resemblation of how dark of a lifetime he had, clouds withering alongside the lines while every step forward just sheds light into a bond and ring that got trapped in between lies and distance… all of that thanks to the unveiling of the voice. The submission stated above leads to multitude of possibilities including whatever feels more refreshing as one finally is aware of the extent the suffering and loss penetrated through him, but every now and then there is a sensation of drowning in darkness and depth which is similar to passing through a long tunnel and feeling the relief of seeing the light again. All and all the story flips voices through visions like gripping and visceral that deduce your remaining sense of what’s reality into a fragmented image of manipulation with fines of family secrets or memories of love infused with decor of mystery.

How the depth of emotions affected all the characters is what makes What Happened In August even more remarkable. Although there are plenty of supernatural features and tension-filled episodes, it is primarily a story about the family, actually, it is a story about a family created by memories and loss. This all becomes possible due to the disclosive nature of the character of Reuben, the son, who tries to locate his long lost sister and understand the implications behind his father’s message. This gradual unveiling of one character’s story throughout the narrative is engaging.

Happy reading ❤️✨

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happened In August by Michael Whiting, there is way too much in this book to give a really good summary so I’ll just say a boy name Ruben finds a cassette tape in his murdered dad‘s belongings with his dad referring to a sister he has no memory of this sets him on a quest to find out about his sister and who killed his dad. this quest will inadvertently lead him to many unsettling answers but throughout the book there is no way you’re going to be able to guess the ending. There’s so much I want to say but cannot because I don’t want to give any thing away just know when he sets out to find justice for his family he finds another one he wants nothing to do with. Not everyone is who they pretend to be. There’s also other POV‘s in the book, they have a boy name Martin, a grunge singer and one of the wealthiest men in Britain some are good some are bad but all are destined to be together in the end. What a great great read! I read a review where they compared this book to Stephen King and in a way I can see that but there is definitely a writing style I’ve seen nowhere else but would definitely love to see it again. I’ve heard of pulse pounding books but now I can say I have finally read one this book is so good and a definite five star read what more can I say I just loved it!#Book sprout, #Michael Whiting, #what happened in August,

[Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard one to rate. The plot was outstanding and refreshingly unique. The writing was eloquent and a little haunting which added to the mystique. On the other hand, I feel like maybe it could do with another edit, there were several mistakes (at least on the kindle version) and they distracted me and took me out of the experience. Ultimately, the story and story telling were so well done that I can move past that and recognize this piece for what it is; a dark, mysterious, and engrossing tale.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Happened in August is an electrifying thriller that grips you from the very first page. Mike Whiting masterfully blends suspense, dark secrets, and complex family dynamics, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Reuben unravels the shocking mysteries surrounding his father’s death.

The characters are richly developed flawed, compelling, and deeply human and the plot twists are perfectly timed, delivering heartbreak, tension, and unexpected revelations with every chapter. The interwoven storylines of Reuben and Lana create a powerful narrative of grief, love, revenge, and resilience. Whiting even adds subtle paranormal elements that heighten the intrigue without overpowering the suspense.

This book is perfect for fans of gripping thrillers, dark mysteries, and suspenseful dramas reminiscent of Agatha Christie and modern thriller writers like Freida McFadden. Prepare to be enthralled from start to finish you won’t be able to put it down.

Trigger warnings: death, alcoholism, kidnappings, mentions of suicide and abuse.

[Matthew Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who seldom reads fiction, and can find narratives in storytelling sometimes laborious, I was very impressed with how engaging the story and characters were, with none of the descriptive language seeming to be excessive and helped to provide vivid images for the reader. I’d highly recommend this to anyone, whether they are into suspense or not, and wish nothing but the best for Michael in his writing career as I eagerly anticipate his next releases.

[Mandy T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the premise sounded like a set up for a really interesting thriller. Unfortunately, there was a little more suspension of disbelief than I had anticipated (which wasn’t my speed) and I had a hard time keeping track of a few characters (which is why I rated it 3 stars instead of 4). But overall this was a really solid first book, well written, and it held my interest throughout.

This was a goodreads giveaway.

[Nupur · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the blurb, I knew I was gonna love this mystery book. So much goes on in the book, the brutal murder, the unknown sister, and a search for hidden truths. I loved how it was beautifully written. The characters were wonderful and I liked how they were put. I was hooked on the book from the beginning. I loved the turns and twists and the way it ended. I was left wanting more.

[Bre3924 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book started out exciting and suspenseful. As it developed it had many twists and turns that was hard for me to keep up with. It was an overall good book, however, was very different from what I expected after reading the first few chapters. Definitely a thriller that keeps you on your toes. Recommend trying it out.

[Samantha Templin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought What Happened in August had a great setup for an interesting story, but fell short in some areas for me to really get fully captivated in the plot. This is quick thriller if you’re looking for something different or a fast paced.

Thank you to Goodreads giveaways for this ARC!

[Terri Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - great page turner and very easy read. Interesting exploration of family dynamics and the world built is really unique.

[Tanya Hansen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not the type of book that interests me.