ShortBookandScribes #BookReview – In the Wake by Helen Trevorrow @helentrevorrow @UrbaneBooks #LoveBooksGroupTours

Welcome to my review stop on the tour for In the Wake by Helen Trevorrow. My thanks to Urbane for the review copy and to Kelly Lacey from Love Books Group Tours for the place on the tour.

“Deliciously dark and beautifully written, In The Wake offers a thrilling debut from a writer to watch.”  – Dan Dalton, author of Johnny Ruin

When a body is found floating in London’s Royal Albert Dock, successful public relations expert Kay Christie is sent to quiet the media, but things get complicated when it emerges that she knew the victim.

As events spiral out of control, Kay discovers that those close to her may be harbouring another secret – the story of a missing girl. Can Kay discover the truth before her life unravels and she risks losing everything?

In the Wake questions whether we can ever truly leave our pasts behind and explores the lengths that we will go to protect the people that we love.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Foyles
Waterstones

I liked the sound of In The Wake as soon as I read the blurb. A psychological thriller set around the media world sounded like something a little bit different.

Kay Christie is the media link. She has her own PR company and is undertaking PR for the Excel centre in London and more specifically for a boat show. But a body is found in the water and when Kay catches a glimpse of the victim she realises she knows them, a fact that really scares her. There’s also another facet to the story, that of a missing French nurse, who we learn about right at the beginning. Where this strand comes into the storyline isn’t clear at first but becomes apparent later on.

I did find the early parts of In The Wake a little difficult to get into. I don’t know why, I just couldn’t initially gel with the style and I found some of the dialogue a little awkward until I read on and got used to the writing. And I have to say that I think all the characters were unlikeable in varying degrees, selfish and sometimes downright unpleasant.

But….before you start to think that I didn’t like this book, think again. I actually found it quite compelling reading, watching the characters press the self-destruct button over and over. There are numerous twists and turns, sometimes surprising, but not always, more like leading the reader down a winding path towards the truth.

It’s hard-hitting in places with sexual attacks and alcohol playing a large part, and also the author doesn’t hold back when talking about the sexual activity in the book. It surprised me in many ways. The storyline didn’t go as I expected and the whole feel of the book was quite unusual. I found myself drawn back to it all the way through and thought it was a really good read.

Helen Trevorrow is a graduate of the 2016 Faber Academy creative writing programme. She studied at Leeds University and has worked in marketing and public relations in London. She is a specialist food and drink PR. Helen’s debut novel IN THE WAKE is a feminist crime thriller about family, unrealised trauma and alcoholism. Helen has ghost-written many articles for newspapers, magazines and websites. She lives in Brighton, Sussex.

Author Website
Twitter
Instagram