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Trauma
He’s desperate to remember. He’ll wish he could forget.
Who do you trust, when you don't know who you are?
Cameron Todd is recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. The damage erases all memory of the incident and his previous life.
Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether his amnesia is a convenient fabrication.
Desperate to understand what happened that fateful day, self-doubt creeps in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been picture-perfect. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator?
Can he trust his injured brain’s version of events? Or will unearthing the truth reveal something far more sinister?
Who do you trust, when you don't know who you are?
Cameron Todd is recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. The damage erases all memory of the incident and his previous life.
Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether his amnesia is a convenient fabrication.
Desperate to understand what happened that fateful day, self-doubt creeps in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been picture-perfect. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator?
Can he trust his injured brain’s version of events? Or will unearthing the truth reveal something far more sinister?
330 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
631 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Dylan Young
11 books90 followersDylan Young was born in a mining village in the Swansea valley in Wales where he attended primary and secondary schools. In 1974, he was offered a place at Medical school in London and qualified in 1979. Medicine and a family followed, but writing as Dylan Jones, he published 4 novels in the nineties, two of which were filmed by the BBC. In 2011, Random House re-released two of the books in the Natalie Vine series as ebooks. Dylan Jones now writes children's fiction as Rhys A Jones and contemporary urban fantasy as DC farmer. But crime never went away. The first in his new series featuring Detective Inspector Anna Gwynne, is due for release in January 2018. Two more books will follow.
Dylan Lives with his wife in West Wales where the landscape (and the weather!) provide ample inspiration for his books.
Dylan Lives with his wife in West Wales where the landscape (and the weather!) provide ample inspiration for his books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 1, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
TRAUMA by Dylan Young is a new medical psychological suspense/thriller by a new to me author that I could not put down! You see the entire story through the eyes, fugues and minimal memories of the protagonist who is working to recover from a severe brain injury.
Cameron Todd and his live-in girlfriend, Emma are on vacation in Turkey when his entire world changes forever. Emma is found dead after falling from a cliff and Cameron is found almost dead having severe head trauma and multiple broken bones after falling. Cameron is pulled from the marina waters and returned to London for recovery.
The Turkish and English police have many questions, but Cameron has no memories. The doctors all believe Cameron’s amnesia is real due to his extensive brain injury, but the police and Emma’s family are skeptical.
The more Cameron recovers, the more he wants to find out what really happened on that cliff. Did he hurt Emma, or is his injured brain trying to tell him he is not responsible for Emma death and the sinister truth is in his fugue memories of that day in Turkey?
I loved this book! It starts off with a prologue that pulls you right in, but you do not know if it is a real memory or not. Then the remainder of the story’s pace is a slow burn that keeps building towards the surprising climax. Cameron is a protagonist that is written with a deep understanding of his brain trauma and its limitations without getting too technical and bogged down in medical terminology. The brain trauma is what makes you question every bit of information Cameron gives the reader. Cameron’s family and his few friends are fully fleshed secondary characters. This is also the first book I have read to include the Covid-19 pandemic and it does not take over the story.
I can highly recommend this suspense/thriller by Mr. Young! Keep a few hours free because you are going to find it difficult to stop turning the pages.
TRAUMA by Dylan Young is a new medical psychological suspense/thriller by a new to me author that I could not put down! You see the entire story through the eyes, fugues and minimal memories of the protagonist who is working to recover from a severe brain injury.
Cameron Todd and his live-in girlfriend, Emma are on vacation in Turkey when his entire world changes forever. Emma is found dead after falling from a cliff and Cameron is found almost dead having severe head trauma and multiple broken bones after falling. Cameron is pulled from the marina waters and returned to London for recovery.
The Turkish and English police have many questions, but Cameron has no memories. The doctors all believe Cameron’s amnesia is real due to his extensive brain injury, but the police and Emma’s family are skeptical.
The more Cameron recovers, the more he wants to find out what really happened on that cliff. Did he hurt Emma, or is his injured brain trying to tell him he is not responsible for Emma death and the sinister truth is in his fugue memories of that day in Turkey?
I loved this book! It starts off with a prologue that pulls you right in, but you do not know if it is a real memory or not. Then the remainder of the story’s pace is a slow burn that keeps building towards the surprising climax. Cameron is a protagonist that is written with a deep understanding of his brain trauma and its limitations without getting too technical and bogged down in medical terminology. The brain trauma is what makes you question every bit of information Cameron gives the reader. Cameron’s family and his few friends are fully fleshed secondary characters. This is also the first book I have read to include the Covid-19 pandemic and it does not take over the story.
I can highly recommend this suspense/thriller by Mr. Young! Keep a few hours free because you are going to find it difficult to stop turning the pages.
December 1, 2020
I really enjoyed my other read by Young, and this next book certainly did not disappoint. Once again, I was captivated by the intensity of Young’s writing and felt like the writer’s attention to detail showed a complete commitment to plot development.
As readers get to know Cameron, Young vividly portrays his medical history. Initially, I struggled getting my head around the medical jargon. However, Young, through Cameron’s dry narrative, defines all of his medical history. In the end I felt like I was learning something along the way, as well as become increasingly sympathetic towards Cameron and his daily struggles. I think this depth of information is what characterises Young’s writing: it displays intense research but it is embedded so flawlessly in the narrative, that it does not make the story dry or stagnant.
The portrayal of Cameron’s trauma is superb. Cameron, seeing specialists and taking medication to help with his recovery, still experiences something similar to a lucid dream. In this case, they are called ‘fugue state’ where the person experiences a life-like dream whilst their body is doing something else. For Cameron, this is wandering around his flat and completing mundane, automatic tasks. I found this aspect fascinating and it really added to the abstract angle of the novel. We, like Cameron, are trying to decode these fugue states, attempting to understand the meaning that may provide clues about what happened on the fateful night of his accident.
When I realised that this book was taking place in March 2020, I was a little sceptical of how Young would create the setting and how I would respond to this. Did I really want to read a book about the looming lockdown happening in the UK, when, now in winter, it feels like the country is back where we started? Well, it turns out that Young made it feel like a dystopian-come-reality novel. It just made everything feel more realistic and believable. As characters discuss the virus sweeping across Europe and the need for social distancing, I felt like I was reading about a version of events that did occur earlier in the year. Perhaps I almost felt a little smug: knowing, for once, more than the characters did about the virus! I surprised myself by enjoying this element of the story because it felt like the world has made many positive steps since March, even if social distancing, hand sanitiser and face masks are now as normal as remembering to take your mobile phone and keys.
Towards the end of the story, I found Cameron’s abstract states and those around him had created a bit of an unsettling, gas-lighting atmosphere. This added to the intensity of the narrative and made me want to find out even more about what was happening! I could not predict the outcome and found the closing rather positive, despite the revelations at the end.
This was a real page-turner and another example of great writing from Young. It is thrilling, full of mystery and suspense as you feel like you are with Cameron on the road to recovery – both physically and mentally.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As readers get to know Cameron, Young vividly portrays his medical history. Initially, I struggled getting my head around the medical jargon. However, Young, through Cameron’s dry narrative, defines all of his medical history. In the end I felt like I was learning something along the way, as well as become increasingly sympathetic towards Cameron and his daily struggles. I think this depth of information is what characterises Young’s writing: it displays intense research but it is embedded so flawlessly in the narrative, that it does not make the story dry or stagnant.
The portrayal of Cameron’s trauma is superb. Cameron, seeing specialists and taking medication to help with his recovery, still experiences something similar to a lucid dream. In this case, they are called ‘fugue state’ where the person experiences a life-like dream whilst their body is doing something else. For Cameron, this is wandering around his flat and completing mundane, automatic tasks. I found this aspect fascinating and it really added to the abstract angle of the novel. We, like Cameron, are trying to decode these fugue states, attempting to understand the meaning that may provide clues about what happened on the fateful night of his accident.
When I realised that this book was taking place in March 2020, I was a little sceptical of how Young would create the setting and how I would respond to this. Did I really want to read a book about the looming lockdown happening in the UK, when, now in winter, it feels like the country is back where we started? Well, it turns out that Young made it feel like a dystopian-come-reality novel. It just made everything feel more realistic and believable. As characters discuss the virus sweeping across Europe and the need for social distancing, I felt like I was reading about a version of events that did occur earlier in the year. Perhaps I almost felt a little smug: knowing, for once, more than the characters did about the virus! I surprised myself by enjoying this element of the story because it felt like the world has made many positive steps since March, even if social distancing, hand sanitiser and face masks are now as normal as remembering to take your mobile phone and keys.
Towards the end of the story, I found Cameron’s abstract states and those around him had created a bit of an unsettling, gas-lighting atmosphere. This added to the intensity of the narrative and made me want to find out even more about what was happening! I could not predict the outcome and found the closing rather positive, despite the revelations at the end.
This was a real page-turner and another example of great writing from Young. It is thrilling, full of mystery and suspense as you feel like you are with Cameron on the road to recovery – both physically and mentally.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2020
Trauma is the most recent psychological thriller and the third medical-based suspense novel from Doctor Dylan Young. Cameron Todd and his fiancee, thirty-two-year-old Doctor Emma Roxburgh, take a holiday to Antalya, Turkey but tragedy strikes when Emma falls to her death from a cliff path onto the rocks below sustaining severe head and upper torso trauma consistent with a fall. Cameron ends up with a traumatic brain injury and subsequently has a metal stanchion embedded into his head after the accident on a stone jetty close to Cirali beach. Due to the extent of his injuries, Cameron wasn't able to help the investigation into her death as he appears to have amnesia and can't remember anything about the fall or the lead up to it. Because of this, he has to learn even the most basic of tasks all over again, which is tough. He begins to revisit the places he and Emma went to in order to trigger his memory and also keeps having hallucinations and the same dream repeatedly but nothing seems to help him to remember; most of the time he can not tell the difference between reality and hallucinations.
Naturally, Emma's family don't know what to think but they need answers so they end up hiring private investigator John Stamford to try to get to the bottom of the matter once and for all. Emma’s sister is resentful that Cameron is still alive and tells him one day when they accidentally meet at Emma’s graveside that he is the one that should've died. Can the police, the PI and Cameron work together to discover what really occurred on that fateful October evening? This is a compulsive, addictive and palpably tense read which becomes more scintillating with every turn of the page. I struggled to stop myself devouring it, as it would be over too soon, but I simply couldn't resist. You never knew quite who could be trusted as there are more shady goings-on than you initially believe, and I loved the twists and reveals throughout, most of which caught me completely off guard. The author is in the medical profession and uses his knowledge to infuse the story with realism and knows exactly how to pull the wool over your eyes. An exciting, unusual and completely riveting thriller and one I highly recommend.
Naturally, Emma's family don't know what to think but they need answers so they end up hiring private investigator John Stamford to try to get to the bottom of the matter once and for all. Emma’s sister is resentful that Cameron is still alive and tells him one day when they accidentally meet at Emma’s graveside that he is the one that should've died. Can the police, the PI and Cameron work together to discover what really occurred on that fateful October evening? This is a compulsive, addictive and palpably tense read which becomes more scintillating with every turn of the page. I struggled to stop myself devouring it, as it would be over too soon, but I simply couldn't resist. You never knew quite who could be trusted as there are more shady goings-on than you initially believe, and I loved the twists and reveals throughout, most of which caught me completely off guard. The author is in the medical profession and uses his knowledge to infuse the story with realism and knows exactly how to pull the wool over your eyes. An exciting, unusual and completely riveting thriller and one I highly recommend.
December 12, 2020
TRAUMA is a gripping medical mystery/psychological thriller by Dylan Young.
Cameron Todd is lucky to be alive after recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. His sister, Rachel tells Cameron he was in a coma for ten days and semi-conscious for six weeks after the accident. The damage has erased all memory of the incident and his previous life. Cameron suffers from fugue states.
Emma, his partner died on a beach in Turkey and he almost died too.
Currently an investigation is taking place. Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether Cameron’s amnesia is just an excuse to hide the truth.
Cameron is desperate to remember. He’ll wish he could forget.
Self-doubt starts to creep in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been as strong as he is told, as he has no memory of Emma, faceless Emma. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator?
This is a well-written novel, and excellent plot that is laid out as a jigsaw puzzle. Each new piece of information assists in completing the whole picture. Can we trust Cameron? Who can he trust, when he doesn’t know who he is? Lots of twists, turns and surprises to reach a thrilling conclusion.
Many thanks to the author, and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
Cameron Todd is lucky to be alive after recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. His sister, Rachel tells Cameron he was in a coma for ten days and semi-conscious for six weeks after the accident. The damage has erased all memory of the incident and his previous life. Cameron suffers from fugue states.
Emma, his partner died on a beach in Turkey and he almost died too.
Currently an investigation is taking place. Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether Cameron’s amnesia is just an excuse to hide the truth.
Cameron is desperate to remember. He’ll wish he could forget.
Self-doubt starts to creep in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been as strong as he is told, as he has no memory of Emma, faceless Emma. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator?
This is a well-written novel, and excellent plot that is laid out as a jigsaw puzzle. Each new piece of information assists in completing the whole picture. Can we trust Cameron? Who can he trust, when he doesn’t know who he is? Lots of twists, turns and surprises to reach a thrilling conclusion.
Many thanks to the author, and Bloodhound Books for my digital copy.
November 29, 2020
Another great book from Mr Young. It had me guessing all the way through. Great read !
December 1, 2020
Cameron Todd is a walking miracle ... although he would differ with you. Recovering from a serious brain injury from plunging from a clifftop the same night his girlfriend also fell / jumped to her death. He has lost all memories of the tragic act and knows nothing of his previous life.
There are some who say he pushed Emma off the cliff. There are some who say she jumped wtih no help. There are some who say it was nothing but an accident.
But Emma's sister blames Cameron .. and the police also suspect him but there is no proof.
Cameron suffers from fugue states... a period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment.
But his relationship with Emma may not be the perfect picture his friends have relayed to him.
The question is ..... is he a victim ... or murderer?
This is well-written, full of twists and turns that will have the reader questioning everything Cameron says and does. Can he be believed? His brain is damaged .. can it be trusted to get to the truth of that horrible night. There are surprises that pop up leading to a highly unexpected, suspenseful conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
There are some who say he pushed Emma off the cliff. There are some who say she jumped wtih no help. There are some who say it was nothing but an accident.
But Emma's sister blames Cameron .. and the police also suspect him but there is no proof.
Cameron suffers from fugue states... a period of loss of awareness of one's identity, often coupled with flight from one's usual environment.
But his relationship with Emma may not be the perfect picture his friends have relayed to him.
The question is ..... is he a victim ... or murderer?
This is well-written, full of twists and turns that will have the reader questioning everything Cameron says and does. Can he be believed? His brain is damaged .. can it be trusted to get to the truth of that horrible night. There are surprises that pop up leading to a highly unexpected, suspenseful conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 28, 2020
This book is a slow-burn journey following Cameron Todd after a night in Turkey where his girlfriend was killed and he was severely injured with memory loss. The story takes us through his search to find what had happened, who had done it, and what information he could trust. It's a unique story that keeps the reader interested throughout. A sure worthy read. Thank you to Bloodhound Books for this ARC read.
January 25, 2024
I had a hard time with this one. Amnesia is extremely rare, even with traumatic or acquired brain injuries.
Memory loss is normal for head injuries, but what is experienced in this book isn’t that.
My husband has a brain injury and some of the things the main character experiences are common and well portrayed other parts are way off base.
It was too slow through the middle and the villain and ending predictable
Memory loss is normal for head injuries, but what is experienced in this book isn’t that.
My husband has a brain injury and some of the things the main character experiences are common and well portrayed other parts are way off base.
It was too slow through the middle and the villain and ending predictable
December 1, 2020
Cameron has no memory of his previous life after suffering a traumatic brain injury in Turkey. At the same time his fiancee Emma a doctor plunged to her death.
Emma's family believe Cameron is to blame and hire a private investigator to find some answers as to what really happened that fateful night. Is Cameron's brain injury as serious as he makes out or is it a convenient shield to hide behind!!!!!
We learn about Cameron's routine and the way he deals with the brain injury with the help of family, friends and medical personnel.
Cameron begins to have some odd snippets of flashbacks whilst he is having fugues and dreams. Was his life with Emma as perfect as he thought?
It is obvious that this book is written by a doctor as the attention to medical detail is meticulous. I do wonder if there is just a tad too much medical terminology for someone without some degree of medical knowledge. I am a retired RN so it didn't bother me. Having said that the story is engaging and the writing flows. I did work out the culprit but this didn't detract from my enjoyment.
Emma's family believe Cameron is to blame and hire a private investigator to find some answers as to what really happened that fateful night. Is Cameron's brain injury as serious as he makes out or is it a convenient shield to hide behind!!!!!
We learn about Cameron's routine and the way he deals with the brain injury with the help of family, friends and medical personnel.
Cameron begins to have some odd snippets of flashbacks whilst he is having fugues and dreams. Was his life with Emma as perfect as he thought?
It is obvious that this book is written by a doctor as the attention to medical detail is meticulous. I do wonder if there is just a tad too much medical terminology for someone without some degree of medical knowledge. I am a retired RN so it didn't bother me. Having said that the story is engaging and the writing flows. I did work out the culprit but this didn't detract from my enjoyment.
November 24, 2020
The book opens with an accident where a woman is pushed off a cliff to her death and her boyfriend follows her.
The story picks up when Cameron, now home, is struggling to remember the events of that accident and anything that happened on his life before it.
The writer drip feeds you clues as Cameron finds them out, through dreams or fugue states. You wonder all along whether he will remember, whether he was guilty, and you start to question everything.
This is going to be one of my reads of 2020. It was incredible. It never let's up and the cast of characters is brilliant.
I had to remind myself to breathe on occasion.
The story picks up when Cameron, now home, is struggling to remember the events of that accident and anything that happened on his life before it.
The writer drip feeds you clues as Cameron finds them out, through dreams or fugue states. You wonder all along whether he will remember, whether he was guilty, and you start to question everything.
This is going to be one of my reads of 2020. It was incredible. It never let's up and the cast of characters is brilliant.
I had to remind myself to breathe on occasion.
December 1, 2020
Overall 4.5*
Another great psychological thriller from Dylan Young, this time with Cameron Todd who has survived an horrific accident which killed his girlfriend and leaves him with a major brain injury. He has no recollection of his life before the accident and so sets about trying to work out what happened especially as he may have been the one to kill her. Very well written in regards to the brain injury as Dylan highlights the ups and downs of someone recovering from such trauma, physically, emotionally and mentally. He keeps taking the reader to the edge and bringing them back. Would certainly recommend the book.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
Another great psychological thriller from Dylan Young, this time with Cameron Todd who has survived an horrific accident which killed his girlfriend and leaves him with a major brain injury. He has no recollection of his life before the accident and so sets about trying to work out what happened especially as he may have been the one to kill her. Very well written in regards to the brain injury as Dylan highlights the ups and downs of someone recovering from such trauma, physically, emotionally and mentally. He keeps taking the reader to the edge and bringing them back. Would certainly recommend the book.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for the ARC to review.
January 11, 2021
First, I want to thank Dylan Young, BloodHound Books and Random Things Tours for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Dylan Young took Trauma into a setting where no author I have read has yet to write about. Dylan wrote his book in the modern day Covid-19 world. I thought he was brilliant to write that into the story as we all can relate to that in one way or another.
This book is dedicated to E, who started the book and then couldn’t stop. I agree with E on this one. This is a book that will suck you in quickly and you just will not be able to put it down until you find out what happened to Emma.
One of my favorite genres to read is medical fiction or nonfiction as I find the medical field extremely fascinating. Dylan’s book has a character by the name of Cameron who suffered a brain injury with loss of memory when in Turkey with his late wife Emma. Dylan did incredible research on the effects of the injury and how it would affect Cameron’s everyday life. Cameron’s storyline was incredibly interesting and intense. At times you could not help feel bad for him for the loss of memory he suffered during a huge event in his life.
The intense suspenseful mystery of what happened to Emma on their trip to Turkey was another storyline that I loved.
There are oh so many secrets, twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will blow your mind.
Dylan Young has a gift of writing in this genre!
Dylan Young took Trauma into a setting where no author I have read has yet to write about. Dylan wrote his book in the modern day Covid-19 world. I thought he was brilliant to write that into the story as we all can relate to that in one way or another.
This book is dedicated to E, who started the book and then couldn’t stop. I agree with E on this one. This is a book that will suck you in quickly and you just will not be able to put it down until you find out what happened to Emma.
One of my favorite genres to read is medical fiction or nonfiction as I find the medical field extremely fascinating. Dylan’s book has a character by the name of Cameron who suffered a brain injury with loss of memory when in Turkey with his late wife Emma. Dylan did incredible research on the effects of the injury and how it would affect Cameron’s everyday life. Cameron’s storyline was incredibly interesting and intense. At times you could not help feel bad for him for the loss of memory he suffered during a huge event in his life.
The intense suspenseful mystery of what happened to Emma on their trip to Turkey was another storyline that I loved.
There are oh so many secrets, twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will blow your mind.
Dylan Young has a gift of writing in this genre!
November 21, 2020
Cameron Todd is 18 months into recovery from a Severe Brain Injury (in America, I believe what we would call a TBI), which he got during a fateful vacation in Turkey when he fell from a cliff onto a rocky jetty. His girlfriend, Emma, also fell from the cliff and did not survive. The injuries left him with no memory of his life before the accident and no memory of the night in question - but there are plenty of questions about what went down. With Emma’s family blaming him for her death and Cam’s family refusing to tell him anything controversial at all, he begins his own quest to find answers.
This really is the ultimate can’t-trust-the-narrator book, because the only thing we CAN believe that Cam says is that he doesn’t remember anything and that he can’t really trust or interpret the recollections and vivid hallucinations (“fugues”) he does have. So right off the bat, there’s an intriguing, off-balance element to the story.
I really felt myself drawn into the story, because it really was a great concept and there are so many possibilities. As Cam begins to discover more and more about what happened on the trip, things get more muddled and I was really drawn in. I can’t get too specific or I’ll give things away, but the ending was really good at wrapping up everything and really drawing things to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed it.
There’s also the COVID subplot that’s in a a lot of new releases, and that was done well. Subtle, not overdone, but present.
Overall, if you’re looking for a good, suspenseful read for when you’re socially distancing this holiday season, this is a really good option. It’ll keep you turning pages well into the night!
This really is the ultimate can’t-trust-the-narrator book, because the only thing we CAN believe that Cam says is that he doesn’t remember anything and that he can’t really trust or interpret the recollections and vivid hallucinations (“fugues”) he does have. So right off the bat, there’s an intriguing, off-balance element to the story.
I really felt myself drawn into the story, because it really was a great concept and there are so many possibilities. As Cam begins to discover more and more about what happened on the trip, things get more muddled and I was really drawn in. I can’t get too specific or I’ll give things away, but the ending was really good at wrapping up everything and really drawing things to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed it.
There’s also the COVID subplot that’s in a a lot of new releases, and that was done well. Subtle, not overdone, but present.
Overall, if you’re looking for a good, suspenseful read for when you’re socially distancing this holiday season, this is a really good option. It’ll keep you turning pages well into the night!
January 22, 2021
Imagine if everything you have ever built,your personality,your body, language,your being you have no idea what it is because of has been erased from your brain like with a duster on a white slate.
This is how you exactly feel when you start reading the book. The characterization of the protagonist is something I enjoyed the most.
The narrative, the questions and the writing keeps you guessing who has done and each time you feel you have figured it out you get in deeper.
The story is set in 2020 which saw the plummeting the death of so many lives, livelihoods and families. The fear, anxiety and the stress can be read in the story and be conveyed through the protagonist.
The story is simple. It’s not detailed but what catches your eye is the what ifs the maine character Cameron himself faces and those what ifs are what make the story dangerous.
The writer explores the themes of substance abuse, traumatic injuries and stalking which effects the lives of so many women who live with us or whom we know.
I really liked the detailed medical research the writer did for the story and keeps in check of how characters deal with mental illness, mental health and its after effects.
Towards the end, the book kind of faltered. I expected a lot more but this one dropped and keeping in lieu the narrative and the story I didn’t want to the ending to be obvious but it could have been better.
Go for this thriller! I enjoyed this one and it is worth a read.
This is how you exactly feel when you start reading the book. The characterization of the protagonist is something I enjoyed the most.
The narrative, the questions and the writing keeps you guessing who has done and each time you feel you have figured it out you get in deeper.
The story is set in 2020 which saw the plummeting the death of so many lives, livelihoods and families. The fear, anxiety and the stress can be read in the story and be conveyed through the protagonist.
The story is simple. It’s not detailed but what catches your eye is the what ifs the maine character Cameron himself faces and those what ifs are what make the story dangerous.
The writer explores the themes of substance abuse, traumatic injuries and stalking which effects the lives of so many women who live with us or whom we know.
I really liked the detailed medical research the writer did for the story and keeps in check of how characters deal with mental illness, mental health and its after effects.
Towards the end, the book kind of faltered. I expected a lot more but this one dropped and keeping in lieu the narrative and the story I didn’t want to the ending to be obvious but it could have been better.
Go for this thriller! I enjoyed this one and it is worth a read.
November 25, 2020
Cameron Todd is recovering from severe trauma. His partner, Dr. Emma Rozburgh wasn't so lucky. She died on the beach where they were on a vacation. Due to Cameron's injuries, he was unable to assist with the investigation or tell the police what led up to them being on the cliff path. He is trying to 'trigger' his memory by going to places he and Emma went to together. He also keeps having the same dream over and over but doesn't see what led up to them being on the cliff. The doctor's family hires a private investigator to find out what happened. The sister is convinced that Cameron killed her sister, but the P. I. isn't so sure and neither are the police. Cameron keeps looking for answers. Could he have killed her? Did he see who did if he didn't and that's how he was injured? Great questions now all we need are answers. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Bloodhound books.
November 29, 2020
Was it a tragic accident or did he kill Emma.?
When the world around you is in the middle of chaos due to a pandemic, how do you cope with chaos in your own life on a daily basis.
This is what Cameron is dealing with. After an almost fatal accident while on holiday in Turkey, in which his girlfriend Emma died, and one which has left him with a brain injury that means he struggles with not only physical issues but memory issues affecting all areas of his life.
Not knowing at times what is reality and what are his hallucinations. He is putting his life at risk when he finds himself teetering on not only the edge of a high rise building, but on the edge of his own sanity.
He is supported by those around him, but who can he trust?
This took me a little time to get into but I’m so glad that I “stuck with it” as it became a gripping fast-paced read.
When the world around you is in the middle of chaos due to a pandemic, how do you cope with chaos in your own life on a daily basis.
This is what Cameron is dealing with. After an almost fatal accident while on holiday in Turkey, in which his girlfriend Emma died, and one which has left him with a brain injury that means he struggles with not only physical issues but memory issues affecting all areas of his life.
Not knowing at times what is reality and what are his hallucinations. He is putting his life at risk when he finds himself teetering on not only the edge of a high rise building, but on the edge of his own sanity.
He is supported by those around him, but who can he trust?
This took me a little time to get into but I’m so glad that I “stuck with it” as it became a gripping fast-paced read.
November 18, 2020
4*
A new author to me.
Thanks to Bloodhound for the arc.
The start feels strange, surreal, unknown. Welcome to Cams world.
Cam ends up with a head injury resulting in having to re learn every day skills and leaves him with disinhibition and dysphasia. He speaks and thinks literally with no filter. During the same incident his girlfriend ends up dead while they are on holiday in Turkey.
His innocence makes Cam immediately endearing, it’s written from Cams POV and the writing style is very appropriate to his condition. There is some gentle humour.
Covid gets a mention too, the first book I’ve read that has. It’s ok. It’s not morbid or depressing.
Really enjoyed this book, an excellent read.
A new author to me.
Thanks to Bloodhound for the arc.
The start feels strange, surreal, unknown. Welcome to Cams world.
Cam ends up with a head injury resulting in having to re learn every day skills and leaves him with disinhibition and dysphasia. He speaks and thinks literally with no filter. During the same incident his girlfriend ends up dead while they are on holiday in Turkey.
His innocence makes Cam immediately endearing, it’s written from Cams POV and the writing style is very appropriate to his condition. There is some gentle humour.
Covid gets a mention too, the first book I’ve read that has. It’s ok. It’s not morbid or depressing.
Really enjoyed this book, an excellent read.
November 29, 2020
This is an absolutely outstanding read. A man, Cameron Todd, is recovering from a serious brain injury in an episode in which his girlfriend was killed. As a result of his injury he has suffered complete memory loss. He is determined to find out what happened to his girlfriend and has very limited resources to do this. He doesn't know who he can trust.
Dylan Young is medically trained and uses his expertise to superbly set the scene on this psychological mystery. The book is also very current and is set just as the UK is about to go into lockdown due to Covid-19. It is topical, informative and enthralling. You will not want to put this book down.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily
Dylan Young is medically trained and uses his expertise to superbly set the scene on this psychological mystery. The book is also very current and is set just as the UK is about to go into lockdown due to Covid-19. It is topical, informative and enthralling. You will not want to put this book down.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily
December 1, 2020
This is a new author for me which I enjoyed my first book from. This is a suspenseful thriller about Cameron who has serious brain damage and loses his girlfriend, Emma all in the same night. He has no memory of anything that happened. Now the police and Ema's family are left wanting to blame someone and a need to understand what happened that night. Will Cameron really remember what happened that night and can those memories be trusted? The characters are really great in this story. They are supportive of each other and I enjoyed watching bring the story to what it is. I had no problem connecting with them as they brought the story to life. This is engaging and fast paced, I had a hard time putting this book down. I highly recommend this book.
November 23, 2020
Cameron Todd has suffered a head trauma in an incident where his girlfriend also died. He can't remember anything from the incident or before it. Both the police and Emma’s relatives are hunting for someone to blame and question whether his amnesia is a convenient fabrication.
This is an up to date, on point read, set in the year 2020. Covid is mentioned but not overly so. The authors medical background give the main character genuine attributes of a severe head injury and although I guessed the perpetrator quite early on it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all it was a very satisfying read with everything wrapped up nicely at the end.
This is an up to date, on point read, set in the year 2020. Covid is mentioned but not overly so. The authors medical background give the main character genuine attributes of a severe head injury and although I guessed the perpetrator quite early on it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all it was a very satisfying read with everything wrapped up nicely at the end.
November 23, 2020
This was the first of Dylan Young's books I've read and I really enjoyed it. Cam is left with a brain injury and his fiancee is dead after their holiday to Turkey. It has taken him a while to get back on his feet and he still can't remember what happened, apart from dreams that he thinks involve his fiancee but the person is faceless.
I loved the suspense around whether to believe Cam or not as his fiancee's sister is certain he is faking it. Some parts kept me on the edge of my seat as I read on to see what happened!!
I enjoyed the ending too and found it quite fitting.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.
I loved the suspense around whether to believe Cam or not as his fiancee's sister is certain he is faking it. Some parts kept me on the edge of my seat as I read on to see what happened!!
I enjoyed the ending too and found it quite fitting.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC.
November 29, 2020
This was a well written storyline that had me second guessing every angle, I had my inklings about a character that were right in one sense but so off in another. Our main man Cam is living in a world where after a massive brain injury is trying to adapt and relearn everything and I mean everything. Cam is also having to deal with the fact he remembers absolutely nothing before his accident, his life is a blank canvas. Cam is starting to second guess himself, what really happened in Turkey, was his life as good as everyone is making it out to be or did he have skeletons in the closet that were perhaps left alone and better off not knowing.
June 14, 2021
An ending that was too obvious for something that’s meant to be a crime solve type mystery thriller. Everything that you would expect to happen, happened. I kept thinking, okay, and then…! But nothing else happened. That was the book. Predictable. And the characters weren’t very likeable or relatable, either.
You know if it takes me 6 months to finish a book it probably wasn’t that great 🤷🏼♀️😂 go me for pushing through. Some parts were interesting/clever but overall it was pretty meh.
You know if it takes me 6 months to finish a book it probably wasn’t that great 🤷🏼♀️😂 go me for pushing through. Some parts were interesting/clever but overall it was pretty meh.
April 10, 2021
A psychological thriller needs to have some tension, something that makes you want to rush through the pages, something that keeps you awake at night.
This book was so slow that nothing happened at 50% mark. I stopped caring. The ending was straight forward and I already guessed it miles away.
I have no idea how it got such positive reviews, maybe it's just me.
This book was so slow that nothing happened at 50% mark. I stopped caring. The ending was straight forward and I already guessed it miles away.
I have no idea how it got such positive reviews, maybe it's just me.
February 10, 2021
Cameron is a survivor of a horrific fall over rocky cliffs in a peaceful holiday town in Turkey. His wife Emma, was killed immediately, but Cameron managed to hold on, suffering life changing injuries, the worst being the damage to his brain. He can’t remember anything about the accident, in fact he can’t remember anything before the accident and has had to learn everything again from day one, almost like a blank sheet of paper. He still gets his words mixed up sometimes and has troubles displaying emotions. Some people like Emma’s family are convinced it’s all an act, the police are suspicious despite numerous doctors assurances, and he has a private detective looking into Emma’s death whilst the police inquiry remains open.
It’s been 18 months now since the accident and Cameron is desperate to get his memory back, despite what that might mean. He revisits Emma’s old workplace one day to see if that prompts anything and as he’s just getting back into his car one of Emma’s old colleagues, Nicole, catches up with him. He is shocked to learn that the two of them had begun an affair a month before the holiday to Turkey, and he’s left speechless to learn that Emma was playing around behind his back too, and his marriage had not been as perfect as he had believed it to be.
Soon reunited with Nicole, Cameron embarks on a fresh quest to find out what was really going on with him and Emma, and what or who really caused the accident and Emma’s death.
Trauma by Dylan Young is the first book I’ve read that is set during the Covid-19 pandemic and it was strange going back to those days in early March where everyone would watch the news frantically as the rest of the world became infected, wondering anxiously if the virus would make it’s way over to the UK. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Medical/Psychological Thriller so it made an enjoyable change. There’s obviously a lot of medical words in there, particularly regarding brain injury and amnesia, but it is explained well and shown in context so it is easy to understand.
From the first page you start asking yourself questions as Trauma has all the components of a mind-bending thriller; unreliable narrator, a myriad of suspicious characters, misdirection, tension and spine chilling twists. I definitely could not make my mind up on Cameron, first of all could he really not remember? And secondly, did he push Emma of that cliff and then fall himself by accident. My mind frequently changed throughout the book, and just as I was sure, something else would happen that changed my mind back again.
The large group of surrounding cast were great characters, multi-dimensional and full of depth. The character development of the antagonist was absolutely superb and you get the see the “why” behind the things they did and how their smart thinking allowed them to go undetected for so long. Short punchy chapters held my attention and made the storyline engrossing and addictive. Trauma was one of those books that once I started I refused to put down, and managed to read in almost one sitting, I was at the point just like Cameron, that I didn’t care if he had done it or not, I just needed to know.
This is the first book I’ve read by Dylan You and will definitely keep an eye out for more of his work in the future.
It’s been 18 months now since the accident and Cameron is desperate to get his memory back, despite what that might mean. He revisits Emma’s old workplace one day to see if that prompts anything and as he’s just getting back into his car one of Emma’s old colleagues, Nicole, catches up with him. He is shocked to learn that the two of them had begun an affair a month before the holiday to Turkey, and he’s left speechless to learn that Emma was playing around behind his back too, and his marriage had not been as perfect as he had believed it to be.
Soon reunited with Nicole, Cameron embarks on a fresh quest to find out what was really going on with him and Emma, and what or who really caused the accident and Emma’s death.
Trauma by Dylan Young is the first book I’ve read that is set during the Covid-19 pandemic and it was strange going back to those days in early March where everyone would watch the news frantically as the rest of the world became infected, wondering anxiously if the virus would make it’s way over to the UK. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Medical/Psychological Thriller so it made an enjoyable change. There’s obviously a lot of medical words in there, particularly regarding brain injury and amnesia, but it is explained well and shown in context so it is easy to understand.
From the first page you start asking yourself questions as Trauma has all the components of a mind-bending thriller; unreliable narrator, a myriad of suspicious characters, misdirection, tension and spine chilling twists. I definitely could not make my mind up on Cameron, first of all could he really not remember? And secondly, did he push Emma of that cliff and then fall himself by accident. My mind frequently changed throughout the book, and just as I was sure, something else would happen that changed my mind back again.
The large group of surrounding cast were great characters, multi-dimensional and full of depth. The character development of the antagonist was absolutely superb and you get the see the “why” behind the things they did and how their smart thinking allowed them to go undetected for so long. Short punchy chapters held my attention and made the storyline engrossing and addictive. Trauma was one of those books that once I started I refused to put down, and managed to read in almost one sitting, I was at the point just like Cameron, that I didn’t care if he had done it or not, I just needed to know.
This is the first book I’ve read by Dylan You and will definitely keep an eye out for more of his work in the future.
January 22, 2021
Imagine if everything you have ever built,your personality,your body, language,your being you have no idea what it is because of has been erased from your brain like with a duster on a white slate.
This is how you exactly feel when you start reading the book. The characterization of the protagonist is something I enjoyed the most.
The narrative, the questions and the writing keeps you guessing who has done and each time you feel you have figured it out you get in deeper.
The story is set in 2020 which saw the plummeting the death of so many lives, livelihoods and families. The fear, anxiety and the stress can be read in the story and be conveyed through the protagonist.
The story is simple. It’s not detailed but what catches your eye is the what ifs the maine character Cameron himself faces and those what ifs are what make the story dangerous.
The writer explores the themes of substance abuse, traumatic injuries and stalking which effects the lives of so many women who live with us or whom we know.
I really liked the detailed medical research the writer did for the story and keeps in check of how characters deal with mental illness, mental health and its after effects.
Towards the end, the book kind of faltered. I expected a lot more but this one dropped and keeping in lieu the narrative and the story I didn’t want to the ending to be obvious but it could have been better.
Go for this thriller! I enjoyed this one and it is worth a read.
This is how you exactly feel when you start reading the book. The characterization of the protagonist is something I enjoyed the most.
The narrative, the questions and the writing keeps you guessing who has done and each time you feel you have figured it out you get in deeper.
The story is set in 2020 which saw the plummeting the death of so many lives, livelihoods and families. The fear, anxiety and the stress can be read in the story and be conveyed through the protagonist.
The story is simple. It’s not detailed but what catches your eye is the what ifs the maine character Cameron himself faces and those what ifs are what make the story dangerous.
The writer explores the themes of substance abuse, traumatic injuries and stalking which effects the lives of so many women who live with us or whom we know.
I really liked the detailed medical research the writer did for the story and keeps in check of how characters deal with mental illness, mental health and its after effects.
Towards the end, the book kind of faltered. I expected a lot more but this one dropped and keeping in lieu the narrative and the story I didn’t want to the ending to be obvious but it could have been better.
Go for this thriller! I enjoyed this one and it is worth a read.
June 15, 2025
Trauma is a compelling and compulsive read that completely blew me away! I was taken captive right from its chilling prologue and could not untangle myself from its clutches until its final page. With its intriguing premise, Trauma just demands your attention and I could not tear myself away from it. Not that I wanted to mind you!
The story follows Cameron as he wrestles with his desire to learn the truth about the night his girlfriend Emily plunged to her death, which left him with a serious brain injury and no recollection of that night or before. But what comes with it, is his fear of what he may find out about himself. He feels like the good guy, but is he?
This is the first book I have read from Dylan Young and I throughly enjoyed it. It has been expertly plotted, executed and he has done a great job in the creation of the characters. I also enjoyed how he had me questioning and second guessing everyone, as he subtly planted the seeds of doubt.
Trauma is a gripping, fast paced and thought provoking read. It will have you glued to the pages, so make sure you have nothing else on when you start this. It is intense, thrilling and with it all wrapping up with a satisfying ending, makes this a very enjoyable and entertaining read. It was a pleasure to read and review Trauma which I highly recommend.
The story follows Cameron as he wrestles with his desire to learn the truth about the night his girlfriend Emily plunged to her death, which left him with a serious brain injury and no recollection of that night or before. But what comes with it, is his fear of what he may find out about himself. He feels like the good guy, but is he?
This is the first book I have read from Dylan Young and I throughly enjoyed it. It has been expertly plotted, executed and he has done a great job in the creation of the characters. I also enjoyed how he had me questioning and second guessing everyone, as he subtly planted the seeds of doubt.
Trauma is a gripping, fast paced and thought provoking read. It will have you glued to the pages, so make sure you have nothing else on when you start this. It is intense, thrilling and with it all wrapping up with a satisfying ending, makes this a very enjoyable and entertaining read. It was a pleasure to read and review Trauma which I highly recommend.
January 28, 2021
One of the most important questions I ask my authors is this: What is your hook? With thousands upon thousands of books coming out each year, it’s so important to grab your reader with an irresistible question or scenario. And Dylan Jones’s TRAUMA is one that certainly ticks that box:
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲?
Cameron Todd is recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. The damage erases all memory of the incident and his previous life.
Desperate to understand what happened that fateful day, self-doubt creeps in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been picture-perfect. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator? Can he trust his injured brain’s version of events? Or will the truth reveal something far more sinister?
***
As a literature student, I was fascinated by the concept of narrative being relative, how a person’s understanding of world around them and their place in it – their story – is unique, because everyone’s narrative is created as a result of their own personal experiences. But what the author proposes in TRAUMA is how can a person understand their own life, if they can no longer remember it? When Cam wakes, he’s fed a curated version of his life, his reminder wall, but when the story starts to crack and elements no longer match up to what he’s been told, the seeds of a thrilling mystery are planted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dylan Young’s latest novel: not only a gripping, thought-provoking read with a witty and entertaining narrative voice, but the novel also very tastefully handles the pandemic too! If you haven’t picked up TRAUMA yet, go change that now.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲?
Cameron Todd is recovering from a serious brain injury. A trauma suffered the same night his girlfriend Emma plunged to her death from a clifftop. The damage erases all memory of the incident and his previous life.
Desperate to understand what happened that fateful day, self-doubt creeps in when Cameron learns his relationship with Emma might not have been picture-perfect. Is he a victim, or the perpetrator? Can he trust his injured brain’s version of events? Or will the truth reveal something far more sinister?
***
As a literature student, I was fascinated by the concept of narrative being relative, how a person’s understanding of world around them and their place in it – their story – is unique, because everyone’s narrative is created as a result of their own personal experiences. But what the author proposes in TRAUMA is how can a person understand their own life, if they can no longer remember it? When Cam wakes, he’s fed a curated version of his life, his reminder wall, but when the story starts to crack and elements no longer match up to what he’s been told, the seeds of a thrilling mystery are planted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Dylan Young’s latest novel: not only a gripping, thought-provoking read with a witty and entertaining narrative voice, but the novel also very tastefully handles the pandemic too! If you haven’t picked up TRAUMA yet, go change that now.
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2024
This brain.. I mean book, made my head hurt, but in a good way. The author did such a good job with this character that I found myself empathizing with the confused and uncertain feeling that Cam is constantly dealing with. I loved the characters, the development, the TBI and the role it played in shaping the entire book. The only thing dropping it down to four is the ending. I could totally have gotten behind it with just a little more ..
.
[spoiler] involvement with Emma before her death, rather than this person having been out of her life for YEARS before the triggering events. Otherwise I was astounded with how confused and uncertain I became at what was going on. I knew who I did and did not trust and was right in that regard, though my reasoning was off. A very interesting book for sure!
.
[spoiler] involvement with Emma before her death, rather than this person having been out of her life for YEARS before the triggering events. Otherwise I was astounded with how confused and uncertain I became at what was going on. I knew who I did and did not trust and was right in that regard, though my reasoning was off. A very interesting book for sure!
January 12, 2022
I could relate to main character very easily when found out he had same surgery I have had, which caused blindness in one eye.
Towards end I found predictive as to who was involved, but not how, which was good enough for me.
I do think there could been a conclusion between him and his sister in law, maybe her finally forgiving him and accepting here played no part in her sisters murder.
I did enjoy this book, and will look out for more by this author.
Towards end I found predictive as to who was involved, but not how, which was good enough for me.
I do think there could been a conclusion between him and his sister in law, maybe her finally forgiving him and accepting here played no part in her sisters murder.
I did enjoy this book, and will look out for more by this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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