Chaos in my Wake

by A.V. Shener

Matt Evans is in deep trouble. After taking a loan he should never have taken, his debt to local thug, Jeff Holden, has spiraled out of control. Just when it seems that time has run out, Jeff offers an alternative deal. Matt is to assist a scientist with his secret experiments to clear the debt.

Despite his attempts to see the deal through, Matt soon realizes he’s trapped in a nightmare. The scientist has a dark agenda and a twisted mind that become more apparent with every visit to the underground lab.

Matt must find a way out before he loses his sanity and possibly his life. But he will soon discover that the chaos in his wake is only the beginning.

Genres: Thriller

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2022

About the author

A.V. likes to take a ride into the dark side of writing, but always makes sure to find his way back. If he can make his readers both captivated and uncomfortable, he knows he did his job.

Find me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/av_shener_w...

And on Facebook:
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And this is my website:
https://avshener.wixsite.com/avshener

Reviews

[Gali · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chaos in my Wake" is a compelling well-written psychological thriller, with some very dark undertones, about grief, regrets, and bad choices.

The book follows Matt Evans, a man who has tangled with a loan shark named Jeff and is forced to cooperate with a mad scientist and undergo some odd experiments to pay him back. The plot thickens when Matt's old nemesis enters the picture and adds more pressure to the already full plate.

The book has many triggers (rape, psychological and physical abuse, sadism, violence), twists, and cringy moments and is not for the soft-hearted. Some scenes were too much for me. Still, I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what would happen next, which says something about the book. The characters are well-drawn and complex, even the bad guys. The protagonist moves from one bad choice to another. I was rooting for him and wanting to shake him for the majority of the time.

It was a page-turner and I flew through it. The suspense was always up high on the suspense-o-meter and made me bite my nails at some intense moments. To sum up, it is a great debut book and highly recommended for fans of the genre!

[N.B. Saltsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a lighthearted story. It’s raw, intense, and at times, very dark. But I mean that in the BEST possible way, and it’s not a book I’ll be forgetting any time soon.

Protagonist Matt finds himself in the middle of an increasingly horrible nightmare and at the mercy of some very frightening people. Through this, the reader gets to care for him deeply. But it’s not JUST Matt that’s strongly developed. The villains here are some of the most layered and complex that I’ve seen in recent memory.

I don’t think my pulse stopped racing even once through the entire book. 5/5 would recommend.

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt is in debt and his father has passed. He takes a loan from a shady individual named Jeff. Jeff wants his money back, Matt is unable to pay it off and he is offered a deal. Matt is sent to a scientific lab, there he finds out there are some dark and sinister projects being explored. The characters are well written and the plot is engaging from the start.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all. this book was SO good! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s a nontraditional psychological thriller.

Matt screwed up. He borrowed money from the wrong people in an effort to save his father’s business. Now he owes a gangster over 100 grand and that gangster will make Matt do just about anything to get his money back. Told in first person perspective, Matt is a reliable narrator that suffers both psychological and physical abuse.

Disclaimers: one scene of rape, violence, and a kinky sex scene.

[✨Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Freedom shouldn’t come at such cost.”

Oh my goodness! Matt has got to be the unluckiest SOB I’ve read about in a while. This one took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I felt his pain. It was a lot to handle. There are many triggers so proceed with caution. There are real sadists in this book, Devils incarnate. Makes you want to hurt every single one of the way they tortured poor Matthew. It was inhumane!

The candidness of Matt’s POV drew me in from the first page. I read a lot of dark and heavy stuff but it’s been a while since I felt the weight and the burden of the protagonist.

There are times when I didn’t think I could continue reading because it was all too much. Chapter after chapter, Matthew just kept getting used and abused like a ratty old rag doll. The ending was realistic. I appreciated that although I wanted more of course but the sad reality is after everything that happened, that was the best possible outcome anyone could ever hope for.

Incredibly vile and dark for a debut novel. I enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[TaurReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt has a huge debt with Jeff that he can’t repay until Jeff presents an alternative. An alternative involving a disgraced scientist and some very unethical experiments.

Matt, the primary main character, was well written. He finds himself in a desperate situation due to loss and good intentions , but it blinded him from knowing when to let go. Matt goes through a lot of manipulation, and abuse. He’s stubborn and constantly giving push back on situations of his own creation.

Jeff was a my favorite. He was tough, and his threats were followed up, yet he was relatable, transparent. He forced Matt into situations, but continued to give him chances. The way he interacted with Matt gave this undercurrent vibe that he actually cared about Matt. Even during the plot twist, he was…forgiving.

The plot was intriguing and consistent. The story progression kept me engaged. There were some lulls, but none major. Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. "Psychological thriller" sounded up my alley, but I had no idea what I was truly in for! Right from the start, you know the main character is in some sort of trouble and has to get out of this trouble. Unfortunately, the means with which he has to get out of this trouble are dark. I felt anxious tearing through the (ebook) pages to find out what was waiting for the main character next. It was one dark twist after one dark twist...ain't no rest for the wicked. I felt relieved when he "escaped," only to be thrust back into more darkness later on. This was a great read, but it fell a little short at the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all, Matt is definitely chaos on steroids. This poor guy can’t catch a break, no matter what he does, and his mouth keeps getting him in more trouble. He is intelligent, but doesn’t always make the best “in the moment” decisions. You can’t help feeling horrified with all the things he goes through and rooting for him to catch a break. He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and understands choices and actions have consequences, which he is willing to accept when he deserves them. Basically, his life the last year was a series of circumstances entered into with the best of intentions, but rapidly spiraling out of control again and again.

I read this in one sitting, hardly able to put it down to eat. All the events Matt went through had me on the edge of my seat half the time, with bursts of adrenaline as things built from one crisis to another. Do check out the triggers, this is not a pleasant story, but it is really good. I would give more stars if I could.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kritika · Rating 5 out of 5]

CHAOS IN MY WAKE" (a dark psychological thriller) by A.V. Shener- a new author.
The author's writing style is simple, easy to catch and interesting. The author has written the book very beautiful, you won't find gaps or beginner mistakes.

The story is damn good...full of twists, anguish, shivers, well developed characters, scenes...it was so realistic, no sugarcoating shit....When the "pulling the nail out" & "cutting finger" scenes came (sorry for the spoiler) I feel like it's my nail which is being pulled and my finger which is being cut and I suddenly started feeling my fingers ache...there were also a phase at which I had to put the book down and took deep breaths, chant the words "I amn't Matt (the main character), it's not happening to ME"...Either 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara has make me weak or the story was damn good realistic one (I think I will go with the later one).

I highly recommend this beauty (though go through the triggers before, which I should have too...but, I have no regrets..I enjoyed the story, though I think I got headache with my sanity screaming while reading it).

I think this is a jem or dark thriller lovers, so give it a go guys.

[Bart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.V. Shener's CHAOS IN MY WAKE is a clever, unusual, kinky, violent, scary, bittersweet, twisted, sexy, darkly funny, complicated, and fast-paced thriller, with memorable characters and great plot twists. I enjoyed it immensely.

[MM Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chaos In My Wake by AV Shener is quite a psychological thriller. I was along for the chaos ride along with Matt. It was just crazy. Crazy good.

[Sazzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading more-or-less every day for the last 30+ years. I've done every genre, every trope, the popular books, the smaller/unknown books, fiction and non-fiction. You name it, I can guarantee I've either read it or read something similar to it. But never have I read anything that comes close to this before and, honestly, I don't think I could handle reading anything like it again.

But I mean this in the best possible way because this books was absolutely outstanding.

Terrifying. Disturbing. Addictive. Hostile. Uncomfortable. Just a few words to describe the general feelings this book gave me but good God was this frighteningly good. I mean it but, just a word of warning, this is not for the soft hearted. It tackles some truly horrific issues such as rape, abuse (psychological and physical), sadism, violence.... the list could go on and even though I openly admit to enjoying the darker reads that are out there, this one pushed me to my absolute limit more times than I can count. Despite this being a gripping page turner there were several occasions where I had to take a break from it, just to clear my head. Yes I know I sound dramatic but trust me when I say it's not only Matt's head that's filled with the monsters that are in this.

This gets under your skin until you can feel the characters crawling around inside of you. It invades you and, due to the phenomenal writing and characterisation I've come to expect and love from A.V. Shener the imagery that's imprinted in to your brain doesn't let up after you close the book. Everything is so vivid and clear that you're there alongside Matt, almost in a fly-on-the-wall type scenario and you cannot look away.

In terms of plot it's phenomenal. You have no idea which way this will go or what will happen next and this stay right up to the last page. The characters are outstanding, each completely individual an unique but realistic enough that you can imagine people like Jeff and Mike existing in the world, living in your town and that's possibly the most disturbing thing. These feel like real people that have been written and despite being (I hope!) a fictional book this is something that could (and likely does) play out in peoples lives.

Outstanding book, one I will never forget and I don't know if I even want to!

[C.L. Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chaos in my wake is an impressive debut novel. The writing is tight and fast-paced. The story is brutal, dark and disturbing, and not for the faint of heart. This satisfying psychological thriller was unsettling to read, at times, as Matt struggles to survive the nightmare his life has become. His helplessness was so thoroughly conveyed, it was palpable. The well-developed antagonists were brutal and sadistic, crafted in such a way that you instantly, and intensely, despise them. I love dark, but their cruelty was almost too much for me. What these twisted characters put Matt through is downright shocking, as he falls prey to their devious machinations, time and again. Yet, his continued ability to endure creates a kernel of hope that keeps the reader turning the pages, eagerly anticipating—even longing for—Matt to escape and find some sense of solace and peace. Will he ever be free of the monsters who have taken control of his life? The author draws you in so thoroughly, you can’t stop reading until you find out.

[Michael Bails · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his debut novel, which took a painstaking seven years to complete, Mr. Shener introduces readers to a haunting world of psychological suspense and emotional turmoil. The story centers on Matt, a man whose poor choices have drawn him into dangerous territory—both financially and emotionally. Owing a considerable debt to a ruthless loan shark, Matt finds himself trapped between his bleak present and a painful past filled with unresolved animosity from childhood friends. As if his situation couldn’t worsen, Matt becomes the unwilling subject of torturous experiments carried out by a sadistic scientist, further compounding his terror.

The novel takes readers deep into Matt's mind, exposing his fear, suffering, and the abusive treatment he endures. Mr. Shener expertly paints Matt’s psychological distress, leaving readers gripped by the emotional depth and horror of his experiences.

Coming to this novel as a fan of MM romance and a reader of Mr. Shener’s Unbreakable Ties trilogy, I was surprised by the shift in focus. Matt and the other key characters are straight, which added an unexpected element to the story. That said, the intensity of the thriller elements and the exploration of revenge kept me turning the pages. It's worth noting that this book contains potentially triggering content due to the trauma and abuse depicted.

Overall, I found the novel gripping and difficult to put down. Despite its darker themes, I was eager to see how Matt would navigate his many trials and what consequences might unfold. Since this first novel, Mr. Shener’s writing style has evolved noticeably, and I look forward to his future works.

[Marty Hamrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fiercely evocative story which will stick with you for days after you've finished reading. It's so well-written, and I'm honestly surprised to know it was a debut novel because I've read other stories by A.V. Shener before I read this one; the author is a definite talent with a unique ability to create interesting and not-overly-done-before stories. The intensity of the situations here are page-turning, and you're just so eager to find out what could possibly happen next. Do check your trigger warnings, but for me, it wasn't too much in any way. The author was able to convey the themes of naiveté, helplessness, greed, psychopathy (in many forms!), and humanity in the face of overwhelming situations so well that I definitely found myself glued to the pages.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[RSB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ripped me open and made a pocket inside me that I'll carry Matt around in for a very long time.

It was so dark, and the main character went through so much pain and trauma. "Chaos in my Wake" is such an appropriate title for the book. I hurt for Matt, raged for him, and I fought alongside him.

The villains in this novel could practically have walked out of the pages and started causing damage in the real world. They were so thought out and developed, some of them even making your feelings about them flip right along with the pages.

This was a fantastic thriller that I couldn't put down. I highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed.

[Janelimay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many twists (maybe too many?). We live with our choices. Sometimes the consequences can be extreme. Maybe not as out there as Matt's. If I eat too much and don't exercise, I am unhealthy, etc. CAVEAT: Editing needs a finer toothed comb. While there no major errors, the cumulative effect is noticeable. One inconsistency - He said "quote" then at another spot "Quote" he said. This happened one after the other. It was distracting. (I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book depicts scenes that you might not be comfortable reading. Quite a bit of sado-masocistic things happen to Matt Evans and all because he took a loan from the wrong person in order to try and save his father's business. Living in poverty-forced to do the bidding of first one person--then another---he did escape for a while but was dragged back in. He finally figures out of a way to stop it all--and ends up living a happy life with a woman he loves and who loves him.

[Kimberly Morehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted

Matt was put in a horrible position after trying to save his father's company. Took a loan from the wrong person. Soon, he has lost control of his life. He is being forced to do things no one should have to .... and there is no way out. I felt so bad for him, I wanted to scream at the characters. Wild ride, excellent narration.

[Guy Rothmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hell, that was intense.
I love dark psychological thrillers, but this one was something else.
Incredible characters development, combined with some of the most jaw-dropping twists I ever remember reading.
Can't believe this is a debut novel.
Highly recommend!

[Aviad Pilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Very dark, but so worth it. Matt is one of the strongest characters I've read in recent years, but all of the side characters felt real and well developed. I finished the book in two sessions.
Highly recommended!

[Nicole Deanne Veracruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a amazing job of pulling you into the chaos of Matt's life. Love the darkness throughout this book. It's a total mind twist and I couldn't get enough.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alice Stroud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark story

The title doesn't lie. It is what it is, good book i wo uld reco mend this to my friends.

[Joe Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. Can't recommend enough. I finished this weeks ago and still finding myself thinking about Matt.

[Josee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the advanced readers copy for an honest opinion

This is a story about a guy named Matt, and he had made a bunch of bad decisions and was living the consequences of it. This was a good book, quick read, kept me interested and wanting to find out what happened