I thought that this was pretty good as a debut novel. The plot was interesting and it was pretty good, although I did find the writing to be a bit clunky and not flowing as much as I would have liked. Not a bad first book though.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book!

I don’t actually know if I can even put into words just how this book and story has made me feel!

The way the author wrote such a deeply emotional story is remarkable and has me feeling so many emotions. Tears were shed many times reading this.

I felt every bit of pain those characters felt, I was so connected to each and every character. There’s so much sadness but the whole story has been written in a way that doesn’t cause injustice to those with mental health, those who have lost a child or to any victims involved.

The way this was written was really good, I was held captive from the first few words, I have been so deeply moved by this book and honestly wish that anyone who is able to deal with the darkness this story holds to give it a read. I know I’m not the first and I most definitely will not be the last who sheds a tear reading this, who feels the anger felt within, who has also learnt a big life lesson.

I highly highly recommend reading because I’ve not been able to put this down! Definitely a 5 star read!

Let me know your opinions!

After The Storm is the debut novel G.D. Wright and - just like the waves on the front cover - his tale arrives with force.

There is a Content Warning before you start reading and if you are distressed easily, it's probably best to check these themes - although reading them does give spoilers. However, the cover itself prepares you for one of those themes and shows that this is a dark read.

The author states where he lives by the sea as his writing inspiration and I can see (no pun intended) how looking out on such a landscape would allow your mind to wander as - being a writer myself - I see stories in everything, everywhere!

The story opens with a Prologue, Before the Storm and delivers the first shock of the novel. Throughout, chapters go from how a days/how many hours before (the storm)/during it then to after the storm in hours, then in days. Ending with an epilogue that I was really not expecting!

Multiple characters are shown with different ones heading up the chapters where all perspectives being told through third person narration, giving the reader an overview of how they are feeling from the outside.

Description is used effectively throughout along with convincing dialogue (you can tell the author is both a family man and an ex-police officer) and I think Wright has played to his strengths. Occasionally, there is a touch of humour too.

Overall, it's a dark tale with a few surprises along the way and many a pull on the heartstrings showing how life can change so quickly and unexpectedly.

I enjoyed the unexpected turns that this took and know that it's a book that I will think about after reading.

I have given a four-star rating as I initially felt the different characters needed to be more distinctive and I would like to see presentation features used for the police reports and text messages - although the inclusion of these were a good inclusion to add to certain elements of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and AVON (a division of HarperCollinsPublishers) for my electronic ARC.

Andrew and Sophie are parents to six-year-old Maria. They are looking after Joe while his parents are working. Maria insists on a trip to the beach, despite the bad weather. A paddle on the shore ends in disaster when the children get swept off the beach. In the struggle, Andrew can only save one of the children from drowning.

With such a hugely tragic and traumatic opening I wondered where it could go from there. I need not have worried as the plot unfolds brilliantly, highly unpredictable and emotionally fraught.

Andrew has to deal with his own guilt along with the heart-breaking reaction from Joe's parents, the Police investigation, the local social stigma and much, much more.

The plot never lets up, I was hugely impressed, and the Police matters are written with an easy confidence.

I was reminded of the quality of BA Paris and Sally Hepworth’s novels with the captivating unpredictable, 'real life' feeling, character-driven story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK

This is the story of two families, Andrew, Sophie, daughter Maria and their good friends Chris, Linda and son Joe.
Andrew and Sophie often look after Joe when his parents shifts clash.
One such day Joe is due to stay, it happens to be a very wet and windy one . Maria is a very determined child and however much Andrew wonders at the wisdom of her demand to go to the beach, he agrees.
On arrival the children quickly change into wet suits, desperate to go in the sea.
Nothing they say will make Andrew agree and they are told they should only play in a natural pool that forms above the sea line.
Andrew suffered a traumatic rescue from the sea when he was a child so hes always keeping an eye on them.
When a loose dog jumps at Sophie he rushes to her aid.
However it only takes a second for their whole lives to change.
When he turns back, Maria and Joe have disappeared from view, taken by the sea!
This is an extraordinary debut novel.
Powerful and emotional.
A tale of loyalty , families and the lengths a father will go to to protect his family.
A brilliant read I would recommend easily.

After the Storm by G.D Wright

A very well written thriller , even better to find out is the first by the author.
Lots of twists and turns throughout. Can't say too much as I feel it would spoil it.

A tale of two fathers: one loses a child while the other is looking after him; both will do anything to protect what's dear to them. Told in a straightforward style, this is a story of grief, suspense and a search for resolution.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

This is a very good thriller/police procedural from the author. I really liked the cast of characters, especially Andrew a man who would do anything for his family. It is about love, loyalty, families and grief in small communities. The pace is fast and it is filled with tension until the end. I was hooked until the last page and my only complaint is I felt it dragged a bit in the middle. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

After the Storm is an exceptional first novel that deals with grief in it's rawest state. The characters are all well written and you feel and understand the pain in all of them. An emotional, difficult, but compelling read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advance copy of this book

"Sophie, where are they?"

Just minutes earlier Andrew and Sophies six year old daughter and their friends son Joe had been playing together in a tidal pool on the beach, now they're not and as he scans the thunderous waves crashing down on an empty beach fear grips him.

Where to even start! Superb scene setting and characterisation brought to life the sheer terror that parents Andrew and Sophie felt in those moments. This novel hit hard, dealing blow after blow it wasn't an easy read but it was certainly a compelling one.

A gut-wrenching look at two families destroyed by the events of one day, friendships lost, scars that linger. The multiple person narrative by family members and those involved in the police investigation added depth and I found it flowed well. An extraordinarily powerful and moving novel that had me soul searching asking myself what I'd have done. Totally recommended.

As an aside this would be a really good bookclub choice; the characters, behaviours and consequences giving endless discussion opportunities.

This is an incredibly heart wrenching book. It's very well written but worth warning that it's bleak and emotionally hard going in terms of subject matter. No spoilers.
An accomplished debut.

Absolutely brilliant! This is a really well written book. I couldn't put it down.
Lots of twists and turns throughout. Can't say too much as I wouldn't want to spoil it! Reccomend this one.

Andrew and Sophie take their daughter and her best friend. Joe to the beach, the weather starts to turn bad, and distracted by an aggressive dog,, they don't immediately notice that the children have gone into the sea and immediately got into difficulty. Andrew throws himself in, but only one child comes out alive. Chris, the dead boy's father is a copper so his colleagues are keen to investigate the death. and also keep an eye on him when his grief seems to be getting out of hand.. They think there is something fishy about Andrew's story but can't prove it wasn't an accident. This drives Chris mad and we are set up for a Revengers Tragedy. It is a good plot and an engrossing story but the prose is clunky and over-full of police jargon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for my copy of After The Storm by G D Wright.
I feel like I’ve been through the washer and hung out to dry.
This has to be the book of the Year. Heart wrenching and raw, this book really has it all.
You’ve entrusted your most precious possession your son, to your best friends Andrew and Sophie as you have many times before but this time he doesn’t come back. Five minutes is all it takes for you life to change forever
But what happens next. Don’t miss this absolutely brilliant book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

Considering this is a debut novel I think After The Storm is a beautifully written, heart wrenching and poignant read that will stay with me for a good while after finishing it. It is about the loss of a child - and the emotions, feelings and thoughts two families face after a tragic event. The author deals with grief, bereavement and mental health issues very eloquently, sensitively and with much care. I really like Mike and Sue, the two police officers who investigate and support Chris and Linda in the aftermath of their young sons death. This is a read that really got to me, the writing certainly touched on my emotions and I had so much empathy for Chris and Linda and could resonate with their feelings and how they were coping. I love how the chapters are told through different characters and their perspectives, and think this complements the story and gives it so much more depth. I won't say this is an easy read because it isn't although it is a very absorbing and compelling one. I think the author is spot on with his writing describing grief, bereavement and the effect and consequences it has on individuals. I'd recommend this read and hope to see more of Mike and Sue in future books.

4 stars

This book wades headstrong into the trauma and grief felt by two families when an accident at the beach changes everything.
The characters are empathetically written and the difficult subject matter is treated sensitively.

This is a heart wrenching debut novel. Andrew and Sophie often look after Joe, the 6 year old son of Chris and Linda, while they are busy working as a police officer and a paramedic. On a wet, blustery day Andrew and Sophie take Joe and their daughter Maria to the beach to play with a kite, they venture into the sea and get into difficulties Andrew goes in to rescue them but can only save 1 child. The repercussions that follow affect the whole town and brings tragedy further for one set of parents.
The writing in this book is so strong and powerful, its raw emotion brought me to tears on more than one occasion.
There are some very difficult subjects covered in the novel which could be a trigger. Grief and loss feature predominantly.
I'm grateful to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy, my opinions are my own and not expected

This book had me gripped from the beginning, and if this really is a debut then well done to the author. The descriptions and emotions portrayed were wonderful, but oh so sad. I was on the verge of tears several times. The only thing I didn’t like was the (very) overuse of tag lines and use of names where ‘he’ or ‘she’ should have been used. How many times do we have to hear ‘DS Willmott replied/said/asked/thought/sighed’? In many cases the tag line could have been left out, or at least changed to ‘she’ instead of her full title. I spotted many examples of this, eg ‘… Andrew whispered. Andrew stretched …’. Use ‘he’!!!! I don’t mean to sound negative because I’m not. I really enjoyed the book even though it so very, very, sad, and with a bit of editing this could have been a 5 star review. Good luck for the next one, and thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy.

When a couple take their friend's son Joe and their own daughter Maria for an outing on the beach, the children are unexpectedly swept out to sea. Although the man manages to rescue his own daughter, the other child is lost to the water.

The tragedy hits the community hard - Joe's father Chris being the local police officer - and perhaps inevitably, sides are taken in the matter. As police officers Adams and Wilmott race to find out what exactly happened here, deeper questions begin to emerge.

This is a gripping story replete with undercurrents, and will please anyone who enjoys a suspenseful murder story that is also a satisfying police procedural.

After The Storm is a good police procedural with a highly emotional edge. A tragic drowning leaves a two families shattered and the novel follows the aftermath. Without spoilers, it's deeply emotional with some very difficult themes.

The novel is well written, if a little overlong. The middle section drags a bit, with repeated internal dialogues from the point of view of different characters. More "show don't tell" could have seen this cut.

The ending comes quickly, as the bereaved father's fragile mental state deteriorates. The pace is high leading to the final scenes. Overall, After The Storm is a good read with a simple plot and some excellent character development.