What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Aftermath
When David Herron—overwhelmed and despairing, his family’s business and finances in ruin due to the bursting lending bubble of 2008—takes his own life one chilly spring morning, he has no idea the ripple effect his decision will set into motion.
Two years later, his widow, Jules, is now an employee of the bakery she and David used to own—and still full of bitterness over David’s lies, perceived cowardice, and ultimate abandonment of her and their now-teenage daughter, Rennie. Rennie, meanwhile, struggles socially at school, resents her work-obsessed mother, and is convinced she’s to blame for her father’s death.
When Denise, the former police detective who worked (and, due to her own personal struggles at the time, mishandled) David’s case, catches sight of Rennie at her sons’ school, she’s struck by the girl’s halo of sadness—and becomes obsessed with attempting to right the wrongs she believes she perpetrated two years ago.
And as all this unfolds in Boston, Daniel, the guilt-ridden young man who, in his old life as a banker, helped create the circumstances that led to David’s suicide, continues to punish himself for his sins by living half a life, working odd jobs and bouncing from one US city to another, never staying long enough to make friends or build something lasting.
Ultimately, each of these very different people—all of them tied together by one tragic event—must learn in their own way how to say good-bye to the past and move into a brighter future.
Two years later, his widow, Jules, is now an employee of the bakery she and David used to own—and still full of bitterness over David’s lies, perceived cowardice, and ultimate abandonment of her and their now-teenage daughter, Rennie. Rennie, meanwhile, struggles socially at school, resents her work-obsessed mother, and is convinced she’s to blame for her father’s death.
When Denise, the former police detective who worked (and, due to her own personal struggles at the time, mishandled) David’s case, catches sight of Rennie at her sons’ school, she’s struck by the girl’s halo of sadness—and becomes obsessed with attempting to right the wrongs she believes she perpetrated two years ago.
And as all this unfolds in Boston, Daniel, the guilt-ridden young man who, in his old life as a banker, helped create the circumstances that led to David’s suicide, continues to punish himself for his sins by living half a life, working odd jobs and bouncing from one US city to another, never staying long enough to make friends or build something lasting.
Ultimately, each of these very different people—all of them tied together by one tragic event—must learn in their own way how to say good-bye to the past and move into a brighter future.
- GenresFiction
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2021
3 people are currently reading
4941 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 21, 2021
In the Aftermath is an emotionally gripping novel about the long-reaching effects after a desperate man takes his own life. Two years later, his widow, his daughter, his best friend, his parents, and even the detective in charge of his case are still reeling—angry, sad, resentful, and guilty. We are given an intimate look into their lives, as they struggle to move on, to find peace, to somehow finally find a way to forgive and to say goodbye.
October 8, 2021
After the 2008 economic recession and lending bubble burst, David Herron is in financial ruins and takes his own life. He is a father, husband, and friend. The focus of the book is the aftermath of this tragic suicide. What happens to those people left behind? His wife, his daughter, his best friend, the banker that played a part in his financial ruin and the police officer on his case. All are grappling with the loss. Could it have been prevented? Did any of these characters play a part? This book really does such a beautiful job of showing how we are all so interconnected and how one horrible tragedy can have a lasting impact on so many.
Redemption, guilt, and coping with loss are big themes in this book. There are multiple narratives and Jane Ward does an impeccable job of connecting them and keeping the reader captivated. What I liked and wasn’t expecting is the story is not told by David but rather the people closest to him that were impacted.
This is not a light read but it is one that I think will stay with me. Suicide is among one of the leading causes of death in the US and I appreciate that this book focuses so much on the ripple effect. How complicated the grief is for those dealing with the unbelievable loss and how to move forward and let go of the guilt.
Redemption, guilt, and coping with loss are big themes in this book. There are multiple narratives and Jane Ward does an impeccable job of connecting them and keeping the reader captivated. What I liked and wasn’t expecting is the story is not told by David but rather the people closest to him that were impacted.
This is not a light read but it is one that I think will stay with me. Suicide is among one of the leading causes of death in the US and I appreciate that this book focuses so much on the ripple effect. How complicated the grief is for those dealing with the unbelievable loss and how to move forward and let go of the guilt.
October 2, 2021
The draw of Ward’s third novel is not what you would assume from a story that is “about” a suicide. Instead, it’s about the structure of how she tells it. Through a series of bold choices, the actual event happens offstage, before the novel begins; the story is told from five different points of view, though all in third person; and the most critical perspective is from the one character who never met the victim and has only a tangential relationship to the incident.
As a result, the story is not propelled by the emotion you would expect, though it offers plenty. The forward movement is from the velocity and shape of the ramifications of the suicide that ripple through the lives of characters over a two-year aftermath. Things are not as they had been assumed. Secrets are uncovered. Change is forced. Redemption is available. There is acceptance, healing and even new joy for some, and more tragedy for others.
The author also artfully weaves the tale under the umbrella of the Financial Crisis of 2008, which has already burdened these characters, and is responsible for the key event of the book. As such the players need to deal with their loss with little cushion in a dramatically altered world. Think “It’s a Wonderful Life” without the angel.
As a result, the story is not propelled by the emotion you would expect, though it offers plenty. The forward movement is from the velocity and shape of the ramifications of the suicide that ripple through the lives of characters over a two-year aftermath. Things are not as they had been assumed. Secrets are uncovered. Change is forced. Redemption is available. There is acceptance, healing and even new joy for some, and more tragedy for others.
The author also artfully weaves the tale under the umbrella of the Financial Crisis of 2008, which has already burdened these characters, and is responsible for the key event of the book. As such the players need to deal with their loss with little cushion in a dramatically altered world. Think “It’s a Wonderful Life” without the angel.
February 13, 2022
IN THE AFTERMATH is that rarest of stories: profoundly moving and also grounded deeply in the day to day life of a widow struggling to make a new life for herself, washed over in memories at times and others hands plunged deep in dough and working out how to move her business ahead. I enjoyed this book immensely as a well-told, wonderful escape that felt like I was able to live in another person's world for a brief time. I received an advance review copy and the opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
September 28, 2021
“In the Aftermath” is a story about the many lives jarred off course by the sonic boom of a man’s suicide. David and Jules Herron are at the center of the story, along with their daughter Rennie, struggling through the economic downturn of 2008 while they work on expanding their small-town bakery. Author Jane Ward artfully sets the initial tone of stress and exhaustion that leads David to take his own life, most particularly in a description of the plastic sheet that covers the divide between their thriving business and the financial disaster of their half-constructed new space: “…the once-clear plastic sheet was cloudy and marked all over with white wrinkles and its bottom edge was tattered…no-one had pushed it aside or crossed through it in days.”
As David is confronted by the fact that he has run out of money and has leveraged everything the couple own to a greedy bank, he seeks help from his estranged father, Paul, and friendship from his best friend, Charlie. When Paul refuses to bail him out and Charlie gets delayed for their meeting, David sets his clothes and personal items on a cold, deserted beach and washes up along the shore days later.
Ward does not fully launch this story from David’s point of view, focusing instead on the many lives rocked and disrupted by this singular act. Jules’ initial reaction is described beautifully: “She could feel the muscle fluttering rapidly under her ribs, a wild bird in a tight cage…this was fear. And she was alone with it.” Of course, David’s daughter Rennie and friend Charlie also fall within the immediate damage zone of David’s suicide, but Ward takes us beyond this initial wake to follow people who do not know one another, did not really know David, and have no real connection to his family. The tentacles of David’s act reach out in surprising, yet totally believable directions. We are introduced to the young banker Dan who called in the loan, knowing that the bank should not have extended it in the first place; David and Jules were set up to fail. He quits his job and goes on a two-year quest to absolve himself of his role in this tragedy. Dan does not stray far from the ocean as he travels and is ultimately drawn back to the place David made his choice, to find his own resolution. We meet the police officer, Denise, who, in the throes of her own husband’s betrayal, treats Jules with suspicion and shows no regard for Rennie’s grief. She eventually quits her job after a breakdown and spirals into guilt and shame. Her character is well developed and nuanced, her state of mind illustrated by lines such as: “…order was always, always hanging on by a thread.” Denise seeks redemption by trying to discover the exact reason David made his decision that day, suspecting he was let down by more than what was obvious to the investigation at the time. Her efforts have her crossing paths with everyone involved in the puzzle of David’s life and death: Paul, Charlie, Dan, Jules, and particularly Rennie.
It is amazing how much blame can be self-assigned after a person commits suicide. Although Jules remains understandably angry for most of the story, Rennie believes she contributed to her father’s decision. She is most in need of understanding throughout the course of the novel. Dan and Denise believe they have done so much more damage than they singularly could have done, and Charlie suffers from not being with his friend to save him in the pivotal moment. If only he had not been late. It leaves the reader wondering how much influence one person truly has over another. Could any one of these people have altered the larger picture of this story by acting differently? How can we ever know? Jane Ward leaves us pondering deep and delicate questions about our relationships with one another.
Ultimately “In the Aftermath” is a story of how intertwined we all are, even when we don’t know it. How one life can impact many, and so on and so on. But these connections also mean we are not alone and that we have the power to save each other. Ward’s characters reach for meaning and understanding by reaching both backward and forward along these lines, and, for the most part, this is how they find redemption.
As David is confronted by the fact that he has run out of money and has leveraged everything the couple own to a greedy bank, he seeks help from his estranged father, Paul, and friendship from his best friend, Charlie. When Paul refuses to bail him out and Charlie gets delayed for their meeting, David sets his clothes and personal items on a cold, deserted beach and washes up along the shore days later.
Ward does not fully launch this story from David’s point of view, focusing instead on the many lives rocked and disrupted by this singular act. Jules’ initial reaction is described beautifully: “She could feel the muscle fluttering rapidly under her ribs, a wild bird in a tight cage…this was fear. And she was alone with it.” Of course, David’s daughter Rennie and friend Charlie also fall within the immediate damage zone of David’s suicide, but Ward takes us beyond this initial wake to follow people who do not know one another, did not really know David, and have no real connection to his family. The tentacles of David’s act reach out in surprising, yet totally believable directions. We are introduced to the young banker Dan who called in the loan, knowing that the bank should not have extended it in the first place; David and Jules were set up to fail. He quits his job and goes on a two-year quest to absolve himself of his role in this tragedy. Dan does not stray far from the ocean as he travels and is ultimately drawn back to the place David made his choice, to find his own resolution. We meet the police officer, Denise, who, in the throes of her own husband’s betrayal, treats Jules with suspicion and shows no regard for Rennie’s grief. She eventually quits her job after a breakdown and spirals into guilt and shame. Her character is well developed and nuanced, her state of mind illustrated by lines such as: “…order was always, always hanging on by a thread.” Denise seeks redemption by trying to discover the exact reason David made his decision that day, suspecting he was let down by more than what was obvious to the investigation at the time. Her efforts have her crossing paths with everyone involved in the puzzle of David’s life and death: Paul, Charlie, Dan, Jules, and particularly Rennie.
It is amazing how much blame can be self-assigned after a person commits suicide. Although Jules remains understandably angry for most of the story, Rennie believes she contributed to her father’s decision. She is most in need of understanding throughout the course of the novel. Dan and Denise believe they have done so much more damage than they singularly could have done, and Charlie suffers from not being with his friend to save him in the pivotal moment. If only he had not been late. It leaves the reader wondering how much influence one person truly has over another. Could any one of these people have altered the larger picture of this story by acting differently? How can we ever know? Jane Ward leaves us pondering deep and delicate questions about our relationships with one another.
Ultimately “In the Aftermath” is a story of how intertwined we all are, even when we don’t know it. How one life can impact many, and so on and so on. But these connections also mean we are not alone and that we have the power to save each other. Ward’s characters reach for meaning and understanding by reaching both backward and forward along these lines, and, for the most part, this is how they find redemption.
January 25, 2022
For ten years, Jules and David Herron have owned a bakery together. She bakes, he handles the finances. Business is good—or so Jules thinks—and their biggest problem is the contractor who has abandoned them in the middle of an expansion project.
In truth, the contractor left because he hasn’t been paid. Although he hasn’t told Jules, David took a second mortgage on their house and loaded up on debt during the housing bubble, but it wasn’t enough. By April 2008, the economy is in recession, the bakery’s business is suffering, and the bank is calling. Feeling overwhelmed and isolated, David dies by suicide.
After her husband’s death, Jules finds out that she is on the brink of bankruptcy. She is forced to give up her house, and she hands over control of the business to her father-in-law in exchange for his financial assistance. The anger complicates the grief she feels toward her husband for all that he hid from her.
As the title clarifies, In the Aftermath deals much less with David’s suicide than the people around him who struggle to piece their lives back together after his death. We see the points of view of Jules, their daughter, David’s best friend, and even the banker who managed their loans and the detective who investigated his death.
I don’t mean to imply that this is a depressing read, but it is a serious book about a serious subject, and you can find guilt on every page. The characters are good people filled with questions and regret about things they could have said or done or wish they could unsay or undo. And like what so often happens in real life, their pain is intensified because they keep it to themselves instead of talking to the people who care about them. It’s ironic since one of the main contributors to David’s crisis is his inability to share his problems even with his wife and partner.
This is an absorbing book, and I cared about every character in it. I missed each character as the book moved away from their point of view and worried about whether they would find peace. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the banker and detective. Both were minor players in the tragedy surrounding David’s death, but their actions weighed heavily on them and changed their lives profoundly. Their struggles to move past their mistakes were just as compelling as those of David’s friends and family, and their stories make it hard not to reflect on how many lives we all touch.
My ex-husband died by suicide a dozen years after our divorce, and another ten years after his death, I’m still trying to get past my own sense of guilt. I felt like Jane Ward did an excellent job capturing the upheaval suicide has caused in my life and so many others. As Jules says, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how easy it is to make mistakes and how quickly they can seem insurmountable. And how much we all need forgiveness.” In the end, the hardest thing for these characters to do is forgive themselves.
In truth, the contractor left because he hasn’t been paid. Although he hasn’t told Jules, David took a second mortgage on their house and loaded up on debt during the housing bubble, but it wasn’t enough. By April 2008, the economy is in recession, the bakery’s business is suffering, and the bank is calling. Feeling overwhelmed and isolated, David dies by suicide.
After her husband’s death, Jules finds out that she is on the brink of bankruptcy. She is forced to give up her house, and she hands over control of the business to her father-in-law in exchange for his financial assistance. The anger complicates the grief she feels toward her husband for all that he hid from her.
As the title clarifies, In the Aftermath deals much less with David’s suicide than the people around him who struggle to piece their lives back together after his death. We see the points of view of Jules, their daughter, David’s best friend, and even the banker who managed their loans and the detective who investigated his death.
I don’t mean to imply that this is a depressing read, but it is a serious book about a serious subject, and you can find guilt on every page. The characters are good people filled with questions and regret about things they could have said or done or wish they could unsay or undo. And like what so often happens in real life, their pain is intensified because they keep it to themselves instead of talking to the people who care about them. It’s ironic since one of the main contributors to David’s crisis is his inability to share his problems even with his wife and partner.
This is an absorbing book, and I cared about every character in it. I missed each character as the book moved away from their point of view and worried about whether they would find peace. I especially appreciated the inclusion of the banker and detective. Both were minor players in the tragedy surrounding David’s death, but their actions weighed heavily on them and changed their lives profoundly. Their struggles to move past their mistakes were just as compelling as those of David’s friends and family, and their stories make it hard not to reflect on how many lives we all touch.
My ex-husband died by suicide a dozen years after our divorce, and another ten years after his death, I’m still trying to get past my own sense of guilt. I felt like Jane Ward did an excellent job capturing the upheaval suicide has caused in my life and so many others. As Jules says, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how easy it is to make mistakes and how quickly they can seem insurmountable. And how much we all need forgiveness.” In the end, the hardest thing for these characters to do is forgive themselves.
July 16, 2021
With impeccable writing and a humane sensitivity, Jane Ward’s In the Aftermath confronts us with the reality of suicide: that when someone takes their own life, they leave behind a wake of pain and guilt that haunts their loved ones.
As I was reading, I was often taken by Ward’s ability to create scenes that spoke directly to the heart, without melodrama or florid language, but just by setting up a scene and resolving it in a naturalistic way that we recognize as true to life.
This is the story of a couple who put everything into creating a dream business, a bakery that offered quality products and a welcoming atmosphere. Then 2008 comes, and the economic impact changes everything. The problem is that husband David is the accountant and has kept their financial distress from his baker wife Jules. When David’s options run out, he can’t face his wife with the news. He tries to met with his father and best friend Charlie, both business successes, but they are no-shows. When Charlie arrives late, all he finds is David’s coat and watch on the wave-battered beach.
The aftermath of David’s suicide is told through the stories of his wife and their daughter Rennie, the cop who realizes she was too harsh in her handling of the case, and the banker whose job was to raise the ax on the business.
Jules is angry, struggling financially, while her daughter believes she drove her dad to end his life. David’s father appears to have rescued the business and contracted a way for Jules to earn it back, but the truth is complicated. The ex-detective Denise has been struggling with the end of her marriage and her mishandling of the investigation. And Daniel left banking and his money and riches and fiancé, wandering from place to place and moving on when he feels too attached.
This is a story about overcoming tragedy, rising again to embrace life by accepting our mistakes and forgiving ourselves. She does not sugar coat the process of healing. It is hard. It is hard to actually verbalize our feelings of guilt, how we believe we contributed to our loved one’s death, and it is hard to share our deepest fears with anyone. One character is unable to overcome his shame even when he finds love opening to him.
Ward includes the telephone number to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at the end of the book.
I received an ARC from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity. My review is fair and unbiased.
As I was reading, I was often taken by Ward’s ability to create scenes that spoke directly to the heart, without melodrama or florid language, but just by setting up a scene and resolving it in a naturalistic way that we recognize as true to life.
This is the story of a couple who put everything into creating a dream business, a bakery that offered quality products and a welcoming atmosphere. Then 2008 comes, and the economic impact changes everything. The problem is that husband David is the accountant and has kept their financial distress from his baker wife Jules. When David’s options run out, he can’t face his wife with the news. He tries to met with his father and best friend Charlie, both business successes, but they are no-shows. When Charlie arrives late, all he finds is David’s coat and watch on the wave-battered beach.
The aftermath of David’s suicide is told through the stories of his wife and their daughter Rennie, the cop who realizes she was too harsh in her handling of the case, and the banker whose job was to raise the ax on the business.
Jules is angry, struggling financially, while her daughter believes she drove her dad to end his life. David’s father appears to have rescued the business and contracted a way for Jules to earn it back, but the truth is complicated. The ex-detective Denise has been struggling with the end of her marriage and her mishandling of the investigation. And Daniel left banking and his money and riches and fiancé, wandering from place to place and moving on when he feels too attached.
This is a story about overcoming tragedy, rising again to embrace life by accepting our mistakes and forgiving ourselves. She does not sugar coat the process of healing. It is hard. It is hard to actually verbalize our feelings of guilt, how we believe we contributed to our loved one’s death, and it is hard to share our deepest fears with anyone. One character is unable to overcome his shame even when he finds love opening to him.
Ward includes the telephone number to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at the end of the book.
I received an ARC from Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity. My review is fair and unbiased.
October 13, 2021
In the Aftermath is a very powerful book about personal decisions and the impact they can have on the people in your life, close and far. David and Jules run a bakery and all appears to be going along just fine but David is keeping the financial situation away from Jules so she has no clue how dire things are. When David reaches what he feels is the end of his rope he makes a fateful decision that will impact all around him.
After his suicide Jules finds herself working in the bakery she once owned. Her daughter is resentful and scared thinking that she is the reason everything went to hell. David’s friend – whom he asked to meet just before he killed himself – wonders what he could have done differently and the police officer assigned to investigate is wondering if maybe she didn’t do her best work.
What follows is a deeply involving story about the impacts of this one action on so many different people. I’m not going to lie – this is not an easy read at times but there is a lot here to be thankful for as a reader. A strong narrative, well developed characters and story that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Life is not happily ever after so sometimes not every book you read should be all sweetness and light. Sometimes it’s good to get into a story that has a bit of the nitty gritty about it. When it’s one that is written as well as this one was you are rewarded for the time spent reading.
After his suicide Jules finds herself working in the bakery she once owned. Her daughter is resentful and scared thinking that she is the reason everything went to hell. David’s friend – whom he asked to meet just before he killed himself – wonders what he could have done differently and the police officer assigned to investigate is wondering if maybe she didn’t do her best work.
What follows is a deeply involving story about the impacts of this one action on so many different people. I’m not going to lie – this is not an easy read at times but there is a lot here to be thankful for as a reader. A strong narrative, well developed characters and story that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Life is not happily ever after so sometimes not every book you read should be all sweetness and light. Sometimes it’s good to get into a story that has a bit of the nitty gritty about it. When it’s one that is written as well as this one was you are rewarded for the time spent reading.
January 17, 2022
A compelling story that lives at the intersection between a large-scale social/economic happening (financial collapse of 2008, etc.) and an intimate family drama. The narrative structure -- which follows multiple characters as they navigate several different personal traumas -- gave the book, to me, a "big read" feel. In other words, lots of character depth and complexity and a genuine arc of change and development as they each work to gain a better understanding of (and grasp on) their lives. Lots of vivid and beautiful sensory detail -- especially the surrounding natural world and the various bakery scenes (lead character is a baker) -- that supports and intensifies the development of the narrative. For me, it was one of those books that caught me by surprise: at some unknown moment, I realized I was extremely invested in the characters and what happens to them. And now, I find that they keep popping back into my mind! To me, this speaks to the author's deft handling of so many widely experienced life challenges -- both macro and minute. Recommend highly!
June 10, 2022
Ward's novel is not a light beach read, but a deep exploration of what it is like to deal with great adversity -- the brink of financial ruin, the process of healing and forgiving after betrayal and death, and the various ways that we humans release ourselves from guilt. This book spoke to me as a reader and helped me to process many aspects of my life that I have difficulty facing. The characters were like mirrors that illuminated these challenging emotions and relationships, as well as the slow, often painful movement toward processing them and finding love and acceptance.
Ward's writing is exquisite; each scene comes to life in the descriptions of the setting, the conversations between characters and the glimpses into their innermost thoughts. I really felt like I was inside the world of Ward's novel, observing fellow human beings bravely making their way through adversity and shaping new lives to the best of their abilities.
I would love to see this book adapted to film and look forward to more great reads penned by Jane Ward.
Ward's writing is exquisite; each scene comes to life in the descriptions of the setting, the conversations between characters and the glimpses into their innermost thoughts. I really felt like I was inside the world of Ward's novel, observing fellow human beings bravely making their way through adversity and shaping new lives to the best of their abilities.
I would love to see this book adapted to film and look forward to more great reads penned by Jane Ward.
November 17, 2021
Great book with a cleverly written plot. This is a story of unexpected death, denials, forgiveness and eventually moving on. This scenario could so easily happen to anyone and that is what makes it so readable. “But for the grace of God, go I” - is very apt for this book!
The suicide part of the story is handled with great care, emotion and empathy. This book made me cry, laugh and raise my eyebrows a few times, immensely sad at times with flashes of snatched happiness. It’s brutally honest in how it describes the aftermath of the situation that Rennie & Jules find themselves in. I loved the diverse characters in the book and the way human nature (some negative nature - The Herrons) and emotions are used to build the story.
Story is very well written with no unexplained bits. I really liked how it was all tied up in the end. The last chapter from David is a master stroke …
Loved it - well done.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The suicide part of the story is handled with great care, emotion and empathy. This book made me cry, laugh and raise my eyebrows a few times, immensely sad at times with flashes of snatched happiness. It’s brutally honest in how it describes the aftermath of the situation that Rennie & Jules find themselves in. I loved the diverse characters in the book and the way human nature (some negative nature - The Herrons) and emotions are used to build the story.
Story is very well written with no unexplained bits. I really liked how it was all tied up in the end. The last chapter from David is a master stroke …
Loved it - well done.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 21, 2021
I met Jane Ward at the Yale Writer's Conference six or seven years ago, so I was looking forward to the release of this novel she had been working on at the time.
In the Aftermath is a beautiful exploration of loss and grief and the ways that people are impacted by a tragedy, even people we might not immediately think of as directly related to the situation.
Written with sensitivity and grace, Ward explores the emotional and mental health impacts upon her characters. And while we don't always read novels to learn something, this novel I believe can be helpful for those dealing with their own losses and griefs. As I know it was for me, as I am currently in such a life season.
I found these final lines of the story to beautifully capture life, "Born, dead, reborn. Change, change, and change again. And so on. That had always been the story."
In the Aftermath is a beautiful exploration of loss and grief and the ways that people are impacted by a tragedy, even people we might not immediately think of as directly related to the situation.
Written with sensitivity and grace, Ward explores the emotional and mental health impacts upon her characters. And while we don't always read novels to learn something, this novel I believe can be helpful for those dealing with their own losses and griefs. As I know it was for me, as I am currently in such a life season.
I found these final lines of the story to beautifully capture life, "Born, dead, reborn. Change, change, and change again. And so on. That had always been the story."
March 18, 2023
Just what the title says, this novel explores the aftermath of a family tragedy. What makes the book unique though, is the ripple effects that act has on people outside the immediate circle of family and friends. The book opens with Julia preparing to leave in the early morning hours for her job at the bakery she owns with her husband. A decision by her husband later that same day will profoundly change life as she knows it. Other chapters look at the situation from the point of view of Julia's daughter Rennie, her and her husband's close friend Charlie, a police detective, Denise, and a banker, Dan. The grief, the guilt, and the trauma are all experienced in one way or another by these characters. But Ward shows that even as some scars never heal, new paths can open up and hope for the future still exists.
August 20, 2022
Thank you Jane Ward and #Goodreadsgives for my free copy of this book for my unbiased opinion.
I couldn’t have been more pleased with this novel. Jane Ward writes about a difficult topic - the aftermath of a suicide- with amazing tenderness. I feared this would be a corny, sappy tear jerker but was pleasantly surprised with a very interesting story and well developed characters.
I have never been closely affected by suicide so I can only imagine the accuracy of the emotions and reactions of various characters. The author used many different relationships to show how even the death of a stranger can have a lasting effect.
A definite recommendation for people looking to explore a topic requiring some attention in literature.
I couldn’t have been more pleased with this novel. Jane Ward writes about a difficult topic - the aftermath of a suicide- with amazing tenderness. I feared this would be a corny, sappy tear jerker but was pleasantly surprised with a very interesting story and well developed characters.
I have never been closely affected by suicide so I can only imagine the accuracy of the emotions and reactions of various characters. The author used many different relationships to show how even the death of a stranger can have a lasting effect.
A definite recommendation for people looking to explore a topic requiring some attention in literature.
October 7, 2022
This is an extremely well written book that deals with the impact of suicide. David and Jules own a bakery. David is keeping a secret about the finances from Jules. This was not an easy read, but I could not put the book down. David's death impacted quite a few people----his friend, the banker, the police officer who was assigned to investigate, as well as his wife and daughter. We learn how David's death affected all these people. This is a very touching subject matter but I felt that the author dealt with it very well. Thank you for the opportunity of receiving this book. I have already passed it on.
June 30, 2021
This candid opinion is based on an Advance Reader Copy.
In the Aftermath is a quiet study of human nature— a crashing of souls thrown together by tragedy and the unintentional ripples of pain they inflict on themselves and others in the daily chaos of living.
This book is relatable because it is set during the 2008 world-wide financial meltdown that touched and / or ruined so many lives. Here, some of the characters are consumed by their mistakes and circumstances but some still manage to find that healing is possible, living is preferable.
Read
October 14, 2021A financial crisis and desperation lead a man to suicide. This story highlights the connectedness of a community trying to heal We see multiple points of view from the detective that feels like she botched the case, the man’s best friend and his failing family, his wife and daughter and their struggle to survive, his parents and their questionable ethics all the way to the bank manager that feels responsibility for putting on pressure for loan repayment. Every story leads to the next, all connected and overlapping.
February 18, 2023
Jane Ward's novel explores the devastation, the sadness, the questions, and the guilt, that a loved one's suicide leaves in its wake. Ward has created a cast of characters whose lives intersect often for no other reason than that they have some small part in or some knowledge of this loss. Yes, there are moments of sadness, but Ward's is a deft touch. Even readers can't linger long on the despair because, life, as we know, goes on. The writing here is seamless, the plot expertly paced. Ultimately, this is a novel of survivors. It's a love story on so many levels. Great read.
October 31, 2021
I was hesitant to read a book about the aftermath of suicide because I thought it might be depressing, but I've loved Jane Ward's earlier books and thought I would give this one a try. It is not depressing as I had feared. It is thought-provoking with a wide assortment of characters and story lines all of which I found intriguing. I cared deeply about the characters and could not put this book down.
January 31, 2022
This book was sitting on the check out shelf at the library when I went in to check out another book. The librarian offered it, and since I was directionless about what to read next, I took it home. I didn't love it, just read it as a filler. I was looking for something a bit more inspiring. But on the other hand, kudos to anyone who can put words to print and weave a storyline!
September 27, 2022
Wow! Extremely well done. This author dealt with the difficult emotional issues developing in the people who lost someone to suicide. The wife/best friend/daughter/banker/police officer all trying to move on with life all carrying self -inflicted guilt of this tragedy. I was completely engrossed in this storyline.
October 22, 2022
This is a beautifully written story of how an unexpected death of a man by suicide can affect so many others, even some unrelated people, in different ways. The story is told from the point of view of the 5 main characters as they dealt with the death and their personal feelings over the next 3 years. The author’s ability to bring these personal feelings together at the end was very satisfying.
Want to read
September 24, 2021Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2021/09...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2021/09...
August 15, 2022
I enjoyed the book very much.
There were some parts I thought were repetitive.
It all came together and was beautiful.
I look forward to reading more of Jane Ward's books.
There were some parts I thought were repetitive.
It all came together and was beautiful.
I look forward to reading more of Jane Ward's books.
October 19, 2022
A difficult topic, overextending oneself financially, lack of communication, suicide and the knock on effect on those close and more distant. Easy to read having said all that.
October 23, 2022
I loved this book❤️. Interesting and believable characters that are intertwined by one tragedy.
January 21, 2023
Enjoyable read and sensitive about suicide and the aftermath
July 26, 2022
All loss is impactful and "In the Aftermath" explores a suicide's devastating impact on family, a friend, bank executive and investigating detective. Assumptions are made that lead to erroneous conclusions but author Jane Ward takes her time in untangling the knots of deception!
March 27, 2025
Every character in this book comes to life. It is beautifully written, and traces the impact of a man's fateful decision on all whom it touched.
August 25, 2023
Realistic fiction is not my normal genre. If they were all written as well as Jane Ward’s In the Aftermath, I might read more. The story deals with the aftermath of the events of a single morning, described in exquisite detail and suspense in the beginning chapters. “When David Herron – overwhelmed and despairing… takes his own life on chilly spring morning, he has no idea the ripple effects his decision will set in motion.” Jane Ward introduces us to David, his wife, Jules, his daughter, Rennie, and his best friend, Charlie, all while carefully leading us to a sharp moment when all their worries become a reality. She spends time giving us the details of these characters, giving them even more substance. She lets you smell the scent of the bakery, hear the noise of a morning where everything seems just a bit off, and even taste some of the fear the characters are feeling as they try to piece together David’s actions.
I would have enjoyed continuing the journey with these three characters and exploring them even more, but Jane Ward adds a few more characters and their dilemmas as the ripples of David’ suicide wash over them as well. Each character is a real person, drawn exceptionally well by the words and actions of the novel. This is perhaps my only odd complaint about the novel. I wanted to learn more about Jules and Rennie, and the next set of chapters deal with another character who is directly affected by David’s actions. I found this mildly disappointing, and it made the reading of the novel slightly less fluid. This is a book that requires the reader use some of the same care and focus that went into creating the characters on the page.
In the Aftermath is a novel the deals with some very difficult issues and shows the struggles that people have with them. It is a highly empathetic look a loss and remorse, and well worth the time devoted to reading it. Excellent work.
I would have enjoyed continuing the journey with these three characters and exploring them even more, but Jane Ward adds a few more characters and their dilemmas as the ripples of David’ suicide wash over them as well. Each character is a real person, drawn exceptionally well by the words and actions of the novel. This is perhaps my only odd complaint about the novel. I wanted to learn more about Jules and Rennie, and the next set of chapters deal with another character who is directly affected by David’s actions. I found this mildly disappointing, and it made the reading of the novel slightly less fluid. This is a book that requires the reader use some of the same care and focus that went into creating the characters on the page.
In the Aftermath is a novel the deals with some very difficult issues and shows the struggles that people have with them. It is a highly empathetic look a loss and remorse, and well worth the time devoted to reading it. Excellent work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews