The Wreckage

by Robin Morgan-Bentley

One fatal crash

Ben is driving on the motorway, on his usual commute to the school where he works. A day like any other, except for the crash.

Two colliding worlds

Adam has left his home for the last time. In his final despairing act, he jumps in front of Ben's car, turning the teacher's world upside down.

Three wrecked lives

Wracked with guilt, Ben seeks out Alice, Adam's widow, and her 7-year-old son Max. But as he tries to escape the trauma of the wreckage, could Ben go too far in trying to ease his conscience?

Gripping and sinister, The Wreckage is guaranteed to keep you up all night...

'A terrific debut exploring the vulnerabilities and co-dependency of damaged individuals. I loved the wonderfully subtle but insistent tone of menace woven into the narrative, winding me into the colliding worlds of Ben and Alice and pushing me on to finish it. Clever and compelling!' - Fiona Barton, bestselling author of The Widow

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery

314 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 2020

About the author

Robin Morgan-Bentley was born and grew up in London. After studying Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge University, he went on to work for Google before moving to Audible, where he has been working since 2014.

His debut thriller, The Wreckage, was nominated for the CWA Dagger John Creasey New Blood Award, the CrimeFest Specsavers Debut Crime Award and Capital Crime’s Debut Book of the Year Award. His next thriller, The Guest House, will be released in September 2022.

Robin lives in Buckinghamshire with his husband and son.

Reviews

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben was driving to work when Adam jumps in front of his car. He passes away a month later. He leaves behind his wife, Alice and their son, Max. Ben is wracked with guilt. He decides to attend the funeral and forms a friendship with Alice.

This story is told y Ben, Adam and Alice's perspectives. It deals with the vulnerable and mental health issues. The characters were well rounded but at times I both sympathised and despised them. This is a gripping, well written and page turning psychological thriller. A great de ut novel with a twist at the end that I did t see coming.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Ronin Morgan-Bentley for my ARC in exchange for an honest.

[C.L. Taylor]

The Wreckage is an immersive, compulsive and gripping tale about what happens when three broken people's lives collide in the most tragic of ways. It's a book about control and obsession but the author cleverly veers away from cliche and melodrama - there are no cardboard cutout villains and heroes here - because, in Ben and Alice, he has created characters that are well rounded, nuanced, flawed and real. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Patricija || book.duo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Nors anotacija žada trilerį, iš karto įspėju neapsigauti. Ypač tiems, kurie nori greito tempo, greito veiksmo, greitų sprendimų ir posūkių. Dviračio čia niekas nebando išrasti. Tik lėtai, po vieną sluoksnį, kantriai ir vietomis net šiek tiek atsargiai, nuo katastrofą patyrusių žmonių atidengia vis naują jausmą, emociją, mintį. Realistiškai. Skaudžiai. Įtikinamai, nes gyvenimiškai. Kur verkia ir vyrai, o ne tik stoiškai išpūtę krūtines priima visas gyvenimo negandas. Kur sprendimus kartais priimama paskubėjus. Kvailai įsimylėjus. Kur pyktis įsišaknijęs, visai kaip ir nuoskaudos, baimės, nepasitikėjimas savimi, skausmas. Kur nesvarbu kiek daug duodi, kas nors vis tiek nori daugiau. Kur gali tapti aplinkybių auka. Ką ten auka – įkaitu. Kur meluoji sau, todėl meluoji ir visiems kitiems.

Vienintelė knygos problema, kuri neleido man paskutinio puslapio užversti jaučiant, kad čia buvo labai, LABAI gerai, buvo pabaiga. Per greita? Suskubėta? Pritempta? Šiek tiek. Visgi, nesinori dėl jos bausti pačios knygos, nes tai nėra įprastas trileris. Akcentai ne ten, kur dažniausiai, kur jų tikėtumeis, ypač jei skaitei daugiau nei kokius 10. Autorius veikiau skrodžia veikėjus, skaudžiai ir realistiškai, gilindamasis visai ne į tuos paskutinius dešimt puslapių (nors aišku, nereikėtų ir prieš juos numoti ranka), o į pojūčius ir mintis, baimes ir iliuzijas. Manipuliuoja skaitytoju, bet ne erzinančiai, ne perspaustai, kaip kartais nutinka, kuomet autorius įsijaučia į "aš žinau, o tu ne, haha" vaidmenį. O ir kaitaliodamas naratyvą, Beno skyrių keisdamas Alisos skyriumi, įtikina mane jų abiejų balsais. O gi dažniausiai nutinka taip, kad kažkurio veikėjo minčių lauki labiau. Kažkuris kalba įtikinamiau. Ne šį kartą. Ir lyčių rolės, apkeistos labai sąmoningai, suveikia labai žmogiškai, labai paprastai. Nes gyvenimiškai.

Kuomet trileriai mėtosi ant kiekvieno kampo, rasti tokį, kuris bent kažkuo išsiskiria – sudėtinga. Bet „Avarija“ vienas tų, kurį ir lentynoje mielai pasiliksiu. Autoriaus gebėjimas žvelgti giliau katastrofos, giliau stereotipų, mane nudžiugina pakankamai. Ir balas krenta tik už pabaigą. Truputį negrabią, truputį neįtikinančią. Truputį per greitą. Bet „Avariją“ vis tiek rekomenduoju. Ypač tiems, kurie linkę mėgautis skyriais iki pabaigos, o ne tik efektinga nata paskutiniuose puslapiuose.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 4.5 Stars
Story....3.75 Stars

[Jeilen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Me ha sido muy difícil terminar este libro, no me involucré con los personajes ni sus situaciones ya que las cosas que hacían no tenía el menor sentido... Curiosamente el final me pareció muy bueno.

[Gabrielė|Kartu su knyga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kuomet skaitau daug psichologinių trilerių, dažniausiai tampa iššūkiu rasti tą, kuris būtų išskirtinis ir nustebintų tave, kaip skaitytoją. Ši istorija mane maloniai nustebino. Knyga buvo tikrai kitokia ir buvo tikrai įdomu ją skaityti.

Eilinį rytą važiuojant į darbą Benui Andersonui tiesiog nepasiseka. Po jo automobilio ratais, tiesiogine to žodžio prasme, iššoka vyras. Šis nutikimas vyrui sukelia šoką. Jis negali patikėti tuo, kas nutiko. Ta diena pakeičia jo gyvenimą.
Avarijos vietoje Adamas nemirė iš karto, tačiau jo smegenys yra mirusios. Tad jo gyvybę palaiko tik aparatai. Benas jaučia nepakeliamą kaltę ir užsuka į ligoninę aplankyti Adamo žmonos bei jų sūnaus Makso. Taip nejučia tarp šių dviejų žmonių užsimezga draugystė. Juos suartina jų patirta tragedija. Tiesa ta, jog viskas yra kiek kitaip, nei gali pasirodyti iš pirmo žvilgsnio.

Tai psichologinis trileris, tačiau visiškai kitoks. Nepanašus į tuos, kuriuos dažnisusiai tenka skaityti. Šioje istorijoje autorius mus vedžioja tarsi labirintu. Istorija pasakojama yra tiek Beno, tiek ir Alisos balsu. Tad galime visai nesunkiai įsigilinti į kiekvieno iš šių veikėjų jausmus bei mintis. Skaitai šią knygą ir turi nuojautą, jog viskas nėra taip kaip atrodo. Ir tikrai ne be reikalo. Vėliau paaiškėja ir daugiau detalių apie Adamą, tad viskas stoja į savo vietas. Vienu metu skaičiau ir svarsčiau kuris iš šių veikėjų man yra keistesnis, Alisa ar Benas? 🤭
Šį kartą kūrinio pabaiga manęs neįtikino ir atrodė, jog autorius su ja paskubėjo. Bet iš esmės knyga tikrai patiko. Manau, jog patiks ir tiems, kam norisi truputį kitokio, bet ne ką mažiau patrauklaus psichologinio trilerio.

[Pauline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ben is driving to work on the motorway one morning when a man steps out in front of his car. This incident turns Ben's life upside down.
The man he knocked down is called Adam and after visiting him hospital to see how he is, Ben befriends Adam's wife Alice.
I could not engage with the main characters in this story. Ben was immature and annoying. Alice was mean and foul mouthed and this affected my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Goda l Knygu_jura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 / 5

Kiekvieną kartą pradėjusi skaityti trilerį nejučia tikiuosi veiksmo. Nebūtinai, kaip veiksmo filmuose, bet tikrai tokio intensyvesnio. Dažnai to veiksmo man ir pačiai norisi, ar pradeda trūkti. Tačiau "Avarijoj" viskas kitaip - veiksmo galima sakyti nėra ir jo absoliučiai netrūksta!

Priežastis paprasta - autorius taip gerai, taip įtraukiančiai ir įdomiai pateikia veikėjus juos analizuodamas dalelė po dalelės, atidarinėdamas vis naujus stalčiukus, kad veiksmo nebuvimo net nepajutau! Veikėjai pateikti tamsiai, pateikti su paslaptimis, jų psichologija labai įdomi, mane jie absoliučiai sužavėjo ir įtikino!

Istoriją autorius pasakoja iš dviejų veikėjų perspektyvos, o turint minty kaip gerai jis juos sukūrė, tai kiekvieną situaciją pamatyt tiek vieno, tiek kito akimis buvo žiauriai smagu! Viename skyriuje palaikai vieną, kitame jau jį smerki, ir taip skyrius po skyriaus, ir nejučia knyga baigiasi! Pabaiga man buvo suskubėta, lyg ir norėta autoriaus pateikti kažko netikėto, pribloškiančio, ber labai priblokšta nelikau.

Tačiau, kad patiko - tai tikrai! Toks tamsus, lietumi ir audros kvapo persmelktas, su savo psichologiniais vingiais ir šiurpinančia manija. Šis trileris autoriaus debiutinis, tai be jokių abejonių norėsiu skaityt ir kitas jo knygas!

[Caroline Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read the blurb of this book, I was immediately drawn in. A tragic event draws shattered lives closer together. What could be more intriguing than that? The Wreckage did not disappoint. The author draws you deep into their lives as you see the story from each perspective. These are living breathing characters, and I could easily envision this as a television drama in my mind. As the book progresses, it takes you down some dark pathways as further revelations are made. A thoroughly compelling read you won't be able to put down.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Theakstons crime read complete, The Wreckage is another one to look out for next year- an emotional story of dangerous love and obsession.

A fast and involving read. As ever full review to follow for publication.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really did not enjoy this one. The characters were awful and it just got weird... disappointed

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben is driving down the motorway, on his way to work like any other day, when the unthinkable happens. A pedestrian steps out in front of his car. In the aftermath, Ben finds it difficult to cope. He contacts the widow of the pedestrian, Alice and finds some comfort in getting to know her. But his distress is soon replaced by obsession and he finds it difficult to back off.

This had a great start, a real wham factor. I was intrigued from the first page. Told from the different character’s viewpoints (usually Ben and Alice) this gives the reader the perfect opportunity to get to see inside their minds and learn just how flawed they were. The style of the book flows easily, I read it in just one day. However for me, I felt there was something missing, it was just a little too predictable. Maybe I’m reading too many of these kind of thrillers!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben was driving to work when Adam jumps in front of his car. Je passes away a month later. He leaves behind his wife, Alice and their son Max. Ben is wracked with guilt. He decides to attend the Adams funeral and forms a friendship with Alice.

Thisnstorynis told by Ben, Adam and Alice's perspectives. It deals with the vulnerable and mental health issues. The characters were well rounded but at times I both sympathised and despised them. This is a gripping, well written and page turning psychological thriller. A great debut novel with a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Orion Publishing Group and the author Robin Morgan-Bentley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer (Jaye) (I was on a roll, now struggling to add comments - why???) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*A Question of Guilt*

**4.5 Stars**

Ben’s life is predictable, he is a primary school teacher and travels the same route day after day, his life is monotonous. Well this is about to change, whilst driving his car on a wet day he sees a flash and stops suddenly as he has hit someone. This person has jumped out in front of him. Why???

This action will change Ben in ways that he will not see coming.

Alice, Adam’s wife wakes up to a large envelope from Adam which she does not open. He has a history of depression and she instinctively knows that this time is different.

Ben is full of guilt and when he realises the victim has a wife and a 7 year old son, he goes to the hospital where the victim is and he gets to know them but in his efforts to absolve himself from the crash his actions change to obsession. At first Alice warms to him and as soon as they get close she is full of regret while Ben goes too far in his quest to look after them ignoring his usual rational behaviour.

As the story progresses we see that that Ben has been the subject of a warped mind, I will leave it there….

This story has a creepy tone to it and shows that when we are vulnerable rational behaviour can go out of the window and can easily go the wrong way….

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben was driving a car when a man jumped in front of it. And he died. Ben befriended the widow and child and kinda became stalkerish in his guilt. The book was the journey of their lives post the accident.

My first book by author Robin Morgan-Bentley, the story gave off creepy vibes which pulled me in. Both the main characters had their own agenda which filled me with suspense. I too began to peruse their motives. The author evoked my curiosity to investigate all actions of the protagonists.

The story moved at a swift pace. The characters were all weirded out which was understandable since they were in an unusual circumstance, linked together by death. Guilt could take different forms, and the author perfectly dealt with that along with different aspects of mental health and depression.

This was a low suspense story, where the ending caused my eyes to widen. There weren't many subplots per se, just two flawed characters who were both interesting in their actions and reactions.

Overall, the story pulled me into my kindle one chapter at a time until my drive to know the truth made me read it at one go.

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique story and extremely chilling.

[Greta Gaurilkevičienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Benas, važiuodamas į darbą, kur dirba pradinukų mokytoju, kelyje mirtinai partrenkia vyrą, kuris tiesiog iššoko į kelią ir Benas nesugebėjo suvaldyti automobilio. Būdamas geru žmogumi, Benas negali atsikratyti kaltės, juolab sužinojęs, kad tas vyras, kurį partrenkė, turėjo žmoną ir mažą sūnų. Norėdamas bent kažkiek sumažinti kaltę, bando priartėti prie mirusio vyro žmonos Alisos ir sūnaus Makso, norėdamas bent kažkaip jiems atsilyginti už tai ką padarė, bet kuo toliau tuo labiau viskas darosi keista. Skaičiau, kad daug kam pabaiga netikėta, man kažkodėl buvo įtarimas, kad taip gali baigtis jau nuo vidurio knygos, bet buvo tikrai įdomu, skaitėsi labai lengvai. Lengvas psichologinis trileris 5/5 🥸

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the synopsis for 'The Wreckage' and it certainly sounded like the deliciously, creepy sort of read that I absolutely love. I grabbed a cup of tea in one hand, picked up the book in the other hand and began to read. Oh my word, 'The Wreckage' was one hell of a read and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it.
The two main characters in the story are Ben and Alice, who are brought together in the most tragic of circumstances. Ben is a teacher, who is driving to the school where he works when a male deliberately steps out in front of Ben's car. Ben tries to take evasive action but he couldn't avoid hitting the male. It turns out that the male is called Adam and he was married to Alice and they had a son together. Ben develops an obsession with what happened, which is understandable in a sense. He feels responsible for killing Adam, which is technically true, and he carries a lot of guilt around with him. Following the accident Ben develops a friendship with Alice and Alice's son. It was almost as if he was trying to make amends to Alice for what happened. Ben becomes increasingly obsessed with Alice and I began to fear for her safety and that of her son. What happens? Well for the answers to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my word, 'The Wreckage' was a fantastic read. I was gripped by the characters and the story from the moment I picked the book up until the moment I finished the last word on the last page. This was one of those books that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so wrapped up in the story that I read far more than a couple of chapters. In fact the first time I picked the book up, I read 12 chapters in one go. I was itching to read the book over the course of a day but boring things like life got in the way and it meant that I had to take three of days to finish the story. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book and I was wanting to pick the book up again. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and I was staggered when I realised just how long I had been reading. It didn't take me long to reach the end of the story which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong, I was pleased to finish because it meant that I knew how the story ended but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I wanted the book to continue for longer.
'The Wreckage' is superbly written. The author has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Robin certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and he reels you in. The chapters are written from the different viewpoints of Ben and Alice. I did wonder if that way of telling the story might prove to be confusing but I needn't have worried because this way of telling the story worked well and the story flowed seamlessly as a result. I had my own suspicions as to what was going to happen but I had the wrong end of the stick so Robin certainly kept me guessing. Robin uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself.
In short, 'The Wreckage' is a cracking read, which I will definitely be recommending to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Robin's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with narration by Emilia Fox, Jack Hawkins and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is already starting on a positive note. But, ohmidays, The Wreckage is a gripping book that'll have you listening way past your bedtime. I thought Robin Morgan-Bentley took some unusual turns with this book. Firstly with the issue of men struggling with mental health, then with the widow, the innocent victim in all this, being not particularly likeable and the villain being, on the whole, a more generous and sympathetic character. So, although listening, I should have felt sympathy for Alice, I really didn't and I didn't dislike Ben; my heart ached for him. Hearing Ben's descent into obsession was so sad and I desperately wanted someone to help him. Alice's reactions were well thought out and fitted her character perfectly. Then, when Adam's suicide note is finally revealed; no spoilers but let's say it explains a lot. As the book came to its conclusion, I was at last able to take a breath. What a rookie error, because as I sat back and relaxed, all of a sudden the curtain was pulled back and there was a scream in my ear, "HE'S BEHIND YOU!" I shouldn't have let my guard down. Mr Morgan-Bentley knows how to keep his readers/listeners on their toes. I couldn't listen to this book quickly enough, as fast as I was shoving words in my ears they were falling out again. A compelling and clever novel, which will keep you engrossed until the final word. Don't just take my word for it though, buy a copy today - you can always thank me later!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting thriller, that had a promising start but then went down hill

In this book you follow Adam, a troubled man who has had a history of serious mental health problems. He decides to take his own life by stepping out in front a car. Ben, the unfortunate man to run into him, is traumatised by the event and decides to insert himself into Adam's widow and son's life. Is this an act of support or are his intentions more sinister?

I thought this book started of really well. Its really easy to read. The writing is engaging. The story gets going straight away, which I love. It pretty much had me hooked from the first page but then it went downhill...

I started to get bored. The story didn't progress and nothing was really happening.

There wasn't too many shocks or twists. However, I didn't see the ending coming, although saying that it was quite silly.

For me, this turned into quite an average thriller and one I'll likely forget.

However, I did appreciate the discussion around men's mental health. It's an important discussion and I think it was done well in this book.

Overall, just an okay thriller in the end. Nothing too special unfortunately.

TW: suicide, depression, domestic abuse and anxiety

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the premise for this book, I was immediately intrigued. A tragic event in which the driver of the car involved and the grieving family of the man he hit are drawn together as they each try to piece together their shattered lives.

Sounds intriguing, right? Wrong.

What I got was five hours of depressing monologue from both narratives that I cannot get back. I can't believe I stayed up into the night in the hope it would get better. The reason I did stick at it was that it was a short read (thank God!) and the promise of a twist at the end that I was eager to discover. And even that was somewhat anti-climatic.

But to be fair, THE WRECKAGE is about more than just a car accident. It is a story of dangerous love and obsession and the lives of those that are thrown together by this tragic event. And then the twist that is thrown in towards the end reveals that nothing is as it seems. A clever concept...but sadly the two characters were so unlikable that more than once I felt like stuffing them both in a bin bag, tying it off and tossing it in the river!

We meet Ben Anderson, primary school teacher, on his way to work at 6.40am one morning on the motorway in a deluge of rain and mist that you could hardly see the road in front of you. His windscreen was fogging up quicker than he could wipe it with the sleeve of his jacket as the heater was busted. The rain was falling faster than his wipers could go when suddenly he saw a flash of white in front of him...and then it was gone. Pulling over to the shoulder, he got out to find the crumpled body of a man about his age. What the hell just happened? Did he hit this man? Has he killed him? But where on earth did he come from? Beside himself with worry, Ben is taken to the police station to give a statement of events.

Alice Selby awakes on the same morning around 7.15am. She feels the cold and empty space beside her where her husband Adam should be. Donning a satin dressing gown, Alice descends the stairs and upon seeing no sign of Adam in the kitchen of living room, realises Adam must be in his "study", a shed at the bottom of the garden. But when she opens the door, the sight that greets her is one of disarray with papers strewn everywhere and his mother's porcelain lamp laying broken on the floor. As she steps inside, Alice sees the brown envelope on the seat in Adam's neat calligraphy writing with the words "Tell Maxy I'm sorry" on the front.

Springing into action, Alice pulls Max out of bed and leaving him with their neighbour, takes herself off frantically to the police station. All the while thinking "Not again". Suffering clinical depression and anxiety for most of his life and having a mother who suffered Bipolar before taking her own life, Adam has attempted suicide several times before. But this time is different. This time, when Alice gets to the police station to report her concerns, she is informed that her husband had stepped in front of a car on the motorway and was on his way to the hospital. He's alive? But that hope is short-lived when five weeks later she gives permission to switch off his life support. Adam was brain dead. There was no coming back from it this time.

Ben and Alice's lives first intersect when Ben, feeling so traumatised by the event, visits Adam in the hospital. Alice was shocked at first but then finds a kind of comfort in the kind man who so obviously blamed himself for making her a widow. But Alice knew it wasn't his fault. Adam chose to step in front of his car and end his life. Ben was just the unfortunate person to have hit him.

Then it starts to get a little weird and go downhill.

Ben starts to show a concerning amount of interest in Alice and her 7 year old son Max. He begins to follow her on Facebook, Googling her address to view her house on street view and turning up at the same mindfulness class. Then out of misplaced guilt, he starts to spend a little too much time with them. At first, Alice took pity on him and invited him to a small dinner party with friends. Then an impromptu breakfast of pastries for Max. In a flurry of WhatsApp messages, the two of them share a weird relationship as they try to navigate their way through their grief and feelings of guilt.

Then after a mindfulness class one evening Ben invites Alice for dinner. She thinks "why not?" and Ben takes her to a favourite Italian restaurant for what he sees as their "first date". Then as the evening comes to a close, Alice invites him back for a nightcap and the two end up tearing each other's clothes off and...well, you get the picture. But almost as soon as it happens, Alice is filled with regret while Ben is walking on cloud nine, believing that this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The narrative between the two of them at this point shows a complete difference in perspectives and expectations.

What has Alice got herself into? Who is Ben really? She hardly knows him and though she tries to let him down gently, Ben either doesn't take the hint or he has a more sinister agenda. He begins to stalk Alice, turning up where she least expects him leaving her wondering what the hell he is doing there.

Then something happens and all bets are off. What is Ben doing? What is he after? Was it misplaced guilt he's trying to assuage or has he actually been playing a longer, darker and far more twisted game all along?

Plunged right into the story from the first page, THE WRECKAGE is a twisted tale of obsessive love, loss and grief and certainly not what I was expecting. I did have a sense of deja-vu reading it with similarities of a kind to Gillian Jackson's "The Accident" which I have also recently read...although in the end, the two are completely different.

While it did start off promising, it soon tapered off to the point I was getting bored as the story didn't seem to progress and nothing was really happening...but most of all, the two main players were appalling unlikable people. Ben has this whole creepy stalkerish vibe going while Alice is just mean and foul-mouthed.

The twist, when it came, didn't really shock...more like had me raising my eyebrows and thinking "Seriously?" it was pretty unbelievable. But at the same time, it did reveal just how unstable Adam really was. Though he wasn't diagnosed as such, but given his mother had the condition, I had to wonder whether Adam suffered Bipolar as well with the addition of paranoid delusions.

With the exception of one chapter from Adam's POV, THE WRECKAGE is primarily told in alternating narratives by Ben and Alice, as the reader is given a glimpse into each of their perspectives with somewhat startling revelations...but no major shocks.

An average thriller, THE WRECKAGE showed promise to begin with but ended up as nothing wonderful. It was indeed disturbing, with a little twisted twist at the very end that left me thinking "What the...?"

**I feel I must include a trigger warning as the book does contain suicide, depression, anxiety, mental illness and domestic abuse.**

I would like to thank #RobinMorganBentley, #NetGalley and #OrionPublishingGroup for an ARC of #TheWreckage in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wreckage– it’s clear from the offset the tone this story is going to take.  A car wreck.  Speeding towards an end goal that destroys lives.  Whiplash that leaves you feeling pained and distraught.  It’s a real play on the title and the deeper meaning behind it is poetic brilliance.  This book hits you in the feels like a ten-tonne truck to the chest.  You need to escape from the wrecked car, you’re injured, your disorientated and you have to drag yourself to safety.  It’s pitch black and your senses have left you.  You need to stumble from one event to the other – this book is the direct correlation to this. 

As a debut I didn’t know what to expect.  Let me tell you this – rarely have I read such a fully immersive, compelling and eye popping read such as The Wreckage.  Robin Morgan-Bentley knows just how to lead his readers down a maze, blindfolded and panicky.  A Suicide.  A Grieving family.  A driver left with an incredible responsibility.  A mysterious note. 

In mere hours Alice’s world is turned upside down.  A stay at home mother to her cherished son, Max.  she loves a wine or two but tell me what mother doesn’t?  Was she expecting the news on that fateful day?  What would drive someone to make the decision to throw themselves in front of a moving car on the motorway?  I was in my element reading the alternating POV’s in The Wreckage – both Alice’s and Ben’s narrative was emotive and heart-wrenching.  It left me with an extreme sense of urgency and it was compelling to have the POV of someone that had been driving the car as opposed to the usual fallout from the victim’s family. 

Both Alice and Ben were victims.  It was as clear as the nose on your face.  Ben really struggled with the feelings of guilt and seemed to only want to do right for his perceived wrong.  Alice was left to raise an eight-year-old boy who had his father and her husband wrenched from their lives.  There was secrets, lies and a sense of foreboding that kept creeping into my peripheral vision.  They are both trying to navigate their own versions of the highway to hell. 

I found Ben to be the more interesting character.  The Inspectorates proclaimed country’s best school teacher.  He has a solid routine that he sticks to, doesn’t drive recklessly, the patience of a saint – the accident hits him very hard.  It is also the catalyst that sends him down a destructive and obsessive path.  Imagine dominoes – once that first one gets sent on its way, there is no stopping the wave of destruction.  This book gave me such an addictive need to find out what happens next – I raced to the finish.  The author gave me such a need to work out why Ben, Alice and Adam behaved in the way they did. 

In all honesty, I really struggled with Alice.  Yes, she was struggling with the death of her husband, but she presented as a bit reckless and irresponsible.  She seemed to be so focussed and lost in her own grief that she seemed to lose sight of the most important person – Max.  she drank too much and couldn’t acknowledge help when offered.  You can tell that her world has turned grey, but she has to be strong for her son.  I think the author wrote the character in such a way that you feel conflicted in how she behaves and her motives.  Is wrong vs. right so obvious in this story? 

The Wreckage is a tightly weaved plot that could cut your oxygen.  The story left me guessing right until the end.  I doubted every character and felt conflicted around every corner.  Be prepared to be catapulted onto a lake of ice, you will need to navigate the thin ice without falling into the cold depths below. 

[Eglė (IG-atgimusi_meile_knygoms) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeigu mes avarijos metu sužeistume žmogų, kaip elgtumėmės? Tikriausiai nesinori galvoti, nes tai siaubingas potyris. Niekas nebūtų pagalvojes, kad taip nutiks jaunam pradinukų mokytojui Benui Andersonui. Vyras kaip laikrodis visad tuo pačiu maršrutu, visad tuo pačiu laiku vyksta į darbą, bet eilinį rytą pasitaikė toks blogas oras, kad jaunas vyras pateko į mirtiną avariją.
Auka jaunas vyras, tėvas. Smegenys mirusios, tad vilties nebėra. Nerasdamas ramybės, Benas susipažįsta su jo šeima ir nejučia įsilieja į jų gyvenimą. Ar tai kažkiek iškreipta? Ar galima pasijusti laimingu su žmogumi, kuris sugriovė tavo šeimos gyvenimą? Daug prieštaringų jausmų, daug savigraužos, dar daugiau abejonių. Tačiau, kas jei auka ne tik mirusiojo šeima, bet ir pats Benas?
Šioje knygoje kaip bebūtų keista šįkart didesnį vaidmenį užima vyrų sveikatos problemos. Netrūksta ir mums įprasto smurto artimoje aplinkoje. Dažnai nuo vieno priimto sprendimo pasikeičia mūsų gyvenimas, bet kartais dėl tų veiksmų nukentėję gali pasinerti kartu į maniją. Ši knyga turėtų patikti lengvesnių trilerių mėgėjams.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben is on his way to work one morning when a man runs out in front of his car. Ben isn't a fast driver but I am talking motorway here. Ben is devastated but gets a glimmer of hope when he hears that the man, Adam, is in hospital.
Ben has to see for himself but he learns from Adam's wife that it doesn't look good for a recovery. Alice and Adam form a friendship and he begins to slowly get to know Adam and Alice's seven-year-old son Max. When Adam's life support is turned off Ben makes a decision that will alter all of their lives.
Now from the get-go, there is something just not normal about the whole set up, especially when I got into their minds. The story tackles so many issues. Suicide, bi-polar, bereavement, abuse and obsession. So many of these are products of each other in the story. It is a slow build throughout the book but I still had to read as my feelings for the characters become distorted and reformed. The last quarter of the book changed everything.
What I really liked about the story was it is set in an affluent area, the best school, a beautiful home and no money worries. Mental illness can hit anyone, it doesn't pick the poor, anyone can be affected and abuse isn't contained between council housing walls. It is easy to step back and see how a friendship could develop between Alice and Ben, neither of them had friends.
There are some quite dark issues in the story, disturbing, shocking and very shudder worthy, and the end .................................
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone in this book really sucked.

[Ingstje · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
The Wreckage is a solid psychological thriller and a brilliant debut novel. In fact, The Wreckage didn’t feel like a debut novel at all and I don’t know why I didn’t pick it up sooner. Well actually I do know a little, see when I have read an author already I know in advance how much I’ll probably like it but with a new author the fear of the unknown sometimes works against me. I’m happy to confirm that it worked out really really well this time.

The writing was addictive and very easy to read. The novel opens with a horrific event for Ben when someone jumps in front of his car. It was raining so he certainly wasn’t driving fast and yet it happened in a few seconds. He feels very guilty and he visits the comatose man in the hospital where he meets his wife Alice and their son Max. It all feels genuinely nice and Ben is just concerned but then it starts to feel somewhat stalkerish. There are limits in wanting to make amends right? Well Ben didn’t seem to get the memo! I started to feel quite uncomfortable about the whole situation (which I mean in the bestest of ways) although Ben never actually does anything wrong. So he remembered Max’ birthday and he wants to buy him presents and he happens to be in the shop at the same time and find Max wandering around. He’s concerned that Alice doesn’t take care of him like she should then, it’s a normal reaction, right? Right? Hmm I don’t know but I wanted him far away from Alice and Max, yet he seems unstoppable to want to help them, to want to be in their lives.

The author includes a whopper of a twist in the final part of the novel. I did not expect this at all so I had to mull it over in my own head how believable it felt and if this made a difference and could make me change my opinion of Ben. The idea is indeed a little out there, yet I still embraced it because it worked so well in the story and honestly, I read this book about two weeks ago and it still plays on my mind now so the fact that it dumbfounded me is exactly why it is one of those memorable plotlines that will last in my mind for all eternity. I loved that the author misled me and did it so perfectly. I honestly also do love it when an author can make you see someone in another light all of a sudden. This happened here slightly but it’s not as if Ben suddenly turned into my favorite character either as too much water had passed under the bridge already. In the end I felt there were no winners at all.

I love novels about obsession and the lengths people would go for the love of their lives. I thought I knew where this story was going too but I was wrong, which I loved! I can’t wait to read another of his novels and see what else he has in store.

The Wreckage is perfect for fans of His&Hers by Alice Feeney, or The Perfect Girlfriend by Karen Hamilton.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this tale of love, loss, grief and death, the reader is plunged right into the story at the time of the titular car wreck. The intersection of the life of Ben, driving to school and Adam, the man he runs over, are inextricably interwined from then on in, in an ever increasing,claustrophobic thriller.

There is no buildup to the characters, so there is a mirroring of beginning with a crash, then reassembling the parts afterwards- this is Ben's life, as a teacher, his immediate concern is his professional face, how it effects the school, being late, all the immediate concerns after such a horrific incident that turns the everyday into a living nightmare.

The description of the car crash is not gratuitous, this leaves Ben and the reader shocked and under the impression that this was a pure accident, and that nothing could have been done about it. The proedural analysis by the paramedics, the police, the physical and psychological aftermath on Ben are drawn with swift, deft strokes as you find yourself catching your breath and hoping that Ben is going to be ok.

And then....a massive and swift 360 degree turn is achieved by introducing Alice, Adam's wife. Again a quick pencil sketch of her and you have the jaw dropping realisation that this was not an accident, Alice has been living in fear of something like this for quite some time. Suddenly, blame and accountability swap places and guilt is a nebulous concept to pin on Ben.

The exploration of grief, loss and trauma is so well conveyed, I had absolutely no difficulties sinking into this novel and tapping into feelings of anguish and pain, the author creates his characters so well, with so many layers that it is impossible not to. You want resolution for both of them, but when out of misplaced guilt, Ben starts spending a little too much time with Alice and her son, you begin to question everything you just read over and over again.....

What is he doing?

Is it a misplaced sense of guilt or is he actually playing a longer, darker, more twisted game?

Wrong footed so many times I had whiplash, but never in the sense that the author is out to trick you, more that he is creating a masterpiece of tension , this is a nail biting, stomach clenching, heart pounding debut of suspense. It's very visual so I can absolutely see this as tv series in the future,at any rate that is what I am hoping will happen! Very highly recommended for a rainy, wintery night where you can just switch off and read through till morning. Great stuff!

[Phil Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly addictive page turner. The story gets under your skin in all the best ways. A fabulous debut novel; well-observed, razor-sharp, and wonderfully disturbing.

[Michelle Laterman Wachsmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and gripping story! Really makes you feel what the characters are feeling. Could not put the book down!

[Neringa Gal · Rating 5 out of 5]

idomi knyga.nenuobodi.gala skaiciau issiziojus.nesitikejau tikrai