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The Accident
One mistake could change your life forever.
Tara has it all. Married and about to move into her dream home, she can’t explain why she is tempted by one last fling with her ex before she settles down.
David would do anything for Tara. So when he finds her with another man, his world starts to crumble around him.
Ryan isn’t prepared for the punch David throws at him. Stumbling, he slips over the balcony and falls three storeys to the patio below.
In one split second a man will be killed. In one split second David and Tara’s life will change forever.
How far would you go to save everything you have?
Tara has it all. Married and about to move into her dream home, she can’t explain why she is tempted by one last fling with her ex before she settles down.
David would do anything for Tara. So when he finds her with another man, his world starts to crumble around him.
Ryan isn’t prepared for the punch David throws at him. Stumbling, he slips over the balcony and falls three storeys to the patio below.
In one split second a man will be killed. In one split second David and Tara’s life will change forever.
How far would you go to save everything you have?
260 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2017
1270 people are currently reading
939 people want to read
About the author
S.D. Monaghan
6 books60 followersS. D. Monaghan grew up in Dublin before travelling extensively in Asia, Europe and America. After teaching English in Thailand for two years, he moved back to Ireland and gained an honours degree in psychology. While living in Canada for four years, he studied screenwriting in Toronto. S. D. Monaghan completed the Masters in Creative Writing at Trinity College, Dublin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
September 2, 2017
An interesting premise that didn't completely work for me. I can't rate it lower than a three, because it had some great lines and kept my attention. It would need work to earn a four or five, though. Many chapters end with a cliffhanger, but the next chapter shifts perspectives so we don't learn what happened right away. Cliffhangers work for me quite often, but done in this manner I could feel the suspense dissipating until there was none left. The storyline is crazy and twisted, even outlandish. The characters are pretty unlikable, but I appreciated how unpredictable they were. I couldn't guess what they'd do next!
Married, happy, and expecting a child, Tara and David are the couple you want to be. She's not showing yet, but their family will soon become three. They've just completed the build (well, paying people to) of a stunning house and they're ready to move in. They're attractive. They're successful. They're in love. Why does Tara have one tryst with Ryan, ex boyfriend and builder, the day before they move in? It's hard to imagine. Her one infidelity will change lives forever.
Intending to have a moment alone in the new house before the chaos of moving day, David skips out early and drives there alone. He sees Tara leaving after sharing a kiss with her ex. He can't help himself. He goes in. There he finds Ryan still in the house. Black panties left on the floor. It's all too much. He attacks.
What should have been a scuffle between two men resulting in a black eye or two takes a deadly turn. Ryan stumbles back, falling off the balcony that hasn't had the rail installed yet. He falls three stories and meets concrete and his own pooled blood.
I'm not going to touch on much more than was already revealed in the blurb, because this is a wild and complicated story you should go into relatively blind. Mild spoiler that's barely a spoiler because we'll all see it coming:
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
Married, happy, and expecting a child, Tara and David are the couple you want to be. She's not showing yet, but their family will soon become three. They've just completed the build (well, paying people to) of a stunning house and they're ready to move in. They're attractive. They're successful. They're in love. Why does Tara have one tryst with Ryan, ex boyfriend and builder, the day before they move in? It's hard to imagine. Her one infidelity will change lives forever.
Intending to have a moment alone in the new house before the chaos of moving day, David skips out early and drives there alone. He sees Tara leaving after sharing a kiss with her ex. He can't help himself. He goes in. There he finds Ryan still in the house. Black panties left on the floor. It's all too much. He attacks.
What should have been a scuffle between two men resulting in a black eye or two takes a deadly turn. Ryan stumbles back, falling off the balcony that hasn't had the rail installed yet. He falls three stories and meets concrete and his own pooled blood.
I'm not going to touch on much more than was already revealed in the blurb, because this is a wild and complicated story you should go into relatively blind. Mild spoiler that's barely a spoiler because we'll all see it coming:
I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.
November 18, 2021
David met Tara five years ago, when he was a 35-year-old history lecturer at Dublin's Trinity College......
.....and she was a 25-year-old student in his class.
David was very taken with the beautiful young woman, who was smart and had 'curious brown eyes, full lips, and free-falling auburn hair.' At the time, Tara was dating a working class bloke named Ryan.....
.....and David reluctantly kept his distance, even after the class ended.
Eighteen months later David happened to see Tara again, displaying her original paintings at a sidewalk art show.
David and Tara began to chat and - due to a rainstorm and happenstance - David helped Tara sell several paintings to a very rich American buyer.
Skip ahead a few years and David and Tara are married.
Tara is a wealthy, successful artist and David functions as her business manager while still teaching and pursuing his Ph.D. degree. The sudden prosperity is a big change for the couple, who grew up in rough, impoverished neighborhoods.
David and Tara - who are expecting a child - have renovated a huge home on Lawrence Court, and are about to move into 'the best house on the best street in Dublin.'
Ironically, Tara's old boyfriend Ryan is the builder who's upgrading the mansion under the direction of Gordon - a snobby blueblood architect who looks down his privileged nose at all of them.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
On the evening before David and Tara are scheduled to move into their gorgeous (but not quite completed) new house, David decides to stop by on a whim - to look the place over and revel in his good fortune. David is shocked to see Tara kissing Ryan, and - after she drives off - finds her panties on the floor.
Furious and hurt, David confronts the builder- whose tan, muscled, tattooed body is clad only in jeans. The two men argue and tussle, and Ryan falls off the unfinished balcony. Looking down, David sees that Ryan has fallen three floors into a pit, and appears to be bloody and dead.
David starts to run downstairs to check on the builder, but accidently knocks himself out. When David wakes up the next morning, there's no body and no pit. Instead, there's a patio with freshly laid limestone and travertine slabs. Ryan's workers have inadvertently buried the body!
Before long Ryan is an official missing person, and David doesn't know what to do. If he goes to the police, he'll be accused of murder. And - though David is very angry at Tara - he still wants to be with her and the baby. While David is mulling it all over, he's hit with terrible news. Someone knows he killed Ryan and wants a HUGE amount of blackmail money to keep mum. So much moola, in fact, that David and Tara will lose EVERYTHING they own and be forced to live in poverty.
What to do....what to do? That's what David has to decide. Should he confess? Kill himself? Pay the extortion money? And there's an added problem. David and Tara's neighbor, Shay, comes over to report that something under their new patio is blocking the sewer - and smelly, disgusting sludge is backing up into his house. Shay insists that the builders fix the problem immediately. If not, he'll take matters into his own hands.
The story alternates between the present - where David has to deal with Ryan's unexpected demise, and the past - where David and Tara meet and embark on their relationship. This literary device works up to a point but results in too many cliffhangers, which is annoying and impedes the continuity of the story.
The book's plot is engaging, with plenty of twists and turns - some of which the astute reader may guess (or maybe not. LOL). The villains are appropriately venomous, and I was hoping they would get their just deserts. However, I didn't find the 'good guys' totally likable either. David's 'mooning' over Tara - 'her presence, her voice, her warmth, her mind, her art, her body, her gaze' - was too adolescent and soppy for my taste.
And Tara - when confronted with her adultery - couldn't understand David's anger. 'David was suddenly a stranger to her. The David she knew would try to understand.' (Understand her shagging another - much hunkier - guy? Are you kidding me?!)
END SPOILER ALERT END SPOILER ALERT
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable psychological thriller, good for a few hours entertainment.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author (S.D. Monaghan), and the publisher (Bookouture) for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 13, 2017
I liked the premise and the beginning half of the book had me glued to the pages with a bit of adrenaline urging me on. A married couple Tara and David are preparing to move into their custom dream home! Tara is pregnant with their first child and they are looking forward to starting a family.
The story starts out with a bang! David is in front of their newly completed home when he sees his wife Tara kissing another man! He is hiding in his BMW so he is not seen by them. The scenario gets very interesting when he confronts the man after his wife drives away! David loses his temper and does something that could cause him to lose everything!
I liked how the story evolved around the accident that occurred and the events that evolved. The story became a bit frantic and rushed for me. The second half seemed to take a wild direction and I didn't think what happened to their pet was necessary (for me). I wanted a less sensational conclusion because it was just not believable to me. I did enjoy the fast pace and suspense and I'm sure many will enjoy the twists and the darker moments that evolved! I was not expecting the twist that occured. Having a faster pace, this one may be able to hold your interest!
Publication date is Sept 1, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC.
Publication date is Sept 1, 2017
The story starts out with a bang! David is in front of their newly completed home when he sees his wife Tara kissing another man! He is hiding in his BMW so he is not seen by them. The scenario gets very interesting when he confronts the man after his wife drives away! David loses his temper and does something that could cause him to lose everything!
I liked how the story evolved around the accident that occurred and the events that evolved. The story became a bit frantic and rushed for me. The second half seemed to take a wild direction and I didn't think what happened to their pet was necessary (for me). I wanted a less sensational conclusion because it was just not believable to me. I did enjoy the fast pace and suspense and I'm sure many will enjoy the twists and the darker moments that evolved! I was not expecting the twist that occured. Having a faster pace, this one may be able to hold your interest!
Publication date is Sept 1, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley & Bookouture for my ARC.
Publication date is Sept 1, 2017
August 29, 2018
I wanted to like this book as it had a interesting premise but unfortunately this book was a major disappointment I couldn't connect with the characters at all there was no tension for me at all & the pacing was the same right to the end. The chapters were long winded at times it lost me completely was actually thinking of my next book I want to read so for me that says it all, the characters were totally unlikable & very flawed, its a shame actually as I was looking forward to this one.
The perspectives of each character was a bit daunting I think the author should up her game if the reader is to believe what she is writing for me 3 stars is a plus was going to give it a 1 but thought it deserved at least three for the writers efforts sounds harsh but am honest in what I am reading.
Oh yeah forgot one last word on this book it was more a mystery than psychological thriller but don't let me put you off read this for yourself & see what you think?
The perspectives of each character was a bit daunting I think the author should up her game if the reader is to believe what she is writing for me 3 stars is a plus was going to give it a 1 but thought it deserved at least three for the writers efforts sounds harsh but am honest in what I am reading.
Oh yeah forgot one last word on this book it was more a mystery than psychological thriller but don't let me put you off read this for yourself & see what you think?
September 3, 2017
This was a bit of an unexpected pleasure for me! I started reading this in bed after I went for an early night, but 4 hours later that early night had turned into a rather late one instead! So be warned that this is one of those unputdownable, one session reads and keep that in mind before you pick it up! Although I think one of the main reasons for this is that it’s kind of a book of two halves. The first half was quite a slow burner, building up the suspense and developing the main characters after the accident has taken place. David and Tara seemed rather an unlikely couple and I think this also added to the uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of the accident. Is their marriage strong enough to survive David’s reaction to Tara’s fling and the resulting fallout?
By the second half of the book there are twists and turns galore and the action speeds up considerably. To begin with I felt neither David not Tara were particularly very likeable characters so redeeming themselves in my eyes was going to be a particularly tough job for the author to undertake! But the final few chapters were full of surprises and a series of flashbacks peeled back the layers of their relationship making me question all the preconceived ideas that I had held before.
But what really made me this book for the gorgeous writing style of S.D. Monaghan! His narrative had an almost hypnotic affect on me and those words flowed into sentences which then became such well crafted chapters it was impossible to tear your eyes away. He made a compact storyline expand its presence on the page with his intricately detailed plotting and made it exceed my expectations. He left me wanting more so I can’t wait to see what comes next from this natural storyteller.
By the second half of the book there are twists and turns galore and the action speeds up considerably. To begin with I felt neither David not Tara were particularly very likeable characters so redeeming themselves in my eyes was going to be a particularly tough job for the author to undertake! But the final few chapters were full of surprises and a series of flashbacks peeled back the layers of their relationship making me question all the preconceived ideas that I had held before.
But what really made me this book for the gorgeous writing style of S.D. Monaghan! His narrative had an almost hypnotic affect on me and those words flowed into sentences which then became such well crafted chapters it was impossible to tear your eyes away. He made a compact storyline expand its presence on the page with his intricately detailed plotting and made it exceed my expectations. He left me wanting more so I can’t wait to see what comes next from this natural storyteller.
August 1, 2017
3.5 Stars
Check out my review on wordpress: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
Unexpected!
The kiss between a man and women. David, standing in the dark has just witnessed the moment between his wife with her ex, Ryan. A stolen kiss at the door of their new home sends off a chain reaction of events that will change their landscape forever. Tara and Ryan part ways, leaving David seething in the dark. The accident occurs, and David, left in the wake of his anger, collapses under a blow to the face. Upon retaining his consciousness, he realizes that Ryan is no longer where he fell. And someone knows this.
The story comes out of the corner swinging like a wrestler upon hearing the bell. It sets an exciting stage to carry the rest of the story. The plot center's around Ryan's accidental death after a fight with David. Ryan's body disappears and out of the woodwork comes a dealer, thugs, and an extortionist. David and Tara's world turns upside down.
The plot began with an interesting scenario but unfortunately fell short at the end. The narrative told, by David's and Tara's alternating points of view revealed improbabilities right from the start. The writing, however, coupled with palpable characters piqued my interest to continue reading to see their story through. Loose ends were tied up towards the final chapters, but it left me feeling frenetic.
The main character David is rich with detail. Monaghan gets deep inside his mind. Interesting back stories provide clues to his complex personality. David is an undergraduate professor, and we see an intelligent man become undone. We see the dark side of a jilted man and his vacillation between love and hate for his wife.
Monahan's writing is very poetic and enjoyable. A pen mark on a shirt is a "sartorial slur." A pregnancy stick becomes "twin lines winking like candy stripes...the sweet harbingers of happiness." The words flowed effortlessly off the page and made the reading worthwhile.
The Accident is a blend two stories. A marriage in crisis, and the cover up of murder involving shady dealings. If this were a character driven story, this would have been the perfect psychological drama about a husband and wife sorting through their ruins from an affair.
I recommend this book for a quick, entertaining read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Check out my review on wordpress: https://anisabookreviews.wordpress.co...
Unexpected!
The kiss between a man and women. David, standing in the dark has just witnessed the moment between his wife with her ex, Ryan. A stolen kiss at the door of their new home sends off a chain reaction of events that will change their landscape forever. Tara and Ryan part ways, leaving David seething in the dark. The accident occurs, and David, left in the wake of his anger, collapses under a blow to the face. Upon retaining his consciousness, he realizes that Ryan is no longer where he fell. And someone knows this.
The story comes out of the corner swinging like a wrestler upon hearing the bell. It sets an exciting stage to carry the rest of the story. The plot center's around Ryan's accidental death after a fight with David. Ryan's body disappears and out of the woodwork comes a dealer, thugs, and an extortionist. David and Tara's world turns upside down.
The plot began with an interesting scenario but unfortunately fell short at the end. The narrative told, by David's and Tara's alternating points of view revealed improbabilities right from the start. The writing, however, coupled with palpable characters piqued my interest to continue reading to see their story through. Loose ends were tied up towards the final chapters, but it left me feeling frenetic.
The main character David is rich with detail. Monaghan gets deep inside his mind. Interesting back stories provide clues to his complex personality. David is an undergraduate professor, and we see an intelligent man become undone. We see the dark side of a jilted man and his vacillation between love and hate for his wife.
Monahan's writing is very poetic and enjoyable. A pen mark on a shirt is a "sartorial slur." A pregnancy stick becomes "twin lines winking like candy stripes...the sweet harbingers of happiness." The words flowed effortlessly off the page and made the reading worthwhile.
The Accident is a blend two stories. A marriage in crisis, and the cover up of murder involving shady dealings. If this were a character driven story, this would have been the perfect psychological drama about a husband and wife sorting through their ruins from an affair.
I recommend this book for a quick, entertaining read.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 13, 2018
THE ACCIDENT by S. D. Monaghan is what I would classify as a psychological drama about a husband and wife dealing with the aftermath of an affair… and the cover up of murder.
A married couple Tara, pregnant with first child and David are in the process of moving into their new home. Everything is perfect…or should be but Tara is tempted by one last fling with her ex, Ryan.
David is distressed when he discovers his pregnant wife with another man-her ex! David confronts the man after his wife drives away, a fight ensues and David pushes the man off the balcony and watches him fall to his death. But the next morning Ryan’s body is missing.
One mistake that will change their lives forever.
How would you react?
Monahan's writing is enjoyable, and entertaining but I found it a little too predictable. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
A married couple Tara, pregnant with first child and David are in the process of moving into their new home. Everything is perfect…or should be but Tara is tempted by one last fling with her ex, Ryan.
David is distressed when he discovers his pregnant wife with another man-her ex! David confronts the man after his wife drives away, a fight ensues and David pushes the man off the balcony and watches him fall to his death. But the next morning Ryan’s body is missing.
One mistake that will change their lives forever.
How would you react?
Monahan's writing is enjoyable, and entertaining but I found it a little too predictable. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to Bookouture via Netgalley for my copy.
August 10, 2017
A small story with a small cast of characters, while not perfect I found myself enjoying this yarn immensely.
Tara and David have just about finished building their dream house in Dublin. Tara, a girl from a small country town in Ireland is an artist who has made it big and given the couple their wealth. 8 weeks pregnant, with the perfect life ahead of her she has a one night stand in the house with the builder, an old boyfriend, as a sort of last hurrah before settling down for her life with David, their baby and the house.
David is 10 years her senior. A history lecturer and responsible for all the business side of Tara's art work, he decides to stop by their soon to be home on the last night before they move in to take it all in. David comes from one of the roughest parts of Dublin. An area known for drugs and violence. An area where few if any, make it to leafy heights of where his house to be now stands.
As he parks up and prepares to go into the house, he sees Tara appear outside the door with the builder Ryan and kiss him before leaving. David can't help homself and goes inside the house to contfront Ryan who is standing in a bedroom upstairs semi naked. A row ensues and as David punches Ryan, Ryan staggers backwards and falls out a yet unfinished and unprotected window to the patio below, seemingly lifeless and dead.
And so ensues our story from here as all of the above takes place in the first couple of chapters. What starts of as a story of an illicit affair and an accidental death and attempted cover up, slowly developes into a lot more as things don't go to plan, secrets are revealed and both David and Tara's circumstances become more and more desperate.
I really enjoyed this one. It's a small insular story with a small cast of characters but is very well told for the most part. David and Tara are both flawed but very likeable characters and their love for each other and relationship is very believeable. The few parts of flashback in the book to their original meeting and early times together really help round out their characters and relationship and I felt invested in both as I read the book.
There's a couple of villains in the piece as well who serve their purpose, if a little two dimensional. The story does zip along and you get that claustrophobic feel of panic and desperation as the main characters try to find a way out of their desperate situation.
I did find myself having to suspend disbelief the odd time as the story revealed itself but I didn't mind it much at all as I was having so much fun reading the book. I really liked that the author having such a small story with very few characters, kept me intrigued and interested throughout.
A debut novel from S.D. Monaghan and a very impressive one at that. A very talented story teller, a name I will look out for in the future and one that I will certainly read more of.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
Tara and David have just about finished building their dream house in Dublin. Tara, a girl from a small country town in Ireland is an artist who has made it big and given the couple their wealth. 8 weeks pregnant, with the perfect life ahead of her she has a one night stand in the house with the builder, an old boyfriend, as a sort of last hurrah before settling down for her life with David, their baby and the house.
David is 10 years her senior. A history lecturer and responsible for all the business side of Tara's art work, he decides to stop by their soon to be home on the last night before they move in to take it all in. David comes from one of the roughest parts of Dublin. An area known for drugs and violence. An area where few if any, make it to leafy heights of where his house to be now stands.
As he parks up and prepares to go into the house, he sees Tara appear outside the door with the builder Ryan and kiss him before leaving. David can't help homself and goes inside the house to contfront Ryan who is standing in a bedroom upstairs semi naked. A row ensues and as David punches Ryan, Ryan staggers backwards and falls out a yet unfinished and unprotected window to the patio below, seemingly lifeless and dead.
And so ensues our story from here as all of the above takes place in the first couple of chapters. What starts of as a story of an illicit affair and an accidental death and attempted cover up, slowly developes into a lot more as things don't go to plan, secrets are revealed and both David and Tara's circumstances become more and more desperate.
I really enjoyed this one. It's a small insular story with a small cast of characters but is very well told for the most part. David and Tara are both flawed but very likeable characters and their love for each other and relationship is very believeable. The few parts of flashback in the book to their original meeting and early times together really help round out their characters and relationship and I felt invested in both as I read the book.
There's a couple of villains in the piece as well who serve their purpose, if a little two dimensional. The story does zip along and you get that claustrophobic feel of panic and desperation as the main characters try to find a way out of their desperate situation.
I did find myself having to suspend disbelief the odd time as the story revealed itself but I didn't mind it much at all as I was having so much fun reading the book. I really liked that the author having such a small story with very few characters, kept me intrigued and interested throughout.
A debut novel from S.D. Monaghan and a very impressive one at that. A very talented story teller, a name I will look out for in the future and one that I will certainly read more of.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.
September 1, 2017
this book grabs you right from the beginning and does not let go. David and Tara have just finished building their dream home... and then it all goes wrong. its a great story with twists you don't see coming. a big thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review
September 3, 2017
One mistake. That's is all it took for Tara and David's life to go haywire. One mistake that quickly turned their life into a living hell. Now, they have to figure out how to get out of the mess.
The Accident is a fast-paced thriller that thrilled me from the beginning until the end. Tara's mistake of having one last fling with her ex quickly unravel her and David's life. At first was I unsure about how I felt about David and Tara, but as the story progressed and through flashbacks did we get to know them, how they met, etc. did I start to feel that I liked them more and more and wanted them somehow getting out of the mess. And, what a mess, this is like one of those movies when everything keeps getting worse, every decision just pulls David or Tara deeper into a web of duplicity and danger. I loved it! I loved the twist and turns and I loved that you never knew for sure what was going on.
The Accident is a fabulous book. I came to really like David and Tara, how they each had to figure out a way out of the mess that Tara's fling and David punch created. I love the whole chain reaction story, and there were several times during the books progressed when I thought "what now? What can go wrong now?"
The Accident is a great thriller (Although the cat scene towards the end of the book could I have lived without) and I recommend it warmly!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
The Accident is a fast-paced thriller that thrilled me from the beginning until the end. Tara's mistake of having one last fling with her ex quickly unravel her and David's life. At first was I unsure about how I felt about David and Tara, but as the story progressed and through flashbacks did we get to know them, how they met, etc. did I start to feel that I liked them more and more and wanted them somehow getting out of the mess. And, what a mess, this is like one of those movies when everything keeps getting worse, every decision just pulls David or Tara deeper into a web of duplicity and danger. I loved it! I loved the twist and turns and I loved that you never knew for sure what was going on.
The Accident is a fabulous book. I came to really like David and Tara, how they each had to figure out a way out of the mess that Tara's fling and David punch created. I love the whole chain reaction story, and there were several times during the books progressed when I thought "what now? What can go wrong now?"
The Accident is a great thriller (Although the cat scene towards the end of the book could I have lived without) and I recommend it warmly!
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
October 26, 2017
3.5 Stars
David leaves work early, decides to take a last look at his brand new home before moving in tomorrow. Much to his surprise, his wife, Tara, is there .. and she's not alone.
David is distraught at finding his newly pregnant wife with another man .. a man he knows very well. When Tara leaves, he confronts the man. During a scuffle, David pushes the man off the balcony and watches him fall three stories to his death.
One shove, one push, one accident and life as he and his wife know it is changed forever.
I wouldn't call this a 'gripping' psychological thriller. There are twists and turns, but it is more than a little predictable. It's still an entertaining read. The characters don't come across, to me, as credible. They're either too good to be true or bad in the way of movie bad guys. I was a little disappointed ... but I will surely take a look at whatever book comes next from this author.
I would like to thank the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
David leaves work early, decides to take a last look at his brand new home before moving in tomorrow. Much to his surprise, his wife, Tara, is there .. and she's not alone.
David is distraught at finding his newly pregnant wife with another man .. a man he knows very well. When Tara leaves, he confronts the man. During a scuffle, David pushes the man off the balcony and watches him fall three stories to his death.
One shove, one push, one accident and life as he and his wife know it is changed forever.
I wouldn't call this a 'gripping' psychological thriller. There are twists and turns, but it is more than a little predictable. It's still an entertaining read. The characters don't come across, to me, as credible. They're either too good to be true or bad in the way of movie bad guys. I was a little disappointed ... but I will surely take a look at whatever book comes next from this author.
I would like to thank the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 31, 2017
*3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
"Impulsive actions lead to trouble, and trouble could have unpleasant consequences" Stieg Larsson
From the moment I read the blurb, this book immediately attracted my attention, and so I was very eager to get started when Bookouture approved my NetGalley request to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Tara and David do indeed have it made! The perfect marriage, successful careers, wealth and they are about to move into a brand new mansion that is the envy of many. To make life even sweeter, they have a baby on the way.
It was the calm before the storm!
When Tara decides to sleep with her ex in one last farewell to her past, and her husband David accidentally kills her lover when he stumbled onto her indiscretion, the perfect storm hits. What will Tara and David have to do in order to survive? Will they survive?
With subjects that highlight the fact that one thoughtless act can change the carefully plotted course of your life, and also that of the distinction between the haves and have nots, it had the makings for a thrilling read.
From the first page, it wastes no time and jumps right in, engaging my curiosity and holding it captive. Just the way I like it!
And although I soon discovered that none of the characters are very likeable, some being far more unappealing than others, it did not take anything away from the book as it sometimes does for me.
Several chapters end with a suspenseful cliffhanger, my curiosity demanding that I persist with reading just a bit longer. These chapters, however, are interspersed with milder chapters that go at a much slower pace, usually those describing how the couple came to be. I found myself skimming over some bits at times to get to the good stuff.
The part that didn't sit well with me was that Tara's reason for cheating on David boils down to her being too happy, the sea of her marriage was too calm. She wanted to ride one last wave in a bid to say farewell to her carefree youth. The ' my marriage is too perfect so let me sleep with my ex' reasoning befuddled me.
But with unexpected twists and a heated, action packed conclusion, and with no loose strings to aggravate my pet peeve, my initial curiosity was well satiated.
I will definitely look out for this author's next book. Thank you S.D. Monaghan for the entertaining read.
"Impulsive actions lead to trouble, and trouble could have unpleasant consequences" Stieg Larsson
From the moment I read the blurb, this book immediately attracted my attention, and so I was very eager to get started when Bookouture approved my NetGalley request to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Tara and David do indeed have it made! The perfect marriage, successful careers, wealth and they are about to move into a brand new mansion that is the envy of many. To make life even sweeter, they have a baby on the way.
It was the calm before the storm!
When Tara decides to sleep with her ex in one last farewell to her past, and her husband David accidentally kills her lover when he stumbled onto her indiscretion, the perfect storm hits. What will Tara and David have to do in order to survive? Will they survive?
With subjects that highlight the fact that one thoughtless act can change the carefully plotted course of your life, and also that of the distinction between the haves and have nots, it had the makings for a thrilling read.
From the first page, it wastes no time and jumps right in, engaging my curiosity and holding it captive. Just the way I like it!
And although I soon discovered that none of the characters are very likeable, some being far more unappealing than others, it did not take anything away from the book as it sometimes does for me.
Several chapters end with a suspenseful cliffhanger, my curiosity demanding that I persist with reading just a bit longer. These chapters, however, are interspersed with milder chapters that go at a much slower pace, usually those describing how the couple came to be. I found myself skimming over some bits at times to get to the good stuff.
The part that didn't sit well with me was that Tara's reason for cheating on David boils down to her being too happy, the sea of her marriage was too calm. She wanted to ride one last wave in a bid to say farewell to her carefree youth. The ' my marriage is too perfect so let me sleep with my ex' reasoning befuddled me.
But with unexpected twists and a heated, action packed conclusion, and with no loose strings to aggravate my pet peeve, my initial curiosity was well satiated.
I will definitely look out for this author's next book. Thank you S.D. Monaghan for the entertaining read.
July 26, 2017
2017 has been a good year for me as I have discovered so many brilliant new authors who have gone straight onto my 'Favourite Authors' list. This author is definitely one of them! Wow! What an incredible story! From the first page to the last, this story had me on tenterhooks, keeping me turning the pages late into the night. The author expertly ratchets up the suspense, so we don't know if we are coming or going. There are so many blinding twists, countless wow moments. Loved the author's writing style, laced with wit, the dialogue authentic, the characters believable, human, flawed. A stunning, engrossing, absolutely addictive story that gives the word 'page turner' new meaning. LOVED it.
September 28, 2019
3 Stars
Reviewed on: Brina and the Books
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read and review an advanced reader's copy of The Accident.
I don't know if you have noticed but in the past few weeks I started to love reading psychological thrillers. There's just something about it I really enjoy. However, when it comes to thrillers, I don't want to read the same or similar storylines over and over again, and The Accident by S. D. Monaghan sounded like a good choice.
Tara has everything she ever wanted: she is married to the love of her life, she's two months pregnant and she is about to move into her dream home. But why is she hooking up with her ex the night before the big move?
David has found the one in Tara and would do anything for her. So when he finds her with another man, his world starts to crumble around him.
Ryan didn't see David's punch coming. He also didn't see him stumbling out of the third floor and onto the patio below.
In one split second, the lives of three people are changed forever.
How far would you go to save everything you have?
Whenever I read a blurb of a book, I get this idea or picture in my head of what will happen and how the story will play out, and some parts of this picture usually match with the story in one way or another. However, the picture I had painted of The Accident, especially the beginning, didn't match with the actual story at all. This is no criticism whatsoever, I was just genuinely surprised about the direction the plot took because nothing is worse than predicting every single scene in a book.
The setting of the book was in Dublin, Ireland, which I really enjoyed, since I haven't read any stories set in Dublin or Ireland for that matter.
The story was told in a third person narrative that alternated between Tara's and David's POV. I am not really a fan of third person narratives, unfortunately, but this is just a personal preference. Still, I had preferred a first person narrative which would have given me an even deeper insight of the characters' fears and thoughts.
For the longest time I didn't really know what to think of the story and the book in general. The plot, although cliché (the husband kills the lover of his wife) yet brilliant, was missing something. I enjoyed the general storyline and Monaghan has given small cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter, still, it was not enough for me.
The huge plot twist toward the end of the story, however, did shock me and made me give the book a solid three stars.
Be sure to check out S. D. Monaghan's debut novel The Accident on August 1st.
**********
Mmh... I still don't know what to think.
Review to come!
Reviewed on: Brina and the Books
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read and review an advanced reader's copy of The Accident.
I don't know if you have noticed but in the past few weeks I started to love reading psychological thrillers. There's just something about it I really enjoy. However, when it comes to thrillers, I don't want to read the same or similar storylines over and over again, and The Accident by S. D. Monaghan sounded like a good choice.
Tara has everything she ever wanted: she is married to the love of her life, she's two months pregnant and she is about to move into her dream home. But why is she hooking up with her ex the night before the big move?
David has found the one in Tara and would do anything for her. So when he finds her with another man, his world starts to crumble around him.
Ryan didn't see David's punch coming. He also didn't see him stumbling out of the third floor and onto the patio below.
In one split second, the lives of three people are changed forever.
How far would you go to save everything you have?
Whenever I read a blurb of a book, I get this idea or picture in my head of what will happen and how the story will play out, and some parts of this picture usually match with the story in one way or another. However, the picture I had painted of The Accident, especially the beginning, didn't match with the actual story at all. This is no criticism whatsoever, I was just genuinely surprised about the direction the plot took because nothing is worse than predicting every single scene in a book.
The setting of the book was in Dublin, Ireland, which I really enjoyed, since I haven't read any stories set in Dublin or Ireland for that matter.
The story was told in a third person narrative that alternated between Tara's and David's POV. I am not really a fan of third person narratives, unfortunately, but this is just a personal preference. Still, I had preferred a first person narrative which would have given me an even deeper insight of the characters' fears and thoughts.
For the longest time I didn't really know what to think of the story and the book in general. The plot, although cliché (the husband kills the lover of his wife) yet brilliant, was missing something. I enjoyed the general storyline and Monaghan has given small cliffhangers at the end of almost every chapter, still, it was not enough for me.
The huge plot twist toward the end of the story, however, did shock me and made me give the book a solid three stars.
Be sure to check out S. D. Monaghan's debut novel The Accident on August 1st.
**********
Mmh... I still don't know what to think.
Review to come!
September 3, 2017
3.5* --> 4
Well now, this one starts out with a bang and it’s such an excellent way to reel a reader in. What’s frightening is this accident is completely believable and could happen to anyone. Just a wee push and someone hits their head, with devastating consequences. That’s exactly what happens here. And it makes you wonder what you would do, as David does.
Like I said, things are about to get much worse but I won’t get into that as it would give away far too much information. Suffice to say there’s quite the tense ride and with a few chapters ending on a cliffhanger, this is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll just read a few more pages until you realise it’s gone past midnight and you might as well stay up late and finish the thing in one go.
I did feel that some of the chapters were a tad too slow and broke the flow of the story, specifically those dealing with David and Tara’s past. Although they do shed light on why David does the things he does. Try as I might though, I just can’t understand the reason for Tara’s fling at all.
However, The Accident has a complex and brilliantly executed plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing style. While I guessed something out quite early on, I couldn’t at all predict the ending and there were twists galore to keep me hooked until the rather satisfying conclusion. S.D. Monaghan is an exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre and I look forward to his next book.
Well now, this one starts out with a bang and it’s such an excellent way to reel a reader in. What’s frightening is this accident is completely believable and could happen to anyone. Just a wee push and someone hits their head, with devastating consequences. That’s exactly what happens here. And it makes you wonder what you would do, as David does.
Like I said, things are about to get much worse but I won’t get into that as it would give away far too much information. Suffice to say there’s quite the tense ride and with a few chapters ending on a cliffhanger, this is one of those books where you tell yourself you’ll just read a few more pages until you realise it’s gone past midnight and you might as well stay up late and finish the thing in one go.
I did feel that some of the chapters were a tad too slow and broke the flow of the story, specifically those dealing with David and Tara’s past. Although they do shed light on why David does the things he does. Try as I might though, I just can’t understand the reason for Tara’s fling at all.
However, The Accident has a complex and brilliantly executed plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s writing style. While I guessed something out quite early on, I couldn’t at all predict the ending and there were twists galore to keep me hooked until the rather satisfying conclusion. S.D. Monaghan is an exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre and I look forward to his next book.
August 26, 2018
I can't seem to find a good thriller that's one, these days.
Not that I had high expectations on this one, but I didn't expect it to be so boring, repetitive and with some ridiculously crafted twists that would shock only someone who's been living under a rock for the past 80 years.
The characters were either hateful or flat as irons, the finale didn't peek in any way.
I'm giving it two stars only because the initial idea wasn't that bad - even if it could have been developed better-, and because the writing was sometimes rather engaging, but that's it, that's everything I've tolerated about this absurd pile of nonsense.
Ugh. I'm frustrated. And not for the right reasons.
Not that I had high expectations on this one, but I didn't expect it to be so boring, repetitive and with some ridiculously crafted twists that would shock only someone who's been living under a rock for the past 80 years.
The characters were either hateful or flat as irons, the finale didn't peek in any way.
I'm giving it two stars only because the initial idea wasn't that bad - even if it could have been developed better-, and because the writing was sometimes rather engaging, but that's it, that's everything I've tolerated about this absurd pile of nonsense.
Ugh. I'm frustrated. And not for the right reasons.
August 1, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
Tara and David are living the dream, Tara is 8 weeks pregnant and it is the evening before they move into their renovated gorgeous house. She is a successful artist managed by David who is also doing his PhD.
Tara does the unthinkable and has sex with the contractor Ryan an old boyfriend of hers. Why???? the explanation is that her life is too perfect. WTF and there begins the problem for me with this book. David witnesses their final kiss as she leaves and then confronts Ryan. This is all told in the first chapter.
The first few chapters explains how and why. The middle part of the book is so repetitive and to be honest I got so bored with how David had overcome his upbringing on a council estate. Listen I grew up on one and know there are good and bad people but spare me the whole everyone is a wastrel or a druggie. Also he dreamed as a child that he could never be able to buy a house of his own because it just didn't happen to people who lived where he did. So everyone who lives on a council estate is stuck in a constant cycle of poverty and no ambition. Generalizing much!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a lot of skim reading in this book and it still took me four days to finish. Not a good sign.
The end of the book was ok but was just far fetched and a little ridiculous. None of the characters are likeable or have any redeeming qualities. The only people I felt sorry for were the poor neighbours.
Tara and David are living the dream, Tara is 8 weeks pregnant and it is the evening before they move into their renovated gorgeous house. She is a successful artist managed by David who is also doing his PhD.
Tara does the unthinkable and has sex with the contractor Ryan an old boyfriend of hers. Why???? the explanation is that her life is too perfect. WTF and there begins the problem for me with this book. David witnesses their final kiss as she leaves and then confronts Ryan. This is all told in the first chapter.
The first few chapters explains how and why. The middle part of the book is so repetitive and to be honest I got so bored with how David had overcome his upbringing on a council estate. Listen I grew up on one and know there are good and bad people but spare me the whole everyone is a wastrel or a druggie. Also he dreamed as a child that he could never be able to buy a house of his own because it just didn't happen to people who lived where he did. So everyone who lives on a council estate is stuck in a constant cycle of poverty and no ambition. Generalizing much!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a lot of skim reading in this book and it still took me four days to finish. Not a good sign.
The end of the book was ok but was just far fetched and a little ridiculous. None of the characters are likeable or have any redeeming qualities. The only people I felt sorry for were the poor neighbours.
September 1, 2017
I love the premise for this, the idea that one moment in time can have a huge impact on ones life is both intriguing and terrifying! When David gets in a scuffle with Ryan, (the man who has been sleeping with his wife) and dies his and Tara’s lives will be forever changed. He didn’t mean to kill Ryan, but that doesn’t change the fact that he did. The accident itself is just the tip of the iceberg in this tangled story, there were loads of twists and secrets making for a highly entertaining read.
This was a breathless read, the pacing was solid and I was engaged throughout. I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters but that never bothers me, I still like to read about people I don’t have much in common with. Though I did find it to be mostly fast paced, even frenzied at times, there were a few chapters that had a more sedate feeling. This worked for me though, it almost lulled me into a false sense of security so when I was blindsided with another twist it was all the more shocking. The conclusion was surprising and exciting, definitely unpredictable and appreciated.
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
This was a breathless read, the pacing was solid and I was engaged throughout. I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters but that never bothers me, I still like to read about people I don’t have much in common with. Though I did find it to be mostly fast paced, even frenzied at times, there were a few chapters that had a more sedate feeling. This worked for me though, it almost lulled me into a false sense of security so when I was blindsided with another twist it was all the more shocking. The conclusion was surprising and exciting, definitely unpredictable and appreciated.
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com
September 26, 2017
not really worth the review the beginning of the book wasn't bad it kept my Interest until the author got to be ridiculous. I figured out the plot as soon as it began. I would have never carried the middle and ending to a point of ridiculous. back to kiss keep it simple stupid. I did enjoy that it was Dublin
November 30, 2017
I tried really hard to like this book but I just couldn't. There were parts which were fast and kept me hooked but I found most chapters to be slow and dragging, I skimmed those.
Tara and David are the happy couple with a baby on the way. Then Tara decides to sleep with her ex Ryan one last time before she devotes herself to her husband completely. David comes to know this and in a skirmish kills Ryan — that starts the story rolling....
The author S D Monaghan does write well, gives us a complete story without any loose threads. There are twists and turns along the way. This book basically deals with a fact that one selfish indiscretion can have so many consequences. I didn't like any of the main characters though I did understand David's actions.
The book is entertaining, with a great ending and it does thrill, but just in parts, at least for me...
Merged review:
I tried really hard to like this book but I just couldn't. There were parts which were fast and kept me hooked but I found most chapters to be slow and dragging, I skimmed those.
Tara and David are the happy couple with a baby on the way. Then Tara decides to sleep with her ex Ryan one last time before she devotes herself to her husband completely. David comes to know this and in a skirmish kills Ryan — that starts the story rolling....
The author S D Monaghan does write well, gives us a complete story without any loose threads. There are twists and turns along the way. This book basically deals with a fact that one selfish indiscretion can have so many consequences. I didn't like any of the main characters though I did understand David's actions.
The book is entertaining, with a great ending and it does thrill, but just in parts, at least for me...
Tara and David are the happy couple with a baby on the way. Then Tara decides to sleep with her ex Ryan one last time before she devotes herself to her husband completely. David comes to know this and in a skirmish kills Ryan — that starts the story rolling....
The author S D Monaghan does write well, gives us a complete story without any loose threads. There are twists and turns along the way. This book basically deals with a fact that one selfish indiscretion can have so many consequences. I didn't like any of the main characters though I did understand David's actions.
The book is entertaining, with a great ending and it does thrill, but just in parts, at least for me...
Merged review:
I tried really hard to like this book but I just couldn't. There were parts which were fast and kept me hooked but I found most chapters to be slow and dragging, I skimmed those.
Tara and David are the happy couple with a baby on the way. Then Tara decides to sleep with her ex Ryan one last time before she devotes herself to her husband completely. David comes to know this and in a skirmish kills Ryan — that starts the story rolling....
The author S D Monaghan does write well, gives us a complete story without any loose threads. There are twists and turns along the way. This book basically deals with a fact that one selfish indiscretion can have so many consequences. I didn't like any of the main characters though I did understand David's actions.
The book is entertaining, with a great ending and it does thrill, but just in parts, at least for me...
July 31, 2017
A love triangle or just a twisted accident? You can be the judge but there are lots of things you will not see coming! David and newly-pregnant Tara's dream house has just been completed so when David sees his wife kissing the contractor, Ryan, he loses his cool and reacts with a punch which begins the whirlwind of "accidents" in this novel. Has anyone witnessed it? Why has Tara done something that would jeopardize their future on the cusp of move-in day? Going back and forth between present and past, the book moves quickly until the riveting end. Kept me up late for sure!
August 30, 2017
Set in Ireland and mainly within the confines of an old, Georgian house the reader is immediately faced with mistrust, deception, betrayal, secrets, guilt, desire, greed, fear, anger and desperation on all levels.
The opening chapters were descriptive and grabbed my interest immediately! In fact, WTAF escaped my lips not long into the pages of this book and I just had to keep reading! I found it to be a fast paced plot which was blanketed in some superb narrative – My mind was racing through wondering what the hell happened and I found myself coming up with some ridiculous answers because I JUST HAD TO KNOW! 🤣 There were quite a few twists that caught me off guard and the way the story wrapped up — a total….jaw..on…the…floor moment! Well done, Mr Monaghan!!
I loved the way the characters came together in this intricate and elaborate web of secrets and lies! David must have been going crazy, wondering if his secret would be exposed. I took an instant dislike to Ryan and his arrogance…can’t say I wasn’t smiling when what happened to him happened! #MyBad. I didn’t really warm to Tara at all. She annoyed me with her childlike, babyish ways – She needed a good dose of reality! But I loved that the author could evoke those feelings in me – we don’t have to like a character as a reader – but if they work within a story – well, that is what it is all about! And Tara worked…perfectly! Christine…HA! Bloody loved her! Messed up, manipulative…a grade “A” b*tch and somewhat proud of it! Fabulous character!! Then there is Fenton! Jaysus…that’s all I have to say about that! I can’t really go too much into things as I don’t want to spoil the story, the motive or the outcome of this brilliant domestic thriller! I just kept thinking…”could it get any worse” for some of these peeps!? It could…and it certainly did! 🙌🏻 Woohoo!
Would I recommend The Accident! Erm…let me see…🤔 ….Oh HELL BLOODY YEAH, I would! Dark and devious with breath-taking suspense, this domestic noir style thriller will leave you wanting more from this author!
The opening chapters were descriptive and grabbed my interest immediately! In fact, WTAF escaped my lips not long into the pages of this book and I just had to keep reading! I found it to be a fast paced plot which was blanketed in some superb narrative – My mind was racing through wondering what the hell happened and I found myself coming up with some ridiculous answers because I JUST HAD TO KNOW! 🤣 There were quite a few twists that caught me off guard and the way the story wrapped up — a total….jaw..on…the…floor moment! Well done, Mr Monaghan!!
I loved the way the characters came together in this intricate and elaborate web of secrets and lies! David must have been going crazy, wondering if his secret would be exposed. I took an instant dislike to Ryan and his arrogance…can’t say I wasn’t smiling when what happened to him happened! #MyBad. I didn’t really warm to Tara at all. She annoyed me with her childlike, babyish ways – She needed a good dose of reality! But I loved that the author could evoke those feelings in me – we don’t have to like a character as a reader – but if they work within a story – well, that is what it is all about! And Tara worked…perfectly! Christine…HA! Bloody loved her! Messed up, manipulative…a grade “A” b*tch and somewhat proud of it! Fabulous character!! Then there is Fenton! Jaysus…that’s all I have to say about that! I can’t really go too much into things as I don’t want to spoil the story, the motive or the outcome of this brilliant domestic thriller! I just kept thinking…”could it get any worse” for some of these peeps!? It could…and it certainly did! 🙌🏻 Woohoo!
Would I recommend The Accident! Erm…let me see…🤔 ….Oh HELL BLOODY YEAH, I would! Dark and devious with breath-taking suspense, this domestic noir style thriller will leave you wanting more from this author!
July 26, 2017
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I remember being very intrigued when I first read the write up of this book. I wondered where the author would go after this, would it be a cat and mouse game or a court case? That is just some of the thoughts I had. The book went off in a totally unexpected direction.
It starts off by introducing the main character, David, and not long after that, the 'accident' happens. In essence, it starts off with a bang. The middle bits are interesting but very much slower moving as opposed to the beginning. As you start getting towards the end, it starts hotting up and there are some unexpected twists and quite a bit of action.
Overall, it is a good book. I did not find it so 'thrilling', but it is worth reading as it has a good story to it. It was also interesting to see how the characters had developed over the years.
I will definitely look out for more books from this author.
I remember being very intrigued when I first read the write up of this book. I wondered where the author would go after this, would it be a cat and mouse game or a court case? That is just some of the thoughts I had. The book went off in a totally unexpected direction.
It starts off by introducing the main character, David, and not long after that, the 'accident' happens. In essence, it starts off with a bang. The middle bits are interesting but very much slower moving as opposed to the beginning. As you start getting towards the end, it starts hotting up and there are some unexpected twists and quite a bit of action.
Overall, it is a good book. I did not find it so 'thrilling', but it is worth reading as it has a good story to it. It was also interesting to see how the characters had developed over the years.
I will definitely look out for more books from this author.
September 9, 2017
Thank you so much NetGalley & Bookouture for sending me the book! What really caught my eye when I requested the book was the cover & the synopsis. The book is a really good one where the twists made it even better. It’s told from David’s POV mostly & has short chapters. The way the book is written is great, it was interesting from the beginning. I honestly thought that the plot was going to be one of those over-done plots but it really was well done. I mainly wanted to see how far would Tara & David really go to save everything they have.
September 1, 2017
Wowzers, What a read! I started this not having clue what to expect from it. I was pleasantly surprised. It's great to find new authors, and new authors that can write a good book, well its just a Win Win situation. Bookouture are certainly finding some of the best authors around.
When you think you have it all. When you think life just can't get any better, well that's pretty much how life has gone for David and Tara.
About to move into their dream home, David decides to just go and have a final look at their beautiful built new home. Then his life falls apart. Before he has even got the chance to park up and get out of his car, he spots his wife coming out of their gorgeous custom built forever home. His pregnant beautiful wife - with another man.
This is the moment David and Tara's lives change forever.
I was shocked at how quick this story took off, right from the first chapter. It carried on at a gallop the whole way through.
At the start I did actually think, if all this has happened so early on, how can you write a full book to carry it on. But was pleasantly surprised at how it went, and knew early on that we were in for a great treat of a story.
This book had more twists that a big bag of twisty things.
I loved the way this book went, a really interesting and gripping read.
When you think you have it all. When you think life just can't get any better, well that's pretty much how life has gone for David and Tara.
About to move into their dream home, David decides to just go and have a final look at their beautiful built new home. Then his life falls apart. Before he has even got the chance to park up and get out of his car, he spots his wife coming out of their gorgeous custom built forever home. His pregnant beautiful wife - with another man.
This is the moment David and Tara's lives change forever.
I was shocked at how quick this story took off, right from the first chapter. It carried on at a gallop the whole way through.
At the start I did actually think, if all this has happened so early on, how can you write a full book to carry it on. But was pleasantly surprised at how it went, and knew early on that we were in for a great treat of a story.
This book had more twists that a big bag of twisty things.
I loved the way this book went, a really interesting and gripping read.
August 30, 2017
Finished reading: August 26th 2017
"And suddenly he had two revelations: that life is dull when you know exactly who you are, and that it is terrifying when you don't. "
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
July 27, 2017
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the Accident by SD Monaghan. A person's life can change in a split second - a decision made and lives are changed. David, a univeristy professor, is married to Tara, a promising young artist. They are the "IT" couple. They are about to move into a mansion - designed and made for their newly married life. David decides to go to the new house on the eve of their house opening and he sees his wife with her ex-lover, Ryan. David is enraged and he confronts Ryan and before you know it, the nightmare begins.
This is a fast paced contemporary novel, well written, and suspenseful. Gone Girl fans will like this one.
This is a fast paced contemporary novel, well written, and suspenseful. Gone Girl fans will like this one.
September 1, 2017
This is an intelligently written novel enriched with some fascinating analogies and metaphors. Tara has one misjudged moment of lust and everything goes pear-shaped with horrendous repercussions for many others. It's an ingenious plot. I wasn't sure how it would pan out and it kept me waiting and wondering until the end. It was a brilliant, gripping read. Naturally it immediately puts your imagination into overdrive and sets you wondering what you would do in the predicament Tara and her husband find themselves. David is a council estate kid who has made it good through his own academic achievements. However he has a mammoth chip on his shoulder because of his lowly beginnings and fails to feel confident and comfortable in his upper class setting. Tara puzzled me. I thought at first that she was perhaps a high-class slut but then I figured she was rather pretentious and superficial and I struggled to like her. But having said that she showed remarkable spirit and pluck to salvage what she could of her life and lifestyle. It goes to prove how easily you can screw up your life in a second by one stupid error of judgement. I shall post this on Amazon, Facebook and my blog after publication. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read it.
July 30, 2017
I would give this a 3.5 I liked it, but it wasn't a favorite. I'll definitely try the author again though. I received this e-arc from Bookouture and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I skimmed through some of the middle, because it got a bit slow. Also, I wasn't drawn to the characters, and if I didn't really like them, it was difficult for me to care what happened to them....any of them. I enjoyed the last 2/3, when it started making sense, coming together and speeding up.
September 24, 2017
David thinks life is great. He and his wife Tara are just about to move into their dream home and their expecting a baby. But when David drops in unexpectedly one evening he witnesses Tara and his builder Ryan saying goodbye after an adulterous tryst. He faces off against Ryan and one unlucky punch send Ryan plummeting out of a window and down three storeys. In the wake of Taras selfish decision and David's heated response their lives are changed forever.
This was an up and down book for me. Whilst it was enjoyable it was also very predictable. And it's hard to feel sympathy for a character (Tara) who not only has an affair while pregnant (ewww) but reasons she did because she was happy and needed to 'bookend her previous life. Yeah right tell that one to the divorce lawyer! Anyway David is a lot easier to sympathise with but he's also a bit of a drip. Yeah he has his moments but he's so pathetically grateful for having Tara in his life. The other thing that bugged me a little is this is set in my spiritual and ancestral home Dublin but it could have been set in Norwich. It didn't feel like there was any character of the Irish in this at all. I'm not saying I was expecting any 'foightin' and other stereotypes but some character of the setting would have been nice. And yet despite all this criticism I did quite like this book. Tara and David are thrown from one disaster to the next and by the end it's fair to say the author does show them growing as people through the story so by the end they are both easier to like (a bit). It's action packed throughout so if you want a quick and undemanding read this could well be the book for you. 3.5 stars.
I received this from Netgalley and Bookouture for an honest review.
This was an up and down book for me. Whilst it was enjoyable it was also very predictable. And it's hard to feel sympathy for a character (Tara) who not only has an affair while pregnant (ewww) but reasons she did because she was happy and needed to 'bookend her previous life. Yeah right tell that one to the divorce lawyer! Anyway David is a lot easier to sympathise with but he's also a bit of a drip. Yeah he has his moments but he's so pathetically grateful for having Tara in his life. The other thing that bugged me a little is this is set in my spiritual and ancestral home Dublin but it could have been set in Norwich. It didn't feel like there was any character of the Irish in this at all. I'm not saying I was expecting any 'foightin' and other stereotypes but some character of the setting would have been nice. And yet despite all this criticism I did quite like this book. Tara and David are thrown from one disaster to the next and by the end it's fair to say the author does show them growing as people through the story so by the end they are both easier to like (a bit). It's action packed throughout so if you want a quick and undemanding read this could well be the book for you. 3.5 stars.
I received this from Netgalley and Bookouture for an honest review.
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