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Segredos
Tony sempre foi um bom irmão para Nick. Então, quando ligam do hospital avisando que o caçula está internado após sofrer uma agressão sexual, seu lado protetor é ativado, impulsionando sua busca por justiça. Julia, esposa de Tony, é advogada e acredita que o caso logo será resolvido, mas a família jamais será a mesma: a avalanche de comentários maldosos nas redes sociais e a superexposição com a cobertura obsessiva na mídia transformam a luta do marido em desejo por vingança. Nick vive num estado de angústia ao perder o controle de tudo que ocorre após a agressão: lidar com a vergonha, a invasão de sua vida pessoal e, agora, a manipulação dos fatos por parte de seu agressor. Ele deseja apenas acordar daquele pesadelo e ter sua antiga vida de volta... Enquanto a batalha jurídica ocorre, essa família precisa desenterrar segredos e lidar com assuntos que foram silenciados no passado, mas que não podem mais continuar encobertos
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,871 reviews
July 18, 2021
Subtle and Sensitive
4.25 stars
"There are more important things than goodness."
The Damage is a mystery/family drama that examines the consequences of a sexual assault. Wahrer explores the impact on not only the victim but also on his family. Their experiences lead them to an emotional precipice stoking the desire for revenge.
The topic of male sexual assault makes this book stand out. This is not a topic usually talked about, and it’s not something that takes center stage in the books that I have read.
Packed with tension, I couldn’t put this book down. The crime is awful, the victim is endearing, and his pain is hard to read. At the same time, reading about his experience and his family’s reaction was gripping.
There are multiple POVs to keep track of Julia, Tony, Nick, and the detective investigating the crime. Their voices were distinguished, and it is easy to keep track of who is who. I do feel in some cases that Wahrer only touched the surface as some characters were more developed than others, but Julia and Nick’s stood out to me.
She also tries to pack in too many moral quandaries. I would have liked her to lessen her reach to dig even deeper into the characters. The chapters are short and often end with mini cliffhangers, which began to irk me. These are only minor gripes. They did not take away from my overall enjoyment and appreciation for this book.
The Damage isn’t as much about the mystery as it is about exploring uncomfortable questions that relate to sexual assault and mental health. Tautly written and subtle in nature, this book slowly got under my skin and left me thinking.
4.25 stars
"There are more important things than goodness."
The Damage is a mystery/family drama that examines the consequences of a sexual assault. Wahrer explores the impact on not only the victim but also on his family. Their experiences lead them to an emotional precipice stoking the desire for revenge.
The topic of male sexual assault makes this book stand out. This is not a topic usually talked about, and it’s not something that takes center stage in the books that I have read.
Packed with tension, I couldn’t put this book down. The crime is awful, the victim is endearing, and his pain is hard to read. At the same time, reading about his experience and his family’s reaction was gripping.
There are multiple POVs to keep track of Julia, Tony, Nick, and the detective investigating the crime. Their voices were distinguished, and it is easy to keep track of who is who. I do feel in some cases that Wahrer only touched the surface as some characters were more developed than others, but Julia and Nick’s stood out to me.
She also tries to pack in too many moral quandaries. I would have liked her to lessen her reach to dig even deeper into the characters. The chapters are short and often end with mini cliffhangers, which began to irk me. These are only minor gripes. They did not take away from my overall enjoyment and appreciation for this book.
The Damage isn’t as much about the mystery as it is about exploring uncomfortable questions that relate to sexual assault and mental health. Tautly written and subtle in nature, this book slowly got under my skin and left me thinking.
December 15, 2021
This is one of the most intense, heart wrenching, engrossing and compelling books that ripped my heart apart!
The plot centered on one of the most triggering sensitive subjects: sexual assault. This time a young man is the victim and the author discusses the matter so openly by reflecting the sentimental burden and emotional turmoil of Nick so realistically: a young man in college who only wants to have drinks, flirting with an old guy with man which ended with harmful assault leaving invisible traces in his soul which may never be erased. It was impossible not to feel connected with Nick and feel his tremendous pain, how he tries so hard to hold on, how overwhelmed he felt and his brother Tony, he’s unhinged, because his brother is also like his own son! How can he watch his loved one struggling so hard without taking any action?
The slow burn story is told by moving back and forth between two timelines: 2015 and 2019.
We’re introduced to Nick’s family starting with protective half brother Tony who can be considered as his real father because he literally raised Nick when their real father was useless, abusive alcoholic who had no paternal instinct.
Nick is married with Julia who is former lawyer. She’s concrete, tough, observer, cold, determined.
Then we witness the tragedy Nick has to endure. An innocent night out attempt, one drink leads to other,then he finds himself as an assault victim.
Nick’s case is investigated by detective John Rice who is smart man, observing the family members’ drama, Tony’s misery to be there for his brother, his struggles, his guilt feelings and Nick’s inner fight with his demons, his mental and physical pain, Julia’s cool and logical attitude.
When the culprit gets arrested and released with bail, things get escalated because someone is out there to avenge without waiting for justice’s serving.
After the murder, the media focuses this harmful event and misjudged opinions of the people, cruel criticism around the family create more impact than they already deal with.
I have to stop here not to give away more details but there are so many delicious, mind spinning twists in this book. Especially the ending was a quick punch to my gut. I’m still in shock! I’m literally blubbering but it was freaking unexpected and extremely smart!
This is so well written book with amazingly well developed characterization and it’s extremely provocative, intense, engaging! I think the characters’ stories will stay with me for a long time and I’ll keep thinking about them at least for a month.
No more words! I’m giving well earned thought provoking, blood freezing, dark five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/ Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
The plot centered on one of the most triggering sensitive subjects: sexual assault. This time a young man is the victim and the author discusses the matter so openly by reflecting the sentimental burden and emotional turmoil of Nick so realistically: a young man in college who only wants to have drinks, flirting with an old guy with man which ended with harmful assault leaving invisible traces in his soul which may never be erased. It was impossible not to feel connected with Nick and feel his tremendous pain, how he tries so hard to hold on, how overwhelmed he felt and his brother Tony, he’s unhinged, because his brother is also like his own son! How can he watch his loved one struggling so hard without taking any action?
The slow burn story is told by moving back and forth between two timelines: 2015 and 2019.
We’re introduced to Nick’s family starting with protective half brother Tony who can be considered as his real father because he literally raised Nick when their real father was useless, abusive alcoholic who had no paternal instinct.
Nick is married with Julia who is former lawyer. She’s concrete, tough, observer, cold, determined.
Then we witness the tragedy Nick has to endure. An innocent night out attempt, one drink leads to other,then he finds himself as an assault victim.
Nick’s case is investigated by detective John Rice who is smart man, observing the family members’ drama, Tony’s misery to be there for his brother, his struggles, his guilt feelings and Nick’s inner fight with his demons, his mental and physical pain, Julia’s cool and logical attitude.
When the culprit gets arrested and released with bail, things get escalated because someone is out there to avenge without waiting for justice’s serving.
After the murder, the media focuses this harmful event and misjudged opinions of the people, cruel criticism around the family create more impact than they already deal with.
I have to stop here not to give away more details but there are so many delicious, mind spinning twists in this book. Especially the ending was a quick punch to my gut. I’m still in shock! I’m literally blubbering but it was freaking unexpected and extremely smart!
This is so well written book with amazingly well developed characterization and it’s extremely provocative, intense, engaging! I think the characters’ stories will stay with me for a long time and I’ll keep thinking about them at least for a month.
No more words! I’m giving well earned thought provoking, blood freezing, dark five stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking/ Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
November 3, 2022
I'll be honest, this book wasn't even on my radar until Dennis @scaredstraightreads started hyping it on his Instagram profile. Pair that with the fact it was an add on for the BOTM subscription this June, and my curiosity was more than piqued. As a reader who has always enjoyed police procedurals, I knew this sounded right up my alley, but I had no idea it would include such a fresh, unique angle on the detective trope. While most procedurals follow the detective and investigation from the law enforcement side of things, The Damage almost entirely focuses on the family's experiences while trying to navigate the aftermath of a horrific crime.
It feels important and necessary to state upfront that the entire basis of the plot surrounds the rape of one of the male characters; the story is incredibly well written and brings attention to a very real, yet surprisingly still taboo subject that needs to be talked about, but those who are sensitive towards stories including graphic rape content might want to proceed with caution. Again, the author has done an outstanding job telling a story that, unfortunately, too many men can relate to, and gives visibility to a group of individuals that the justice system does all it can to try and bury. The fact that Wahrer is able to tell this story in a way that brings awareness AND a great amount of suspense is astounding.
Even though my finished copy was almost 400 pages, I couldn't stop turning the pages to see, not only what would happen for Nick and his case, but also to the family members supporting him. There are quite a few twists and turns throughout, and by the end of the story I didn't feel ready to let go of the characters. I think it would be fun to see another standalone, connected to this world, that features one of the minor characters from the final chapter. Trust me, you'll know. Regardless, the author has found a fan in me and I cannot wait to follow her on her future writing endeavors.
*Many thanks to the author/publisher for providing my review copy.
It feels important and necessary to state upfront that the entire basis of the plot surrounds the rape of one of the male characters; the story is incredibly well written and brings attention to a very real, yet surprisingly still taboo subject that needs to be talked about, but those who are sensitive towards stories including graphic rape content might want to proceed with caution. Again, the author has done an outstanding job telling a story that, unfortunately, too many men can relate to, and gives visibility to a group of individuals that the justice system does all it can to try and bury. The fact that Wahrer is able to tell this story in a way that brings awareness AND a great amount of suspense is astounding.
Even though my finished copy was almost 400 pages, I couldn't stop turning the pages to see, not only what would happen for Nick and his case, but also to the family members supporting him. There are quite a few twists and turns throughout, and by the end of the story I didn't feel ready to let go of the characters. I think it would be fun to see another standalone, connected to this world, that features one of the minor characters from the final chapter. Trust me, you'll know. Regardless, the author has found a fan in me and I cannot wait to follow her on her future writing endeavors.
*Many thanks to the author/publisher for providing my review copy.
June 26, 2021
It's hard to believe this superb family drama of a psychological thriller is a debut, Caitlin Wahrer sensitively examines an issue that rarely gets any coverage and which society is deeply uncomfortable with. 20 year old gay Maine student, Nick Hall meets the much older good looking 'Josh' at a bar, leaving with him for a one night stand at a motel. The hellish nightmare of this terrifying encounter results in Nick being brutally sexually assaulted, he reports it to the police. The case is taken on by the caring and compassionate Detective John Rice, determined to do the best he can to get justice. The repercussions of what has happened to Nick devastates his family, his older brother by 17 years, Tony, is happily married to former lawyer, Julia, and has two young children, Chloe and Sebastian.
Tony has been a protective and loving father figure for Nick throughout his growing up years, he is left reeling, feeling helpless and guilty that he wasn't there for Nick when he needed him most. Against all the odds, the perpetrator is identified and charged, and upon attaining bail, persuasively articulates in the media that Nick's version of what happened is lies, and that it was Nick who had wanted the 'rough sex'. The public weigh in with their uninformed opinions, judgements, and comments on social media, intensifying the stress and pressures on Nick and his family. Nick's life further unravels, affecting his fragmenting mental health, questioning his concept of masculinity and his identity, struggling with being a victim and the loss of power associated with it, unsurprising particularly given society's discomfort with male rape victims. Julia becomes increasingly worried as Tony's rage and need for vengeance threatens her marriage and the family. Where will it all end?
There is a dual narrative, with most of the storyline set in 2015, going into 2016, and a meeting in 2019 at the home of Detective Rice, dying of cancer, discussing with Julia the personal cost to him of Nick's case. One of the strongest parts of the novel is the documentation of the fallout of the sexual assault on Nick, the trial preparations and process, his self hatred, his conflicting feelings, and just how low things got for him, and how long it can take before therapy can have any meaningful impact. This is a wonderfully thought provoking read, hard hitting, dark, intense, suspenseful, and with an array of twists that made this an utterly riveting and emotional rollercoaster of an experience. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Tony has been a protective and loving father figure for Nick throughout his growing up years, he is left reeling, feeling helpless and guilty that he wasn't there for Nick when he needed him most. Against all the odds, the perpetrator is identified and charged, and upon attaining bail, persuasively articulates in the media that Nick's version of what happened is lies, and that it was Nick who had wanted the 'rough sex'. The public weigh in with their uninformed opinions, judgements, and comments on social media, intensifying the stress and pressures on Nick and his family. Nick's life further unravels, affecting his fragmenting mental health, questioning his concept of masculinity and his identity, struggling with being a victim and the loss of power associated with it, unsurprising particularly given society's discomfort with male rape victims. Julia becomes increasingly worried as Tony's rage and need for vengeance threatens her marriage and the family. Where will it all end?
There is a dual narrative, with most of the storyline set in 2015, going into 2016, and a meeting in 2019 at the home of Detective Rice, dying of cancer, discussing with Julia the personal cost to him of Nick's case. One of the strongest parts of the novel is the documentation of the fallout of the sexual assault on Nick, the trial preparations and process, his self hatred, his conflicting feelings, and just how low things got for him, and how long it can take before therapy can have any meaningful impact. This is a wonderfully thought provoking read, hard hitting, dark, intense, suspenseful, and with an array of twists that made this an utterly riveting and emotional rollercoaster of an experience. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
June 15, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
A gripping and compulsively readable debut novel.
Tony and his half-brother, Nick, have always been really close. Tony practically raised Nick when his father was too drunk and emotionally abusive to do the job.
Nick is in college, and goes out drinking with his friend one night. He meets an older man, whom he finds attractive. One drink leads to another, and Nick finds himself the victim of violent sexual assault.
Tony and his wife, Julia, a former lawyer, are devastated for Nick, and try to do be there for him and offer support. Nick is understandably broken, and is having a hard time picking up the pieces.
Things get worse when Nick’s attacker gets arrested and subsequently released on bail. Detective Rice is on the case, but there is someone who doesn’t want to wait for justice to be served...someone who wants to exact revenge.
The Damage is a powerful and intense read that takes an unflinching look at male to male sexual assault. It’s handled delicately and with care, and it’s very evident that author Caitlin Wahrer did a great deal of research and really cared about the story she was writing.
The novel is a slow burn as it weaves between 2015 (when the attack took place) and 2019. It paints an honest picture of the emotional impact the assault has caused Nick and those who love him.
It’s difficult and relevant, and has moments of suspense that lead to a darkly satisfying conclusion that I didn’t see coming.
Thank you Pamela Dorman Books/Viking for sending me a completed physical copy of the novel. It will be published on: 6/15/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
A gripping and compulsively readable debut novel.
Tony and his half-brother, Nick, have always been really close. Tony practically raised Nick when his father was too drunk and emotionally abusive to do the job.
Nick is in college, and goes out drinking with his friend one night. He meets an older man, whom he finds attractive. One drink leads to another, and Nick finds himself the victim of violent sexual assault.
Tony and his wife, Julia, a former lawyer, are devastated for Nick, and try to do be there for him and offer support. Nick is understandably broken, and is having a hard time picking up the pieces.
Things get worse when Nick’s attacker gets arrested and subsequently released on bail. Detective Rice is on the case, but there is someone who doesn’t want to wait for justice to be served...someone who wants to exact revenge.
The Damage is a powerful and intense read that takes an unflinching look at male to male sexual assault. It’s handled delicately and with care, and it’s very evident that author Caitlin Wahrer did a great deal of research and really cared about the story she was writing.
The novel is a slow burn as it weaves between 2015 (when the attack took place) and 2019. It paints an honest picture of the emotional impact the assault has caused Nick and those who love him.
It’s difficult and relevant, and has moments of suspense that lead to a darkly satisfying conclusion that I didn’t see coming.
Thank you Pamela Dorman Books/Viking for sending me a completed physical copy of the novel. It will be published on: 6/15/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
June 19, 2021
Five shiny debut stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nick has had a difficult upbringing. He was raised by parents who were let’s just say less than stellar. His support and love comes from his much older brother (17 years) Tony and Tony’s wife Julia.
Now in University, Nick is finally settling into life. He has a great group of friends he lives with and is comfortable in his sexuality.
A night of drinking and a hookup with a very sexy man leaves Nick in the hospital…battered physically and emotionally.
Tony and Julia step up.
They will do whatever is necessary to get Nick back on his feet and able to move forward in life. But the damage has been done. Can this family move forward? Or will this event define them for life?
This was a very powerful book and the subject matter was handled so delicately and with such finesse. This read will stay with me for a very long time.
The story unfolds from multiple perspectives and timelines. The characters were all real and flawed. You could feel the pain as they each tried to heal in their own way.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Carolyn for her amazing review that put this book on my must-read list!
A buddy read with Susanne that when we finished we both just sat there and said “WOW”.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada 🇨🇦
Nick has had a difficult upbringing. He was raised by parents who were let’s just say less than stellar. His support and love comes from his much older brother (17 years) Tony and Tony’s wife Julia.
Now in University, Nick is finally settling into life. He has a great group of friends he lives with and is comfortable in his sexuality.
A night of drinking and a hookup with a very sexy man leaves Nick in the hospital…battered physically and emotionally.
Tony and Julia step up.
They will do whatever is necessary to get Nick back on his feet and able to move forward in life. But the damage has been done. Can this family move forward? Or will this event define them for life?
This was a very powerful book and the subject matter was handled so delicately and with such finesse. This read will stay with me for a very long time.
The story unfolds from multiple perspectives and timelines. The characters were all real and flawed. You could feel the pain as they each tried to heal in their own way.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to Carolyn for her amazing review that put this book on my must-read list!
A buddy read with Susanne that when we finished we both just sat there and said “WOW”.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada 🇨🇦
March 5, 2021
This very promising debut examines the damage caused to a family following the violent sexual assault to Nick Hall. Nick is a student at the University of Maine, Salisbury, he is extremely close to his half brother Tony and his wife Julia. The case is investigated by Detective John Rice. The storyline has dual timelines of 2015 and 2019 but is principally set in 2015.
It’s starts with a puzzle in 2019 as Julia goes to meet John Rice at his home and you cannot work out why she feels as she does which pulls you into the narrative straight away. The novel is very thought provoking and powerful as it looks at the multitude of emotions, including pain and mental trauma, that Nick experiences and how he is changed by his terrible experience. It also makes you reflect on how you might act if you are in the desperate situation of Nick’s family. The toll it takes is shocking and it affects all the relationships in different ways. The characterisation is excellent and all of them are very well portrayed. Tony has always been a father figure to Nick, their biological father being an alcoholic and rarely paternal. You can understand Tony’s desire to protect his much loved younger brother and his anger on his behalf. Nick’s vulnerability is palpable, Julia is cool and Rice is wise. The novel takes a major twist once someone is charged with the perpetrator and members of his family using various forms of media to present their case. This shocks me to the core as people make prejudicial judgements without all the facts on social media. As all this unfolds the narrative chops and changes in direction and tone which I like as it suits the emerging facts. Some of the twists are so good and really clever, especially the one at the end! There are strong elements of tension especially between Tony and Nick and Tony and Julia. Though the central theme is a serious, violent assault this is handled with sensitivity without being unnecessarily gratuitous. My only reservations lie in that some of the storytelling becomes everyday mundane and there is some over detailing. However, I can see that the author has valid reasons for doing this in order to demonstrate the impact on everyday lives.
Overall, I am impressed with this slow burner of a debut which cleverly examines the personal impact on the individual and the family, on the wider community and it shines a spotlight on the justice system. The novel provides much food for thought.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
It’s starts with a puzzle in 2019 as Julia goes to meet John Rice at his home and you cannot work out why she feels as she does which pulls you into the narrative straight away. The novel is very thought provoking and powerful as it looks at the multitude of emotions, including pain and mental trauma, that Nick experiences and how he is changed by his terrible experience. It also makes you reflect on how you might act if you are in the desperate situation of Nick’s family. The toll it takes is shocking and it affects all the relationships in different ways. The characterisation is excellent and all of them are very well portrayed. Tony has always been a father figure to Nick, their biological father being an alcoholic and rarely paternal. You can understand Tony’s desire to protect his much loved younger brother and his anger on his behalf. Nick’s vulnerability is palpable, Julia is cool and Rice is wise. The novel takes a major twist once someone is charged with the perpetrator and members of his family using various forms of media to present their case. This shocks me to the core as people make prejudicial judgements without all the facts on social media. As all this unfolds the narrative chops and changes in direction and tone which I like as it suits the emerging facts. Some of the twists are so good and really clever, especially the one at the end! There are strong elements of tension especially between Tony and Nick and Tony and Julia. Though the central theme is a serious, violent assault this is handled with sensitivity without being unnecessarily gratuitous. My only reservations lie in that some of the storytelling becomes everyday mundane and there is some over detailing. However, I can see that the author has valid reasons for doing this in order to demonstrate the impact on everyday lives.
Overall, I am impressed with this slow burner of a debut which cleverly examines the personal impact on the individual and the family, on the wider community and it shines a spotlight on the justice system. The novel provides much food for thought.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
June 28, 2024
3.5stars: Trigger warning: brutal sexual assault with an assumed sexual predator. In this case, the rape victim was a male college student who indulged in excessive liquor at a dive bar which ended in a horrendous rape.
“The Damage” by Caitlin Wahrer explores gay rape. The victim, Nick Hall, tries to keep the rape quiet because he’s embarrassed. This novel brings out all the shame associated with rape. Nick finds it exceptionally humiliating because he was dominated….what self-respecting male allows himself to be dominate? Add to that, the assailant has a differing memory of the events which adds to Nick’s trepidation.
The story is told in two timeframes. The time of the rape, 2015, and 2019 when the lead detective revisits the case with Julia, Nick’s sister-in-law. Thus, from the beginning we know that there is some uncleared business from the case. The reader slowly learns about what truly happened that night…the horror. Plus, we learn how the court case and trial dates weigh on the victim. The social media and public opinion that attaches itself to these personal crimes only add to the original trauma.
Nick has endured a traumatic childhood leaving him with his older half brother Tony taking care of him. When Nick is raped, this close-knit family comes together to find justice. But the collateral damage of this assault weighs heavily on the family.
The story is also told from three points of view: Nick; Julia; Tony and John(the detective). Through the alternating character chapters, the suspense grows. How did the case close?
I love when I don’t guess the ending, nor see any of the ending until the very last chapters. Well done Ms. Wahrer!
“The Damage” by Caitlin Wahrer explores gay rape. The victim, Nick Hall, tries to keep the rape quiet because he’s embarrassed. This novel brings out all the shame associated with rape. Nick finds it exceptionally humiliating because he was dominated….what self-respecting male allows himself to be dominate? Add to that, the assailant has a differing memory of the events which adds to Nick’s trepidation.
The story is told in two timeframes. The time of the rape, 2015, and 2019 when the lead detective revisits the case with Julia, Nick’s sister-in-law. Thus, from the beginning we know that there is some uncleared business from the case. The reader slowly learns about what truly happened that night…the horror. Plus, we learn how the court case and trial dates weigh on the victim. The social media and public opinion that attaches itself to these personal crimes only add to the original trauma.
Nick has endured a traumatic childhood leaving him with his older half brother Tony taking care of him. When Nick is raped, this close-knit family comes together to find justice. But the collateral damage of this assault weighs heavily on the family.
The story is also told from three points of view: Nick; Julia; Tony and John(the detective). Through the alternating character chapters, the suspense grows. How did the case close?
I love when I don’t guess the ending, nor see any of the ending until the very last chapters. Well done Ms. Wahrer!
July 10, 2021
4.5*
An intense, unsettling and heart-breaking drama about assault, family, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions
Tony only wants to protect his brother Nick.
Nick only wanted a drink with his crush, but becomes a victim after being sexually assaulted and beaten.
Julia is worried about both her husband Tony, and her brother-in-law Nick. Nick is spiralling, and Tony is obsessed with his case.
One horrific rape. One family. Untold damage...
Firstly, I cannot believe this powerful, slow burn was Caitlin Wahrer' debut! It was long, but well researched, well written and sensitively handled. Wahrer took an unflinching look at a topic with much stigma attached to it, male rape in the gay community. The Damage really delved into masculinity, being a victim and the loss of identity. It also discussed the emotional aftermath of assault on mental health on a victim, as well as the wider impact on family.
This character focussed book burrowed under my skin. The characters of Nick and his family had me turning the pages of this dark and gritty book; they all felt so real to me, like I knew them personally by the end. They weren't perfect, and I could feel the pressure on them from the media coverage of the case, and from the looming court case. The tension between them was palpable.
Told in dual timelines from 2015, when the attack happened, and 2019, by Nick, Julia, Tony and Detective John Rice, this book made me feel angry, sad and uncomfortable. I think that's why it took me a little longer than usual to read, I was really out of my comfort zone here. Ah the judgment, ignorance and irritating opinions on social media in the book enraged me! In real life I can't stop myself from looking at the comments on articles, which frustrates me, and similarly the public opinions in the book made me feel the same, it felt so realistic!
The Damage also looked at alcoholism, family abuse, anger and vengeance. Nick's character broke my heart. I openly cried reading about his self loathing.
This not a light hearted book, it was hard hitting, and thought provoking, if a little slow at times. But it also had surprising twists and a satisfying ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I'm a couple days late, blame the Euro's!
An intense, unsettling and heart-breaking drama about assault, family, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions
Tony only wants to protect his brother Nick.
Nick only wanted a drink with his crush, but becomes a victim after being sexually assaulted and beaten.
Julia is worried about both her husband Tony, and her brother-in-law Nick. Nick is spiralling, and Tony is obsessed with his case.
One horrific rape. One family. Untold damage...
Firstly, I cannot believe this powerful, slow burn was Caitlin Wahrer' debut! It was long, but well researched, well written and sensitively handled. Wahrer took an unflinching look at a topic with much stigma attached to it, male rape in the gay community. The Damage really delved into masculinity, being a victim and the loss of identity. It also discussed the emotional aftermath of assault on mental health on a victim, as well as the wider impact on family.
This character focussed book burrowed under my skin. The characters of Nick and his family had me turning the pages of this dark and gritty book; they all felt so real to me, like I knew them personally by the end. They weren't perfect, and I could feel the pressure on them from the media coverage of the case, and from the looming court case. The tension between them was palpable.
Told in dual timelines from 2015, when the attack happened, and 2019, by Nick, Julia, Tony and Detective John Rice, this book made me feel angry, sad and uncomfortable. I think that's why it took me a little longer than usual to read, I was really out of my comfort zone here. Ah the judgment, ignorance and irritating opinions on social media in the book enraged me! In real life I can't stop myself from looking at the comments on articles, which frustrates me, and similarly the public opinions in the book made me feel the same, it felt so realistic!
The Damage also looked at alcoholism, family abuse, anger and vengeance. Nick's character broke my heart. I openly cried reading about his self loathing.
This not a light hearted book, it was hard hitting, and thought provoking, if a little slow at times. But it also had surprising twists and a satisfying ending.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph UK for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. Sorry I'm a couple days late, blame the Euro's!
July 8, 2021
Damage Control.
As Nick’s sexual assault throws his family into a tailspin, he returns to college and begins therapy. Meanwhile, his married older brother Tony is falling apart.
How could this have happened? Tony’s orderly connubial life is in danger of being upended because of his concerns. He’s been Nick’s surrogate father and now he’s at a loss as to how to help him.
The Damage isn’t your light summer read but an intense ruminative look at the after affects of a battery victim’s life. Although fictional, realistic components are woven throughout and familial relationships are tested.
Maybe I’ve watched too many TV episodes with vacillating victims reluctant to go to the police, but I especially appreciated Nick’s forward approach to reporting the crime against him.
With that, the story took a different trajectory than expected and moved quickly beyond. It’s a fresh and unique approach that’s both supremely intelligent and sensitive. I’m so impressed that this is a debut novel!
This may be classified as a thriller but I can’t pinpoint a specific genre as it seems to be a combination of several. I would encourage those who enjoy legalese, police procedurals, and thoughtful family drama to consider this too.
I purchased a hardback copy at Barnes and Noble.
As Nick’s sexual assault throws his family into a tailspin, he returns to college and begins therapy. Meanwhile, his married older brother Tony is falling apart.
How could this have happened? Tony’s orderly connubial life is in danger of being upended because of his concerns. He’s been Nick’s surrogate father and now he’s at a loss as to how to help him.
The Damage isn’t your light summer read but an intense ruminative look at the after affects of a battery victim’s life. Although fictional, realistic components are woven throughout and familial relationships are tested.
Maybe I’ve watched too many TV episodes with vacillating victims reluctant to go to the police, but I especially appreciated Nick’s forward approach to reporting the crime against him.
With that, the story took a different trajectory than expected and moved quickly beyond. It’s a fresh and unique approach that’s both supremely intelligent and sensitive. I’m so impressed that this is a debut novel!
This may be classified as a thriller but I can’t pinpoint a specific genre as it seems to be a combination of several. I would encourage those who enjoy legalese, police procedurals, and thoughtful family drama to consider this too.
I purchased a hardback copy at Barnes and Noble.
August 25, 2021
4.5 stars!
“It’s easy to be good when things are good.”
Gripping. Intense. Edgy.
Tony’s life is forever changed when he gets a shocking call that his younger brother, Nick, is lying beaten and bleeding in the hospital after a brutal sexual assault. Their small town is devastated as the police try to piece together what happened to Nick.
This book is intense. It’s uncomfortable. A very unique storyline focused on a male sexual assault. The author did an outstanding job with the characters, the tension, the suspense and atmosphere. Part police procedural, part family drama - I had a hard time putting this down. It’s an extremely well written debut - I was glued to the pages finding myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.
This was a solid 5 star read for the majority of the book. Some aspects of the ending were a bit much for me to accept which caused me to drop my rating slightly. Regardless of this, it was a truly unique and unforgettable read. This book has countless raving reviews and I’m happy to add mine to the group. This definitely lived up to the hype!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this terrific book!
“It’s easy to be good when things are good.”
Gripping. Intense. Edgy.
Tony’s life is forever changed when he gets a shocking call that his younger brother, Nick, is lying beaten and bleeding in the hospital after a brutal sexual assault. Their small town is devastated as the police try to piece together what happened to Nick.
This book is intense. It’s uncomfortable. A very unique storyline focused on a male sexual assault. The author did an outstanding job with the characters, the tension, the suspense and atmosphere. Part police procedural, part family drama - I had a hard time putting this down. It’s an extremely well written debut - I was glued to the pages finding myself thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.
This was a solid 5 star read for the majority of the book. Some aspects of the ending were a bit much for me to accept which caused me to drop my rating slightly. Regardless of this, it was a truly unique and unforgettable read. This book has countless raving reviews and I’m happy to add mine to the group. This definitely lived up to the hype!
Thank you to my lovely local library for the loan of this terrific book!
June 17, 2021
I am always looking for something a little different from those tried plots we have come to expect and looking for authors who are bolding moving forward with our changing world. Caitlin Wahrer nails that by exploring something we don't talk about through her characters after Nick is violently sexually assaulted after meeting a man at a bar. She focuses on the family's emotional damage and fallout while exploring tragedy, doubt, and justice. She plays on that trope, "How far would you go to protect someone you love?" by giving the story a fresh look into the dynamics of the family.
The Damage is a well-done psychological thriller and family drama that builds up slowly while increasing tension and doubt until that unexpected final twist. The story shifts from alternating POV as we see the emotional fallout and psychological impact the attack has on Nick, his older brother Tony and his sister-in-law Julia. Caitlin Wahrer weaves in thriller elements that blur the lines between fiction and real-life to create an intense emotional story. The attack on Nick is unsettling and affecting but handled humanely, keeping the details to a minimum. We learn what we need to know to understand the emotional impact on the characters.
I found the story a bit convoluted at times throwing off the pace for me, however it is a readable story. The story delves into the everyday life of the characters that did add a more realistic feel to the lives of the characters however it slowed down the story for me.
The heart of the story is the relationship between Nick and his older brother Tony. It warmed my heart to see how Tony looked out for Nick, protected him, and even babied him. I could feel their love and the tension between them that made them convincing characters.
The strength in the story is the increasing doubt and tension in the story that didn't let up until that final, satisfying ending that you might see or might not see coming. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley.
The Damage is a well-done psychological thriller and family drama that builds up slowly while increasing tension and doubt until that unexpected final twist. The story shifts from alternating POV as we see the emotional fallout and psychological impact the attack has on Nick, his older brother Tony and his sister-in-law Julia. Caitlin Wahrer weaves in thriller elements that blur the lines between fiction and real-life to create an intense emotional story. The attack on Nick is unsettling and affecting but handled humanely, keeping the details to a minimum. We learn what we need to know to understand the emotional impact on the characters.
I found the story a bit convoluted at times throwing off the pace for me, however it is a readable story. The story delves into the everyday life of the characters that did add a more realistic feel to the lives of the characters however it slowed down the story for me.
The heart of the story is the relationship between Nick and his older brother Tony. It warmed my heart to see how Tony looked out for Nick, protected him, and even babied him. I could feel their love and the tension between them that made them convincing characters.
The strength in the story is the increasing doubt and tension in the story that didn't let up until that final, satisfying ending that you might see or might not see coming. I highly recommend it.
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley.
June 13, 2021
Review posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
A Close-Knit Family. A Violent Assault. The Aftermath.
Though they are brothers, Tony has been like a father to Nick. Seventeen years apart, Tony has taken care of Nick for most of his life, having basically raised him with his wife, Julia.
The night Nick is assaulted by another man in a hotel room everything changes. A police report is filed and an investigation ensues.
Torn apart by it all, yet having to go on, day by day, Nick has to face “The Damage” that has been done.
Tony is distraught. His baby brother is hurting and he wants revenge. Julia’s family has been destroyed. A former defense attorney, she must figure out how to fix “The Damage” before it’s too late.
This is thought-provoking, brilliantly written, character-driven fiction that made me think about actions and consequences, “The Damage” is a stellar debut by Caitlin Wahrer. The fact that this is a debut novel blows my mind. If only all books were this good, I’d be a very happy camper.
“The Damage” is a mix of genres. It’s both general fiction and mystery/suspense. It’s also got one of the best character-driven plots I’ve read all year long and will be on my Goodreads best-of-list for 2021. If it’s not on your tbr, you’re missing out!
A buddy read with Kaceey that left us both reeling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada - Doubleday Canada and Caitlin Wahrer for the arc.
Published on Goodreads, Instagram and Twitter.
A Close-Knit Family. A Violent Assault. The Aftermath.
Though they are brothers, Tony has been like a father to Nick. Seventeen years apart, Tony has taken care of Nick for most of his life, having basically raised him with his wife, Julia.
The night Nick is assaulted by another man in a hotel room everything changes. A police report is filed and an investigation ensues.
Torn apart by it all, yet having to go on, day by day, Nick has to face “The Damage” that has been done.
Tony is distraught. His baby brother is hurting and he wants revenge. Julia’s family has been destroyed. A former defense attorney, she must figure out how to fix “The Damage” before it’s too late.
This is thought-provoking, brilliantly written, character-driven fiction that made me think about actions and consequences, “The Damage” is a stellar debut by Caitlin Wahrer. The fact that this is a debut novel blows my mind. If only all books were this good, I’d be a very happy camper.
“The Damage” is a mix of genres. It’s both general fiction and mystery/suspense. It’s also got one of the best character-driven plots I’ve read all year long and will be on my Goodreads best-of-list for 2021. If it’s not on your tbr, you’re missing out!
A buddy read with Kaceey that left us both reeling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada - Doubleday Canada and Caitlin Wahrer for the arc.
Published on Goodreads, Instagram and Twitter.
May 26, 2021
Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel
The Damage
is my favorite book of the year (dated 5/26, so could change, but very unlikely). There's a lot to unpack here and I'm not sure my review will give it justice. This book is centered around the Hall family—mainly brothers Nick and Tony, and Tony's wife Julia. Tony and Nick are half brothers, born 17 years apart. Their alcoholic father has created a unique dynamic with Tony and Nick. Tony views Nick as a son, rather than a younger brother. The story focuses on a night that Nick experienced—and I have to be delicate in how I speak to this synopsis to avoid spoilers—but Nick is raped and beat up after meeting someone at a bar. Nick is gay and the focus of this rape becomes public fodder. The Hall's lives are all changed by this one moment, but what happens next is something a lot more complicated than any of them ever expected.
The Damage
dives into many different genres, but ultimately asks how far people would go to protect their family and the ones they love.
Thank you Caitlin Wahrer for respectfully diving into male rape (especially within the gay community) and handling the subject matter appropriately. I can tell you did your research when choosing to write about this topic. This book had me in tears, jumping for joy, angry as F, and a bunch of all different mixed emotions. At almost 400 pages, I couldn't put it down and I'm sure the dark circles I have prove this. I can not even believe this book is a debut! Where have you been hiding Caitlin?! I can't even put to words how much I loved this book. This book has many triggers and maybe I have a propensity to read books dealing with trauma, but this one is a story that I want everyone to read. The plot is what hooked me in initially, but the character development is what had me flipping the pages like a psycho over the last 24 hours. You won't regret picking this one up.
If you enjoyed Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End, you will absolutely love The Damage !
Thank you Caitlin Wahrer for respectfully diving into male rape (especially within the gay community) and handling the subject matter appropriately. I can tell you did your research when choosing to write about this topic. This book had me in tears, jumping for joy, angry as F, and a bunch of all different mixed emotions. At almost 400 pages, I couldn't put it down and I'm sure the dark circles I have prove this. I can not even believe this book is a debut! Where have you been hiding Caitlin?! I can't even put to words how much I loved this book. This book has many triggers and maybe I have a propensity to read books dealing with trauma, but this one is a story that I want everyone to read. The plot is what hooked me in initially, but the character development is what had me flipping the pages like a psycho over the last 24 hours. You won't regret picking this one up.
If you enjoyed Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End, you will absolutely love The Damage !
September 29, 2021
Amazingly, Caitlin Wahrer, as a debut author, has written a compelling emotional thriller sure to label her as an outstanding writer. As a lawyer, she knows the background of the courtroom system, which is always in my line of favor. This is a compelling awareness for men that are sexually assaulted, as mentioned numerous times the lack of empathy shown.
While many readers rated this book high, I knew it had some depth to it and does it ever!!!!
The shattering truth many families face when a violent crime is committed against a love one is felt in every chapter. Sometimes the victim can be portrayed as an instigator, leaving them embarrassed to report or repeat what has happened. As the me-too movement has massively advanced into the media, we, as the public, are left to battle what the story is and where to direct are compassion to. It is confusing and violating especially for the victim. The perpetrator's side is delved into as well in this book, making public pleas to broaden the spectrum of what happened. Not knowing the truth, it was hard to direct my own feelings.
When Nick plans an outing with friends, he is caught off guard by an advancement from a stranger at the end of the bar and accepts his offer. From the hotel scene, the atmosphere changes dramatically with Nick awakening to a bloody assault leaving him hospitalized. With Social media footprints, the detectives are able to track down the perpetrator. Spiraling out of control with anger, is Nick's brother, Tony, who helped raise him. With his wife's support, they take Nick in to care for him while he seeks therapy. Julia and Tony together handle and rationalize differently with their two kids in tow to seek justice for Nick.
There are so many twists, lies and betrayals counteracting each character's flaws and past. This left me distraught for everyone involved. So many times we are dealt one side, so we automatically assume we know the story....not this time. Lives are changed and critically scarred forever.
I can't wait to read more from this author...she knows how to get your attention.
While many readers rated this book high, I knew it had some depth to it and does it ever!!!!
The shattering truth many families face when a violent crime is committed against a love one is felt in every chapter. Sometimes the victim can be portrayed as an instigator, leaving them embarrassed to report or repeat what has happened. As the me-too movement has massively advanced into the media, we, as the public, are left to battle what the story is and where to direct are compassion to. It is confusing and violating especially for the victim. The perpetrator's side is delved into as well in this book, making public pleas to broaden the spectrum of what happened. Not knowing the truth, it was hard to direct my own feelings.
When Nick plans an outing with friends, he is caught off guard by an advancement from a stranger at the end of the bar and accepts his offer. From the hotel scene, the atmosphere changes dramatically with Nick awakening to a bloody assault leaving him hospitalized. With Social media footprints, the detectives are able to track down the perpetrator. Spiraling out of control with anger, is Nick's brother, Tony, who helped raise him. With his wife's support, they take Nick in to care for him while he seeks therapy. Julia and Tony together handle and rationalize differently with their two kids in tow to seek justice for Nick.
There are so many twists, lies and betrayals counteracting each character's flaws and past. This left me distraught for everyone involved. So many times we are dealt one side, so we automatically assume we know the story....not this time. Lives are changed and critically scarred forever.
I can't wait to read more from this author...she knows how to get your attention.
January 31, 2022
Rape is a horrendous crime against another person. It strips your mind, heart, and soul of dignity, safety, and sense of self. It’s physically , mentally, and emotionally draining of the victim. It’s mostly a crime perpetrated by men against women, but what happens if its a man who rapes another man? Isn’t a man perceived as strong, able to fight off his attacker?
In the book, The Damage, author Caitlin Wahrer, explores this as a young man, Nick, who has been protected and sheltered by his much older brother Tony is severely beaten and raped. Was this a consensual agreement between two men who met in a bar, or was it what Tony claims, that he said no.
The crime, as it might possibly be, is sensationalized by the facts of the case, and a letter written by the accused to the news media, that it was consensual and the rough sex was Nick’s idea.
Tony’s sense of love and dedication to Nick erupts and the family dynamic is set in motion.
Although a bit long, this book engaged me once again to think about the truthfulness when it becomes a he said/she said or in this case a he said/he said scenario.
Who will ultimately be able to go forward and how will the families play into the mix is the thrust of this intriguing story.
Definitely a book to consider!
In the book, The Damage, author Caitlin Wahrer, explores this as a young man, Nick, who has been protected and sheltered by his much older brother Tony is severely beaten and raped. Was this a consensual agreement between two men who met in a bar, or was it what Tony claims, that he said no.
The crime, as it might possibly be, is sensationalized by the facts of the case, and a letter written by the accused to the news media, that it was consensual and the rough sex was Nick’s idea.
Tony’s sense of love and dedication to Nick erupts and the family dynamic is set in motion.
Although a bit long, this book engaged me once again to think about the truthfulness when it becomes a he said/she said or in this case a he said/he said scenario.
Who will ultimately be able to go forward and how will the families play into the mix is the thrust of this intriguing story.
Definitely a book to consider!
January 16, 2023
1.5/5 Estrellas
Nos lo venden como un todo en uno, lo más de lo más: un thriller, una novela de suspense, un drama psicológico, un drama judicial, que si un reflejo de los nuevos problemas y estereotipos a los que se enfrenta el concepto de masculinidad........y realmente lo que me he encontrado es un libro con una trama totalmente previsible, más simple que el mecanismo de un chupete, con unos diálogos por momentos pueriles, que no deja de dar vueltas sobre si misma, sin avanzar lo más mínimo, cuando en todo momento sabemos donde quiere llegar.
En fin, parte de una premisa original, una agresión sexual a un chico, por parte de un desconocido con el que se lía una noche en un bar. El tratamiento de la homosexualidad es correcto, así como de los conflictos mentales que acarrea sobre la víctima el verse expuesto una vez denunciada la agresión: el propio agresor y su entorno, su propia familia, sus compañeros de estudios.....
EL personaje de Nick, el chico agredido, es lo único salvable, el resto de personajes, incluida la familia Hall, ni creíbles, ni empáticos.
Vamos, decepción total.....
Nos lo venden como un todo en uno, lo más de lo más: un thriller, una novela de suspense, un drama psicológico, un drama judicial, que si un reflejo de los nuevos problemas y estereotipos a los que se enfrenta el concepto de masculinidad........y realmente lo que me he encontrado es un libro con una trama totalmente previsible, más simple que el mecanismo de un chupete, con unos diálogos por momentos pueriles, que no deja de dar vueltas sobre si misma, sin avanzar lo más mínimo, cuando en todo momento sabemos donde quiere llegar.
En fin, parte de una premisa original, una agresión sexual a un chico, por parte de un desconocido con el que se lía una noche en un bar. El tratamiento de la homosexualidad es correcto, así como de los conflictos mentales que acarrea sobre la víctima el verse expuesto una vez denunciada la agresión: el propio agresor y su entorno, su propia familia, sus compañeros de estudios.....
EL personaje de Nick, el chico agredido, es lo único salvable, el resto de personajes, incluida la familia Hall, ni creíbles, ni empáticos.
Vamos, decepción total.....
May 31, 2021
4.5 stars! I want to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House and Doubleday Canada for this propulsive psychological thriller in return for an honest review. I spent many frustrating hours over three days trying to download a readable pdf file. After many disappointing attempts, I was finally successful. Was the ARC worth my time and effort? Most definitely, yes!
This was a powerful and thought-provoking debut by author Caitlin Wahrer. The characters were well-developed personalities explored in depth. They experienced many conflicting emotions, which were brilliantly conveyed to the reader. There were moral quandaries, dilemmas, and ambivalence in their thoughts and actions. What they believe is the right path to choose may not always be the good one.
In the beginning, Nick, a young gay man and university student, is lying in a hospital badly battered and injured. He was the victim of a sadistic rape after drinking in a bar and leaving with a handsome stranger. This is a difficult subject handled with sensitivity. His much older brother, Troy, was the early protector of young Nick from the rage of their drunken, verbally demeaning and physically abusive father and took on the role of a loving father and protector of the boy. He now vows to take revenge for what happened to Nick. Nick blames himself for the attack, learning at an early age that a man never allows himself to be victimized. He feels the guilt and humiliation of what happened to him. Troy blames himself for not being able to protect Nick from the brutal attack.
Detective Rice is a dedicated police officer intent on following the rules. He and his team arrest the perpetrator, who is let out on bail pending trial. He is sympathetic with Nick and his family. The accused man goes public disputing Nick's version of events. Rumours and accusations run rampant on social media, and the identities of both Nick and his accused rapist are revealed.
Julia, Troy's wife, was a former lawyer who managed to get criminals acquitted or their sentences reduced.. She worries that Troy is losing control and may go too far in his quest for vengeance. She doesn't yet realize how far she will go to protect her family.
The story is fast-paced, with short chapters that heighten its intensity and suspense. It mainly took place in 2015, but its timeline shifts to 2019 when Julia and Detective Rice meet. The dying Rice carries guilt over something he failed to do in his role as a police officer.
This is a riveting, electrifying, and emotional story that I couldn't put down. It asks how far will someone go to protect others. I was in suspense in regards to the outcome. There are startling twists and revelations I never saw coming. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys character-driven thrillers.
This was a powerful and thought-provoking debut by author Caitlin Wahrer. The characters were well-developed personalities explored in depth. They experienced many conflicting emotions, which were brilliantly conveyed to the reader. There were moral quandaries, dilemmas, and ambivalence in their thoughts and actions. What they believe is the right path to choose may not always be the good one.
In the beginning, Nick, a young gay man and university student, is lying in a hospital badly battered and injured. He was the victim of a sadistic rape after drinking in a bar and leaving with a handsome stranger. This is a difficult subject handled with sensitivity. His much older brother, Troy, was the early protector of young Nick from the rage of their drunken, verbally demeaning and physically abusive father and took on the role of a loving father and protector of the boy. He now vows to take revenge for what happened to Nick. Nick blames himself for the attack, learning at an early age that a man never allows himself to be victimized. He feels the guilt and humiliation of what happened to him. Troy blames himself for not being able to protect Nick from the brutal attack.
Detective Rice is a dedicated police officer intent on following the rules. He and his team arrest the perpetrator, who is let out on bail pending trial. He is sympathetic with Nick and his family. The accused man goes public disputing Nick's version of events. Rumours and accusations run rampant on social media, and the identities of both Nick and his accused rapist are revealed.
Julia, Troy's wife, was a former lawyer who managed to get criminals acquitted or their sentences reduced.. She worries that Troy is losing control and may go too far in his quest for vengeance. She doesn't yet realize how far she will go to protect her family.
The story is fast-paced, with short chapters that heighten its intensity and suspense. It mainly took place in 2015, but its timeline shifts to 2019 when Julia and Detective Rice meet. The dying Rice carries guilt over something he failed to do in his role as a police officer.
This is a riveting, electrifying, and emotional story that I couldn't put down. It asks how far will someone go to protect others. I was in suspense in regards to the outcome. There are startling twists and revelations I never saw coming. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys character-driven thrillers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2021
This did not really work for me. It wants to have the pacing of a procedural with the twists of a thriller, and I have read some books that do this very well, but this isn't one of them. It's one of those books that feels like it made sense as an outline but the execution just isn't quite there.
First off, this is a crime novel about sexual assault, and after reading several of these in the last few months I am questioning whether there can be good crime novels about sexual assault. I'm not going to rule it out, it feels like it could be possible. But often rape is used as a plot point or device in a way that makes me feel squicky. Especially when the plot of "is the victim telling the truth?" is a central element of the book, as it is here. In this book, rape seems to be the crime at issue not because the book has a lot to say about it or about survivors or recovery or the way the justice system tackles it. Some of that comes up and I appreciated that trauma and recovery are included, but it is not what the book is about. Rape feels like the central crime here, specifically rape with a male victim, because of the feelings it will engender in people. It will have a unique effect on a man, especially a straight man, who is close to the victim, and that is what the book wants. And I just cannot get behind that. (It's like how so many boring action movies start with a man's wife getting raped and him seeking out revenge.)
Second, the structure here could work for a slow burn that doesn't want to have flashbacks and twists, but this is a book that wants to have flashbacks and twists so the stakes and the pacing just don't work. We start with Julia, the victim's sister-in-law, and Detective Rice having a conversation a few years after the main events of the book. Rice is dying and he wants to have it out in the open with Julia about the case. Both Rice and Julia know things that never came out, clearly, and we are going to have to read for a very long time to find out what those things are. And then when you do... it just doesn't feel like all that much. And this is one of the greatest sins a twisty book can commit. If it turns out the thing you made us wait to find out about is just... not all that interesting, well, you leave us on a real downer. And for me, since the book hadn't really been working with a lot of tension before that, it was a double fail. I could put a looooong paragraph behind a spoiler tag about how I didn't think what Julia ends up revealing made any sense or had the necessary character buildup, but I will spare you.
This can sometimes be a little clunky in the way many crime novels written by lawyers tend to be, but thankfully that's mostly in the first half. There are a lot of elements here that make me think this could have been better or that Wahrer will eventually give us a better book.
Content warnings for rape, self-harm, attempted suicide.
First off, this is a crime novel about sexual assault, and after reading several of these in the last few months I am questioning whether there can be good crime novels about sexual assault. I'm not going to rule it out, it feels like it could be possible. But often rape is used as a plot point or device in a way that makes me feel squicky. Especially when the plot of "is the victim telling the truth?" is a central element of the book, as it is here. In this book, rape seems to be the crime at issue not because the book has a lot to say about it or about survivors or recovery or the way the justice system tackles it. Some of that comes up and I appreciated that trauma and recovery are included, but it is not what the book is about. Rape feels like the central crime here, specifically rape with a male victim, because of the feelings it will engender in people. It will have a unique effect on a man, especially a straight man, who is close to the victim, and that is what the book wants. And I just cannot get behind that. (It's like how so many boring action movies start with a man's wife getting raped and him seeking out revenge.)
Second, the structure here could work for a slow burn that doesn't want to have flashbacks and twists, but this is a book that wants to have flashbacks and twists so the stakes and the pacing just don't work. We start with Julia, the victim's sister-in-law, and Detective Rice having a conversation a few years after the main events of the book. Rice is dying and he wants to have it out in the open with Julia about the case. Both Rice and Julia know things that never came out, clearly, and we are going to have to read for a very long time to find out what those things are. And then when you do... it just doesn't feel like all that much. And this is one of the greatest sins a twisty book can commit. If it turns out the thing you made us wait to find out about is just... not all that interesting, well, you leave us on a real downer. And for me, since the book hadn't really been working with a lot of tension before that, it was a double fail. I could put a looooong paragraph behind a spoiler tag about how I didn't think what Julia ends up revealing made any sense or had the necessary character buildup, but I will spare you.
This can sometimes be a little clunky in the way many crime novels written by lawyers tend to be, but thankfully that's mostly in the first half. There are a lot of elements here that make me think this could have been better or that Wahrer will eventually give us a better book.
Content warnings for rape, self-harm, attempted suicide.
July 17, 2021
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An excellent book that is written in a style of writing I love. It was easy to follow, switched between characters very well. Well rounded relatable characters. I did find Nick annoying at times though in reactions. Not the emotional reactions etc but his dialogue.
This is a very tricky book to read. It may contain subject matter that may cause emotional upset.
But if you are a realist like myself, facing things straight on, getting through it will bring you out the other side. That’s not to say, my decision is your acceptance.
Non of these emotive topics have I personally been through but one significant issue I had a friend go through.
Tony is Nicks brother. His protector and friend who is married to Julia.
The blurb makes no hidden fact that Nick is gay and has been attacked and raped.
When Tony hears of this he is, quite understandably shocked; hurt; and wants of course say and do the right things to support his brother.
Tony becomes obsessed with this case.
So as the blurb says....
Three ordainary people getting on with they’re ordainary lives, until an earth shattering event changes the dynamics of all of their lives.
My only critique would be that certain aspects of this story was too drawn out. If it were on audio I would have sped it up in parts. Some parts were repetitive too.
A 3.5 * I liked it, but I could have loved it.
September 10, 2022
Holy twist, Batman. I can’t believe this is a debut! The Damage takes us through the aftermath of Nick’s violent sexual assault. When he tells a detective and the ER receptionist he was raped by a man, he is met with funny looks and skepticism. Are you sure you, a strong man, were raped? Inevitably, the case hits the media right away, and Nick struggles to tell his truth. Can his big brother, Tony, save him, as he has many times before? If you want to read a book involving marital issues, damn, this is it. Due to the topics involved, it is not necessarily a quick read, but I was so throughly impressed. You’ll probably think you have it all figured out, but I can assure you… you don’t.
“And maybe she’d been right. That she could look those people in the eye and treat them like they were anyone else, regardless of what they were accused of . . . he might have judged her for it before. Might have judged her just now, in his mind a moment ago. But he was lucky, he realized. So lucky to have a wife who was calm in the face of darkness.”
“And maybe she’d been right. That she could look those people in the eye and treat them like they were anyone else, regardless of what they were accused of . . . he might have judged her for it before. Might have judged her just now, in his mind a moment ago. But he was lucky, he realized. So lucky to have a wife who was calm in the face of darkness.”
July 27, 2021
“Don’t let him win.”
“You’re not listening. No matter what, I lose.”
That’s all there is to say about this debut.
What starts as a gut wrenching tale of assault with the oh-so-well-known he said/(s)he said that comes with an investigation of a violent crime and the potential court battle that could follow quickly turns on its own ear to become one of the best mystery/thrillers I’ve read this year. Caitlin Wahrer knocked this sucker straight out of the ballpark.
Allllllllll the Starrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzz. My only regret with The Damage is that I didn’t know about it before publication day and therefore wasn’t able to hype the hell of out it.
“You’re not listening. No matter what, I lose.”
That’s all there is to say about this debut.
What starts as a gut wrenching tale of assault with the oh-so-well-known he said/(s)he said that comes with an investigation of a violent crime and the potential court battle that could follow quickly turns on its own ear to become one of the best mystery/thrillers I’ve read this year. Caitlin Wahrer knocked this sucker straight out of the ballpark.
Allllllllll the Starrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzz. My only regret with The Damage is that I didn’t know about it before publication day and therefore wasn’t able to hype the hell of out it.
July 18, 2021
4.5 stunning debut stars
I don't think I've ever read a book like this, an unflinching look at male sexual assault and the fallout. It's an amazing look at the desire for justice for the victim and the complicated system for getting there. This one is a great character study with a bit of a mystery element too.
Nick is a college junior, out for a night on the town like many other college students. What happens later that night is the focus of the rest of the book.
Nick's older brother Tony is more like a father figure and he wants to help Nick through this, but he has no idea how to do that. His desire for justice and revenge is strong. His wife, a lawyer, tries to keep his temper down and they both want to do what's best for Nick. Julia knows many of the legal complexities that are at play. It brings up the question, just how far will you go to protect those you love?
We get a taste of what the court side of things looks like, how social media can influence public perception and judgement on both sides, and the criminal side. Detective Rice is on the case and makes for a fascinating character. Each character is dealing with this and trying to heal and their pain almost leaps off the page.
The author did an excellent job with the subject matter and it can make for difficult reading at times. I will say that it wrapped up in a surprising and satisfying way. I can't wait to read what this author comes out with next. Brava to you Caitlin Wahrer!
This one will stay with me and will be a top read of 2021 for me. Thank you to my fellow book reviewers here who put this one on my radar and to my local library for the copy.
I don't think I've ever read a book like this, an unflinching look at male sexual assault and the fallout. It's an amazing look at the desire for justice for the victim and the complicated system for getting there. This one is a great character study with a bit of a mystery element too.
Nick is a college junior, out for a night on the town like many other college students. What happens later that night is the focus of the rest of the book.
Nick's older brother Tony is more like a father figure and he wants to help Nick through this, but he has no idea how to do that. His desire for justice and revenge is strong. His wife, a lawyer, tries to keep his temper down and they both want to do what's best for Nick. Julia knows many of the legal complexities that are at play. It brings up the question, just how far will you go to protect those you love?
We get a taste of what the court side of things looks like, how social media can influence public perception and judgement on both sides, and the criminal side. Detective Rice is on the case and makes for a fascinating character. Each character is dealing with this and trying to heal and their pain almost leaps off the page.
The author did an excellent job with the subject matter and it can make for difficult reading at times. I will say that it wrapped up in a surprising and satisfying way. I can't wait to read what this author comes out with next. Brava to you Caitlin Wahrer!
This one will stay with me and will be a top read of 2021 for me. Thank you to my fellow book reviewers here who put this one on my radar and to my local library for the copy.
November 27, 2021
Just a brief opinion.
I think that this is a terrific debut. A mystery/drama and a family facing the consequences of a sexual assault, in this case, a male victim of rape.
The writing is simple but compelling, and the storyline, its structure and its development were nicely presented.
It’s just one of those books that I did not want to put down.
I also enjoyed the characters and the 3 different POV.
The unexpected conclusion was clever, but not one that I can applaud, even understanding the reasons.
This book has 400 pages divided into 4 parts and with a total of 84 chapters, which makes it a very fast read.
PS. Once again I listened to the audiobook while reading the book. It was narrated by Soneela Nankani. I wasn’t a fan of the audio. I found her narration extremely slow and boring. At the end I increased the speed to 2.0x.
If you are wondering why I’m listening and reading at the same time, the explanation is that I’m trying to adjust to audiobooks. I still can’t focus on audiobook alone.
I think that this is a terrific debut. A mystery/drama and a family facing the consequences of a sexual assault, in this case, a male victim of rape.
The writing is simple but compelling, and the storyline, its structure and its development were nicely presented.
It’s just one of those books that I did not want to put down.
I also enjoyed the characters and the 3 different POV.
The unexpected conclusion was clever, but not one that I can applaud, even understanding the reasons.
This book has 400 pages divided into 4 parts and with a total of 84 chapters, which makes it a very fast read.
PS. Once again I listened to the audiobook while reading the book. It was narrated by Soneela Nankani. I wasn’t a fan of the audio. I found her narration extremely slow and boring. At the end I increased the speed to 2.0x.
If you are wondering why I’m listening and reading at the same time, the explanation is that I’m trying to adjust to audiobooks. I still can’t focus on audiobook alone.
June 26, 2021
Audiobook….read by Soneela Nankani
11 hours and 46 minutes
Stephen King said to put “The Damage” high on our summer reading list. I was game, hoping for a ‘wow-fun-thriller’.
But … honestly - I didn’t really enjoy it.
The story did pull me in at first, but not throughout.
400 pages was too long to tell this story, in my opinion.
The mental psychological prowess associated with Nick Hall’s brutal sexual assault…’dragged’.
The family history flashbacks and the every day struggles didn’t interest me much.
The lengthy investigation (when the rapist was caught and identified quickly), was also too drawn out.
And most, the questionable moral quandaries …..left me feeling cold.
The ending lacked integrity and didn’t send an inspiring message, in my opinion.
11 hours and 46 minutes
Stephen King said to put “The Damage” high on our summer reading list. I was game, hoping for a ‘wow-fun-thriller’.
But … honestly - I didn’t really enjoy it.
The story did pull me in at first, but not throughout.
400 pages was too long to tell this story, in my opinion.
The mental psychological prowess associated with Nick Hall’s brutal sexual assault…’dragged’.
The family history flashbacks and the every day struggles didn’t interest me much.
The lengthy investigation (when the rapist was caught and identified quickly), was also too drawn out.
And most, the questionable moral quandaries …..left me feeling cold.
The ending lacked integrity and didn’t send an inspiring message, in my opinion.
November 28, 2021
Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel,
The Damage
, is a powerful, emotional look at how far we will go to protect those we love.
Nick, a college student, enjoys a night at a bar with a close friend. After some drinking and dancing, he’s approached by a handsome older man. They flirt, talk, and ultimately decide to go to the man’s motel room. The next thing he knows, Nick wakes up bruised and bloody—and he has been raped.
As Nick helps the police try to identify his rapist, he must confront a jumble of intense emotions. Meanwhile, his older brother Tony, who had always been a surrogate father to Nick, feels powerless in the face of Nick’s pain and wants to solve his problems and protect him.
When Nick’s rapist is identified and he publicly contradicts Nick's story, shifting the blame to him and raising ideas about Nick's proclivities, Tony’s wife Julia, a former defense attorney, worries that Nick may be harmed by the scrutiny of a trial. She becomes increasingly worried Tony might take matters into his own hands to try and fight his brother's battles.
This is a story that packs a punch on so many levels. It’s narrated by Nick, Tony, Julia, and the detective mounting the case. There is so much rich character development in this book it’s so hard to believe it’s a debut novel.
I’ll admit I hesitated to read The Damage because as a survivor I worried this would be too painful of an experience for me. But I commend Caitlin Wahrer for doing right by survivors of sexual assault and presenting their struggles and challenges in an accurate, not overly dramatic way.
NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available! Really a great and thought-provoking read.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Nick, a college student, enjoys a night at a bar with a close friend. After some drinking and dancing, he’s approached by a handsome older man. They flirt, talk, and ultimately decide to go to the man’s motel room. The next thing he knows, Nick wakes up bruised and bloody—and he has been raped.
As Nick helps the police try to identify his rapist, he must confront a jumble of intense emotions. Meanwhile, his older brother Tony, who had always been a surrogate father to Nick, feels powerless in the face of Nick’s pain and wants to solve his problems and protect him.
When Nick’s rapist is identified and he publicly contradicts Nick's story, shifting the blame to him and raising ideas about Nick's proclivities, Tony’s wife Julia, a former defense attorney, worries that Nick may be harmed by the scrutiny of a trial. She becomes increasingly worried Tony might take matters into his own hands to try and fight his brother's battles.
This is a story that packs a punch on so many levels. It’s narrated by Nick, Tony, Julia, and the detective mounting the case. There is so much rich character development in this book it’s so hard to believe it’s a debut novel.
I’ll admit I hesitated to read The Damage because as a survivor I worried this would be too painful of an experience for me. But I commend Caitlin Wahrer for doing right by survivors of sexual assault and presenting their struggles and challenges in an accurate, not overly dramatic way.
NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Doubleday Canada provided me with a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available! Really a great and thought-provoking read.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
December 11, 2021
This was very good for a debut family drama. Nick Hall is stood up by his date one night and ends up hooking up with a handsome stranger. In the morning Nick finds himself alone, damaged and bleeding in a seedy hotel room. The story explores the effect of this crime, male rape, on the victim and his entire family in a very sensitive way. This is not an issue that gets a lot of exposure so it was good to see it handled so well. Unfortunately we have become much more inured to women suffering the same crime.
Nick is determined to bring his attacker to justice. He had a pretty poor childhood but thrived when he came under the care of his 17 year older brother Tony. With Tony, his wife Julia and their two children Nick has a loving environment and feels comfortable talking about the assault. The family closes ranks and really stands behind Nick and the perpetrator is soon identified but that’s when things get messier.
It soon becomes clear that the perpetrator is going to fight the charges and paint himself as an innocent party who engaged in consensual rough play.
This is a very character driven plot and the characters were vividly described - particularly Nick and Julia. You come to see how a crime of this nature, regardless of the gender of the victim, can damage a family and test their bonds and examine how far they are willing to go to protect their loved ones.
While the story was beautifully written and characters poignantly portrayed it did move very slowly and the twist, such as it was, was obvious very early on so I’m afraid this book did not thrill me and took me quite a while to read. But I did appreciate the writing and the delicate handling of the subject matter.
Nick is determined to bring his attacker to justice. He had a pretty poor childhood but thrived when he came under the care of his 17 year older brother Tony. With Tony, his wife Julia and their two children Nick has a loving environment and feels comfortable talking about the assault. The family closes ranks and really stands behind Nick and the perpetrator is soon identified but that’s when things get messier.
It soon becomes clear that the perpetrator is going to fight the charges and paint himself as an innocent party who engaged in consensual rough play.
This is a very character driven plot and the characters were vividly described - particularly Nick and Julia. You come to see how a crime of this nature, regardless of the gender of the victim, can damage a family and test their bonds and examine how far they are willing to go to protect their loved ones.
While the story was beautifully written and characters poignantly portrayed it did move very slowly and the twist, such as it was, was obvious very early on so I’m afraid this book did not thrill me and took me quite a while to read. But I did appreciate the writing and the delicate handling of the subject matter.
July 1, 2021
QUICK TAKE: THE DAMAGE is a small-town mystery told from the point of view of multiple characters investigating and untangling a random act of violence. After being ghosted by a guy he has a crush on, college student Nick ends up going home with a stranger he meets at a bar, only to wake up the next day with little memory of the night before and the realization that he has been sexually assaulted. Unsure of what to do, Nick turns to his older brother (and surrogate father figure) Tony and Tony’s wife Julia for help. Of course, when Nick reports the crime to the police and they ultimately identify the stranger who attacked him, it’s Nick’s word against his rapist’s, and the family’s ideas of justice are put to the ultimate test.
The basic premise itself isn’t anything new (though I thought Caitlin did a nuanced job of thoughtfully walking through the power dynamics and stigma associated with gay men and sexual assault), but what really elevates this story is Wahrer’s ability to emotionally ground her characters and their relationships and really build tension and uneasiness through the use of alternating timelines and character points of view, culminating in a thought-provoking and ending that left me thinking about the book days after I’d finished.
The basic premise itself isn’t anything new (though I thought Caitlin did a nuanced job of thoughtfully walking through the power dynamics and stigma associated with gay men and sexual assault), but what really elevates this story is Wahrer’s ability to emotionally ground her characters and their relationships and really build tension and uneasiness through the use of alternating timelines and character points of view, culminating in a thought-provoking and ending that left me thinking about the book days after I’d finished.
July 5, 2021
Really liked this story on a topic that needs much more attention - male sexual assault. This book takes an unflinching look at the devastating effects of sexual assault on a whole family when Noah, age 20, is brutally raped by a man he meets at a bar.
The close-knit family’s constant support of and belief in Noah is welcome, and Noah’s feelings and reactions after the assault are believable and tough to read about. I really appreciated both the sensitivity and the frankness with which this story was approached.
The book is not just about a rape though….it’s about the criminal justice system…and what those you love might be willing to do for you to help you get any kind of “justice.” For awhile I worried about the direction the book was going and feared we would not get a satisfying ending…but hang in there. Wahrer delivers.
I have to say it was also wonderful to read a story about a sexual assault where the detective was as dedicated, caring and committed as you’d ever want, and not the least bit homophobic about the crime. If we had more real-life detectives like this, maybe sexual assaults on men would be far less underreported.
A satisfying, sensitive and socially conscious thriller that reads like a family drama, but with enough twists and mystery to satisfy any thriller fanatic. Four stars from me. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC!
The close-knit family’s constant support of and belief in Noah is welcome, and Noah’s feelings and reactions after the assault are believable and tough to read about. I really appreciated both the sensitivity and the frankness with which this story was approached.
The book is not just about a rape though….it’s about the criminal justice system…and what those you love might be willing to do for you to help you get any kind of “justice.” For awhile I worried about the direction the book was going and feared we would not get a satisfying ending…but hang in there. Wahrer delivers.
I have to say it was also wonderful to read a story about a sexual assault where the detective was as dedicated, caring and committed as you’d ever want, and not the least bit homophobic about the crime. If we had more real-life detectives like this, maybe sexual assaults on men would be far less underreported.
A satisfying, sensitive and socially conscious thriller that reads like a family drama, but with enough twists and mystery to satisfy any thriller fanatic. Four stars from me. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC!
December 8, 2022
Thriller psicológico que trata sobre una brutal agresión sexual y las consecuencias que tiene tanto para la víctima como para su familia.
Es un libro diferente ya que la víctima en este caso es un hombre. La ira que desata en su hermano llevan a la mujer de este a tomar una serie de medidas para salvar a su marido y a su familia. A cualquier precio.
Como argumento me resultó muy atractivo. Pero no así la lectura. Es un libro con un exceso de páginas alarmante para lo que quiere contar y esto hizo que fuera perdiendo fuelle al leer y lo terminara por saber qué ocurrió realmente, aunque no me equivoqué mucho y lo que sospechaba fue lo que pasó.
Ni con los flashbacks que la autora mete en el libro (que casi siempre me enganchan mucho) conseguí entusiasmarme.
Tiene muy buena calificación este libro así que voy contracorriente pero no me ha gustado tanto como esperaba.
Es un libro diferente ya que la víctima en este caso es un hombre. La ira que desata en su hermano llevan a la mujer de este a tomar una serie de medidas para salvar a su marido y a su familia. A cualquier precio.
Como argumento me resultó muy atractivo. Pero no así la lectura. Es un libro con un exceso de páginas alarmante para lo que quiere contar y esto hizo que fuera perdiendo fuelle al leer y lo terminara por saber qué ocurrió realmente, aunque no me equivoqué mucho y lo que sospechaba fue lo que pasó.
Ni con los flashbacks que la autora mete en el libro (que casi siempre me enganchan mucho) conseguí entusiasmarme.
Tiene muy buena calificación este libro así que voy contracorriente pero no me ha gustado tanto como esperaba.
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