As the Smoke Clears: The inspirational true story of surviving Greece's deadly wildfires, overcoming devastating loss, and discovering a path to renewal

by Zoe Holohan

On 23 July 2018, in the seaside town of Mati in Greece, Zoe Holohan and her husband of four days were enjoying the beginning of their honeymoon. Then disaster struck. Unprecedented wildfires swept through the area, killing 102 people. Zoe and Brian fled their villa, chased by the flames, running for their lives. Ultimately Zoe was one of the few survivors from the area, having been miraculously rescued from the boot of a burning car just seconds from death. She suffered severe burns all over her face and body, and her beloved husband Brian lost his life before her eyes.In this remarkable story Zoe reveals the emotional journey of grappling with the loss of her true love and partner, as well as her own incredible fight for survival, learning how to walk, talk and use her limbs again, and a future facing PTSD and a heavily scarred body.As the Smoke Clears is a deeply personal journey through a life-altering year which, at its heart, teaches us to seek hope and happiness in even the most tragic of circumstances, and to find comfort in the enduring kindness of our fellow human beings.

Genres: Memoir

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2021

Reviews

[Darragh Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. This book is superbly written by a courageous woman who must have gone through so much pain. Was a must read after seeing Zoe on late late show. Brian is 100% the hero she set out to portray but I think she should consider herself in the same regard

[Nora Quigley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe Holihan is a very courageous woman and went through an awful ordeal, lost her husband Brian who was also very courageous and a true hero.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by the widow of a good friend of me & my sister.
I did cry while reading about her ordeals, the pain of losing a husband just a couple of days into her honeymoon. She writes from the heart, and I can understand what Brian was attracted to. Showing a strength that she probably didn’t know she had, she is very courageous.
“Those who spend prolonged stints in hospital, be they patient or medic, will tell you that having a sense of humour or the ability to laugh at oneself is sometimes the only thing that will get you through a difficult day”

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really brave book written from the heart. Zoe tells her story, giving us an insight into how much she has lost and the horrors she has had to face physical and emotional. It us hard to believe she could survive, never mind managing to move forward and live her life. She is an inspiration to us all and has left an enduring record of Brian and how special he was and how much she misses him.

[Sharon O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming read

Such a heart warming story, So sad but also a great read of what a strong women she is and has been of what she's been through,keep on being brave and I would recommend that everyone should read this book

[Meenehansgmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awe inspiring book. Zoe Holohan is the the most courageous of souls. I sobbed my way through this book.

[Patricia Hallahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written & an easy read about a sad & tragic experience.

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an inspirational story. Such a harrowing experience to go through and still come out the other side. Would definitely recommend.

[Clodagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels weird giving such a tragic story 5 stars, but it was incredibly moving and also very funny at times