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After the Storm
SOME SECRETS DESTROY YOU
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But ten days is a long time to spend with strangers. Especially when one of them carries a secret.
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But ten days is a long time to spend with strangers. Especially when one of them carries a secret.
312 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
66 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lythell
6 books58 followers I grew up in a small seaside town in Norfolk; went to university in London and lived there for over three decades. I now live in Brighton. I write psychological suspense because I'm fascinated by what drives people to do extreme things.
My new novel THE EXES has just been published by Bloodhound Books. Holly Hilborne unexpectedly inherits a large and derelict house in Brighton. Daunted by the challenge she invites her three ex-lovers to join her and help her renovate the house. Big trouble!
THE LIE OF YOU and AFTER THE STORM explore obsessive thoughts and were USA Today bestsellers.
My new novel THE EXES has just been published by Bloodhound Books. Holly Hilborne unexpectedly inherits a large and derelict house in Brighton. Daunted by the challenge she invites her three ex-lovers to join her and help her renovate the house. Big trouble!
THE LIE OF YOU and AFTER THE STORM explore obsessive thoughts and were USA Today bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
May 19, 2017
After reading more from Jane Lythell I was so excited to get a copy of her new book After the Storm and get stuck in for a good read. As a reviewer I am finding this review hard to write. For me, it's like a different author wrote this book, it was so far from the style of writing I had loved. I had no idea what was going on.
Some secrets destroy you.
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt? Anna can usually get people to talk... but this time, does she want to?
This book almost entirely is set on this old boat and apart from mild tension it was so darn boring to read. Conversations were weak, thoughts were tepid and I felt like it just had no real plot or any direction. The characters were so insipid. There must be more coming? Please? No?
I stayed positive, finally they dock the boat and hit land. It did pick up pace a bit here but apart from a couple of slightly exciting moments again, what on earth was the point? It just lacked thrills, excitement, depth, everything - and I had loved Jane's last book, it was a great mind-twisting thriller. This was not.
I just could not get it, I read it but did not enjoy reading it at all, I lived in hope of things moving up a gear. It didn't. I so wanted to love it too. My rating. For Goodreads I am giving this a 3 star review, but really feel it's more 2.5 but I don't have that option, I will adjust my Amazon reviews accordingly.
One of my first disappointments of 2015. I won't lose hope in Jane as an author and will look for her next novel in the hope it's back up at the level of writing of her previous novel, The Lie of you I will have what's mine.
I received a copy of the book kindly from Jane Lythell at my request and it came via her publisher. I can't tell you how hard it is for this to not be a more positive review.
Some secrets destroy you.
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt? Anna can usually get people to talk... but this time, does she want to?
This book almost entirely is set on this old boat and apart from mild tension it was so darn boring to read. Conversations were weak, thoughts were tepid and I felt like it just had no real plot or any direction. The characters were so insipid. There must be more coming? Please? No?
I stayed positive, finally they dock the boat and hit land. It did pick up pace a bit here but apart from a couple of slightly exciting moments again, what on earth was the point? It just lacked thrills, excitement, depth, everything - and I had loved Jane's last book, it was a great mind-twisting thriller. This was not.
I just could not get it, I read it but did not enjoy reading it at all, I lived in hope of things moving up a gear. It didn't. I so wanted to love it too. My rating. For Goodreads I am giving this a 3 star review, but really feel it's more 2.5 but I don't have that option, I will adjust my Amazon reviews accordingly.
One of my first disappointments of 2015. I won't lose hope in Jane as an author and will look for her next novel in the hope it's back up at the level of writing of her previous novel, The Lie of you I will have what's mine.
I received a copy of the book kindly from Jane Lythell at my request and it came via her publisher. I can't tell you how hard it is for this to not be a more positive review.
March 26, 2015
So,it seems to have been a bit hit and miss with readers this one, personally I enjoyed it although it IS a slow burner and very much character driven rather than full of action - I found the characters fascinating however and therefore very much enjoyed the read despite it eeking out the drama and slowly drip feeding the suspense.
You basically have a cast of four - yes others are involved towards the end, when things come to a head, but for the majority of the story you spend your time with Rob and Anna who have taken a detour from their holiday to join Kim and Owen on their boat. As they face both calm and storm, the relationships falter, stop and start and it becomes clear that each of our protagonists have issues. Some fairly standard, some which may become dangerous.
I was engaged by Anna who always assumes the worse case scenario - being a litte like that myself I sympathised with her when others did not take her fears seriously. The beauty of the writing for me was in how you could see it from both sides - I may have felt for Anna but I was also annoyed by her sometimes constant whining. The others all had their "thing" and I was very much compelled to keep reading and find out what was going to happen to this very eclectic and opposite bunch of people.
The mystery element is low key - Owen doesnt sleep and Kim hides knives and you have to wonder why. But even then, its not really about that so much as it is a kind of claustrophobic snapshot of the lives of four very different people with very different issues.
If you like character driven drama then this is for you. Whether you like this one or not will very much depend on how you react to the people involved. It leads you slowly and inexorably towards a very intriguing final denouement and I found it clever and appealing throughout and occasionally very gripping.
Happy Reading Folks!
You basically have a cast of four - yes others are involved towards the end, when things come to a head, but for the majority of the story you spend your time with Rob and Anna who have taken a detour from their holiday to join Kim and Owen on their boat. As they face both calm and storm, the relationships falter, stop and start and it becomes clear that each of our protagonists have issues. Some fairly standard, some which may become dangerous.
I was engaged by Anna who always assumes the worse case scenario - being a litte like that myself I sympathised with her when others did not take her fears seriously. The beauty of the writing for me was in how you could see it from both sides - I may have felt for Anna but I was also annoyed by her sometimes constant whining. The others all had their "thing" and I was very much compelled to keep reading and find out what was going to happen to this very eclectic and opposite bunch of people.
The mystery element is low key - Owen doesnt sleep and Kim hides knives and you have to wonder why. But even then, its not really about that so much as it is a kind of claustrophobic snapshot of the lives of four very different people with very different issues.
If you like character driven drama then this is for you. Whether you like this one or not will very much depend on how you react to the people involved. It leads you slowly and inexorably towards a very intriguing final denouement and I found it clever and appealing throughout and occasionally very gripping.
Happy Reading Folks!
March 16, 2015
I am still in two minds about this book –I found it to be a well written story which did capture my attention throughout, but which did not leave me with a powerful impression overall. Whilst I understand that ‘After The Storm’ was intended as a thriller, I felt that it lacked enough suspense and action to justify this label.
After being highly intrigued by the blurb, I was anxious to immerse myself in this book as it does paint a very captivating picture; an English couple abroad (Rob and Anna) have taken a risk and given their holiday money to a couple they have just met (Kim and Owen) in exchange for journeying with them on their old boat for the remainder of their holidays. Predictably there is trouble as these strangers shack up together in close quarters, and the odds aren’t in their favour for the relaxing vacation they had envisioned. Along the way, we find out more about the foundations of our couples, and the stories behind each individual and how this shapes events in the near future of the plot. Truthfully, I expected more excitement from the basis of this description, whereas what I found in this book was an ordinary tale of two couples on holiday, with some bad luck and half kept secrets thrown into the mix.
I am by no means suggesting that ‘After The Storm’ is your average book, only that I did not perceive it to be anything special. I felt the story was underdeveloped but this may be due to my expectations of a more thrilling plot; I was lured in with the promise of enigmas and disappointed when they failed to deliver. A prime example is when the chief mystery of Owen’s dark past is (finally) revealed at the end of the book – I found it to be relatively anti-climactic and, in my opinion, a let-down after the preceding tension that had been built so abundantly around the subject.
Despite my negative words, ‘After The Storm’ was certainly interesting enough to keep me reading until the last page, and I would definitely consider reading other material by Jane Lythell as her writing was extremely imaginative and detailed.
The one thing I did truly enjoy were the characters that Lythell created, and the varying relationships constructed between them as the story progressed. The author was astute in portraying two contrasting but functioning couples and I found the ever changing dynamics between the four of them captivating – essentially this is what kept me reading. The secrets and suspicion which kept cropping up created tension, and the ensuing conflict did make an interesting read. There was no lack of depth in the group’s personalities, and each of their actions were highly believable - the book successfully pierced the superficial to show a complex view of their motives and their vulnerabilities.
Lythell should be praised for her creation of such credible and intense characters, especially as she had to juggle all four of them at once in the spotlight. Because of this, I did initially find that the vast information about their pasts was revealed before I truly had time to process the identities of the characters, which did lead to some confusion. However, once I was more confident on distinguishing people, the book flowed much more naturally.
There was no predictability with this book either, so whilst not particularly exhilarating, it was not tedious. The idyllic holiday atmosphere is very well executed, serving as a mask for the more ominous setting which lies on the horizon. There were a few plot twists but nothing exceptional – after finishing it my predominant thought was that it could have been just a bit braver to become a more gripping novel.
Not sure if I would recommend this book; it is an adventure lacking excitement, a mystery with only a hint of intrigue but still made a pretty good read. Many people enjoyed this book, though evidently it missed the mark with me; if you favour subtlety and anticipation over action, then give ‘After The Storm’ a chance.
After being highly intrigued by the blurb, I was anxious to immerse myself in this book as it does paint a very captivating picture; an English couple abroad (Rob and Anna) have taken a risk and given their holiday money to a couple they have just met (Kim and Owen) in exchange for journeying with them on their old boat for the remainder of their holidays. Predictably there is trouble as these strangers shack up together in close quarters, and the odds aren’t in their favour for the relaxing vacation they had envisioned. Along the way, we find out more about the foundations of our couples, and the stories behind each individual and how this shapes events in the near future of the plot. Truthfully, I expected more excitement from the basis of this description, whereas what I found in this book was an ordinary tale of two couples on holiday, with some bad luck and half kept secrets thrown into the mix.
I am by no means suggesting that ‘After The Storm’ is your average book, only that I did not perceive it to be anything special. I felt the story was underdeveloped but this may be due to my expectations of a more thrilling plot; I was lured in with the promise of enigmas and disappointed when they failed to deliver. A prime example is when the chief mystery of Owen’s dark past is (finally) revealed at the end of the book – I found it to be relatively anti-climactic and, in my opinion, a let-down after the preceding tension that had been built so abundantly around the subject.
Despite my negative words, ‘After The Storm’ was certainly interesting enough to keep me reading until the last page, and I would definitely consider reading other material by Jane Lythell as her writing was extremely imaginative and detailed.
The one thing I did truly enjoy were the characters that Lythell created, and the varying relationships constructed between them as the story progressed. The author was astute in portraying two contrasting but functioning couples and I found the ever changing dynamics between the four of them captivating – essentially this is what kept me reading. The secrets and suspicion which kept cropping up created tension, and the ensuing conflict did make an interesting read. There was no lack of depth in the group’s personalities, and each of their actions were highly believable - the book successfully pierced the superficial to show a complex view of their motives and their vulnerabilities.
Lythell should be praised for her creation of such credible and intense characters, especially as she had to juggle all four of them at once in the spotlight. Because of this, I did initially find that the vast information about their pasts was revealed before I truly had time to process the identities of the characters, which did lead to some confusion. However, once I was more confident on distinguishing people, the book flowed much more naturally.
There was no predictability with this book either, so whilst not particularly exhilarating, it was not tedious. The idyllic holiday atmosphere is very well executed, serving as a mask for the more ominous setting which lies on the horizon. There were a few plot twists but nothing exceptional – after finishing it my predominant thought was that it could have been just a bit braver to become a more gripping novel.
Not sure if I would recommend this book; it is an adventure lacking excitement, a mystery with only a hint of intrigue but still made a pretty good read. Many people enjoyed this book, though evidently it missed the mark with me; if you favour subtlety and anticipation over action, then give ‘After The Storm’ a chance.
May 30, 2016
Where do I start with this abysmal offering?
Okay, so I bought this expecting some sort of thriller. When one thinks of a thriller, certain words spring to mind - fast-paced! danger! action! mystery! dirty little secrets, you get the idea!
And this, my fellow humoids, has neither of those elements.
It was just plain bad. The amount of dross I had to get through in first 90%. The story was told in third person omniscient, so we were told the story from the four main characters povs. This was unusual because I haven't come across many thrillers who go for this narrative form. It was a bit confusing at the beginning jumping from one character to another, so the story felt disjointed. Maybe telling the story from one person's pov (either first person or third person limited) would have been effective. Either that, or just abandon this story to the pirates, I say! ;)
I expected something in the vein of 'Dead Calm', but it was monotonous. English couple charter American couple's boat for a few weeks. The character's weren't fleshed out. The background history on each of them felt unnecessary because it didn't seem to contribute in any way to the plot. I got sick of reading about what Kim cooked each day and Anna's mole.
The last 10% of the book felt sudden and awkward with the events before, so I can't say I enjoyed it.
All in all, I was extremely happy to finish reading this book. I don't think I'll pick up another book of this author's.
Okay, so I bought this expecting some sort of thriller. When one thinks of a thriller, certain words spring to mind - fast-paced! danger! action! mystery! dirty little secrets, you get the idea!
And this, my fellow humoids, has neither of those elements.
It was just plain bad. The amount of dross I had to get through in first 90%. The story was told in third person omniscient, so we were told the story from the four main characters povs. This was unusual because I haven't come across many thrillers who go for this narrative form. It was a bit confusing at the beginning jumping from one character to another, so the story felt disjointed. Maybe telling the story from one person's pov (either first person or third person limited) would have been effective. Either that, or just abandon this story to the pirates, I say! ;)
I expected something in the vein of 'Dead Calm', but it was monotonous. English couple charter American couple's boat for a few weeks. The character's weren't fleshed out. The background history on each of them felt unnecessary because it didn't seem to contribute in any way to the plot. I got sick of reading about what Kim cooked each day and Anna's mole.
The last 10% of the book felt sudden and awkward with the events before, so I can't say I enjoyed it.
All in all, I was extremely happy to finish reading this book. I don't think I'll pick up another book of this author's.
August 21, 2015
I really wanted to like this book, the description sounded so enticing but for me it promised far more than it delivered. It was well written but I found it quite slow and it just lacked tension. It had the aspirations of a thriller but didn’t quite make it. Things were hinted at which piqued my interest but then when the ‘secrets’ were revealed I was just a bit underwhelmed. It’s only a minor point but I did get rather irritated with the constant reference to the mole between Anna’s eyebrows and it got to the point that whenever she was in the scene, this was all I could see. However, what was done well was that feeling of claustrophobia when all four characters were on the boat, with the lack of privacy and the tensions building between the characters when things didn’t go to plan. I haven’t read the author’s previous novel but this wouldn’t put me off reading further books by her. This isn’t a bad book by any means, I think I was just expecting more of a darker psychological thriller and for me this was just a bit tame, with a few unanswered questions. I received my copy from the publisher in return for an honest review.
July 29, 2017
For the majority of this book I was quite enjoying myself. The tension between the two couples seemed to be building and building and I loved the foreign/holiday setting. Then a few dramatic incidences happen right at the end of the book followed by...nothing. The book ends and nothing is resolved. We never find out who did what and why. It's left for the reader to decide who was guilty I guess? Only I don't read thrillers to make up my own story! I read thrillers to be taken on an exciting ride. But this really just took me to the top of the drop and then left me to find my way back down. So I've been left thoroughly unsatisfied.
January 20, 2015
Originally published on This Chick Reads
*Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Actual rating 2.5/5
Writing a review for this book is going to be so hard. It's the second book by Jane Lythell, but the first one from her I'm reading. Bearing in mind I haven't read her previous book, I really had no expectations. Some of my friends have read her previous book though, and they have recommended it to me, so when I got the opportunity to review this title, I jumped at the chance.
Seeing my rating you might think I really disliked this book. Which is only partially true, however after much pondering over the rating and comparing it to some other thrillers which I've read so far, I had to go for 2*.
The story is basically centered around two couples, Owen and Kim, and Rob and Anna. Owen owns an old wooden boat and after meeting Rob and Anna (who are on a vacation) he suggests renting out their boat to them. Rob thinks this is a great idea, they could use some adventure on their hols. However, Anna is not too keen on the idea, since the boat is really tiny (so not much privacy for them) and is not in best shape. Not to mention Kim and Owen are total strangers!
At the end, Rob and Anna decide to do some traveling with Kim and Owen, though Anna is still very suspicious about the couple. As each day goes by, they discover some things about each other, and some secrets might be revealed.
Sounds good? Yes, but I still have some stuff to say in defense for my rating. Basically, my problem was the pacing. It was way too slow for my liking. I kept reading and reading, waiting for something to happen, waiting for that climax which will turn events into an unexpected direction. I mean, after all it's everything each of us expects from a psychological thriller. However, even when the story reached its climax, honestly, I was too tired to fully enjoy the events. Point number two, most of the story is happening on the boat and all the characters are doing is chit chat, and eventually some stuff that will intrigue you is added. Something like, why does Kim carry a knife everywhere with her, or why does it seem Owen never sleeps? All of this I knew already, as it was written in the blurb, but I waited and waited for far too long to see some action in the book. Point number three (which is totally subjective), I wish there were more characters in this book, just to make the book more alive, ya know? They could maybe add to the story or make things move faster. I don't know... I was bored to read just about these two couples, which in a way made them feel more boring than they were.
However, all is not lost and I'm certainly willing to give Jane's other book 'The Lie of You' a chance. There were some things which I liked, like the characters. I didn't love them, but I liked them. The situations they were in made them feel a bit dull at times, but while reading I could close my eyes and imagine Anna standing in front of me. Uptight attitude and a big mole between her eyes, making her look a bit like Frida Kahlo. This I liked, the fact these characters differed strongly and one could tell the author really tried (and managed) to portray them well. Having all of this said, my problem was the story and it's slowness. These characters had potential, interesting backgrounds, secrets they hide, but they needed the situations and setting to show what they've got.
I really tried to write a somewhat balanced review, as though I didn't enjoy it that much, it's certainly not a bad book either. Based on the writing, it's obvious the author has a lot of potential and suitable writing background.
March 6, 2015
Having read and loved Jane’s previous book The Lie Of You, so I was very much looking forward to starting her latest release!
In After The Storm, Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim, and now they’ve boarded their old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean. It should be paradise, with the sea stretching in front of them and only four of them to enjoy their time together. But things aren’t all they seem… why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt?
I was SO intrigued in this from the very beginning. The story seems initially like a dream holiday – going off in a boat to an island with another couple….but can everyone be trusted? And what secrets might they be hiding? I was gripped from the opening pages and as the book continued further, I was on the edge of my seat constantly wanting to know more! Just who are Owen and Kim? I NEEDED to know everything about them and I raced through the pages!
Jane Lythell does an exceptional job of creating an atmosphere and building tension amongst the characters. I was never sure who to trust or what secrets were being hidden, and Jane cleverly unravels things slowly through her exploration of the characters both individually and through their interactions with each other. As I learnt pieces of information I tried to put it all together, but Jane had more in store for me with surprises, twists and turns along the way. Wow. I genuinely had no clue what way the story would go and After The Storm quickly became a story that was impossible to put down, I was up late because I just had to finish it in one sitting.
After The Storm is compelling too, not only was I completely fascinated by the characters and their potential secrets but I was very emotionally invested in them too. Spending the course of the book with them, it felt as though I was on the boat with them as things were unravelling. I felt a range of emotions whilst reading, I felt real empathy for some of the characters, others I really distrusted at times, and I must say Jane took me on a real roller-coaster ride with them that was sometimes intense, sometimes emotional, but it was always absorbing and captivating.
I don’t want to spoil what is a truly fantastic read, so please buy it and enjoy this one because it is a true experience. After The Storm is an incredible read, thrilling and vivid all at the same time. Jane Lythell is a brilliant storyteller and one who pulled me in and had me involved and hanging on to every single word.
In After The Storm, Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim, and now they’ve boarded their old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean. It should be paradise, with the sea stretching in front of them and only four of them to enjoy their time together. But things aren’t all they seem… why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt?
I was SO intrigued in this from the very beginning. The story seems initially like a dream holiday – going off in a boat to an island with another couple….but can everyone be trusted? And what secrets might they be hiding? I was gripped from the opening pages and as the book continued further, I was on the edge of my seat constantly wanting to know more! Just who are Owen and Kim? I NEEDED to know everything about them and I raced through the pages!
Jane Lythell does an exceptional job of creating an atmosphere and building tension amongst the characters. I was never sure who to trust or what secrets were being hidden, and Jane cleverly unravels things slowly through her exploration of the characters both individually and through their interactions with each other. As I learnt pieces of information I tried to put it all together, but Jane had more in store for me with surprises, twists and turns along the way. Wow. I genuinely had no clue what way the story would go and After The Storm quickly became a story that was impossible to put down, I was up late because I just had to finish it in one sitting.
After The Storm is compelling too, not only was I completely fascinated by the characters and their potential secrets but I was very emotionally invested in them too. Spending the course of the book with them, it felt as though I was on the boat with them as things were unravelling. I felt a range of emotions whilst reading, I felt real empathy for some of the characters, others I really distrusted at times, and I must say Jane took me on a real roller-coaster ride with them that was sometimes intense, sometimes emotional, but it was always absorbing and captivating.
I don’t want to spoil what is a truly fantastic read, so please buy it and enjoy this one because it is a true experience. After The Storm is an incredible read, thrilling and vivid all at the same time. Jane Lythell is a brilliant storyteller and one who pulled me in and had me involved and hanging on to every single word.
July 25, 2015
Thriller set on Roatán (Honduras/the Caribbean) – “..edgy, dark and heady..”
This thriller caught my eye as it kept popping up on Social Media and of course, not many books are set in and around this particular island, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, in the Caribbean. It is 77 km long and about 8 km wide, with plenty of mangroves and has the real sense of an exotic location.
The author has a feel for maintaining tension and writes in a very natural and fluid way. As she ratchets up the pathos, the story feels increasingly edgy, dark and heady.
Kim and Owen own a rather rickety wooden sailing boat, and Anna and Rob are persuaded to join them on the journey from Belize City to Roatán, although neither couple knows anything much about the other couple. They only met 24 hours previously. Anna is not altogether keen, but Rob is caught up in the Robinson Crusoe fantasy and embraces the adventure wholeheartedly. On the voyage the friendships between the four build, although tinted by the beginnings of hostility and suspicion, and individual backstories start to emerge. Life is generally harmonious for the four young people in their very cramped, and at times oppressive lodgings, but the stress of storms and other dangers begin to whittle away at the contended – and potentially blissful – lifestyle as they head towards their ultimate destination. Plenty of palm fringed islands pop up on the way, and some wonderfully tasty sounding food materialises in the capable hands of Kim (find out the best way to eat a mango, for example). Little insights into both the sailing life and local customs make this very much a three dimensional and gripping read. But from the cover and title it is clear that this is not going to be an easy ride, plenty of literal and metaphorical waves along the way.
The author is clearly very familiar with the island and through her capable hands I felt that I was there with the characters as they explored the enclaves of French Harbour, Oak Ridge and Coxen Hole, and acclimatise to island life, which is idyllic in many ways but also has a dark under-culture that is never far away. Attend a group baptism, laze on a beach or learn some of the ropes of sailing… or simply kick back and read this gripping thriller.
This review first appeared on our blog, where the author talks about location: http://www.tripfiction.com/thriller-s...
This thriller caught my eye as it kept popping up on Social Media and of course, not many books are set in and around this particular island, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, in the Caribbean. It is 77 km long and about 8 km wide, with plenty of mangroves and has the real sense of an exotic location.
The author has a feel for maintaining tension and writes in a very natural and fluid way. As she ratchets up the pathos, the story feels increasingly edgy, dark and heady.
Kim and Owen own a rather rickety wooden sailing boat, and Anna and Rob are persuaded to join them on the journey from Belize City to Roatán, although neither couple knows anything much about the other couple. They only met 24 hours previously. Anna is not altogether keen, but Rob is caught up in the Robinson Crusoe fantasy and embraces the adventure wholeheartedly. On the voyage the friendships between the four build, although tinted by the beginnings of hostility and suspicion, and individual backstories start to emerge. Life is generally harmonious for the four young people in their very cramped, and at times oppressive lodgings, but the stress of storms and other dangers begin to whittle away at the contended – and potentially blissful – lifestyle as they head towards their ultimate destination. Plenty of palm fringed islands pop up on the way, and some wonderfully tasty sounding food materialises in the capable hands of Kim (find out the best way to eat a mango, for example). Little insights into both the sailing life and local customs make this very much a three dimensional and gripping read. But from the cover and title it is clear that this is not going to be an easy ride, plenty of literal and metaphorical waves along the way.
The author is clearly very familiar with the island and through her capable hands I felt that I was there with the characters as they explored the enclaves of French Harbour, Oak Ridge and Coxen Hole, and acclimatise to island life, which is idyllic in many ways but also has a dark under-culture that is never far away. Attend a group baptism, laze on a beach or learn some of the ropes of sailing… or simply kick back and read this gripping thriller.
This review first appeared on our blog, where the author talks about location: http://www.tripfiction.com/thriller-s...
May 15, 2015
A really enjoyable novel, full of tension, interesting characters and vividly described Caribbean settings. Owen and Kim live on a boat off the coast of Honduras. Anna and Rob have a few weeks left of their holiday and are persuaded to join them on a trip to an outlying island. In the confined conditions of Owen and Kim’s traditional yacht they gradually find out more about each other than perhaps they wanted to know. Each couple has their own tensions and the dynamics between couples and individuals shift and unfold, as do the reader’s sympathies. Dark secrets are revealed about the past, and shady dealings in the present eventually catch up with them to dramatic effect. I was really drawn in and found both the characters and atmosphere stayed with me long after finishing. Recommended!
February 5, 2016
I didn't gel with this book at all. Not sure excatly why, it just felt a bit amateur to me and it never really gripped me.
December 5, 2017
A very impressive and different kind of thriller. Tensions between the main characters kept me guessing and it was also really nice to read an exciting book situated in a completely different country from the usual thrillers’ settings. Well Ortho the read.
February 1, 2015
Rob and Anna are on holiday. They don't have much money and are very happy to be able to spend an entire month together. When an evening doesn't go according to plan they aren't so satisfied with their cheap accommodations any longer. Rob thinks he's found the ideal solution. He immediately says yes when Owen and Kim offer them a journey on their boat. Together they will visit remote and peaceful islands, they will get to see the most beautiful places, they will learn how to sail and it will fit their budget. Kim is a good cook, so it will all be perfect. At least that's how it's supposed to look. Owen and Kim are broke, they need to charter their boat, so they will have enough money to eat. Owen and Kim seem like a nice couple, but Anna has issues with them from the start. Is she right about the other couple or will they indeed have the promised holiday of their dreams?
After the Storm tells the story of two couples. Rob and Anna are English. They come from very different backgrounds. Anna is tense and she doesn't easily let herself go. To enjoy this holiday she needs to give up a lot of the things she values. Owen and Kim are American. They grew up together and have known each other for a very long time. Owen has trouble sleeping and Kim carries a knife with her at all times. Soon Anna's starting to ask a lot of questions, she wants to know more about the people she's traveling with and she's especially interested in Owen. He and Kim have secrets and Anna wants to know what they are.
From the four main characters I liked Anna best. She's the most sensible and she's both kind and strong. Kim is tough, she's been through a lot. Rob is easy going and he almost always has a good time, he knows how to make things fun and he's good at making small talk. Owen is the most complicated and mysterious. I couldn't wait to find out more about him. While reading this book I kept having the feeling that something could go wrong any second. Because of that I read the story in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I badly wanted to know what would happen. Are Kim and Owen reliable people? That was the question I kept asking myself. I loved the ending of this book. It was unexpected and I'm still thinking about it. After the Storm is an intriguing read and I enjoyed it very much.
After the Storm tells the story of two couples. Rob and Anna are English. They come from very different backgrounds. Anna is tense and she doesn't easily let herself go. To enjoy this holiday she needs to give up a lot of the things she values. Owen and Kim are American. They grew up together and have known each other for a very long time. Owen has trouble sleeping and Kim carries a knife with her at all times. Soon Anna's starting to ask a lot of questions, she wants to know more about the people she's traveling with and she's especially interested in Owen. He and Kim have secrets and Anna wants to know what they are.
From the four main characters I liked Anna best. She's the most sensible and she's both kind and strong. Kim is tough, she's been through a lot. Rob is easy going and he almost always has a good time, he knows how to make things fun and he's good at making small talk. Owen is the most complicated and mysterious. I couldn't wait to find out more about him. While reading this book I kept having the feeling that something could go wrong any second. Because of that I read the story in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I badly wanted to know what would happen. Are Kim and Owen reliable people? That was the question I kept asking myself. I loved the ending of this book. It was unexpected and I'm still thinking about it. After the Storm is an intriguing read and I enjoyed it very much.
June 21, 2015
I won a copy this book after entering the draw on Goodreads....thankyou:)
The premise of the book sounded intriguing;Rob and Anna a young couple on a back packing holiday have a chance encounter with Owen and Kim, and now they’ve invested the remainder of their holiday money and boarded their old boat to travel in the Caribbean. Rob is thrilled, he gets to live out his idylic holiday fantasy. Owen is pleased he gets to take his beloved boat on one final journey before selling her. Kim and Anna are less pleased; Kim because she wants to sell the boat and return to Florida, Anna is less impulsive and worries about spending time in such close confines with a couple they have only just met. As the trip progresses relations between the four become strained and the tension increases after a storm that delays the progress of their trip. Secrets are slowly revealed and we find out a little more about each character and events that have formed them.
When the boat reaches dry land events have conspired to keep the couples together and there are a sudden series of rapid events where secrets are revealed and decisions made.
I should have loved this book, but unfortunately I didn't.
The book is written in the third person which I didn't find to be very intriguing. An unreliable narrator would have created more intrigue. Or even just a singular narrative giving one viewpoint of the others characters.
Some of the text is awful. For example there was one section in the book where "going to" is written as "gonna". If this had been a character talking that would have been fine, but it was a piece of descriptive text.
I also found the mentions of Anna's mole unintentionally hilarious. It was mentioned by all three of the other characters on several occasions for quite some time. There didn't seem to be any purpose or point to this.
The sudden rapid events at the end of the book felt as if the author had suddenly decided that something had to happen, so instead it seems that everything happens to all the characters...and then the book ends.
Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend this.
The premise of the book sounded intriguing;Rob and Anna a young couple on a back packing holiday have a chance encounter with Owen and Kim, and now they’ve invested the remainder of their holiday money and boarded their old boat to travel in the Caribbean. Rob is thrilled, he gets to live out his idylic holiday fantasy. Owen is pleased he gets to take his beloved boat on one final journey before selling her. Kim and Anna are less pleased; Kim because she wants to sell the boat and return to Florida, Anna is less impulsive and worries about spending time in such close confines with a couple they have only just met. As the trip progresses relations between the four become strained and the tension increases after a storm that delays the progress of their trip. Secrets are slowly revealed and we find out a little more about each character and events that have formed them.
When the boat reaches dry land events have conspired to keep the couples together and there are a sudden series of rapid events where secrets are revealed and decisions made.
I should have loved this book, but unfortunately I didn't.
The book is written in the third person which I didn't find to be very intriguing. An unreliable narrator would have created more intrigue. Or even just a singular narrative giving one viewpoint of the others characters.
Some of the text is awful. For example there was one section in the book where "going to" is written as "gonna". If this had been a character talking that would have been fine, but it was a piece of descriptive text.
I also found the mentions of Anna's mole unintentionally hilarious. It was mentioned by all three of the other characters on several occasions for quite some time. There didn't seem to be any purpose or point to this.
The sudden rapid events at the end of the book felt as if the author had suddenly decided that something had to happen, so instead it seems that everything happens to all the characters...and then the book ends.
Sorry, but I wouldn't recommend this.
March 25, 2015
The Lie of You was one of my favourite reads of last year so I was interested to see how Jane Lythell would follow it up...and After the Storm certainly lives up to expectations.
Anna and Rob are on holiday and after a scary experience in Belize they meet Kim and Owen and charter their boat on the promise of a paradise island at the end of their sail. From the start you are aware that things will not run smoothly. The boat has seen better days and Kim wants to sell it and return to Florida to open her own restaurant. She has the only knife on board and keeps it on her person at all times. Why? Owen obviously has something to hide and his dodgy dealings may also land them in more trouble than they are expecting!
This book took me longer to read than normal. I read very quickly but with this one I just had to take me time as it was a "slow burner" and seemed to dictate my pace! The characters are beautifully written and Owen especially became a favourite-his depth becoming clearer the more the book progressed. Yes, while they were on the boat sometimes it was normal conversations and daily routines but that is life! The tension was built subtly and that claustrophobia of sharing such a small space with strangers that you wouldn't normally associate with, was well conveyed. Jane's descriptions of sailing were obviously well researched but her real talent is the way she builds her characters and this is why it more than lives up to her first novel. You start with preconceived ideas about people but this is gradually changed the more you understand them.
A recommended read especially if you enjoyed The Lie of You and I look forward to more of the same from this author!
Anna and Rob are on holiday and after a scary experience in Belize they meet Kim and Owen and charter their boat on the promise of a paradise island at the end of their sail. From the start you are aware that things will not run smoothly. The boat has seen better days and Kim wants to sell it and return to Florida to open her own restaurant. She has the only knife on board and keeps it on her person at all times. Why? Owen obviously has something to hide and his dodgy dealings may also land them in more trouble than they are expecting!
This book took me longer to read than normal. I read very quickly but with this one I just had to take me time as it was a "slow burner" and seemed to dictate my pace! The characters are beautifully written and Owen especially became a favourite-his depth becoming clearer the more the book progressed. Yes, while they were on the boat sometimes it was normal conversations and daily routines but that is life! The tension was built subtly and that claustrophobia of sharing such a small space with strangers that you wouldn't normally associate with, was well conveyed. Jane's descriptions of sailing were obviously well researched but her real talent is the way she builds her characters and this is why it more than lives up to her first novel. You start with preconceived ideas about people but this is gradually changed the more you understand them.
A recommended read especially if you enjoyed The Lie of You and I look forward to more of the same from this author!
May 17, 2017
Great read - Loved it! This is the first Jane Lythell book I have read but will for sure be reading more.
January 20, 2015
4.5/5
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
Having read Jane's debut last year The Lie of You and loving it, I could not wait to get stuck into her latest offering After the Storm.
At first I was a little unsure about this as I read a book similar to the premise of this a while ago and did not like it. Thankfully however, I found After the Storm much better executed and the story much better.
After the Storm cleverly draws you in under a false pretence of security. Everything seems fine for the characters whilst you are reading, but you know that something is going to happen, you just don't know when. The never-ending feeling of this expectation is what I loved about it as you just never know when it will come about. Jane creates a great sense of anticipation as to what is to come by giving little hints that all is not well. I was easily drawn into Rob, Anna, Kim and Owen's world. The descriptions and the atmosphere created by Jane's writing were absolutely perfect. Jane literally transports you there and I think this is part of the reason I prefer After the Storm to The Lie of You.
I loved the little unravelling of secrets that each character had kept hidden from one another. There was a great sense of a lack of trust and Jane makes you doubt each character, especially towards the end. I also really liked the quick changing of the narrative from one protagonist to the next. It keeps you on your toes and adds to that sense of anticipation and really gets inside the minds of each of characters and what they are each thinking of each other. This is something hard to execute without confusing the reader, but Jane has done it perfectly and it really adds to the novel.
Although there is a wait for the big bang in the novel, this did not deter me from wanting to read on and my enjoyment of the story.
After the Storm is Jane's best yet and cannot wait for her next novel!
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
Having read Jane's debut last year The Lie of You and loving it, I could not wait to get stuck into her latest offering After the Storm.
At first I was a little unsure about this as I read a book similar to the premise of this a while ago and did not like it. Thankfully however, I found After the Storm much better executed and the story much better.
After the Storm cleverly draws you in under a false pretence of security. Everything seems fine for the characters whilst you are reading, but you know that something is going to happen, you just don't know when. The never-ending feeling of this expectation is what I loved about it as you just never know when it will come about. Jane creates a great sense of anticipation as to what is to come by giving little hints that all is not well. I was easily drawn into Rob, Anna, Kim and Owen's world. The descriptions and the atmosphere created by Jane's writing were absolutely perfect. Jane literally transports you there and I think this is part of the reason I prefer After the Storm to The Lie of You.
I loved the little unravelling of secrets that each character had kept hidden from one another. There was a great sense of a lack of trust and Jane makes you doubt each character, especially towards the end. I also really liked the quick changing of the narrative from one protagonist to the next. It keeps you on your toes and adds to that sense of anticipation and really gets inside the minds of each of characters and what they are each thinking of each other. This is something hard to execute without confusing the reader, but Jane has done it perfectly and it really adds to the novel.
Although there is a wait for the big bang in the novel, this did not deter me from wanting to read on and my enjoyment of the story.
After the Storm is Jane's best yet and cannot wait for her next novel!
May 8, 2015
‘Gripping from start to end’
Rob and Anna have paid to join Kim and Owens yacht on a cruise and then looking forward to getting to know each other and enjoy a Caribbean sail around the island of Belize. So you think it is plain sailing then think again, this is no ordinary thriller, this one delivers on all fronts and keeps you on your toes and you get to know each of the people on the yacht.
All is destined not to go well and it becomes very clear of the tensions that are beginning to come to the surface. There is a storm approaching in more ways than one, as the couples cope with a Caribbean storm and trying to figure each other out. There are twists and turns and the people involved are hiding secrets. Owen never seems to sleep why? And then there is his past what is was going on there? I found the characters intriguing and wanted to know more as the pages flew by as the boat was being battered by the storm. Does Kim have a fascination with knives then there is the money belt she wears. Owen is a scared character in this thriller and Kim is set about to protect him from what has been troubling him then throw into the mix attraction, add some jealousy and more and you have a recipe for a superb thriller that is both dark and tense throughout the book.
This is a tale of people tested to the very limit a long way from home and packs a punch and as a reader you are drawn unwittingly into the plot which the author has managed really well.
I don’t like comparing one book to another but if you are a fan of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn then you will love this, on a personal level ‘After The Storm’ gave me more and therefore I rate ‘After The Storm’ higher and that is high praise indeed.
This is Jane Lythell’s second novel after ‘The Lie of You’ published in the summer of 2014.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED
Rob and Anna have paid to join Kim and Owens yacht on a cruise and then looking forward to getting to know each other and enjoy a Caribbean sail around the island of Belize. So you think it is plain sailing then think again, this is no ordinary thriller, this one delivers on all fronts and keeps you on your toes and you get to know each of the people on the yacht.
All is destined not to go well and it becomes very clear of the tensions that are beginning to come to the surface. There is a storm approaching in more ways than one, as the couples cope with a Caribbean storm and trying to figure each other out. There are twists and turns and the people involved are hiding secrets. Owen never seems to sleep why? And then there is his past what is was going on there? I found the characters intriguing and wanted to know more as the pages flew by as the boat was being battered by the storm. Does Kim have a fascination with knives then there is the money belt she wears. Owen is a scared character in this thriller and Kim is set about to protect him from what has been troubling him then throw into the mix attraction, add some jealousy and more and you have a recipe for a superb thriller that is both dark and tense throughout the book.
This is a tale of people tested to the very limit a long way from home and packs a punch and as a reader you are drawn unwittingly into the plot which the author has managed really well.
I don’t like comparing one book to another but if you are a fan of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn then you will love this, on a personal level ‘After The Storm’ gave me more and therefore I rate ‘After The Storm’ higher and that is high praise indeed.
This is Jane Lythell’s second novel after ‘The Lie of You’ published in the summer of 2014.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED
May 8, 2015
‘Gripping from start to end’
Rob and Anna have paid to join Kim and Owens yacht on a cruise and then looking forward to getting to know each other and enjoy a Caribbean sail around the island of Belize. So you think it is plain sailing then think again, this is no ordinary thriller, this one delivers on all fronts and keeps you on your toes and you get to know each of the people on the yacht.
All is destined not to go well and it becomes very clear of the tensions that are beginning to come to the surface. There is a storm approaching in more ways than one, as the couples cope with a Caribbean storm and trying to figure each other out. There are twists and turns and the people involved are hiding secrets. Owen never seems to sleep why? And then there is his past what is was going on there? I found the characters intriguing and wanted to know more as the pages flew by as the boat was being battered by the storm. Does Kim have a fascination with knives then there is the money belt she wears. Owen is a scared character in this thriller and Kim is set about to protect him from what has been troubling him then throw into the mix attraction, add some jealousy and more and you have a recipe for a superb thriller that is both dark and tense throughout the book.
This is a tale of people tested to the very limit a long way from home and packs a punch and as a reader you are drawn unwittingly into the plot which the author has managed really well.
I don’t like comparing one book to another but if you are a fan of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn then you will love this, on a personal level ‘After The Storm’ gave me more and therefore I rate ‘After The Storm’ higher and that is high praise indeed.
This is Jane Lythell’s second novel after ‘The Lie of You’ published in the summer of 2014.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED
Rob and Anna have paid to join Kim and Owens yacht on a cruise and then looking forward to getting to know each other and enjoy a Caribbean sail around the island of Belize. So you think it is plain sailing then think again, this is no ordinary thriller, this one delivers on all fronts and keeps you on your toes and you get to know each of the people on the yacht.
All is destined not to go well and it becomes very clear of the tensions that are beginning to come to the surface. There is a storm approaching in more ways than one, as the couples cope with a Caribbean storm and trying to figure each other out. There are twists and turns and the people involved are hiding secrets. Owen never seems to sleep why? And then there is his past what is was going on there? I found the characters intriguing and wanted to know more as the pages flew by as the boat was being battered by the storm. Does Kim have a fascination with knives then there is the money belt she wears. Owen is a scared character in this thriller and Kim is set about to protect him from what has been troubling him then throw into the mix attraction, add some jealousy and more and you have a recipe for a superb thriller that is both dark and tense throughout the book.
This is a tale of people tested to the very limit a long way from home and packs a punch and as a reader you are drawn unwittingly into the plot which the author has managed really well.
I don’t like comparing one book to another but if you are a fan of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn then you will love this, on a personal level ‘After The Storm’ gave me more and therefore I rate ‘After The Storm’ higher and that is high praise indeed.
This is Jane Lythell’s second novel after ‘The Lie of You’ published in the summer of 2014.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED
January 6, 2015
British couple, Rob and Anna meet Owen and Kim in a waterfront bar in a dirty Belize town. The American couple have been sailing from island to island, country to country for some months, and their lifestyle appears to be happy and carefree. Relishing the opportunity to explore, Rob and Anna arrange to join Owen and Kim on the next part of their voyage. Whilst Rob is keen, Anna is more reluctant to spend time cooped up in a smallish boat with people that she doesn't really know. Kim too, doesn't appear overjoyed by the thought. The arrangements are made and the two couples begin their journey.
The storm hits. The sailors battle to overcome the weather and reach their destination. But it is not just the weather that has turned stormy; relationships can be just as changeable as the weather, and during the days of the storm, these four people learn more and more about each other.
There is a real sense of foreboding and doom when reading After The Storm, even the opening chapters, set as they are, in the sunshine and warmth create a tense and quite fearful atmosphere. From the seedy hotel rooms, to the strangers carrying knives, this is not the beautiful paradise of tropical islands that most of us imagine.
The four characters are drawn particularly well, they are easy to understand, but maybe not so easy to like, with the exception of Anna, who is my favourite character. I liked her vulnerability combined with inner strength and intelligence and ability to draw out different traits in others.
After The Storm is a well-paced thriller, that will challenge the reader. The tension, fear and anticipation mounts up throughout the story. The setting is excellent, showing another side to the usual sun-soaked tropical island, the characters are strong and well rounded.
The storm hits. The sailors battle to overcome the weather and reach their destination. But it is not just the weather that has turned stormy; relationships can be just as changeable as the weather, and during the days of the storm, these four people learn more and more about each other.
There is a real sense of foreboding and doom when reading After The Storm, even the opening chapters, set as they are, in the sunshine and warmth create a tense and quite fearful atmosphere. From the seedy hotel rooms, to the strangers carrying knives, this is not the beautiful paradise of tropical islands that most of us imagine.
The four characters are drawn particularly well, they are easy to understand, but maybe not so easy to like, with the exception of Anna, who is my favourite character. I liked her vulnerability combined with inner strength and intelligence and ability to draw out different traits in others.
After The Storm is a well-paced thriller, that will challenge the reader. The tension, fear and anticipation mounts up throughout the story. The setting is excellent, showing another side to the usual sun-soaked tropical island, the characters are strong and well rounded.
June 8, 2016
Time taken to read - 1 day
Publisher - Head of Zeus
Pages - 320
Blurb from Goodreads
Some secrets destroy you.
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt? Anna can usually get people to talk... but this time, does she want to?
My review
Rob & Anna are off travelling together when they meet Owen & Kim who offer them the chance to join them on their boat and travel to a wee island. Rob is totally on board but anna needs some convincing, she doesn't like to jump right in and lets face it, they know nothing about Owen & Kim. The boys bond relatively quickly but Anna has apprehensions and soon they all find how close a tiny boat can be and everyone has secrets.
I liked this book, the atmosphere created on the boat left you feeling the thickness in the air, the claustrophobia & tension building up. Ten days is a long time to spend together, the couples start to notice things they may not have before and there are always dangers at sea. The couples work together to get through the journey and stay safe but resentment can't help but build for at least one character.
I think this was a slow starter for me but it keeps you drawn as you want to see how the story develops and the characters build. It is a tale about relationships, secrets, self growth, danger and journeys in more than one sense. This is my first dance with this author, I would certainly read her again, 3/5 for me.
Publisher - Head of Zeus
Pages - 320
Blurb from Goodreads
Some secrets destroy you.
Rob and Anna have only just met Owen and Kim. Now they've boarded their handsome old boat to travel to a far off island in the Caribbean.
With only the four of them on board, it should be paradise: lazy afternoons spent snorkelling; long nights enjoying the silence and solitude of the sea.
But why does Owen never sleep? Why is he so secretive about his past? And why does Kim keep a knife zipped into her money-belt? Anna can usually get people to talk... but this time, does she want to?
My review
Rob & Anna are off travelling together when they meet Owen & Kim who offer them the chance to join them on their boat and travel to a wee island. Rob is totally on board but anna needs some convincing, she doesn't like to jump right in and lets face it, they know nothing about Owen & Kim. The boys bond relatively quickly but Anna has apprehensions and soon they all find how close a tiny boat can be and everyone has secrets.
I liked this book, the atmosphere created on the boat left you feeling the thickness in the air, the claustrophobia & tension building up. Ten days is a long time to spend together, the couples start to notice things they may not have before and there are always dangers at sea. The couples work together to get through the journey and stay safe but resentment can't help but build for at least one character.
I think this was a slow starter for me but it keeps you drawn as you want to see how the story develops and the characters build. It is a tale about relationships, secrets, self growth, danger and journeys in more than one sense. This is my first dance with this author, I would certainly read her again, 3/5 for me.
May 25, 2015
After the Storm is a vivid and intense study of what happens when four strangers sail around the dangerous waters of Honduras in a handsome old boat. Rob and Anna are British tourists in search of adventure – at least Rob is, Anna is an altogether more cautious individual; Owen and Kim are the American owners of the boat, short on cash, in need of people to charter the boat to. Circumstance throws them together. All have secrets and demons to conquer, especially Owen and Kim. He is insomniac, troubled by a horrific past, and involved in shady transactions; she carries a knife at all times. After a storm the boat is thrown off course and the couples find themselves exposed and vulnerable – to each other as much as to external threats.
Jane Lythell’s novel is a wonderful, detailed study of four characters on the edge, set against the backdrop of what reads like some of the most exquisitely beautiful locations on earth (I’ve not visited this part of the globe, though I feel as if I have now). I felt the discomfort, claustrophobia and intensity of living in such close physical proximity with strangers, the characters’ rawness as they are slowly prised apart. The contrast between the tight, ‘safe’ quarters of the boat and the expanse and danger of the ocean is handled extremely well, as is the unravelling of each of the four leads.
If you enjoy slow build, character led stories with a strong sense of menace, this is the perfect book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it wholeheartedly.
Jane Lythell’s novel is a wonderful, detailed study of four characters on the edge, set against the backdrop of what reads like some of the most exquisitely beautiful locations on earth (I’ve not visited this part of the globe, though I feel as if I have now). I felt the discomfort, claustrophobia and intensity of living in such close physical proximity with strangers, the characters’ rawness as they are slowly prised apart. The contrast between the tight, ‘safe’ quarters of the boat and the expanse and danger of the ocean is handled extremely well, as is the unravelling of each of the four leads.
If you enjoy slow build, character led stories with a strong sense of menace, this is the perfect book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it wholeheartedly.
June 15, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't what I expected at all - which was a sort of Dead Calm, and I'm relieved because this is a more sophisticated, clever story, I think.
The novel centres around four characters, married couple Kim and Owen and boyfriend and girlfriend, Anna and Rob. When Anna and Rob pay to charter Owen's boat the four of them are forced together over ten days in the middle of the ocean in South America. Tensions run high, particularly between Kim and Anna, while Owen is hiding a dark secret from the newcomers, one which causes Kim to hide all the knives. As the days roll on cracks appear in all their relationships. I found this novel deliciously tense, gripping and claustrophobic and there were some scenes where my heart was racing as I wondered how they would get out of certain situations. All four characters were brilliantly drawn and felt very real to me, so much so that I missed them when I'd finished. The writing is beautiful, the descriptions of the ocean and the places they docked were very vivid. And towards the end when a woman is murdered my heart was in my mouth! The scenes in the hospital were so gripping that I couldn't put the book down. Without giving it away, the last scene was very touching that I had a lump in my throat.
This book is a slow burner in the sense it's not all shocks and horror straight away, but what results is a menacing, tense, gripping read with well rounded characters and a fantastic plot. It never once felt slow to me or laborious. I enjoyed every beautifully written word. Highly recommended.
The novel centres around four characters, married couple Kim and Owen and boyfriend and girlfriend, Anna and Rob. When Anna and Rob pay to charter Owen's boat the four of them are forced together over ten days in the middle of the ocean in South America. Tensions run high, particularly between Kim and Anna, while Owen is hiding a dark secret from the newcomers, one which causes Kim to hide all the knives. As the days roll on cracks appear in all their relationships. I found this novel deliciously tense, gripping and claustrophobic and there were some scenes where my heart was racing as I wondered how they would get out of certain situations. All four characters were brilliantly drawn and felt very real to me, so much so that I missed them when I'd finished. The writing is beautiful, the descriptions of the ocean and the places they docked were very vivid. And towards the end when a woman is murdered my heart was in my mouth! The scenes in the hospital were so gripping that I couldn't put the book down. Without giving it away, the last scene was very touching that I had a lump in my throat.
This book is a slow burner in the sense it's not all shocks and horror straight away, but what results is a menacing, tense, gripping read with well rounded characters and a fantastic plot. It never once felt slow to me or laborious. I enjoyed every beautifully written word. Highly recommended.
March 12, 2015
I was fortunate enough to win a signed copy of this book, and as soon as it arrived it jumped to the top of my to be read list.
After the Storm is the first book I have read by this Author so I was excited to get stuck into it. It is based largely on a sailing boat in South America, where two couples are thrown together. Owen and Kim own the sailing boat and Kim is desperate to sell up and go home to Florida where she can open a cafe, Owen doesn't want to go home and wants to keep his boat for as long as he can. They meet Rob and Anna in a local bar in Belize city and Owen soon convinces them to charter the boat to an island called Roatan.
As the book progresses (at quite a quick pace I thought), it becomes clear that each of the four characters has fears and secrets. Owen never sleeps and when he does it's always a nightmare, Anna is scared of seemingly everything but she soon starts to bond and get closer to Owen causing him to confront his own demons whether he wants to or not, which causes some friction between Anna and Kim. Kim is desperate to get away from life on the boat and go back to a normal life, and Rob has planned his and Anna's holiday to get away from his Mother's wedding. All four characters' own experiences manage to bring together a hugely readable story and twists and turns abound throughout as well. (in my opinion)
I absolutely loved this book, and was so glad to read it as quickly as I did. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
After the Storm is the first book I have read by this Author so I was excited to get stuck into it. It is based largely on a sailing boat in South America, where two couples are thrown together. Owen and Kim own the sailing boat and Kim is desperate to sell up and go home to Florida where she can open a cafe, Owen doesn't want to go home and wants to keep his boat for as long as he can. They meet Rob and Anna in a local bar in Belize city and Owen soon convinces them to charter the boat to an island called Roatan.
As the book progresses (at quite a quick pace I thought), it becomes clear that each of the four characters has fears and secrets. Owen never sleeps and when he does it's always a nightmare, Anna is scared of seemingly everything but she soon starts to bond and get closer to Owen causing him to confront his own demons whether he wants to or not, which causes some friction between Anna and Kim. Kim is desperate to get away from life on the boat and go back to a normal life, and Rob has planned his and Anna's holiday to get away from his Mother's wedding. All four characters' own experiences manage to bring together a hugely readable story and twists and turns abound throughout as well. (in my opinion)
I absolutely loved this book, and was so glad to read it as quickly as I did. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
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December 10, 2016I was intrigued by the exceprt. The book had me at 'someone is keeping a secret' and you will find this line in every excerpt of a psychological thriller. Also, the last line saying for the fans of The girl on the train, The gone girl etc as if these two books are altogether a different genre. Another cliche saying it would keep you biting your nails blah blah. Calling it a thriller is mislabeling it, but I am not sure which category it may reasonably fit in. I kept waiting for something to happen but apparently detailing what the four ate through the entire book was more important than the plot.
Overall, it wasn't a masterpiece and I didn't come away from it feeling completely impressed or overwhelmed but on a whole it was a decent read.
If you want something that is really going to amaze you then look somewhere else otherwise it is an easy read if you are traveling or just want to pass time. The worst was the ending. I wanted more of it. If she shadowed some light on Viv's murder and investigation than I would've certainly given it 4 stars and also the fact that Anna for the rest of her life would believe that Owen was the one who killed Viv but the author didn't mention anything where he was that night when he ran down the hill along with a blade in his hand. If this is what mystery is all about, I mean if the author leaves it to us to make our own assumptions and decide what the truth was then what is the point. The abrupt ending are always unsettling.
Overall, it wasn't a masterpiece and I didn't come away from it feeling completely impressed or overwhelmed but on a whole it was a decent read.
If you want something that is really going to amaze you then look somewhere else otherwise it is an easy read if you are traveling or just want to pass time. The worst was the ending. I wanted more of it. If she shadowed some light on Viv's murder and investigation than I would've certainly given it 4 stars and also the fact that Anna for the rest of her life would believe that Owen was the one who killed Viv but the author didn't mention anything where he was that night when he ran down the hill along with a blade in his hand. If this is what mystery is all about, I mean if the author leaves it to us to make our own assumptions and decide what the truth was then what is the point. The abrupt ending are always unsettling.
February 16, 2016
This book was interminably long and felt like one of those terribly boring sessions of going over to the neighbours to watch their holiday slides. I got the distinct feeling that the author tried to get every topic under the sun covered. From Hippies, to single motherhood, from holidaying in South America to cultural differences. From feminism to murder. But only had time to spend a couple of paragraphs on each. In the end it felt like the author had been told to try to actually have something happen but by then the book left me cold and I just wanted to get it over with. The "action" was lacklustre and had no thrill to it. The people started to annoy me and did the reader really need to get background on the family history of each and every main player. Too many people, too many half worked plots.
And an unsatisfactory ending to boot. The book could have benefited from a good editor with a ruthless red pen to strike out half of this way too long book. I think in writing it's about get to the point and say what you want to say. Don't give too much background, but do your research well.
Oh, and let's not forget to "throw in an injured dog rescue into the mix" for a feel good ending.
I wouldn't recommend this book at all. The author couldn't make up her mind what story to tell and thus did a bad job telling too many half baked stories.
And an unsatisfactory ending to boot. The book could have benefited from a good editor with a ruthless red pen to strike out half of this way too long book. I think in writing it's about get to the point and say what you want to say. Don't give too much background, but do your research well.
Oh, and let's not forget to "throw in an injured dog rescue into the mix" for a feel good ending.
I wouldn't recommend this book at all. The author couldn't make up her mind what story to tell and thus did a bad job telling too many half baked stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2015
After The Storm is incredible! It only took me a few hours to get through this novel - once I started there was no way I could put it down before I had reached the end.
The storyline is extremely gripping, thrilling and intense. I loved the whole setting of the book. We follow the characters for only about a fortnight, but each day (Rob's and Anna's holiday) is filled with so much detail and adventurous descriptions which means that the reader gets to know these four characters extremely well - or at least I thought so... Jane throws a lot of curve-balls into the mix and I started to mistrust a few characters along the way, but was I right to mistrust them? I loved the way the author was able to plant seeds of doubt into my mind. At no stage did I have the storyline figured out and was held captivated until I turned the last page.
The ending was extremely unexpected, but leaves a lot of room for the reader's imagination. After The Storm is another brilliant book written by Jane Lythell and I am highly anticipating her next book (hopefully there will be one!).
The storyline is extremely gripping, thrilling and intense. I loved the whole setting of the book. We follow the characters for only about a fortnight, but each day (Rob's and Anna's holiday) is filled with so much detail and adventurous descriptions which means that the reader gets to know these four characters extremely well - or at least I thought so... Jane throws a lot of curve-balls into the mix and I started to mistrust a few characters along the way, but was I right to mistrust them? I loved the way the author was able to plant seeds of doubt into my mind. At no stage did I have the storyline figured out and was held captivated until I turned the last page.
The ending was extremely unexpected, but leaves a lot of room for the reader's imagination. After The Storm is another brilliant book written by Jane Lythell and I am highly anticipating her next book (hopefully there will be one!).
August 18, 2015
I do love travellers’ tales, especially ones that take the reader into dangerous territories. As soon as the novel opens in very shady Belize, we see innocents Anna and Rob being persuaded to hand over most of their holiday savings for a boat trip with sinister drifters Kim and Owen. The atmosphere between the couples is as changeable as the tropical weather, wonderfully evoking all the claustrophobia and exaggerated mood-swings of life on board a cramped boat. Incidentally, I love hearing about difficult cooking conditions and Kim performed miracles in her cramped galley! The experience was also enhanced by the author's blog about her real trip to Roatan complete with holiday snaps.
This was a dark, suspenseful read that I devoured in two days on my own holiday. Written in straightforward, pacey prose, this is a quintessential cautionary tale about a beautiful destination that’s ‘rotten to the core’.
This was a dark, suspenseful read that I devoured in two days on my own holiday. Written in straightforward, pacey prose, this is a quintessential cautionary tale about a beautiful destination that’s ‘rotten to the core’.
March 18, 2015
I was attracted to this book because I have read The lie of you: I will have what is mine by the same author and absolutely loved it. This book however was a real struggle to get through. It is a book that is character based and I am not a fan of character led stories. From the description of the book I was expecting this book to be a psychological thriller but I would class it more of a mystery. The story is about two couples Rob & Anna and Owen and Kim. Owen and Kim own a boat but are running out of money so when they meet Anna and Rob, they offer them a place on their boat. Not very much happens throughout the book, We learn about each of the characters. Why does Owen never sleep? Why does Kim keep a knife in her money belt? There is some action right at the end of the book but for me it was a case of too little, too late.
May 28, 2015
This is the type of book I would expect a computer to write. Grammatically for the most part ok, which is what the two stars are for. The storm of the title doesn't happen until the last 15% of the book. The story itself meanders pointlessly with random details inserted which have no relevance to the story. It is not a thriller - it is at best a drama involving four characters who despite the narrative still feel very one dimensional. It might have been better if just one of them had been focused on but there wasn't enough material or interest and the book would have ended after 30 pages. The best thing about this book was that on the kindle it ended at 85% in order to fill the remainder with a preview of Lythell/Android's other book - The Lie of You which was actually a good read.
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