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After the Affair
A compelling page-turner
Do you like a book with a gripping story? A page-turner you simply can't put down? A book with believable characters, a credible yet twisty plot and a fast, easy-to-read pace? If that's you, then this psychological thriller set in Dublin, Ireland should be right up your street.
Here's the blurb:
"University Lecturer David Ryan is having an affair. And he thinks no-one knows.
He’s wrong. Someone does know. And that someone is out to blackmail him.
But when the blackmail attempt goes wrong, both Ryan and the blackmailer find themselves dragged into an underground (and decidedly seedy) world of secrets, lies and violence. A world where no-one can be trusted and everyone has something to hide.
Set in modern-day Dublin, ‘After the Affair’ is the debut psychological thriller from author Jonathan Kaye."
Do you like a book with a gripping story? A page-turner you simply can't put down? A book with believable characters, a credible yet twisty plot and a fast, easy-to-read pace? If that's you, then this psychological thriller set in Dublin, Ireland should be right up your street.
Here's the blurb:
"University Lecturer David Ryan is having an affair. And he thinks no-one knows.
He’s wrong. Someone does know. And that someone is out to blackmail him.
But when the blackmail attempt goes wrong, both Ryan and the blackmailer find themselves dragged into an underground (and decidedly seedy) world of secrets, lies and violence. A world where no-one can be trusted and everyone has something to hide.
Set in modern-day Dublin, ‘After the Affair’ is the debut psychological thriller from author Jonathan Kaye."
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2016
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 1, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
Oohh do I love starting out a new month with an amazing read, it really sets the tone and I was so impressed by this book! After the Affair is Kaye’s debut novel, but let me tell you, it doesn’t read like a debut at all. The writing style reads like that of a seasoned novelist; the pacing was spot on and the plot itself? Utterly absorbing.
This starts with one of those prologues that immediately draws you in, then flips ahead almost a year later to a completely unrelated storyline. (Or is it?) David Ryan is a married man with a young son, and he’s having an affair. He thinks that it’s his dirty little secret, but someone knows exactly what he’s been up too, and they’re not happy about it, so they begin to blackmail him. That’s as far as I’m going to delve into the plot details, but the basis of this book is the serious ramifications that David faces because of his choice to have an affair.
I really admired the way Kaye got inside his characters heads, you get a very real sense of how they think and who they really are, warts and all. It’s not always a pretty picture, and David isn’t the most likable guy, but it’s raw and brutally honest. Besides David, you also get to know Martin. I don’t want to say exactly how he fits in, but he’s quite the rascal. The dialogue between these two felt so genuine, it read like a real conversation, no awkwardness to be found.
I know this is a totally overused phrase, but it really was a page turner. As David’s entire life begins to fall apart, the hits just kept on coming and left my head spinning. The whole thing is a tumultuous ride that takes you on a journey into a seedy underworld, mainly that of the dark corners of the web. There is some very dark and twisted stuff here, sordid affairs and hard hitting, worrisome situations. The big twist was a stunner, the shock value was high but it wasn’t unbelievable. I highly recommend this for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a fresh twist on the whole cheating spouse plot.
Oohh do I love starting out a new month with an amazing read, it really sets the tone and I was so impressed by this book! After the Affair is Kaye’s debut novel, but let me tell you, it doesn’t read like a debut at all. The writing style reads like that of a seasoned novelist; the pacing was spot on and the plot itself? Utterly absorbing.
This starts with one of those prologues that immediately draws you in, then flips ahead almost a year later to a completely unrelated storyline. (Or is it?) David Ryan is a married man with a young son, and he’s having an affair. He thinks that it’s his dirty little secret, but someone knows exactly what he’s been up too, and they’re not happy about it, so they begin to blackmail him. That’s as far as I’m going to delve into the plot details, but the basis of this book is the serious ramifications that David faces because of his choice to have an affair.
I really admired the way Kaye got inside his characters heads, you get a very real sense of how they think and who they really are, warts and all. It’s not always a pretty picture, and David isn’t the most likable guy, but it’s raw and brutally honest. Besides David, you also get to know Martin. I don’t want to say exactly how he fits in, but he’s quite the rascal. The dialogue between these two felt so genuine, it read like a real conversation, no awkwardness to be found.
I know this is a totally overused phrase, but it really was a page turner. As David’s entire life begins to fall apart, the hits just kept on coming and left my head spinning. The whole thing is a tumultuous ride that takes you on a journey into a seedy underworld, mainly that of the dark corners of the web. There is some very dark and twisted stuff here, sordid affairs and hard hitting, worrisome situations. The big twist was a stunner, the shock value was high but it wasn’t unbelievable. I highly recommend this for fans of psychological thrillers looking for a fresh twist on the whole cheating spouse plot.
April 18, 2017
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel for Jonathan Kaye! It has a slick and well polished feel to it with a great plot that had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster with plenty of the ups and downs too!
Right from the start though, I have to admit to not particularly taking to David Ryan mainly due to the extramarital affair he was very easily lead into! I thought him a very weak individual, lead far too easily by a gorgeous woman without a second thought for all he could lose if his wife discovered what was going on. I had absolutely no sympathy for him when he found out he had been set up for blackmail! None whatsoever! Once he teams up with his blackmailer though, I did start to warm to David slightly more when it became obvious that maybe things weren’t quite as clear cut as I had originally thought.
What I really found impressive about this debut novel though was how Jonathan Kaye kept up the momentum throughout with his very complex, well developed and stylish plotting. It feels very current with its gritty, and rather shocking at times, information technology that was obviously well researched and expertly out into action. There seems to be lots of love around for the “dark web” in thrillers at the moment but it’s used here to great effect, bringing a worryingly realistic feel to the dangers that David is being dragged into.
A very clever book, full of adrenaline pumping plot twists that make me want to read more by this author.
Right from the start though, I have to admit to not particularly taking to David Ryan mainly due to the extramarital affair he was very easily lead into! I thought him a very weak individual, lead far too easily by a gorgeous woman without a second thought for all he could lose if his wife discovered what was going on. I had absolutely no sympathy for him when he found out he had been set up for blackmail! None whatsoever! Once he teams up with his blackmailer though, I did start to warm to David slightly more when it became obvious that maybe things weren’t quite as clear cut as I had originally thought.
What I really found impressive about this debut novel though was how Jonathan Kaye kept up the momentum throughout with his very complex, well developed and stylish plotting. It feels very current with its gritty, and rather shocking at times, information technology that was obviously well researched and expertly out into action. There seems to be lots of love around for the “dark web” in thrillers at the moment but it’s used here to great effect, bringing a worryingly realistic feel to the dangers that David is being dragged into.
A very clever book, full of adrenaline pumping plot twists that make me want to read more by this author.
February 14, 2017
You know how sometimes you stumble across a book that feels like it was written for you? This is how After The Affair was for me.
It's not just the great plot, the real, flawed and engaging characters, and (most of all) the beautiful way with prose. It's the quirks; the nuance; the things those characters say and do that make you almost know them.
Written with an assurance and a simultaneous lightness of touch that had me frankly astounded that this could be a debut, After The Affair is a brilliant thriller; but it's more than that, it's a powerful book that makes the reader feel they're right there in it, in a Dublin that's safe and suburban and seductive and alluring and seedy and downright dangerous, all at the same time. Jonathan Kaye is a writer to watch.
It's not just the great plot, the real, flawed and engaging characters, and (most of all) the beautiful way with prose. It's the quirks; the nuance; the things those characters say and do that make you almost know them.
Written with an assurance and a simultaneous lightness of touch that had me frankly astounded that this could be a debut, After The Affair is a brilliant thriller; but it's more than that, it's a powerful book that makes the reader feel they're right there in it, in a Dublin that's safe and suburban and seductive and alluring and seedy and downright dangerous, all at the same time. Jonathan Kaye is a writer to watch.
April 15, 2017
‘The moment his nose shattered, he knew he had no hope of escape’
After The Affair is a very impressive debut from Irish Writer Jonathan Kaye. Self-published, this is a novel that I feel deserves a lot more media coverage than it has received to date.
Described as ‘a cleverly-plotted, thrilling page-turner’ , After The Affair is a fast paced novel that will most definitely keep your attention right to the last page.
Please read on for my full thoughts…
David Ryan is a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin. Having written and published his first novel, he is in the midst of book signings and other promotional work. Married to Sarah and with a young son Jamie, life could not be more perfect for David.
But unfortunately for David, temptation crosses his path one evening while in Cork and he succumbs. Initially in denial and in an attempt to put it behind him, David returns home to Dublin repentant but decides to keep his secret liaison to himself. After a second encounter back home in Dublin, David is unable to resist the lure of this woman and soon finds himself caught up in an affair. While feeling incredibly guilty, David justifies it to himself by referring to his marriage as stale. The excitement he now feels has been missing from his relationship with his wife for quite awhile.
However, it’s not long before David’s world is turned upside down when he discovers his secret is no longer that. David becomes the victim of blackmail.
In a strange twist of fate, David and the blackmailer get thrown together and are suddenly exposed to a very frightening world where brutality and violence are the norm.
Putting these two individuals together was quite an inspirational decision on Jonathan Kaye’s behalf. Both from completely different cultural backgrounds, it was very interesting to see how their characters developed with the plot. Initially quite wary of each other, for reasons you will have to discover yourself, they form an almost symbiotic relationship which evolves into something more as they face an enemy together.
There are quite shocking scenes in the book but these are necessary in exposing the atrocities committed.
At times, as a reader, you are so drawn into the story that you find yourself almost shouting at characters. Their fears become your fears. Their horrors become your horrors.
In the opening scenes of After The Affair you enter a very different world away from lecturers and book signings to a world of money, fast living and disregard for others. You may wonder briefly where this is going but trust me when I tell you it’s so worth hanging in there. The book picks up pace and you will soon find yourself lost among it’s pages as you delve into the lives and tragedies of it’s characters.
Jonathan Kaye is definitely an author to look out for in the future. His writing has a wonderful flow to it that captures the reader and takes you on a terrifying roller coaster of a ride through the seedy depths of crime and evil.
An unbelievable debut from Jonathan Kaye, gritty and explosive.
I will leave you with a few words of his own
‘Word of mouth is the only way a book like this will sell well. As a self-publisher, I don’t have a marketing or advertising budget to fall back on. I just have you.’
After The Affair is a very impressive debut from Irish Writer Jonathan Kaye. Self-published, this is a novel that I feel deserves a lot more media coverage than it has received to date.
Described as ‘a cleverly-plotted, thrilling page-turner’ , After The Affair is a fast paced novel that will most definitely keep your attention right to the last page.
Please read on for my full thoughts…
David Ryan is a lecturer in Trinity College Dublin. Having written and published his first novel, he is in the midst of book signings and other promotional work. Married to Sarah and with a young son Jamie, life could not be more perfect for David.
But unfortunately for David, temptation crosses his path one evening while in Cork and he succumbs. Initially in denial and in an attempt to put it behind him, David returns home to Dublin repentant but decides to keep his secret liaison to himself. After a second encounter back home in Dublin, David is unable to resist the lure of this woman and soon finds himself caught up in an affair. While feeling incredibly guilty, David justifies it to himself by referring to his marriage as stale. The excitement he now feels has been missing from his relationship with his wife for quite awhile.
However, it’s not long before David’s world is turned upside down when he discovers his secret is no longer that. David becomes the victim of blackmail.
In a strange twist of fate, David and the blackmailer get thrown together and are suddenly exposed to a very frightening world where brutality and violence are the norm.
Putting these two individuals together was quite an inspirational decision on Jonathan Kaye’s behalf. Both from completely different cultural backgrounds, it was very interesting to see how their characters developed with the plot. Initially quite wary of each other, for reasons you will have to discover yourself, they form an almost symbiotic relationship which evolves into something more as they face an enemy together.
There are quite shocking scenes in the book but these are necessary in exposing the atrocities committed.
At times, as a reader, you are so drawn into the story that you find yourself almost shouting at characters. Their fears become your fears. Their horrors become your horrors.
In the opening scenes of After The Affair you enter a very different world away from lecturers and book signings to a world of money, fast living and disregard for others. You may wonder briefly where this is going but trust me when I tell you it’s so worth hanging in there. The book picks up pace and you will soon find yourself lost among it’s pages as you delve into the lives and tragedies of it’s characters.
Jonathan Kaye is definitely an author to look out for in the future. His writing has a wonderful flow to it that captures the reader and takes you on a terrifying roller coaster of a ride through the seedy depths of crime and evil.
An unbelievable debut from Jonathan Kaye, gritty and explosive.
I will leave you with a few words of his own
‘Word of mouth is the only way a book like this will sell well. As a self-publisher, I don’t have a marketing or advertising budget to fall back on. I just have you.’
February 18, 2017
Sometimes I try books by unknown self-published authors because occasionally I come across little gems like After The Affair by Jonathan Kaye. It is hard to believe that this book is a debut, as the writing is so taut and polished. The story is quick-paced, with plenty of twists, action and suspense, as well as a few jaw-dropping moments. It was definitely worth staying up all night to read it. However, what makes this book more than just a customary thriller is its brilliant characterisation. All the characters are totally believable, with witty convincing dialogue; every word, detail and action are carefully thought through and feel real. I particularly enjoyed the development of the character of Ryan as the events progressed, but Hayes was my favourite.
Overall, a promising debut and a real treat for the fans of the genre.
Overall, a promising debut and a real treat for the fans of the genre.
April 24, 2017
Oh Wow! I feel as battered and bruised as some of the poor unfortunate souls in this book as Jonathan Kaye certainly knew how to make me feel part of his story. There is a perfect opening that simply induced every hair follicle to jiggle until it became erect on the back of my neck and creep down my arms. I was seeing a conversation taking place online. Enticement with money and the promise of a meeting to satisfy the young lady's greed, in exchange for physical contact, sweet talking and encouraging but in his mind a different scene, one that became an over powering scene in my mind. It was tense oh so tense and here a decision would be made that would mould so many lives and end others. This was the beginning and I knew already that I would hate it when this book ended.
Although this is Jonathan Kaye's debut novel he can definitely hold his own with this book. David Ryan is as much the main character in this novel as the wicked killer. It is from Ryan's first ever indiscretion with a sweet talking fan of his novel that causes a ripple of after shocks to become a tsunami of devastation with shocking collateral damage a year later. There is far more to the depth of this story than I ever thought that there was going to be. I had been hooked on the first chapter but now I was hanging on for dear life and had to read this novel in one go. There simply wasn't a stop place for me.
Physical abuse, blackmail and murder and a bloke that just wants to make it better. This is a fabulous book so looking forward to more from this author.
Although this is Jonathan Kaye's debut novel he can definitely hold his own with this book. David Ryan is as much the main character in this novel as the wicked killer. It is from Ryan's first ever indiscretion with a sweet talking fan of his novel that causes a ripple of after shocks to become a tsunami of devastation with shocking collateral damage a year later. There is far more to the depth of this story than I ever thought that there was going to be. I had been hooked on the first chapter but now I was hanging on for dear life and had to read this novel in one go. There simply wasn't a stop place for me.
Physical abuse, blackmail and murder and a bloke that just wants to make it better. This is a fabulous book so looking forward to more from this author.
February 16, 2017
After the affair by Jonathan Kay is a fast paced thriller read.
"University Lecturer David Ryan is having an affair. And he thinks no-one knows.
He’s wrong. Someone does know. And that someone is out to blackmail him.
But when the blackmail attempt goes wrong, both Ryan and the blackmailer find themselves dragged into an underground (and decidedly seedy) world of secrets, lies and violence.
A really good read with good characters really had me thinking. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
"University Lecturer David Ryan is having an affair. And he thinks no-one knows.
He’s wrong. Someone does know. And that someone is out to blackmail him.
But when the blackmail attempt goes wrong, both Ryan and the blackmailer find themselves dragged into an underground (and decidedly seedy) world of secrets, lies and violence.
A really good read with good characters really had me thinking. 4*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
March 28, 2017
I still find it difficult to believe that this is a debut novel, the plot is seamless, the writing is excellent and engaging and the characters are well drawn from the flawed, the wronged through to the chillingly evil. The pacing is spot on and the story leaves you guessing until the final few explosive chapters!
I literally couldn't put the book down and will be recommending it far and wide. I am eagerly awaiting more from this fabulous author.
5 stars
I literally couldn't put the book down and will be recommending it far and wide. I am eagerly awaiting more from this fabulous author.
5 stars
March 13, 2017
Is this really a debut? Wow!
Was nothing I did not like about this book, and I shall sing its praises high and low as it deserves to fly. Jonathan Kaye is an author to watch for sure.
Was nothing I did not like about this book, and I shall sing its praises high and low as it deserves to fly. Jonathan Kaye is an author to watch for sure.
April 19, 2017
An affair ends in blackmail. A professor learns the lovely Nicola was not who she seemed to be. Now she has been murdered leaving him the main suspect.
Introduction
A beautiful woman and an adulterous professor, a journalist and his ex-wife, a lawyer, a dodgy blackmailer. What do these people have in common? It starts out quite innocently but soon things are complicated. When love leads to blackmail and then there is a murder … If David Ryan had known flirting with the seductive Nicola would place him in the most dangerous situation of his life, he would surely have backed off. Now she is dead – murdered. The Police have identified him as the main suspect and his life is suddenly upside down.
Storyline
A man trying to meet a webcam girl eye to eye is heavily punished for doing so. Even though they both live in Dublin, he has crossed a boundary. How does this relate to the story? Meanwhile, Professor David Ryan is chuffed to bits when his signing at the Academy Book Store in Cork goes well. The lovely dark haired young woman, Nicola, seeking his attention is also flattering. Back in Dublin, they meet again and that is when their affair starts. Ryan cannot believe his luck and somehow, the guilt towards his wife and their little son James melts into the background every time they meet up. But then a man confronts him with explicit photos of the affair. Blackmail. Ryan is not convinced Nicola would do such a thing and he has to see her, rushes to her apartment. An even greater shock awaits him when he finds her lifeless body there, covered in blood. He panics and runs. The next day, the Police pick him up as their main suspect.
Detective Superintendent Walsh is convinced he has found the murderer. Until a confession is found with a journalist who has committed suicide. He claims to have killed Fiona, the woman Ryan knew as Nicola. Ryan is a free man but his life has already changed: his wife kicks him out, he has nowhere to go. It may sound strange but this is when the blackmailer, Martin Hayes, comes back into his life. It seems the two of them are the only ones mourning for Nicola – Fiona. What follows is a desperate investigation, involving the Dublin underworld, the dark web (internet), a female lawyer and the webcam company we briefly encountered in the beginning. There are complications, friendships, betrayal and life-threatening situations .. Ryan has no idea he has walked into a lion’s den from which he cannot escape.
My Thoughts
Wow, what an exciting and enticing read After the Affair is! Love it! Even when you know something must be ‘off’, when you are still waiting for the plot twist to unfold, comes the surprise that blew me away! The author excellently describes his protagonists and how a life can be turned upside down with just one wrong decision. David Ryan is a man with faults who is to blame for having an adulterous affair, endangering his marriage. His petty excuses must be terrible for any wife to hear. And yet, the author gives him a vulnerability such that you cannot write him off as the typical ‘bad guy’. The character of Martin Hayes is also extraordinary. He is in some ways the opposite of David Ryan, the ‘bad one’ who uses people. But the author shows us where he is coming from and that, despite his being a blackmailer there is also another side to the man. No one is who they seem to be and that is why After the Affair is such an engrossing thriller!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/affair...
Introduction
A beautiful woman and an adulterous professor, a journalist and his ex-wife, a lawyer, a dodgy blackmailer. What do these people have in common? It starts out quite innocently but soon things are complicated. When love leads to blackmail and then there is a murder … If David Ryan had known flirting with the seductive Nicola would place him in the most dangerous situation of his life, he would surely have backed off. Now she is dead – murdered. The Police have identified him as the main suspect and his life is suddenly upside down.
Storyline
A man trying to meet a webcam girl eye to eye is heavily punished for doing so. Even though they both live in Dublin, he has crossed a boundary. How does this relate to the story? Meanwhile, Professor David Ryan is chuffed to bits when his signing at the Academy Book Store in Cork goes well. The lovely dark haired young woman, Nicola, seeking his attention is also flattering. Back in Dublin, they meet again and that is when their affair starts. Ryan cannot believe his luck and somehow, the guilt towards his wife and their little son James melts into the background every time they meet up. But then a man confronts him with explicit photos of the affair. Blackmail. Ryan is not convinced Nicola would do such a thing and he has to see her, rushes to her apartment. An even greater shock awaits him when he finds her lifeless body there, covered in blood. He panics and runs. The next day, the Police pick him up as their main suspect.
Detective Superintendent Walsh is convinced he has found the murderer. Until a confession is found with a journalist who has committed suicide. He claims to have killed Fiona, the woman Ryan knew as Nicola. Ryan is a free man but his life has already changed: his wife kicks him out, he has nowhere to go. It may sound strange but this is when the blackmailer, Martin Hayes, comes back into his life. It seems the two of them are the only ones mourning for Nicola – Fiona. What follows is a desperate investigation, involving the Dublin underworld, the dark web (internet), a female lawyer and the webcam company we briefly encountered in the beginning. There are complications, friendships, betrayal and life-threatening situations .. Ryan has no idea he has walked into a lion’s den from which he cannot escape.
My Thoughts
Wow, what an exciting and enticing read After the Affair is! Love it! Even when you know something must be ‘off’, when you are still waiting for the plot twist to unfold, comes the surprise that blew me away! The author excellently describes his protagonists and how a life can be turned upside down with just one wrong decision. David Ryan is a man with faults who is to blame for having an adulterous affair, endangering his marriage. His petty excuses must be terrible for any wife to hear. And yet, the author gives him a vulnerability such that you cannot write him off as the typical ‘bad guy’. The character of Martin Hayes is also extraordinary. He is in some ways the opposite of David Ryan, the ‘bad one’ who uses people. But the author shows us where he is coming from and that, despite his being a blackmailer there is also another side to the man. No one is who they seem to be and that is why After the Affair is such an engrossing thriller!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/affair...
Read
May 20, 2017If you are a fan of dark psychological thrillers, this is perfect to snuggle down and lose yourself in on a rainy day. It has a nail-biting tension that weaves through the plot, keeping you immersed in the pages. Can’t recommend it enough!
It isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill thriller revolving around two characters having an affair. This book is so much more than that and as you peel back the layers in After the Affair, the grim totality of the plot reveals itself to you. It has a much darker side to it than originally expected when I started reading. Much darker. It’s compelling and fast-paced. I loved it! After the Affair stuck in my mind after reading which is always a tell-tale sign of a good book for me.
David Ryan is sitting in a coffee shop when a young man presents him with an envelope, inside are two pictures. Two pictures that illustrate David and a woman locked in an intimate embrace, and all of a sudden the life he shares with his wife and son is threatened. Suddenly he is at the mercy of a black mailer – the only other person who knows of his affair and the person who wields the power to blow his secret wide open. But when the woman is found dead in her bed, David is drawn into a horrifying new world tinged with the darkness of abuse, seedy secrets and the horrific corners that lurk in the online world.
The characters in this novel are superb. David isn’t the most likable chracter in the world but nevertheless, I did warm to him a little more towards the end. I really liked Martin. His and David’s relationship I thought was brilliantly written. The scenes with them both flow so smoothly and their colourful conversations kept me hooked.
And the ending. I did NOT see the ending coming. Wow!
This heart-pounding, hair-raising thriller will keep you engrossed right up to its shocking conclusion!
.
Dark. Twisty. Original.
I received my review copy via the publicist.
It isn’t your typical run-of-the-mill thriller revolving around two characters having an affair. This book is so much more than that and as you peel back the layers in After the Affair, the grim totality of the plot reveals itself to you. It has a much darker side to it than originally expected when I started reading. Much darker. It’s compelling and fast-paced. I loved it! After the Affair stuck in my mind after reading which is always a tell-tale sign of a good book for me.
David Ryan is sitting in a coffee shop when a young man presents him with an envelope, inside are two pictures. Two pictures that illustrate David and a woman locked in an intimate embrace, and all of a sudden the life he shares with his wife and son is threatened. Suddenly he is at the mercy of a black mailer – the only other person who knows of his affair and the person who wields the power to blow his secret wide open. But when the woman is found dead in her bed, David is drawn into a horrifying new world tinged with the darkness of abuse, seedy secrets and the horrific corners that lurk in the online world.
The characters in this novel are superb. David isn’t the most likable chracter in the world but nevertheless, I did warm to him a little more towards the end. I really liked Martin. His and David’s relationship I thought was brilliantly written. The scenes with them both flow so smoothly and their colourful conversations kept me hooked.
And the ending. I did NOT see the ending coming. Wow!
This heart-pounding, hair-raising thriller will keep you engrossed right up to its shocking conclusion!
.
Dark. Twisty. Original.
I received my review copy via the publicist.
March 3, 2017
Right out of the starting gate the author gives himself two very big hurdles to overcome. First, our hero is having an affair with another woman, so he is not the easiest of characters to empathize with. Secondly, when he’s blackmailed for said affair, we’ve now stepped into a conventional enough plot that it’s a veritable cliché. So everything boils down to execution. And that’s where the book sparkles. I felt every ounce of the hero’s sheer terror that follows from the events spiraling out of control around him and his girlfriend. First, his panic at the thought of his wife finding out, and then the adrenaline rush when he runs headlong into the blackmailer, and the heart-shattering impact of the subsequent murder of the girlfriend. Things go from bad to worse so quickly it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. The police investigation he gets swept into just compounds the horror… And as he’s sucked further and further into intrigue that goes well beyond the affair, we’re getting flashbacks to when things were going good between him and his girlfriend. We therefore, despite our best judgement, come to feel for him and the magic they had together. The sense of betrayal he experiences when the “genuine love they shared” turns out to be just a con twisted my guts into knots.
I hate to say it but in a psychological thriller of this sort it all boils down to sheer terror. Is it palpable on the page? Yes. Are the emotions so strong that it’s nearly impossible to think clearly through them? Yes. And must our hero think his way through them or end up in jail or dead in rapid succession? Yes. And how exactly does one get to the bottom of this much intrigue even on a calm day? Damned. If. I. know.
For what matters in a novel of this kind, I thought the author hit it out of the ballpark, despite an initial uphill climb to get me to fully engage with the drama. I look forward to more from him without a doubt.
I hate to say it but in a psychological thriller of this sort it all boils down to sheer terror. Is it palpable on the page? Yes. Are the emotions so strong that it’s nearly impossible to think clearly through them? Yes. And must our hero think his way through them or end up in jail or dead in rapid succession? Yes. And how exactly does one get to the bottom of this much intrigue even on a calm day? Damned. If. I. know.
For what matters in a novel of this kind, I thought the author hit it out of the ballpark, despite an initial uphill climb to get me to fully engage with the drama. I look forward to more from him without a doubt.
March 8, 2017
Wow!!!
Just finished this fast paced read!
I really liked how the characters played out in this book!! It had me guessing up until the end!!
Great writing, would read from this author again.
Just finished this fast paced read!
I really liked how the characters played out in this book!! It had me guessing up until the end!!
Great writing, would read from this author again.
February 26, 2017
Is this the best book I've read in years? Probably not. Is it the book I've enjoyed most in years? Almost certainly. I would be very surprised if this doesn't find its way to either a big or a small screen at some point. It was a book I didn't as much read, as watch. The descriptions and the characterisations are darn near perfect, and very evocative. This was a novel which came across as though the writer had not cut corners, stinted on detail, or rushed it in any shape or form. In all honesty, I can't claim to have been that patient, and what started as a steady enough outing became a mad gallop as I tried to keep up with the pace. I felt worn out by the end. I won't go into the plot - other reviewers have done that. I'll just say that this is an amazing debut, and I really hope that we haven't seen the last of the protagonists - two flawed men, who were just so real and therefore believable.
From the technical side, there were a few 'point of view' issues, and although this can sometimes be confusing, I really didn't care. This is a gritty novel, which deals with a very unpleasant side of life, and it's to the author's credit that there is nothing gratuitous, or too over the top. There's just enough to take you right into it, and place you firmly in the action. (It might also deter a husband from straying).
I didn't know I could actually enjoy this type of novel, but it's a stunning debut, and I can't wait for JK's next.
From the technical side, there were a few 'point of view' issues, and although this can sometimes be confusing, I really didn't care. This is a gritty novel, which deals with a very unpleasant side of life, and it's to the author's credit that there is nothing gratuitous, or too over the top. There's just enough to take you right into it, and place you firmly in the action. (It might also deter a husband from straying).
I didn't know I could actually enjoy this type of novel, but it's a stunning debut, and I can't wait for JK's next.
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April 28, 2017After the Affair is an accomplished debut novel from Jonathan Kaye. It is a fast paced, gritty, dark thriller with an opening chapter that will shock and grab your attention. Kaye's writing is engaging, captivating, and erudite. The plot moves quickly whilst at the same time drip feeding details to keep you guessing , with each revelation you never know where the plot is going and what you thought you knew is turned on its head. By the time I got to the end of the book I felt I'd been on a rollercoaster ride and I definitely didn't see how it would end.
The two main characters, Ryan and Hayes, his blackmailer, are polar opposites. Ryan is a family man, although his marriage is now in trouble after the affair. He teaches English at Dublin University and is a published author. In contrast Hayes was part of Ryan's blackmail attempt. He is a small time con-man, and hacker who frequently breaks the law. I really enjoyed the interaction between these two characters, there is a sense of verisimilitude in their interaction, with no awkwardness and they complimented each other in the investigations. A brilliant pairing from Kaye, I'd like to see the come back in another book.
To coin a cliche this book really is a 'page turner' . It has the plot and writing of an experienced author. After the Affair is a tense, chilling and twisted story that will take your breath away, it is simply brilliant.
The two main characters, Ryan and Hayes, his blackmailer, are polar opposites. Ryan is a family man, although his marriage is now in trouble after the affair. He teaches English at Dublin University and is a published author. In contrast Hayes was part of Ryan's blackmail attempt. He is a small time con-man, and hacker who frequently breaks the law. I really enjoyed the interaction between these two characters, there is a sense of verisimilitude in their interaction, with no awkwardness and they complimented each other in the investigations. A brilliant pairing from Kaye, I'd like to see the come back in another book.
To coin a cliche this book really is a 'page turner' . It has the plot and writing of an experienced author. After the Affair is a tense, chilling and twisted story that will take your breath away, it is simply brilliant.
February 27, 2017
A fast paced, page turning thriller with great believable characters that jumped out the page at you . Highly entertaining with a plot that thickens . A fantastic debut novel and an author I will look for in the future . 4.5 stars from me with my thanks to tbc for the copy
November 23, 2016
An epic thriller!
If I could award a 6 star rating I would.
After the Affair is the one of the most compelling page turners I've read in years.
Intriguing, brilliant writing accompany a fabulous plot.
After the Affair is amazingly fast paced, with vividly rich three dimensional characters,a brilliantly articulated narrative and super dialogue which herald the way for shocking twists & turns galore.
One of the most suspense fueled thrillers I've ever encountered.
After the Affair is spine tingling experience, filled riveting with tension and suspense.
This book is highly atmospheric and its primary atmosphere is one of palpable tension; almost every page I turned transported me into David Ryan's world and left me feeling the knife edge that he was living.
Jonathan Kaye shooting star of the highest calibre.
Such a spectacular writer, his official title should be storyteller extraordinaire.
His writing transcends all the usual genre classifications.
Inter genre master: an expert of the thriller, mystery and crime genres.
Looking forward to reading more Jonathan Kaye books.
If I could award a 6 star rating I would.
After the Affair is the one of the most compelling page turners I've read in years.
Intriguing, brilliant writing accompany a fabulous plot.
After the Affair is amazingly fast paced, with vividly rich three dimensional characters,a brilliantly articulated narrative and super dialogue which herald the way for shocking twists & turns galore.
One of the most suspense fueled thrillers I've ever encountered.
After the Affair is spine tingling experience, filled riveting with tension and suspense.
This book is highly atmospheric and its primary atmosphere is one of palpable tension; almost every page I turned transported me into David Ryan's world and left me feeling the knife edge that he was living.
Jonathan Kaye shooting star of the highest calibre.
Such a spectacular writer, his official title should be storyteller extraordinaire.
His writing transcends all the usual genre classifications.
Inter genre master: an expert of the thriller, mystery and crime genres.
Looking forward to reading more Jonathan Kaye books.
December 14, 2016
This is a book that grabs you from the start and holds your attention to the very end. You want to keep reading to find out what happens but you don't want to it to be over because you don't want to leave a world that is dark but inhabited by such memorable characters.
A happily married professor and author begins an affair that isn't all it seems and gets drawn into situations far removed from those he reads and writes about. It would be a shame to say any more. Read the book to find out how his life in turned upside down after the affair. You won't be disappointed by this fast-paced thriller full of action. It is far better than many bestsellers.
The only let down is that there aren't more Jonathon Kaye books to read. I was surprised to find this is a first novel but hope many more will follow. If you read this one now you can claim to be among the first to enjoy a bright new talent.
A happily married professor and author begins an affair that isn't all it seems and gets drawn into situations far removed from those he reads and writes about. It would be a shame to say any more. Read the book to find out how his life in turned upside down after the affair. You won't be disappointed by this fast-paced thriller full of action. It is far better than many bestsellers.
The only let down is that there aren't more Jonathon Kaye books to read. I was surprised to find this is a first novel but hope many more will follow. If you read this one now you can claim to be among the first to enjoy a bright new talent.
January 28, 2017
I found this book to be a real page turner. It was dark and seedy, and made me want to read more. I wasn't reading a physical book but it felt like quite a chunky book, but I don't know how many pages it was. It took me quite a few sittings to finish it over a number of days, so definitely a book you can savour.
December 31, 2021
A complete thriller . Kaye has a great knowledge of modern Dublin life with all its ugliness and deception .
The book is very well written and insightful descriptions of situations .
Towards the final pages things become really gruesome and an apparently hopeless situation unfolds .
The book is very well written and insightful descriptions of situations .
Towards the final pages things become really gruesome and an apparently hopeless situation unfolds .
February 17, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, it is a real thriller with lots going on to keep your attention. The story line is quite clever and the characters are believable.
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December 8, 2019Please see blog for review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
March 3, 2017
Great, gritty crime thriller set in Dublin – but not for the fainthearted. Right off you’re plunged straight into the hectic world of high finance and seedy online sex. Then comes a hugely welcome change in pace as you meet David Ryan, a likeable guy with a normal job, who just loves his routine stop for a strong Americano to start each day. Whew. Relief. But author Jonathan Kaye doesn’t let us enjoy this respite for long. Ryan’s life is suddenly shattered by the appearance of Martin Hayes, an IT whizz and rogue who lives on the edge. Hayes confronts Ryan with a set of photographs, and from then on we lurch into a whirlwind world of affairs, blackmail, murder, suicide, sex and revenge. We meet hugely unlikeable, vile characters. Kaye kept me guessing, although I had my suspicions about what was going on. Despite all the blood and gore, and a sordid underworld involving horrendously nightmarish acts, I really enjoyed this read and would recommend it.
March 4, 2017
This book was very intriguing, I didn't know who to trust in this, and even when I got it right, the reasons were not what I expected. I loved Hayes, a cheeky chap but very clever, Ryan, I had mixed feelings about him all the way through, but he was a good man who had made mistakes. The story, characters and Dublin kept me reading, even when I was tired, as I really need to get to the end and stop my brain thinking all the time about what would happen next.
Excellent read, thoroughly enjoyed it and if you like thrillers, try it, but be prepared for it to take over every spare minute you have.
Excellent read, thoroughly enjoyed it and if you like thrillers, try it, but be prepared for it to take over every spare minute you have.
March 6, 2017
A good book with an interesting & unique story line.
For me I felt the middle dragged a little but I'm glad I persevered hence the 4 stars.
Written well with plenty of detail where needed.
Looking forward to more from this author.
For me I felt the middle dragged a little but I'm glad I persevered hence the 4 stars.
Written well with plenty of detail where needed.
Looking forward to more from this author.
February 22, 2017
David Ryan, a father and happily married University Professor living in Dublin, makes a stupid mistake and blunders into a one night stand with a beautiful stranger. This error of judgement unleashes a tidal wave of disaster upon him: blackmail, murder, false accusations and marriage collapse. Every time he tries to put things right and uncover the truth, his future becomes bleaker and more dangerous.
This thriller opens with a depiction of a chillingly menacing villain. The action then switches to the well-meaning but weak-willed David Ryan, and the reader is left in suspense for quite a while before finding out how these two characters are connected. I think it was a shame that the full potential of the character in the first chapter wasn't exploited further, particularly as the plot thickened. The story line deals with some particularly unpleasant themes and I would have liked David to have been more proactive at the end of the story in fighting the evil he encounters and in rescuing himself and those around him so that there is a stronger sense of character development.
That being said, it is a well-written novel, with clever plot twists, clear characterisation and a distinct sense of place. It is a gripping read, but for me the promise of the first half of the book wasn’t quite delivered by the ending.
This thriller opens with a depiction of a chillingly menacing villain. The action then switches to the well-meaning but weak-willed David Ryan, and the reader is left in suspense for quite a while before finding out how these two characters are connected. I think it was a shame that the full potential of the character in the first chapter wasn't exploited further, particularly as the plot thickened. The story line deals with some particularly unpleasant themes and I would have liked David to have been more proactive at the end of the story in fighting the evil he encounters and in rescuing himself and those around him so that there is a stronger sense of character development.
That being said, it is a well-written novel, with clever plot twists, clear characterisation and a distinct sense of place. It is a gripping read, but for me the promise of the first half of the book wasn’t quite delivered by the ending.
March 8, 2017
started slowly but built up in pace. shows how life as you know it can be changed in an instant. a twist in the tale which I saw coming but doesn't stop the book being good.
March 3, 2017
This story demands your attention from the word go. With a strong, well-crafted plotline set at just the right pace and well-rounded, believable characters, this book keeps you rapidly turning pages.
A great debut from Mr. Kaye.
Many thanks to TBC and the author who provided me with this ARC, for which I have given a voluntary and unbiased review.
A great debut from Mr. Kaye.
Many thanks to TBC and the author who provided me with this ARC, for which I have given a voluntary and unbiased review.
March 1, 2017
What a great psychological thriller this is, I can't believe this is the first book published from this author. It is so well written, flowed brilliantly and had me gripped all the way through.
A married University Lecturer's life is turned upside down when he has an affair, which leads to him being blackmailed. Nothing is straightforward though and what follows is a snowball of events that will keep you turning pages to see what is going to happen next.
Loved it, 4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5. I cannot wait for Jonathan Kaye's next book.
A married University Lecturer's life is turned upside down when he has an affair, which leads to him being blackmailed. Nothing is straightforward though and what follows is a snowball of events that will keep you turning pages to see what is going to happen next.
Loved it, 4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5. I cannot wait for Jonathan Kaye's next book.
March 2, 2017
Jonathan Kaye certainly grabs the attention; I physically sat up and paid attention when I started to read After the Affair.
The gritty, hardcore start sucks you into the book. The twists and turns that follow on the journey of Ryan and Hayes, are complex and detailed. I kept thinking, 'will it be this one?' but generally I was wrong. The devestation the affair has caused is captured from the male perspective, and the pain suffered from a 'mistake'.
This book will have you enveloped into the pages and wanted to know who? why? when? and OH MY GOD!
A great read from start to finish, with detail to keep you thinking constantly. FAB!
The gritty, hardcore start sucks you into the book. The twists and turns that follow on the journey of Ryan and Hayes, are complex and detailed. I kept thinking, 'will it be this one?' but generally I was wrong. The devestation the affair has caused is captured from the male perspective, and the pain suffered from a 'mistake'.
This book will have you enveloped into the pages and wanted to know who? why? when? and OH MY GOD!
A great read from start to finish, with detail to keep you thinking constantly. FAB!
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