Your Still Beating Heart

by Tyler Keevil

All it takes to change your life is a single moment.

A random stabbing on a London bus leaves a young woman widowed and detached from her previous world.

Stripped of a future that should have been hers, she impulsively books a trip to Prague – the city where she and her husband got engaged. But in the midst of a bleak winter, isolated and numb, she can do little more than wander the cobbled streets – until she receives an intriguing proposition. There’s a job for someone just like her. All she needs to do is pick something up, and drive back. Just once. Only ever once.

Stylish and daring, this high-stakes thriller explores what happens when a curve ball skews life out of all recognition.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published September 10, 2020

About the author

Tyler was raised in Vancouver, Canada. He first came to the UK in 1999 to study English at Lancaster University. He returned home to finish his degree, and after graduating undertook a variety of bizarre jobs, working as a treeplanter, a landscape gardener, a deckhand on a fishing barge, a ‘greenhorn’ in the shipyards, a restaurant busser and a kayak shop assistant. After paying back his student loan, and saving up some money, he moved to Prague to try his hand at being a starving writer – the only problem being that he didn’t know how to write yet. The money ran out before he learned, and after a brief stint living in Birmingham, he moved to Wales in 2003.

While working part-time cleaning toilets at a petrol station, Tyler committed to learning the craft, and after picking up a handful of short fiction awards – including a Writer of the Year Award from Writers Inc. of London – he began selling his stories to magazines. He is interested both in literary and slipstream fiction, and has been published in New Welsh Review, Planet, Transmission, Dream Catcher, Black Static, and On Spec, among others. A translation of his story, ‘Masque of the Red Clown’ has also recently been commissioned by the French-Canadian magazine, Solaris. Tyler has also written for the screen; a short film he wrote recently aired on ITV Wales, whilst another picked up the Welsh Dragon Award at the Newport International Film Festival. Welsh editors have always been supportive of his writing, from Arthur Smith to Dafydd Prys to Francesca Rhydderch to Helle Michelson, and now more recently Lucy Llewellyn at Parthian.

Like most Canadians, Tyler enjoys his winter sports, including hockey and snowboarding, but since coming to Wales he has discovered the wonders of hiking and camping – particular along the Pembrokeshire coast. He currently works part-time in a factory near his hometown of Llanidloes, and lectures in Creative Writing at the University of Gloucestershire.

Reviews

[Hayley (Shelflyfe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today is my stop on the blog tour for 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 by Tyler Keevil. Thank you to Courtney at edPR and Myriad Editions for having me along and for sending me a copy of the book.
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𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗯𝗶𝗿𝗱'𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
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Your Still Beating Heart is an excellent thriller, that expertly mingles elements of crime and tension with literary fiction.
Written in second person, which is a rare choice in novels, the story follows Eira as the main character, as she navigates the loss of a partner, and a journey that starts with grief but ends very differently.
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𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀; 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿; 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺
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Keevil's depiction of grief is incredibly realistic. Any readers who have lost a close family member will no doubt feel a bond with, and empathy for, Eira, but what is most striking is her honest reflections on her relationship that are revealed over time.
One can't help but wonder where Eira would be if her partner was still in her life, but I'm sure a lot of readers will also appreciate her candor and recognise the numerous comprises that people make for those closest to them.
Eira's interactions with others, and their bland, well-intentioned small talk, is such an astute observation of when someone is dealing with grief, though I can't say I agree with all of Eira's choices.
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𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻, 𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗛𝗲'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 - 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁, 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 - 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗱𝗱, 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆, '𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁.'
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Her grief propels Eira to leave her job, and to travel back to Prague as it holds special meaning for her and her partner.
While there, she is met with a proposition: a small job, crossing the border to make an exchange and transport something back, but just once. Only ever once.
Eira's bereavement and melancholy leads to her being reckless, but she soon finds that the job was not what she expected, and she is faced with a complicated decision of what choices she will make, and how her life will be forever changed.
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𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗱'𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵.
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There are some excellent, strong, female characters throughout the story. Eira herself if incredibly resilient, and she surprises herself with her strength and courage, but it bolstered by strong friends like Marta.
I won't give any spoilers, but while she is undoubtedly an unsavory character, Valerie is also a strong female character.
The plot and themes throughout Your Still Beating Heart are very modern and timely.
Over the past few years there have been increasing news stories about human trafficking and the seedy underbelly of humanity, and a seemingly increased thirst to tackle this activity.
Keevil's novel reiterates the human side of this terrible and despicable crime, which can often be missed when it is depicted in the news.
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𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻; 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗧𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.
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I'd definitely recommend Your Still Beating Heart to thriller fans, and to those who enjoy crime and thrillers with a literary curve. I think fans of Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton would probably enjoy this book.
I'd also consider reading more by Tyler Keevil in the future.

[Il Priorato Dei Bibliofili · Rating 5 out of 5]

🫀Londra. Tod e sua moglie Eira, dopo una splendida serata insieme, prendono un autobus per rientrare a casa.

Nell'autobus sale un pazzo schizofrenico che inizia a molestare ed insultare Eira, Tod prende le difese di sua moglie e i due passano velocemente alle mani.

🫀Tod sembra avere la meglio ma il criminale ha con sé un coltello che pianta senza esitazione nel cuore di Tod e scappa scendendo dall'autobus.

🫀 Tod perde molto sangu3 in quel piovoso giovedì di novembre, ha la schiuma alla bocca, i polmoni vuoti, senza più aria.

🫀Muore davanti all'amore della sua vita senza dire una parola, neanche un "ti amo" prima di lasciarla per sempre.

🫀Eira, distrutta dal dolore, decide di trasferirsi a Praga, la città in cui Tod le chiese di sposarlo.

🫀 Vagando per la città senza un motivo per andare avanti, incontra un uomo di nome Mario che attacca bottone e le offre un "lavoretto" lautamente retribuito: deve prendere un'auto, andare in Ucraina, attraversare il confine con una valigia e tornare con un pacchetto.

🫀 Tutto si complica quando Eira scopre in cosa consiste "il pacchetto" che dovrà trasportare...

"𝐈𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐨𝐫𝐞 è 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐚 𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐝𝐢 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨; 𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨 𝐞 𝐢 𝐬𝐮𝐨𝐢 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢, 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐚 𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐚 𝐝𝐢 𝐮𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢."

📖"Mentre il tuo cuore batte ancora " è un thriller psicologico magnetico, caratterizzato da una narrazione in seconda persona (andando avanti con la lettura l'autore ne spiega il motivo) e da una tensione via via crescente.

📖 L'ambientazione si sposta da Londra a Praga passando anche per la Slovacchia e l'Ucraina: grazie alle descrizioni accurate, il lettore riesce facilmente a visualizzare i cambi di paesaggi, dal benessere al degrado, in un viaggio on the road insieme ai personaggi principali.

📖I capitoli brevi e la prosa diretta e cruda rendono il romanzo un perfetto page turner: il lettore non ha idea di come possa andare a finire la storia sino alle ultime pagine (da cui è praticamente impossibile staccarsi) , è perfettamente immerso nella corsa adrenalinica della protagonista avvertendo l'ansia crescente di Eira man mano che la vicenda evolve.

📖 Protagonista e filo conduttore del romanzo è il cuore: quello lacerato da una pugnalata, quello spezzato per aver perso l'amore della vita, quello che batte ancora e può essere salvato...

📖 Leggere questo libro è come vedere un thriller da cardiopalma nella propria mente, imperdibile!

[Karen Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
This book is a real page turner.

The start of the book is heartbreaking, full of grief and heartache and I really felt for Eira when she loses her husband in such a traumatic way.

The story then follows Eira's journey which takes many different paths throughout Prague, Slovakia and Ukraine. Eira takes on a job to make some extra money which in the end teaches her more about herself and the person she is.

It was action packed and the writing style was really clever, I'm not used to books being narrated but this was really well done.

I felt the ending was a little flat in comparison to the rest of the book which was so fast paced but it was still a brilliant read that I flew through in a day.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

went in apprehensive as quite different to a lot of what i read. came out wanting to read every single one of this man’s books.

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story, with short, sharp, observant chapters, each having a heading, the opening chapter is titled, an ending, as Eira and husband Tod have been to the cinema in London, on the way home on the bus Tod is stabbed and dies. Leaving Eira numb, she tries to carry on, but she is making mistakes at work and although her boss is sympathetic she quits. Deciding to go to Prague where Tod had proposed to her. As she tries to work through the pain and grief. She enrols in a Czech language class, but doesn’t stick at it for long, she meets a Canadian student there who aspires to become a writer, which is why he is in Prague. Despite him only being a minor character in the story, he also plays an important part as the reader learns later.

Who is the narrator? It’s clearly not being told by Eira, the main protagonist, when it says ‘you did this’ or ‘you did that’ It comes across as if we are the character, we are the story. It only became clear later who it was telling Eira’s story as if it was being read to her. It’s our beating heart.

Eira seems to have no fear, she is numb. She has a chance meeting with a man called Mario on her first evening in Prague, who says for someone like her he could find her a one off job that pays well. When her money is getting low Eira seeks him out saying she will do the job. He makes it clear the job is not legal, and it’s a one time job only, to take a package over the border and bring another package back. She agrees to do it. He arranges a meet with a woman called Valerie, who says the job is just a simple favour nothing more, but if she doesn’t complete the job there will be consequences, a meeting with Pavel and his scalpel. Eira is adamant she will do the job. She is given strict rules, but Eira doesn’t like sticking to rules and changes a few things along the way. The package she takes with her is fine, although she is inquisitive as to what it is, but the package she brings back changes the game completely, especially when she realises what they plan to do with the package.

From then on in Eira has to try and keep her wits about her, she needs to try and get out of the country without them finding her. But with very few friends and not knowing who she can trust it isn’t as easy as it seems. The stakes are high and the chase is on. The stakes are high, you are rooting for Eira to make it, but can she?


I have to say as I was nearing the end of the story, the tension was building, I could hear and feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had no idea how this was going to go. The story truly took you on an emotional journey, with beautiful prose. As Eira deals with her grief pushing herself to the extreme, physically and mentally. Eira’s main focus is to escape and survive with the package intact.

The title becomes significant in many ways, as you learn when reading the story. This is a tightly plotted fast paced read, keeping you entirely gripped, emotions going up and down like a rollercoaster ride. With some truly believable characters. A story of grief and the impact it can have in decision making. This is an outstanding ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. I look forward to see what the author writes next.

[lasnovelasdenaiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eira, la protagonista verá como su vida pierde sentido tras el asesinato de su marido.
En Praga encontrará a un extraño personaje que le ofrecerá un trabajo en un principio " sencillo".
Cuando descubra la magnitud del encargo, Eria tomará una drástica decisión.
Narrada de una forma muy peculiar, es una novela que se lee en un suspiro, que engancha. Con un final emotivo y a la vez enigmático es una novela que os recomiendo leer.
Más reseñas en Instagram @las_novelas_de_naiara

[Inés · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5 ⭐

[Novel_Natters · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ It pulls you in from the very first chapter it's senseless violence & the overwhelming grief that follows. The short, sharp chapters keep you reading just one more to see what unfolds next.
⭐ Unusually is it written in the second person which really added to how deeply you felt the punches this storyline deals with.
⭐ The characters within this novel are uniquely drawn, Eira shows true resilience and Valerie really is a force to be reckoned with.
⭐ All the hallmarks of a perfect thriller with a twist of literary prose thrown in, perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn.
☆ I felt the pace slow towards the end which took away some of the tension for me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Disclaimer: A huge thanks to Myriad Editions & EdPR for sending me this title for an honest & unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[Bella McGuinness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best story I've read in an age; real suspense and a plot that reels you in told in a narrative style. I loved the subtle symbolism, references to time and personal reflections throughout. Prague as a setting delivered so well, and you can feel the 'cold' as the story progresses, but with a crystal clear hope it will all turn out right for our heroines. Beautifully written.

[Viviendotrasvidas · Rating 5 out of 5]

▪️Un THRILLER, sí, en mayúsculas 🙌
▪️Donde late el corazón es una novela con un trasfondo terrible 😖
▪️Eira, atormentada tras el asesinato 🔪 de su esposo, lo deja todo para emprender un viaje sin un propósito establecido.
▪️Cuando un completo desconocido le ofrece un trabajo para el cual afirma ser la persona idónea, acepta sin reparos 🤷
▪️En su estado de abatimiento y confusión inicia un viaje 🚗 que no será tan sencillo como parece.
▪️Una fracción de segundo. Es lo que se necesita para volver a sentir. Un click, un simple chasquido puede cambiar tu modo de percibir 👀 tu entorno, tu vida.
▪️De la mano de Eira he recorrido kilómetros acompañándola en su trance. 
▪️Hay ojos en todas partes, los he sentido observando, acechando. Una telaraña 🕷️que se extiende más allá de nuestro conocimiento.
▪️¿En quién puedes confiar❓
▪️He leido este apasionante thriller analizando 🤔 cada detalle, situación y escenario.
▪️Es la primera vez que leo al autor y no será la última.
▪️La narración es afortunadamente acertada. Me ha mantenido en vilo 😲, lo he devorado en un fin de semana 
▪️Reflexiones, decisiones y sufrimiento 😨 envueltos en una huída precipitada. Hay que permanecer alerta, no puedes cometer errores. Tu vida está en juego y eso no te importaba, hasta este momento. ¿Por qué?, ¿Qué ha cambiado?  
▪️Sumérgete en sus páginas y descúbrelo 📖

[BloodyWolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

La vicenda inizia con una profonda analisi di un lutto, fatto che viene analizzato con gli occhi della donna che ha dovuto vedere il proprio marito morirgli davanti senza poter fare nulla.

La protagonista è quasi atroce nella sua apatia, ma nonostante ciò mi piace, risalta, spicca perché ha un motivo per essere così, per essere definita la “regina delle nevi”.

C’è un bellissimo cambiamento nella donna e qui e là sparse per il libro ci sono molte lezioni di vita.

È un libro che ha un’ambientazione che passa da Praga alla Repubblica Ceca fino all’Ucraina, ci tengo a specificare questo perché io personalmente ci ho letto ciò che di solito i turisti non sempre vedono, ciò che c’è al di là delle mere mete turistiche.

Ha un finale bellissimo e significativo, qualcosa che dovrebbe insegnare qualcosa a chiunque in questo mondo fatto di coardi e di bugiardi.

Insomma questo è un libro che a mio avviso vale e che ho trovato molto intenso; descrizioni molto dettagliate ma non pesanti, azioni ben articolate con l’introspezione della protagonista e un significato grande e indiscutibile, perché sì, miei cari lettori, quando arriverete alla fine direte anche voi che, da che il mondo è mondo, una madre farebbe di tutto per salvare il proprio bambino, noi umani come nel regno animale.

[Lisa Tranter · Rating 5 out of 5]

flew through this, loved it

Gripping, interesting and heart wrenching.

Loved this book and flew through it in a matter of days. A must read for any thriller lovers

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can genuinely see why this book is being so lauded, and talked about, rarely does grief get given such a canvas to paint on, with such poetic strokes, as it does here.

From the very first page I felt pulled into this monochromatic landscape, where in the absence of love, of her lifetime companion, and with nothing left to stay for, Eira (Welsh for snow by the way) takes off for Prague, the location of her husband, Tod's, proposal of marriage.

A job she never really wanted, possessions she divests herself of, all discarded to make way for an existence where the wheels are taken off, she can give free reign to a grief over a life unlived, children unborn, and an unrequited heart . The chill in the air seems to call to her so that she can freeze her loss in this time, in this space, not get over it, not to move on, but to stay in a semi-permanent state of loss.

The urgency of her feelings are communicated so well by the use of present tense and first person narration, you really get the sense that Eira is talking directly to you, it pulls you into an icy embrace and does not let go. You bear witness to her travels, her pain, her decision making, even though she has nothing to lose, you want to reach into the pages and stop her from taking on this one, small job, this one errand which she has been asked to do.

Her very vulnerability and lack of connections in, or out, of Prague make her highly valuable because if it goes wrong, there is nothing for her to go back to. But in the course of this journey, from the senseless stabbing of her husband to the lack of closure, or retribution she has, to the seemingly reckless connections that she makes with unsavoury people once she starts to run out of money.

It seems that being allowed to languish in your grief is a luxury only afforded to those who can pay for it.

Knowing what she has been through, you begin to sense that she has either made a decision that will end her life, or one that will bring her back and , like a defribillator, restore a regular sinus rhythm in place of arrythmia.

I loved this literary thriller so much, it transcends genre tropes to become something  unique and outstanding in what is, a very crowded field at present. It is the first novel that I have read by Tyler Keevil and I loved it, he balances the needs of his characters and his readers on a fine knife edge, never assuming or taking for granted our investment in the outcome of Eira's decision making.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening chapter of Your Still Beating Heart is many things: horrific, banal, ridiculous, incomprehensible – just like grief, in fact, which has hit a young woman, Eira, as her husband, Tod, was stabbed to death on a London bus as they travelled home from the cinema. It’s both beautiful and heartbreaking, and structured so deftly with hints of what is to come.
She leaves her job and travels to Prague – she and Tod had visited; he’d proposed here. It’s a good a place as any to work through the grief and numbness and pain. Here we are also introduced to our story-teller – no omniscient author narrator as I’d presumed, but a Canadian student who wants to become a writer whom Eira meets in a Czech language class she drops out of: “He is only a minor player… but his presence is important… since he is the one telling this story.” His presence is important for other reasons too, as we shall learn later.
Eira seeks out Mario, a local she met on her first night in the city, who had casually mentioned he could find her work if she needed. Now that she goes to him needing money, he is plain about the lack of legality in the work. So we now move from a lyrical novel of love and loss to a classic noir: a choice made and consequences that unfold inevitably from it.
There is a meeting with Valerie. “It is just a simple favour really,” she says, casually. But renege and there will be a meeting with Pavel, and his scalpel, and with pain. Just one job. Just once over the border into Ukraine to bring something back. Easy. But Eira doesn’t want to play rigidly by someone else’s rules...
The exchange is made. But the ominous sensation Eira and the reader alike have felt does not dissipate – quite the reverse. And then she makes a decision, and the story pivots again: We’re now in a terrifying chase thriller with the highest of stakes, and the title – which til now seemed the perfect way to describe someone coming out of grief – takes on a second, more terrifying meaning too. How does it end? Satisfyingly, but frankly scarily too.
Your Still Beating Heart has an intriguing structure with the changing tone, a page-turning plot and beautiful language that taps directly into the emotions. Keevil has created something very special with this novel.

[Lauren Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Courtney Jeffries at EdPR for inviting me onto the book tour and sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The first chapter of the book is heartbreaking and gut wrenching. The narrative and description of the traumatic even that steals Eira’s husband from her so quickly made me feel quite distressed. Almost as though I was there myself.

Stabbings seem to have become a common occurrence in this modern day and I can only imagine how traumatic it is to witness let alone be involved in. My mind flashed to news headlines about lives lost because someone was attacked for no apparent reason.

Tyler Keevil’s description of the grief that begins for Eira that night is so well written that it begins to consume you. I found I had to put the book down several times to gather my thoughts because some of the narrative felt almost as though my past thoughts and feelings had been laid bare for all to see.

It’s not often that you find a book that touches you so personally despite never having been through the same experiences as the protagonist. This is testiment to Keevil’s writing abilities.

Eira makes an impromptu decision to quit her job and go to Prague - the place where Tod proposed to her. And that is where the story begins to change from what you think it will be.

Showing how one event can change the course you thought you were on to something completely different.

I did find the narration of an outsider looking in a bit unusual and it took a little getting used too as it’s not the format I am used too.

It does however lend itself to the reader being at the centre of the story and I felt like things hit a little harder because of that.

Then Eira goes to the stranger, Mario she meets on her first night in Prague, in search of paid work because she’s running out of funds. Mario then makes it clear that the work is not legal but it will be just once.

The narrative then switches from one of grief to one of worry about the consequences of this arrangement.

The book is tense and full of drama like you would expect from a thriller. It also brings to the fore the very human element of human trafficking.

Definitely one I would recommend to others!

[travelsalongmybookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Still Beating Heart - Tyler Keevil

Eira is robbed of her husband by a random stabbing on a London bus and in a moment her life is changed forever. She runs away to Prague where she is offered a small job for someone like her with no criminal record or connections. Just a minor job, to pick something up and bring it back. Just once, only ever once.

‘𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛…𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚊 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚍,𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚝𝚎…..𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝙿𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚕, 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚗𝚎𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚋𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚋𝚢 𝚃𝚘𝚍’𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑.’

I really enjoyed the way this story was written, It is sharp, observant, quiet and powerful, the chapters are short and the narrative moves quite quickly. I felt slightly detached by how the story was told, from the outside looking in. It felt in some ways quite numbing to read, much like Eira must feel, almost wrapped in cotton wool, emotions present but blunted.
It feels like quite an intimate portrait of grief at times, I really felt for Eira and what she goes through. I connected with her strength of feeling and her protectiveness of Gogol. I loved the relationship between them both, it is lovely and tender, real humanity is here and it is beautifully written.

‘𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎, 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚜.’

It was a book of two parts for me, early on getting to know Eira and how she comes to make the decisions she does and then latterly the unrelenting build up of quiet tension. Being hunted but having to protect Gogol - it becomes extremely tense and a real page turner!

‘𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐.’

It is about decisions we make and the ripples they create, the consequences that they have on those around us.
This becomes a tense thrilling read but retains a quiet beauty about it, stark and brutal and just stunning.

✩✩✩✩✩

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Thank you to Myriad Editions and Ed PR for my copy of this book and spot on the upcoming blog tour

[LiteraryLucie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can one moment change the course of your life forever? For Eira, this moment felt like a lifetime. On a London bus, just a ride home after a trip to the cinema, her husband Tod was stabbed in the heart. Wanting to feel something again, feel anything, she went to Prague and willingly took on a potentially dangerous job, only dangerous if she didn’t follow instructions to a tee. But Eira was never one for playing by the rules, and especially with this overriding numbness, she went rogue. Crossing both physically and personal boundaries, she soon realises that her still beating heart isn’t the only one she should be protecting.
What we thought at first to be an omniscient narrator turns out to be a friend telling Eira’s story as if to her. ‘You did this’ and ‘you did that’ is clearly aimed at Eira as the protagonist, however it also effectively places the reader as that character too. We are the ones who witnessed our husband get murdered, we are the ones who place ourselves in a life or death situation, we are the ones who have hearts on the verge of no longer beating. Keevil puts us right in the centre of the action like no book has ever done before. I honestly felt like the actions and questionable decisions of the characters were placed on my shoulders and I would have to face the consequences.
Your Still Beating Heart can be read as a fast-paced high-speed chase, the tension building with each page, compelling you to read on. With masterful storytelling and beautifully complex characters and dynamics, it really goes it show, sometimes you must experience death to truly understand life.

[Hari Raelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’ve just finished this and my cheeks are literally red with the pace of it all. I feel like I’ve been on a run 😂

A clever, engaging and well-paced thriller that doesn’t just come through with a good story, but is also an excellent character study and a meaningful consideration of grief and the identities we shape for ourselves. I’m not usually a big lover of the thriller genre but this hybrid makes it super engaging for people outside the genre, and your commitment to the main character raises the stakes even higher than the book already makes them.

If you’re looking for something fast-paced and thrillery, but also literary, poignant and insightful, this book may well be the book for you.

Disclaimer: Tyler is my PhD supervisor but that’s not why I thought the book was so good😌

[Claire (c.isfor.claire_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was instantly drawn to this book from the first few pages. The start is powerful, yet tragic and senseless and I couldn't help wanting to keep reading and turning the pages.

Told in the second person, which was a totally new perspective for me. Reading I felt I was living through Eira's grief too.
With short chapters the storyline moves along at a pace.

Grieving Eira flees to Prague to return to a place she felt close to her husband , being the city of their engagement. Whilst there Eira is offered an intriguing one-job - to pick something up and drive back with it.

I can actually imagine this book being made into a film - classic noir - It would be atmospheric and gripping.

This is a beautifully written and emotional and one I'd recommend a read of.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your husband is stabbed on a bus in London. You’re trying to come to terms with your grief. You flee to Prague, the city where he proposed. That’s where you get offered a job. It’s perfect for someone like you: no criminal record or personal connections. All you need to do is cross the border, pick something up and drive back.

✨📖AD | GIFTED BOOK 📖✨

Set in Eastern Europe, Your Still Beating Heart is a compelling and hard-hitting thriller that will hold you captive in its icy vice until the very last page. I just couldn’t put this book down. It’s challenging to review this story without revealing major aspects of the plot, so I will give a general overview of my thoughts and feelings to avoid spoilers.

Keevil puts the reader at the very heart of the story throughout with the use of a second person POV. This made for a unique and immersive reading experience, and also served an intriguing purpose. The melancholic and dark tone of the narrative was cleverly executed and helped me feel connected to Eira and her grief. I honestly felt like I was experiencing Eira’s every emotion, which only made everything feel more intense and overwhelming as the events unfolded. This story is incredibly tense and emotional in equal measure.

I also didn’t expect to care so much about the characters in this story. I particularly appreciated the powerful female characters and how real they felt. The ending was phenomenal too and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this story. Although it didn’t give me the full 5 star feels, it’s definitely a solid 4.5🌟 read for me.

I would highly recommend picking up this phenomenal thriller if you’re looking for a binge worthy read or something that will pull you right out of a reading slump. Thank you so much to @myriad_editions editions and @ed.pr (Instagram) for my copy of Your Still Beating Heart in exchange for an honest review.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 9.5/10
Again, this is an under-rated book, being the second I have read by Tyler Keevil. I really enjoyed the narrative viewpoint throughout, with the main character (Eira) being addressed to as “you” for the entirety of the novel, which for me made it interesting to read- especially as a contrast to the average first person perspective. Although the plot is ‘unrealistic’ at times, I have to say I feel most thrillers are. To be honest, there is nothing I didn’t like about this book- being an enjoyable read, and so deserving of five stars.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The first half of the book was VERY hard to get through. To me it was not interesting enough, but I also found it hard because of the sense of futility and the general attitude towards life after the MC lost her husband. It affected my outlook on life and made me quite irritable and depressed.

Now for the positives: I did not expect the direction this book went in but I was happy that the second half of this book got a lot more action.

[Barry Agnew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend and it was a fantastic read. The short chapters meant I kept saying I’ll read one more but in reality read more! The book begins with such sadness from an event that we could easily be caught up in. I didn’t expect the book to turn the way it did. Give it a read, you won’t be disappointed!

[David Portas · Rating 2 out of 5]

A ridiculous plot where a welsh wiman single handedly takes on the ukraine/ czech mafia. Really ? How utterly realistic is that meant to be.

Author needs to have a harsh word with himself for writing such an inplausable story. 5/10

[Sean Luckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Cracking thriller and as usual characters that feel completely real.
Much like my other favourite of this author, No Good Brother' they stayed with me long after I'd finished reading and I was really pulling for them at the end.

[Pamela Cartlidge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading this last night and it's still on my mind. The story is narrated throughout and although that didn't put me off, the slow start almost made me abandon the book as nothing seemed to be happening. Then all of a sudden I was hooked. A good read.

[Tom Mooney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nah.

[Guy Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great, thoroughly enjoyed reading what was a unique novel, full of thrilling twists. The use of 2nd person throughout really makes the experiences and emotions hit home.

[Cinzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi è piaciuto davvero molto. letto tutto d'un fiato. Tyler Keevil è stato davvero una bella scoperta.

[Anne Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intelligent literary thriller about the kindness and cruelty of the human race.