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The Damaged
The storm of '87 had been the greatest, most ferocious storm to have hit Britain in centuries. The suffering that ensued was plentiful, but none more so than that of little Matthew Mason, whose parents were brutally murdered in the midst of the storm by a homeless man desperate to find shelter.
After 25 years of torment, Matthew is released from a mental institute under the watchful eye and care of Tammy Atkins, a care worker with a secret history of alcohol abuse and self-harm.
As Matthew struggles to adapt to his new found liberty, he finds himself continuously plagued by the demons of his past. Haunted by strange and ghastly images and urges, Matthew sets himself upon a path of vengeance; determined to seek out his parents' killer and put his demons to rest once and for all.
'The Damaged' is a disturbing psychological thriller, delving deep into the darkest depths of the human psyche.
After 25 years of torment, Matthew is released from a mental institute under the watchful eye and care of Tammy Atkins, a care worker with a secret history of alcohol abuse and self-harm.
As Matthew struggles to adapt to his new found liberty, he finds himself continuously plagued by the demons of his past. Haunted by strange and ghastly images and urges, Matthew sets himself upon a path of vengeance; determined to seek out his parents' killer and put his demons to rest once and for all.
'The Damaged' is a disturbing psychological thriller, delving deep into the darkest depths of the human psyche.
276 pages, ebook
First published October 27, 2015
35 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Simon Law
7 books102 followersSimon Law, Author, was born October 23 1983 in the town of Crawley, Sussex, England.
Law first became a published writer in 2009 with the release of his début novel 'Bringing Forth the End of Days', an apocalyptic novel set in his home town of Crawley. Although his early works were mainly Science -Fiction, Law now concentrates his writing primarily in the Horror genre.
During his studies at the local community college, Law focused his education mainly on maths and science, obtaining high qualifications in both, but says he only discovered his passion for writing later in life.
After leaving college in 2001, Law became part of a small film production team and was involved in many low-budget productions such as 'Attack of the Martian Dinosaurs' and others, before the team finally disbanded in 2007.
In his spare time, Law likes to dabble in photography, animation, and music production. He is an avid fan of Stephen King, Richard Laymon, and dean koontz, and also enjoys classic literature from authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and H.G.Wells.
Law's current writing project 'The Damaged' is penned for release in late 2015, and is set to be the author's first published work of Horror.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 13, 2016
I would like to thank Simon Law for a copy of his debut novel in exchange for an unbiased review.
First of all, let me state in no uncertain terms that I am not a horror fan. Not at all. And this book is most definitely a tale of horror. That being said, I have to admit I enjoyed much of it.
First of all, Simon Law can write! What a great flow this story has, thanks to the author’s outstanding way with words and sentence structure. I am already missing this in my next read—you spoiled me, Mr. Law.
The story is told primarily from the viewpoints of Matthew and Tammy, both people with very damaged souls. The character development of these two is superb. Both are dealing with significant psychological issues, which I thought were very well portrayed. Though Tammy and particularly Matthew have both committed unthinkable acts, I couldn’t help but feel for them—this reflects the skill of the writer.
This book is dark, very dark. In fact, I would call it as black as it gets. Boy oh boy. I never skim, and I can generally take anything, but I had to dodge my way through a couple of parts that I couldn’t face head on. The pace is steady. There are many suspenseful intervals. The dread factor is alive and well.
The last 15% was especially gripping and the final twist was a flabbergaster! Wow—totally unexpected.
I do not want to fail to mention that taken in context of the book I love the cover.
The Damaged is an extremely impressive debut novel. I strongly recommend it to all fans of horror and very dark tales. I just as strongly recommend the squeamish to take a pass. If I were a horror lover, I would be giving this book 5 double plus stars. Since I do not care for horror, I still give it a solid 4 stars for its masterful authorship. How about a straight up thriller for your next book, Mr. Law? Pretty pretty please?
First of all, let me state in no uncertain terms that I am not a horror fan. Not at all. And this book is most definitely a tale of horror. That being said, I have to admit I enjoyed much of it.
First of all, Simon Law can write! What a great flow this story has, thanks to the author’s outstanding way with words and sentence structure. I am already missing this in my next read—you spoiled me, Mr. Law.
The story is told primarily from the viewpoints of Matthew and Tammy, both people with very damaged souls. The character development of these two is superb. Both are dealing with significant psychological issues, which I thought were very well portrayed. Though Tammy and particularly Matthew have both committed unthinkable acts, I couldn’t help but feel for them—this reflects the skill of the writer.
This book is dark, very dark. In fact, I would call it as black as it gets. Boy oh boy. I never skim, and I can generally take anything, but I had to dodge my way through a couple of parts that I couldn’t face head on. The pace is steady. There are many suspenseful intervals. The dread factor is alive and well.
The last 15% was especially gripping and the final twist was a flabbergaster! Wow—totally unexpected.
I do not want to fail to mention that taken in context of the book I love the cover.
The Damaged is an extremely impressive debut novel. I strongly recommend it to all fans of horror and very dark tales. I just as strongly recommend the squeamish to take a pass. If I were a horror lover, I would be giving this book 5 double plus stars. Since I do not care for horror, I still give it a solid 4 stars for its masterful authorship. How about a straight up thriller for your next book, Mr. Law? Pretty pretty please?
October 27, 2015
What have I just read. Just what have I devoured over the past two days.
This has been one of the most powerful books, the most 'peek through my fingers' type of book I have read for a long time.
This story starts out very very well indeed. It brings you up to the time of the big storm, we are not talking just a little bitty storm, oh no, we are talking big trees falling down, roofs off houses and destruction.
Matthew is just a boy.
Twenty five years on from that time, Matthew is discharged into the community from a Mental Institution where he has liberty, where he is free to make his own choices. BUT somethings from the past can shape our future right?
And Matthew is not immune from this fact.
Matthew in on tablets, he has to take his psychiatric meds, some very strong meds for his psychosis.
He has Tammy who comes in twice each day to administer his tablets and she has to make sure he takes them.
Tammy is a care worker. She has other clients she visits on a day to day basis. But with Matthew, he is different, she is not used to mental health problems, she is not used to caring or seeing to a person with a psychosis.
Tammy had her own problems. Tammy has her own issues.
Matthew has his.
Matthew and Tammy become attracted to each other.
Matthew has a problem with tramps.
Tammy has a friend who is a tramp.
There is a bit of gore in the middle of this story and I have a vivid imagination that took me beyond what I was reading so I skimmed some. Not because it was awful, but because I am like someone who closes their eyes when the gruesome bits happen. I'm a scardy cat.
There is a piece written in this book where Matthew is pulling something that looks like a twig from his body, the way the author writes it, I could feel it myself even my bum cheeks were tense!
This is so well written, that I am amazed it doesn't have more reviews.
If you are reading this, you are missing out [truly] on a very good addictive read.
None of us know how the brain works, none of us know how others would react in certain situation or even yourself.
At times I was on the edge of my seat wondering where Simon Law was going with this.
The final chapter will leave you speechless.
*My thanks to the author for this copy because without it, I just wouldn't have seen it and would have missed out on an awesome read....tension build up read"!*
Can I just say though, I don't much like the cover. Me and my covers...yeah I know....but I just had to mention it.
This has been one of the most powerful books, the most 'peek through my fingers' type of book I have read for a long time.
This story starts out very very well indeed. It brings you up to the time of the big storm, we are not talking just a little bitty storm, oh no, we are talking big trees falling down, roofs off houses and destruction.
Matthew is just a boy.
Twenty five years on from that time, Matthew is discharged into the community from a Mental Institution where he has liberty, where he is free to make his own choices. BUT somethings from the past can shape our future right?
And Matthew is not immune from this fact.
Matthew in on tablets, he has to take his psychiatric meds, some very strong meds for his psychosis.
He has Tammy who comes in twice each day to administer his tablets and she has to make sure he takes them.
Tammy is a care worker. She has other clients she visits on a day to day basis. But with Matthew, he is different, she is not used to mental health problems, she is not used to caring or seeing to a person with a psychosis.
Tammy had her own problems. Tammy has her own issues.
Matthew has his.
Matthew and Tammy become attracted to each other.
Matthew has a problem with tramps.
Tammy has a friend who is a tramp.
There is a bit of gore in the middle of this story and I have a vivid imagination that took me beyond what I was reading so I skimmed some. Not because it was awful, but because I am like someone who closes their eyes when the gruesome bits happen. I'm a scardy cat.
There is a piece written in this book where Matthew is pulling something that looks like a twig from his body, the way the author writes it, I could feel it myself even my bum cheeks were tense!
This is so well written, that I am amazed it doesn't have more reviews.
If you are reading this, you are missing out [truly] on a very good addictive read.
None of us know how the brain works, none of us know how others would react in certain situation or even yourself.
At times I was on the edge of my seat wondering where Simon Law was going with this.
The final chapter will leave you speechless.
*My thanks to the author for this copy because without it, I just wouldn't have seen it and would have missed out on an awesome read....tension build up read"!*
Can I just say though, I don't much like the cover. Me and my covers...yeah I know....but I just had to mention it.
June 23, 2016
4.5 psychologically disturbed stars
I received the Audible version of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
WARNING UP FRONT: This book contains extremely realistic gore, gruesome scenes of self-mutilation, and animals were harmed/killed over the course of this book. Some readers will be disturbed by this, so be forewarned.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, other than what the blurb said. “The Damaged” is a perfect title for this book, too, since the two main characters, Matthew and Tammy, are both dealing with various forms of (untreated) mental illness. For Matthew, there’s unaddressed PTSD from seeing his parents murdered before his eyes as a young boy, there’s personality disorder from his mistreatment at the hands of an orderly in a mental institution, and there’s outright psychopathic tendencies, as well. Tammy? She is struggling with severe depression, addictions, and self-mutilation, all as a result of an extremely nasty custody battle with her ex-husband. So yeah, “damaged” is a good word for both.
Matthew has just been released from a mental hospital after a 15-year stay, after seeing his parents murdered, found in shock, standing in their dripping blood. Tammy is Matthew’s caregiver/nurse, visiting him every morning at 9AM and every evening at 5PM. Of course, these two damaged individuals, over the course of time, start to develop feelings for each other, which is brilliantly addressed from Tammy’s point of view as “crossing the professional line” and the potential impact this could have on her job and private life.
The brilliance of the story comes with the author delving into the broken mind of Matthew, who has developed into a serial killer in his quest to find the homeless man that killed his parents. In this, the story definitely had an Edgar Allen Poe/Tell-Tale Heart “feel” to it. Is he psychotic? Is he possessed? Is what he is seeing in his head or is it really happening? This is the underlying thread through the book.
This is one book where I thought I had the plot twist figured out several times. The ending was brilliant in its simplicity, and the punch at the very end really tied that underlying thread into a huge Gordian knot.
Thanks to the author for the gift of this audio book! Highly recommended!
I received the Audible version of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
WARNING UP FRONT: This book contains extremely realistic gore, gruesome scenes of self-mutilation, and animals were harmed/killed over the course of this book. Some readers will be disturbed by this, so be forewarned.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, other than what the blurb said. “The Damaged” is a perfect title for this book, too, since the two main characters, Matthew and Tammy, are both dealing with various forms of (untreated) mental illness. For Matthew, there’s unaddressed PTSD from seeing his parents murdered before his eyes as a young boy, there’s personality disorder from his mistreatment at the hands of an orderly in a mental institution, and there’s outright psychopathic tendencies, as well. Tammy? She is struggling with severe depression, addictions, and self-mutilation, all as a result of an extremely nasty custody battle with her ex-husband. So yeah, “damaged” is a good word for both.
Matthew has just been released from a mental hospital after a 15-year stay, after seeing his parents murdered, found in shock, standing in their dripping blood. Tammy is Matthew’s caregiver/nurse, visiting him every morning at 9AM and every evening at 5PM. Of course, these two damaged individuals, over the course of time, start to develop feelings for each other, which is brilliantly addressed from Tammy’s point of view as “crossing the professional line” and the potential impact this could have on her job and private life.
The brilliance of the story comes with the author delving into the broken mind of Matthew, who has developed into a serial killer in his quest to find the homeless man that killed his parents. In this, the story definitely had an Edgar Allen Poe/Tell-Tale Heart “feel” to it. Is he psychotic? Is he possessed? Is what he is seeing in his head or is it really happening? This is the underlying thread through the book.
This is one book where I thought I had the plot twist figured out several times. The ending was brilliant in its simplicity, and the punch at the very end really tied that underlying thread into a huge Gordian knot.
Thanks to the author for the gift of this audio book! Highly recommended!
June 7, 2016
I feel quite nostalgic about the Great Storm of 1987. It hit the UK in October of that year and my oldest daughter decided it was the most opportune time to be born. So I simply had to read this book.
Matthew Mason's troubles started with this Great Storm. 25 years later, the reader meets up with Matthew again as his home carer, Tammy, is sent to see him twice daily to assist with his medication. Both, Tammy and Matthew, are deeply damaged souls albeit for completely different reasons. Initially thinking, this may be a story of loss and grief and two broken people finding each other, I kind of settled in for an emotional psychological suspense story, but author Simon Law took this to places I never expected. It veered right off into seriously dark, twisted and very disturbing territory. I loved it!
The audio version is just over 12 hours. I finished it in 2 days. I literally listened whenever I had a chance to do so.
The writing is fluid and very vivid, and there were passages where I really considered pausing the audio, which so far has only ever happened while listening to the Smoky Barrett books by Cody McFadyen. However, I think the most unnerving part of this was the fact how utterly realistic the characters were. It was truly scary.
Trigger warning: this contains scenes of self-harm.
If you're like me and you struggle with anything involving harm to animals, some of this will be uncomfortable. Parts of this are extremely graphic and gory.
If you enjoy horror and extremely intense explorations into very fragile minds, read this! It was brilliant. If you're squeamish, you may find this difficult.
As far as the narration is concerned, I enjoyed it for the most part. The narrator has a very clear, pleasant voice, great pacing and was good at getting the emotions across and voicing the male characters. As with many male narrators, his female voices took some time to get used to, though.
I was gifted a copy of the audio book by the author in exchange for an honest review. My sincere thanks to Simon Law. Can't wait to see what comes next!
Matthew Mason's troubles started with this Great Storm. 25 years later, the reader meets up with Matthew again as his home carer, Tammy, is sent to see him twice daily to assist with his medication. Both, Tammy and Matthew, are deeply damaged souls albeit for completely different reasons. Initially thinking, this may be a story of loss and grief and two broken people finding each other, I kind of settled in for an emotional psychological suspense story, but author Simon Law took this to places I never expected. It veered right off into seriously dark, twisted and very disturbing territory. I loved it!
The audio version is just over 12 hours. I finished it in 2 days. I literally listened whenever I had a chance to do so.
The writing is fluid and very vivid, and there were passages where I really considered pausing the audio, which so far has only ever happened while listening to the Smoky Barrett books by Cody McFadyen. However, I think the most unnerving part of this was the fact how utterly realistic the characters were. It was truly scary.
Trigger warning: this contains scenes of self-harm.
If you're like me and you struggle with anything involving harm to animals, some of this will be uncomfortable. Parts of this are extremely graphic and gory.
If you enjoy horror and extremely intense explorations into very fragile minds, read this! It was brilliant. If you're squeamish, you may find this difficult.
As far as the narration is concerned, I enjoyed it for the most part. The narrator has a very clear, pleasant voice, great pacing and was good at getting the emotions across and voicing the male characters. As with many male narrators, his female voices took some time to get used to, though.
I was gifted a copy of the audio book by the author in exchange for an honest review. My sincere thanks to Simon Law. Can't wait to see what comes next!
November 8, 2015
The Damaged is one dark and seriously disturbing read.
The story centres on Matthew who is recently out of an mental institution and back in his family home where he witnessed his parents being brutally killed by a tramp.
Tammy finds herself being assigned to Matthew in her role as a carer making sure Matthew takes his medication.
Matthew and Tammy are both damaged individuals. Matthew, because of his parents death and his upbringing by his horrible aunt and Tammy due to being unable to cope with her mothers death, ends up with her losing her partner and even more harder for her to bear, her daughter.
I think because of what they have both been through, Matthew and Tammy are like kindred spirits who both see something of themselves in the other person.
The author gives you insight in to Matthews very disturbed mind. It is very hard to know exactly how I felt about Matthew's character through out the story as it kept changing. I wanted to feel sorry for him for the awful things he experienced through out his childhood yet even though I know he isn't sound of mind I couldn't comprehend the person he had become.
The Damaged even though classed as a psychological thriller, felt just as much as a horror to me as well. There are some parts that I had my hand over my mouth as I was struggling to comprehend the horror of what I was reading. It truly is a dark and disturbing read and one that left me slightly unnerved by the end.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres on Matthew who is recently out of an mental institution and back in his family home where he witnessed his parents being brutally killed by a tramp.
Tammy finds herself being assigned to Matthew in her role as a carer making sure Matthew takes his medication.
Matthew and Tammy are both damaged individuals. Matthew, because of his parents death and his upbringing by his horrible aunt and Tammy due to being unable to cope with her mothers death, ends up with her losing her partner and even more harder for her to bear, her daughter.
I think because of what they have both been through, Matthew and Tammy are like kindred spirits who both see something of themselves in the other person.
The author gives you insight in to Matthews very disturbed mind. It is very hard to know exactly how I felt about Matthew's character through out the story as it kept changing. I wanted to feel sorry for him for the awful things he experienced through out his childhood yet even though I know he isn't sound of mind I couldn't comprehend the person he had become.
The Damaged even though classed as a psychological thriller, felt just as much as a horror to me as well. There are some parts that I had my hand over my mouth as I was struggling to comprehend the horror of what I was reading. It truly is a dark and disturbing read and one that left me slightly unnerved by the end.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2015
I have come across many books that have one common theme: they're rushed. Authors write and publish them very quickly and more often than not, it hurts the quality of the book. It's clear that this author has taken his time with this book. The writing and editing are truly top-notch. Simon Law has a very special talent. While there are many authors out there who write great stories, he has a gift that turns every sentence into a beautiful song.
The Damaged is about a man named Matthew who is released from a long incarceration in a mental health facility after watching a lunatic murder his parents as a young boy. Mathew delves deeper and deeper into psychosis as his caregiver is too preoccupied with her own personal drama to notice Matthew morphing into madness.
I expected a creepy story, but I did not expect what I read. I have read a lot of twisted books in my life, but this one is the first to actually disturb me, and it deeply disturbed me. The last quarter or so of the book had my heart racing, and I couldn't sleep after finishing it. Simon Law managed to accomplish what even Stephen King has not been able to do. I was terrified. The Damaged will sink its claws into your psyche and never let go. If I could recommend one book to you right now, this would be it. Once people discover this book, Simon Law is going to have an amazing career. I would give this book more than 5 stars. Incredible!
The Damaged is about a man named Matthew who is released from a long incarceration in a mental health facility after watching a lunatic murder his parents as a young boy. Mathew delves deeper and deeper into psychosis as his caregiver is too preoccupied with her own personal drama to notice Matthew morphing into madness.
I expected a creepy story, but I did not expect what I read. I have read a lot of twisted books in my life, but this one is the first to actually disturb me, and it deeply disturbed me. The last quarter or so of the book had my heart racing, and I couldn't sleep after finishing it. Simon Law managed to accomplish what even Stephen King has not been able to do. I was terrified. The Damaged will sink its claws into your psyche and never let go. If I could recommend one book to you right now, this would be it. Once people discover this book, Simon Law is going to have an amazing career. I would give this book more than 5 stars. Incredible!
February 22, 2016
Review: THE DAMAGED by Simon Law
"IF ONLY....." Throughout this book, the phrase chimed in my mind like a church bell tolling a funeral. "If only.." the 1987 Great Storm had never damaged Britain. If only George hadn't opened the door. If only Tammy didn't drive intoxicated. If only Matthew had remained asleep. The novel is a tragedy of errors, in which individuals mostly well-intentioned jump on the road not taken, the sure downhill path to misery.
As in all good horror, the inevitability is subtle, yet implacable, kind of like watching a car crash in the making, with characters who become vividly real and promise to linger in the mind.
"IF ONLY....." Throughout this book, the phrase chimed in my mind like a church bell tolling a funeral. "If only.." the 1987 Great Storm had never damaged Britain. If only George hadn't opened the door. If only Tammy didn't drive intoxicated. If only Matthew had remained asleep. The novel is a tragedy of errors, in which individuals mostly well-intentioned jump on the road not taken, the sure downhill path to misery.
As in all good horror, the inevitability is subtle, yet implacable, kind of like watching a car crash in the making, with characters who become vividly real and promise to linger in the mind.
October 24, 2015
This book was amazing. He really has a way with words. This book was very engrossing and psychologically creepy. I love creepy books and I definitely want to read more of his. I love psychological thrillers and anything that can keep me on the edge of my seat, which this book did.
March 9, 2021
Ooh, this was dark! I loved it. Definitely recommend it to fans of horror, dark thrillers and psychological thrillers. There are some graphic scenes and dark thoughts, so not for the squeamish. The more this story spiralled into darkness, the harder I found it to put down. Loved the characters. Gripping story and thought provoking!
October 30, 2015
"The Damaged" is a totally gruesome, utterly deranged novel. But that's not to say it's not fantastic. Any book that has me spending every spare minute I have reading it is a good book, in my opinion! I would compare this work of fiction to "Hannibal" by Thomas Harris. Gory, bloody, and very, very intense. It's definitely not a book for the lighthearted, or the squeamish. But if you can get past the blood and violence, there's a very strong story of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and abuse. Law does a very good job of making you feel sorry for Matthew, the villain of this story. This is mainly Tammy's doing who sees him as a man who has taken too many blows in his short life. She does not excuse, or condone his actions, but she can understand his motivation. And she feels sorry for him. Which leads the reader to feel sorry for him too. Tammy, also, is a very likeable character. Despite her problems, which are many, she shows herself to be trying really hard to get her life back on track and reconcile with her daughter. I would have liked to learn more about Tammy, Keith and Jessica. Their life as a family, before they fall apart, was only mentioned briefly. And although I was hoping for a happy ending, I was oddly satisfied when that hope went unfulfilled. Instead, I got a realistic ending. One thing this book did not do, as so many do, was sugarcoat anything. Law laid bare the inner workings of Matthew's mind as he unraveled into madness. Law told, in graphic detail, the crimes Matthew committed; the hurt Tammy did to herself. And Law gave a bittersweet, but realistic, ending; and certainly left his readers wanting more. I was left feeling empty and devoid at the end; a feeling I only get when I've just finished a damn good book. Whilst there were moments that were a little too gruesome, even for me, I could see past that to the exciting, intense and thrilling read that this book really was! An absolute must-read for all you horror fans out there.
June 25, 2016
I received the audiobook in exchange for a honest review.
my review: this book is bat shit crazy! (in the best possible way)
meet Matthew and tammy. both are damaged and have problems. Matthew witnesses his parents being murdered by a homeless guy. Tammy is an alcoholic. she drives drunk with her daughter & crashes the car. both walk away but the damage is done. Tammy get to see her daughter 1 day a week. She is also in the caregiver business. (who thought this would be a good idea?!) this is how she meets Matthew. He has been released (on a trial bases) from the mental institution.
the narrator was very good. loved his accent!
my review: this book is bat shit crazy! (in the best possible way)
meet Matthew and tammy. both are damaged and have problems. Matthew witnesses his parents being murdered by a homeless guy. Tammy is an alcoholic. she drives drunk with her daughter & crashes the car. both walk away but the damage is done. Tammy get to see her daughter 1 day a week. She is also in the caregiver business. (who thought this would be a good idea?!) this is how she meets Matthew. He has been released (on a trial bases) from the mental institution.
the narrator was very good. loved his accent!
November 16, 2015
The darkness of the story line and the psychological elements make this a chilling read.
The reader is taken back to 1987 (with excellent descriptions of the time) and the famous storm. All is normal routine and then during the storm a young boy , Matthew, witnesses his parents senselessly murdered by a tramp seeking shelter. The destructive power of the storm and the murderer horrifically and overwhelmingly damages Matthew.
Moving on 25 years, Matthew is on release from a psychiatric hospital and returns to his unaltered family home.
Tammy, a care worker, is assigned to Matthew to ensure that he takes his medication. Tammy has her own emotional and mental damage and she and Matthew connect which is both reassuring and destructive.
As soon as Matthew finds “the mysterious feather”, I thought of the film “The Raven” and that whatever came next it wouldn’t be good. I felt immersed in this novel as if it was really happening which is due to the visual writing but also intelligent writing in which the fragility and complexity of the mind and the breaking down of it, moving through the “vague boundaries of reality and delusion” is conveyed.
I found it disturbing because their actions were caused by life events that gives the reader an understanding of why and creates empathy for them even though you know this should be reserved for others.
This was edge of the seat reading for me – I wanted to know what was coming next but at the same felt too scared to read on.
The pace keeps up to the very end – and the ending is just twisted! This is an excellent horror novel.
The reader is taken back to 1987 (with excellent descriptions of the time) and the famous storm. All is normal routine and then during the storm a young boy , Matthew, witnesses his parents senselessly murdered by a tramp seeking shelter. The destructive power of the storm and the murderer horrifically and overwhelmingly damages Matthew.
Moving on 25 years, Matthew is on release from a psychiatric hospital and returns to his unaltered family home.
Tammy, a care worker, is assigned to Matthew to ensure that he takes his medication. Tammy has her own emotional and mental damage and she and Matthew connect which is both reassuring and destructive.
As soon as Matthew finds “the mysterious feather”, I thought of the film “The Raven” and that whatever came next it wouldn’t be good. I felt immersed in this novel as if it was really happening which is due to the visual writing but also intelligent writing in which the fragility and complexity of the mind and the breaking down of it, moving through the “vague boundaries of reality and delusion” is conveyed.
I found it disturbing because their actions were caused by life events that gives the reader an understanding of why and creates empathy for them even though you know this should be reserved for others.
This was edge of the seat reading for me – I wanted to know what was coming next but at the same felt too scared to read on.
The pace keeps up to the very end – and the ending is just twisted! This is an excellent horror novel.
October 25, 2015
I was really lucky and received an arc of this book in December 2014, the Author asked me for first impressions and I sent him this:
*Starts slow
* There are very long sentences, with too many details
* Love the Thundercats reference
* First chapter final was AMAZING
* Tammy first chapter was really heartbreaking
* The story is dark and feels so real
* Like the dates coincidence
* Is Matthew a little too crazy??
*I don't know what happened, my notes ended here. The story have so many twists and turns, it captured my attention 100%
*Shit, the end!? Wtf??
*This is an incredible book, you're very talented, the story is intense, scary, twisted, love the gore, is realistic. It's going to be a success. Also, love the cover.
The Damaged is a twisted, dark, upsetting and amazing story, excellent written, full of twists and turns, with very graphic scenes, I read it in a couple of days because is a real page turner.
If you are a Horror fan reader, you ain't want to miss this one.
Highly Recommended!!!
*I received a Free copy in exchange for an Honest Review*
*Starts slow
* There are very long sentences, with too many details
* Love the Thundercats reference
* First chapter final was AMAZING
* Tammy first chapter was really heartbreaking
* The story is dark and feels so real
* Like the dates coincidence
* Is Matthew a little too crazy??
*I don't know what happened, my notes ended here. The story have so many twists and turns, it captured my attention 100%
*Shit, the end!? Wtf??
*This is an incredible book, you're very talented, the story is intense, scary, twisted, love the gore, is realistic. It's going to be a success. Also, love the cover.
The Damaged is a twisted, dark, upsetting and amazing story, excellent written, full of twists and turns, with very graphic scenes, I read it in a couple of days because is a real page turner.
If you are a Horror fan reader, you ain't want to miss this one.
Highly Recommended!!!
*I received a Free copy in exchange for an Honest Review*
November 9, 2015
I received this book to give an honest review.
So I really wasn't quite sure how this book was going to go. When I read the synopsis I figured that Matthew would get his parents killer and that would be it. Oh no this is something far more entertaining in a crazy way. Matthew is on his own after twenty five years but he still needs care as far as taking his pills on a timely manner. In comes Tammy she is a care worker with demons of her own and we see how she handles them. She has never taken care of someone like Matthew before so when she sees him for the first time she finds him to be quite handsome and you know feelings are going to be flying in both directions. We slowly see Matthew change little by little and it makes you wonder if what he seeing the result of him not taking his pills or is it something else?
This was a great psychological thriller with the gore, the craziness how someone can act so normal (in what is considered normal) but yet be a killer is mind blowing.
Both characters are troubled but within their own way and it can be their downfall what can happen next is what you have to read to find out.
It is dark with some twists thrown in there and it is a great read for those that like thrillers.
So I really wasn't quite sure how this book was going to go. When I read the synopsis I figured that Matthew would get his parents killer and that would be it. Oh no this is something far more entertaining in a crazy way. Matthew is on his own after twenty five years but he still needs care as far as taking his pills on a timely manner. In comes Tammy she is a care worker with demons of her own and we see how she handles them. She has never taken care of someone like Matthew before so when she sees him for the first time she finds him to be quite handsome and you know feelings are going to be flying in both directions. We slowly see Matthew change little by little and it makes you wonder if what he seeing the result of him not taking his pills or is it something else?
This was a great psychological thriller with the gore, the craziness how someone can act so normal (in what is considered normal) but yet be a killer is mind blowing.
Both characters are troubled but within their own way and it can be their downfall what can happen next is what you have to read to find out.
It is dark with some twists thrown in there and it is a great read for those that like thrillers.
September 9, 2016
I had no idea what to expect when I started The Damaged as I hadn’t looked at the synopsis before I started reading so I essentially went in blind!
The Damaged is part thriller, part horror I think, whether intended or not. Some parts of this book are downright creepy! The main characters, Matthew and Tammy are interesting in their own way! Matthew for more obvious reasons.
I found myself feeling uncomfortable on more than one occasion while reading, and in a way that’s a good thing because it means the book is affecting in some ways. It deals with mental illness, trauma, and inevitably, murder. None of these are easy topics to deal with.
The book flowed reasonably well, with quite an interesting storyline. I think that the reason I didn’t warm to it was that the horror element just didn’t suit me. It’s not usually a genre I tend to read, and when I’m not expecting it I get thrown out of my comfort zone.
I’m sure for horrors reader The Damaged is probably quite tame, but for me, it was enough to make me unsettled. However, it was still a good read. One that I would recommend if you like your thrillers on the dark side!
Happy reading!
The Damaged is part thriller, part horror I think, whether intended or not. Some parts of this book are downright creepy! The main characters, Matthew and Tammy are interesting in their own way! Matthew for more obvious reasons.
I found myself feeling uncomfortable on more than one occasion while reading, and in a way that’s a good thing because it means the book is affecting in some ways. It deals with mental illness, trauma, and inevitably, murder. None of these are easy topics to deal with.
The book flowed reasonably well, with quite an interesting storyline. I think that the reason I didn’t warm to it was that the horror element just didn’t suit me. It’s not usually a genre I tend to read, and when I’m not expecting it I get thrown out of my comfort zone.
I’m sure for horrors reader The Damaged is probably quite tame, but for me, it was enough to make me unsettled. However, it was still a good read. One that I would recommend if you like your thrillers on the dark side!
Happy reading!
October 22, 2015
A twisted journey spiralling into darkness and madness by a single life altering event - which in itself would have driven anyone mad. But a series of abuse and neglect following the event led to the pinnacle of total insanity as the main character is finally driven over the edge. You will question what is real and what is not as the author leads you deeper into the mystery. A good read full of character development and plot twists leading you to care about the characters as they stumble along in the dark.
November 1, 2015
Fantastic
I would definitely recommend this book for a first time horror reader and a seasoned horror veteran. All emotions are encompassed throughout this book. Anger, sadness, terror, happiness, insanity.... it builds and builds till it gets to the explosive ending you don't see coming. I really felt for both main characters. Loved this book and cannot wait for Simons next book.
I would definitely recommend this book for a first time horror reader and a seasoned horror veteran. All emotions are encompassed throughout this book. Anger, sadness, terror, happiness, insanity.... it builds and builds till it gets to the explosive ending you don't see coming. I really felt for both main characters. Loved this book and cannot wait for Simons next book.
August 31, 2016
normally don't read these type of books but I won a copy from a book blog Nerd Girl so the author generously gifted me a copy... So I dived right in not really knowing what to expect but holy moly!! This book tripped me out!! I had no clue one moment to the next what was going to happen!! I was constantly on the edge of my seat and stayed up way past my bedtime because I could not put it down!!! Definitely a heart pounding crazy roller coaster ride from beginning to end!!!
October 20, 2015
What a fabulous book (helps that I live on the South Coast) the twists and turns in this book keep you on you toes and makes you want to read more and more. Such a page turner and the suspense keeps you right on the edge of the chair. Two main characters that have their own problems, but without giving too much away you will need to read this book yourself. I guarantee that you will enjoy it
July 14, 2017
Ok Mr Law, what did I just read?!
It's not for the squeamish. It creeped me out. It's dark, really dark. I had to stop reading and tell myself it wasn't real. Great writing, great pace. Great detail, I could honestly visualise all of it, every creepy sound and detail...and great ending.
Loved the 'damaged' characters who I still felt empathy for.
When is you next book, sir?
It's not for the squeamish. It creeped me out. It's dark, really dark. I had to stop reading and tell myself it wasn't real. Great writing, great pace. Great detail, I could honestly visualise all of it, every creepy sound and detail...and great ending.
Loved the 'damaged' characters who I still felt empathy for.
When is you next book, sir?
January 13, 2016
The storm of "87 was the worst in history. Matthew Mason was just 5 or 6 and loved his life with his
wholesome parents. But during the storm a homeless man asked for shelter and when the reply was no, he forced his way in. From there the book left me with my mouth hanging wide open and tears in my eyes.
Then we are in today's time with Tammy Atkins, a 25 years old visiting caregiver who has struggled with alcohol and self abuse. She has lost her boyfriend and daughter because of it. But now she has been free of alcohol and trying to get to be a with her daughter more.
Tammy is informed that she has a new client on her route, Matthew Mason. Not bad she thinks, only twice a day to make sure he takes his meds. As she makes her rounds from client to client, it is Matthews turn. Handsome muscular older man. Not to much older, must enough to be distinguished. They hit it off right a away and a relationship begins.
As you go thorough their blossoming relationship and Matthew's need to find his parents killer, I felt it to be a little slow, but as I worked up to Matthew changing into a beast and his new raven friend, I understand where the Author was going.
The beast has Matthew convinced that he has to kill to find his parents killer. As this gets worse, Tammy starts to suspect Matthew is doing the Tramp killings. But she loves him and he loves her. How far does love go to keep you alive? Tammy is Matthew's hostage and witnesses the truth. Can she escape with her life?
The ending was just as jaw dropping as the beginning. It left me scared for Tammy, my mined blown with Matthew's inner self, and the conclusion was unexpected and left it open for more.
This would not be a good read for young readers. Some scenes are detailed very graphically and may be disturbing to young readers.
I enjoyed reading this book! Tammy and Matthew intertwined their past together in a way I never thought of. It made me think about the human mine and wonder how people who are mentally ill, if they go through things like this. I highly recommended if you enjoy horror and psychological thriller's.
**This review was done in conjunction with NerdGirl. For more info find us on FB** and *I was given a copy in exchange for honest review*
wholesome parents. But during the storm a homeless man asked for shelter and when the reply was no, he forced his way in. From there the book left me with my mouth hanging wide open and tears in my eyes.
Then we are in today's time with Tammy Atkins, a 25 years old visiting caregiver who has struggled with alcohol and self abuse. She has lost her boyfriend and daughter because of it. But now she has been free of alcohol and trying to get to be a with her daughter more.
Tammy is informed that she has a new client on her route, Matthew Mason. Not bad she thinks, only twice a day to make sure he takes his meds. As she makes her rounds from client to client, it is Matthews turn. Handsome muscular older man. Not to much older, must enough to be distinguished. They hit it off right a away and a relationship begins.
As you go thorough their blossoming relationship and Matthew's need to find his parents killer, I felt it to be a little slow, but as I worked up to Matthew changing into a beast and his new raven friend, I understand where the Author was going.
The beast has Matthew convinced that he has to kill to find his parents killer. As this gets worse, Tammy starts to suspect Matthew is doing the Tramp killings. But she loves him and he loves her. How far does love go to keep you alive? Tammy is Matthew's hostage and witnesses the truth. Can she escape with her life?
The ending was just as jaw dropping as the beginning. It left me scared for Tammy, my mined blown with Matthew's inner self, and the conclusion was unexpected and left it open for more.
This would not be a good read for young readers. Some scenes are detailed very graphically and may be disturbing to young readers.
I enjoyed reading this book! Tammy and Matthew intertwined their past together in a way I never thought of. It made me think about the human mine and wonder how people who are mentally ill, if they go through things like this. I highly recommended if you enjoy horror and psychological thriller's.
**This review was done in conjunction with NerdGirl. For more info find us on FB** and *I was given a copy in exchange for honest review*
March 18, 2016
Tammy is a carer who just can’t seem to care for herself. She has a drinking problem that ruined her relationship with both her partner and her daughter, and no matter how many AA meetings she attends she doesn’t feel connected to anything or anyone. She is broken but when she meets her new client, Matthew, she sees that he is so much more broken than her. The difference between them is that he is optimistic, especially when it comes to her.
This book is very intense, in that we become very embroiled in Tammy and Matthew’s thought process. The fact that they are so incredibly broken and slipping down a hopeless slope into the abyss makes the reader cling on to the hope that things will get better. I won’t give any spoilers away, you will just have to see for yourself.
The characters are exceptionally three dimensional and you can’t but help feel that they are real, so when something happens to them the reader is transfixed. The book really drew me in and gave me plenty to think about. Within the genre of horror, this book has hit more than one subgenre. It has a definite psychological horror theme but it also shows the horror of human nature, and how easily life can tumble out of control. Mental illness within the horror genre is particularly disturbing, and this book really explores that.
This book is very intense, in that we become very embroiled in Tammy and Matthew’s thought process. The fact that they are so incredibly broken and slipping down a hopeless slope into the abyss makes the reader cling on to the hope that things will get better. I won’t give any spoilers away, you will just have to see for yourself.
The characters are exceptionally three dimensional and you can’t but help feel that they are real, so when something happens to them the reader is transfixed. The book really drew me in and gave me plenty to think about. Within the genre of horror, this book has hit more than one subgenre. It has a definite psychological horror theme but it also shows the horror of human nature, and how easily life can tumble out of control. Mental illness within the horror genre is particularly disturbing, and this book really explores that.
October 31, 2015
Tammy Atkins – emotionally estranged from her ex-husband, suffering through horrible memories involving her daughter, grieving the loss of her mother. A cutter, an alcoholic—a ship adrift.
Damaged.
Matthew Mason – a psychological victim of the horrendous events that caused the loss of his parents, raised by an abusive aunt, stuck in an insane asylum at an early age, and newly emancipated (with fresh memories of abuse in the hospital).
Damaged.
Tammy hides her feeling well, internalizing her emotions and seemingly normal to all who see and work with her. She is put in charge of Matthew’s care, and the attraction is immediate and mutual.
With two such damaged souls, though—can something good come from it? After all, they are two ships with tattered sails and rotting hulls—how can they possibly support each other when they can’t even hold themselves up?
This was a really well-written book of psychological horror. Mr. Law did a lot of research on Matthew’s particular brand of psychosis, and it shows. The characters are fully-fledged (ouch, the pun! You’ll get it when you read the book), well thought-out, and very believable. It’s a tightly-woven story—a real page-turner that keeps the reader engaged to the very end.
Speaking of the end of the book—it looks like the saga may continue…
Damaged.
Matthew Mason – a psychological victim of the horrendous events that caused the loss of his parents, raised by an abusive aunt, stuck in an insane asylum at an early age, and newly emancipated (with fresh memories of abuse in the hospital).
Damaged.
Tammy hides her feeling well, internalizing her emotions and seemingly normal to all who see and work with her. She is put in charge of Matthew’s care, and the attraction is immediate and mutual.
With two such damaged souls, though—can something good come from it? After all, they are two ships with tattered sails and rotting hulls—how can they possibly support each other when they can’t even hold themselves up?
This was a really well-written book of psychological horror. Mr. Law did a lot of research on Matthew’s particular brand of psychosis, and it shows. The characters are fully-fledged (ouch, the pun! You’ll get it when you read the book), well thought-out, and very believable. It’s a tightly-woven story—a real page-turner that keeps the reader engaged to the very end.
Speaking of the end of the book—it looks like the saga may continue…
February 26, 2016
Book given free by the author for an honest review.
It has been a while since I have read a good, physiological thriller and I
am so glad I decided to read this one. The Damaged is an absolutely
amazing and gripping read and will have you hooked from the very start.
Simon Law is a new author to me and WOW, his writing is amazing and
so powerful you will get goose bumps from reading. The story is well
developed and the characters are perfectly written for the plot.
The Damaged is Tammy and Matthew's story and how two extremely
mixed up people come to meet. Tammy is an alcoholic, trying to hold her
life together. She is fighting to see her daughter but slipping slowly down
into a deep spiral of self destruction.
Matthew has just been released from a mental hospital after
witnessing the brutal murder of his parents many years ago. Matthew has been through a hell of a lot and he begins to develop feelings for Tammy and after befriending him, she then
realises what Matthew is actual capable of doing. Will facing the demons of his past save Tammy from his madness or will it be too late for the both of them?
It has been a while since I have read a good, physiological thriller and I
am so glad I decided to read this one. The Damaged is an absolutely
amazing and gripping read and will have you hooked from the very start.
Simon Law is a new author to me and WOW, his writing is amazing and
so powerful you will get goose bumps from reading. The story is well
developed and the characters are perfectly written for the plot.
The Damaged is Tammy and Matthew's story and how two extremely
mixed up people come to meet. Tammy is an alcoholic, trying to hold her
life together. She is fighting to see her daughter but slipping slowly down
into a deep spiral of self destruction.
Matthew has just been released from a mental hospital after
witnessing the brutal murder of his parents many years ago. Matthew has been through a hell of a lot and he begins to develop feelings for Tammy and after befriending him, she then
realises what Matthew is actual capable of doing. Will facing the demons of his past save Tammy from his madness or will it be too late for the both of them?
November 6, 2015
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this book.
The Damaged is part serial killer part possession story. This book started out great. The storm and the horror of Mathew watching his parents get killed grabbed me right away. Then the story moves to 25 years after that fateful night. We get to meet Tammy, a caregiver with psychological problems of her own, who is now Mathew's homecare nurse. At first I felt really bad for these two characters because of the mental and emotional problems they both had. As I continued reading it quickly became apparent that Tammy is self-absorbed and a horrible nurse and after he quit taking his meds Mathew is bat-shit crazy. It didn't take long before my initial sympathy turned into dislike for these two characters. The demon was kind of confusing. Is it real or the result of Mathew not taking his pills? You don't really know until the end. While I enjoyed Simon Law's writing style, I had a hard time connecting to this story. It just didn't work for me. An ok 3 star read.
The Damaged is part serial killer part possession story. This book started out great. The storm and the horror of Mathew watching his parents get killed grabbed me right away. Then the story moves to 25 years after that fateful night. We get to meet Tammy, a caregiver with psychological problems of her own, who is now Mathew's homecare nurse. At first I felt really bad for these two characters because of the mental and emotional problems they both had. As I continued reading it quickly became apparent that Tammy is self-absorbed and a horrible nurse and after he quit taking his meds Mathew is bat-shit crazy. It didn't take long before my initial sympathy turned into dislike for these two characters. The demon was kind of confusing. Is it real or the result of Mathew not taking his pills? You don't really know until the end. While I enjoyed Simon Law's writing style, I had a hard time connecting to this story. It just didn't work for me. An ok 3 star read.
February 1, 2016
a totally epic psychological read.
this book had me flipping pages. I absolutely love physiological thrillers and this book didn't let me down.
I'm gutted its over :( I so hoped that against the odds Tammy and Matthew would get their hea not because a hea is essential but because they have both been subjected to so much already :(
both Tammy and Matthews tales draw you in neither fighting for dominance both equally in the forefront of your mind. #heartbreaking
this book seriously worked it's way in to my heart. it's fabulously written and from the hangover I'm suffering I'm sure it will stick with me.
the open ending works fabulously for people like myself who like to imagine their own endings but also leaves plenty of room for the author to expand on the story if he so wishes.
ill be keeping me eyes on this author for future releases ;) go grab your copy now. rumour has it that it may currently be free. ( I have no idea how long for so grab it while you can ) xxxx
this book had me flipping pages. I absolutely love physiological thrillers and this book didn't let me down.
I'm gutted its over :( I so hoped that against the odds Tammy and Matthew would get their hea not because a hea is essential but because they have both been subjected to so much already :(
both Tammy and Matthews tales draw you in neither fighting for dominance both equally in the forefront of your mind. #heartbreaking
this book seriously worked it's way in to my heart. it's fabulously written and from the hangover I'm suffering I'm sure it will stick with me.
the open ending works fabulously for people like myself who like to imagine their own endings but also leaves plenty of room for the author to expand on the story if he so wishes.
ill be keeping me eyes on this author for future releases ;) go grab your copy now. rumour has it that it may currently be free. ( I have no idea how long for so grab it while you can ) xxxx
December 14, 2015
Question. How do you watch your horror films? You know, the really scary bit when they crank up the ominous music? Through your fingers? Well, this book is the literary equivalent of that. Yep. I know. But I kid you not.
With the way that the book started, I wasn’t sure where we were going to go. And then we had Tammy. And then Matthew. And what started as a story of loss and grief, morphed into something altogether darker and more disturbing.
Unsettling and grisly, the very ‘matter of fact’ narrative style lends itself very well to this tale,and enhances the incongruous nature of Matthew’s thoughts and feelings compared with the reader’s sense of normality.
And just when you think that you can neatly categorise Matthew, the author throws in a final, spooky curveball.
Well worth a read.
With the way that the book started, I wasn’t sure where we were going to go. And then we had Tammy. And then Matthew. And what started as a story of loss and grief, morphed into something altogether darker and more disturbing.
Unsettling and grisly, the very ‘matter of fact’ narrative style lends itself very well to this tale,and enhances the incongruous nature of Matthew’s thoughts and feelings compared with the reader’s sense of normality.
And just when you think that you can neatly categorise Matthew, the author throws in a final, spooky curveball.
Well worth a read.
November 9, 2015
The Damaged by Simon Law, is a psychological thriller that will drive you to the end. It all starts with The Great Storm in 1987.
If only his father had stayed inside, Matthew's life would have turned out so differently. But, Amon had different ideas. After the murder of his family, the small boy's mind wanders and breaks. Innocence lost, trust broken and a psyche overwhelmed with revenge, Matthew grows to manhood in an asylum. Release should be sweet, but within him dwells the evil, a seed at first, but Amon will not be confined.
Enter Tammy, a soul damaged woman who cares for Matthew. Her life means everything to Matthew, but Matthew's mind no longer exist. The raven has taken its form and demands its due.
If only his father had stayed inside, Matthew's life would have turned out so differently. But, Amon had different ideas. After the murder of his family, the small boy's mind wanders and breaks. Innocence lost, trust broken and a psyche overwhelmed with revenge, Matthew grows to manhood in an asylum. Release should be sweet, but within him dwells the evil, a seed at first, but Amon will not be confined.
Enter Tammy, a soul damaged woman who cares for Matthew. Her life means everything to Matthew, but Matthew's mind no longer exist. The raven has taken its form and demands its due.
July 6, 2016
This was a book I could hardly put down,even through the gorey bits.Rob Goll does a fine job with character voices.When Matthew was a child he saw his parents murdered by a tramp.He is released 25 years later from a mental institution with instructions for home care personnel to make sure he takes his pills.Through his masterful deceit he forgoes them causing a lengthy breakdown that takes its toll on his care workers,vagrants and anyone that gets in his way.
I was given this book for an honest review.
I was given this book for an honest review.
November 22, 2015
I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY FOR MY HONEST REVIEW OF THIS BOOK
The Damaged is a twisted, dark, upsetting story, full of twists and turns, with very graphic scenes. I am not a horror reader so this book was really different for me.I did read it rather quickly as it intrigued me. If you are a Horror fan reader, you ain't want to miss this one. I recommend this book to horror fans or not because it will hold your attention.
The Damaged is a twisted, dark, upsetting story, full of twists and turns, with very graphic scenes. I am not a horror reader so this book was really different for me.I did read it rather quickly as it intrigued me. If you are a Horror fan reader, you ain't want to miss this one. I recommend this book to horror fans or not because it will hold your attention.
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