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The Vicious Deep
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The Vicious Deep
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The Vicious Deep
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The Vicious Deep

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About this ebook

From the author of Incendiary and the Brooklyn Brujas series, a long-lost heir of the mermaid Sea Court must fight for his life, and his humanity, as he's suddenly caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

One crashing wave and Tristan Hart was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened.  Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotions like never before? How can he explain he's the heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods?

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.

The Vicious Deep Series:
The Vicious Deep (Book 1)
The Savage Blue (Book 2)
The Vast and Brutal Sea (Book 3)

LanguageEnglish
PublisherSourcebooks
Release dateMay 1, 2012
ISBN9781402265112
Unavailable
The Vicious Deep
Author

Zoraida Córdova

Zoraida Córdova is the author of the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series and The Vicious Deep trilogy. Her short fiction has appeared in Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. She is the co-editor of Vampires Never Get Old, a YA anthology forthcoming from Imprint/Macmillan in fall 2020. Her upcoming YA novels include Star Wars: A Crash of Fate, and Incendiary, book one in the Hollow Crown duology (Disney/Hyperion 2020). Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning her next adventure.

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Rating: 3.7907406748148147 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very Lovely Bones-ish. A mother and daughter injured in a fire, hover in a ghostly way while their family and loved ones try to work out who's hurt them. It's an interesting premise I did find myself emotionally touched by their predicament, but there were some contrived moments that were a bit well, contrived. Worth reading.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    After reading Sister I couldn't wait to get started on this. Rosamund Lupton has a unique,refreshing writing style that grips you from the start.Basic who done it type story line. I guessed early on who was responsible for setting fire to the school.I Few twist & turns along the way. Enjoyed Mum taking to her husband from a coma. Unsual but interesting.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First Line: I couldn't move, not even a little finger or a flicker of an eye.It's Sports Day at Sidley House School. Grace Covey's eight-year-old son, Adam, has gone inside the school to bring out the birthday cake that he's sharing with his classmates while Jennifer, her seventeen-year-old daughter, is up on the third floor filling in for the school nurse. Grace has simply come to pick her children up at school, an ordinary, everyday task. But what began as a simple task turns into a nightmare when Grace looks up at the school and sees black smoke billowing out of the windows.Sidley House School is on fire, and her children are inside."And then [Grace] was running at the velocity of a scream." As she comes to the school entrance, she sees that her son is outside and safe, but Jenny is still inside. Jenny needs her. And so Grace fights the heat and the smoke and the fear and the panic and the pain until she finds Jenny... but Grace doesn't have the strength to get them outside to safety. They are both rushed to the hospital. Grace has suffered severe head trauma, and Jenny has suffered bad burns and intense smoke inhalation.This story is told by Grace as if she's talking to her husband, and she has quite the story to tell. You see, she and Jenny both have out-of-body experiences. They leave their battered bodies and follow their friends and loved ones. They hear what's being said, and although they can talk with each other, no one else can see or hear them. A lot is being said because what was originally a tragic fire is really arson, and it also seems as though someone wants to make sure that Jenny dies. Did she see the person who started the fire?Grace's sister-in-law, Detective Sergeant Sarah MacBride, in many ways is the hero of this book. Her family has been dealt a devastating blow. Sarah wants to make sure that her family survives, and she goes about it the only way she knows how: by doing her job. Sarah proves to be tireless at tracking down witnesses, at searching for clues, at reading interview transcripts and teasing out tiny inconsistencies and peculiar word choices. She simply will not give up.Although the ultimate ending of the book really comes as no surprise, I enjoyed Lupton's meticulous plotting of the investigation. This is the sort of case which relies on listening to how people say things as well as listening to what they don't say. It is a case of nuance and shadow. Taken simply as a mystery, this is an excellent read. But Grace Covey takes this book beyond mystery and whodunit. As she watches her husband and son, as she talks with Jenny, and as she follows Sarah, she learns what extraordinary people her family members are. She learns about herself. And she learns that "the last of the senses to go is love."This is an extraordinary read that kept me mesmerized from first page to last-- often with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. If you have someone in your life whom you love more than life itself, you will also be deeply affected by this book. In her depth of characterization and psychological nuance, Rosamund Lupton reminds me of Louise Penny. Like Penny, Lupton can take subject matter that's profoundly sad and create something very beautiful and life-affirming. I was impressed by Lupton's first book, Sister. I am blown away by Afterwards.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I read Rosamund Lupton's debut novel 'Sister' last year. You may remember me raving about it - it was a fantastic read. I jumped at the chance to read her second novel - Afterwards. Another absolutely brilliant read - one I would highly, highly recommend! I was hooked from the opening paragraph of the prologue. "I couldn't move, not even a little finger or a flicker of an eye. I couldn't open my mouth to scream....Only one thing for it, I said to myself, thinking of you, and I slipped out of the wrecked ship of my body into the black ocean." Grace Covey is volunteering at the outdoor sports day at her son Adam's private school. Her older child Jenny is working inside as the school nurse that day. When a fire breaks out, Grace races to find her children. Knowing Jenny is still trapped in the building, Grace runs into the burning building. She finds her, but the two of them are terribly injured. Cue prologue. Yes, Grace and Jenny are able to leave their ruined bodies. Now, anyone thinking this might be a mainly paranormal type of read is wrong. Honestly, Afterwards is so many different reads. In the beginning I saw it strictly as a mystery. Grace and Jenny are able to follow along with the investigation into the fire - for it was arson. And Grace and Jenny cannot communicate with the 'outside' world. Piece by piece, along with the victims, we are able to cobble together what really happened that day. There is much more to this fire than meets the eye. Lupton employs many twists and turns and some red herrings along the way that kept me guessing at the identity of the 'culprit' until the last few chapters. But, in addition to the mystery is the deeper story - that of a mother, daughter, son, husband and father. Grace's love for her children is achingly beautiful, powerful and so poignant. (Hint - have tissues ready for the last few chapters - I finished the book with tears in my eyes) Lupton uses a second person point of view that takes a bit of getting used to in the beginning, but it works for this story. I can't see it being told in any other fashion. Once I finish writing a review, I head out on the net to see what others think. I was quite surprised to see there were mixed reviews on this book. For this reader, it was an absolutely addicting, stay up late read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have not read Sister which is still sitting on my TBR waiting to be picked up. I borrowed a copy of Afterwards from the library to offer as part of a selection of books from my book group. I read it beforehand as part of my vetting process, this book was not chosen. I enjoyed this book although it is very sad. It is well written and the story flows nicely. I like the concept of being in a kind of limbo and having the ability to 'choose' to survive or die - the idea of one's spirit being able to float in and out of one's body. In real life we do not have that choice but it makes for an interesting read. Grace, the mother, is extremely protective of her children and her relationship with her daughter Jenny is fairly close, although she comes to realise that she doesn't really know Jenny. I would say this is fairly normal for a relationship with teenage children, to protect them as much as possible without stifling their growth as people. The father is ambitious and is a public figure on TV whose life is turned upside down by the events that he spends all his time at the hospital with his wife and daughter, forgetting about his young son. Adam, the boy is being looked after my his maternal Grandmother and needs his father at this very difficult time. The book does challenge family relationships and friendships. It makes you think about those you trust and how well you really know people. The ending could have gone either way but that was okay for me. I won't spoil it for you - you must make up your own mind.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    May 19, 2012 Arlena Dean Author: Rosamund LuptonPublished By: Crown Publishing Group Age Recommend: Adult (Language)Reviewed By: Arlena DeanRaven Rating: 4Blog Review For: GMTAReview:"Afterwards: The Novel " by Rosamund Lupton was a wonderful thriller, suspense mystery read. This novel was definitely one that was a page turner till the end. There are so many twist and turns with surprises.... you will really have to keep up with this fast pace novel which is good since this is a VERY long read.This novel was written in a second person point of view...after understanding that.... I was able to understand the story line much better. Believe me be ready for lies, secrets and lots of half truths that is all around this plot of the investigation. In "Afterwards" you will find this was a novel of a mothers' love for her children and husband. In this England community... Gracie Covey while at a Sport Day celebration for the children...she discovers the school is on fire...seeing that her son Adam is safe she then see that her daughter Jenny is not .... so he enters the school and is trapped on the third floor.... and then next Gracie awakes in a hospital...unable to move or talk..trapped in her own body...but she knows she is alive .... along with her Jenny....which now the novel appears to be somewhat paranormal....in that she and her daughter can only communicate....but both Jenny and Gracies' mind is alive and able to move about the hospital and other places(outside their body)..... but they are unable to communicate with anyone else. It is very interesting at this point on seeing how this author was able to relay...what has happen to them, on to eavesdropping on the family...friends and even the hospital staff.....then to the story moving on to discover that this fire at the school was from arson.... and fear comes that this arsonist is the same person who had been harassing her Jenny earlier. The two...Jenny and Grace start to seen what was going on... however, this was not possible for the other members of the family.....Jenny could not be protected by Grace....now I will not say more about that.... you will have to pick up this wonderful novel and find out how this all comes out. Be ready for a well written read. I felt that all the characters were off the chart... Very Good and very captivating.......Detective Sergeant Sarah MacBride....the sister in law to Gracie was definitely my heroine as well as one of my favorite characters. This author was really able to make a very believable story on a mothers determination to keep her children safe....even though her body is incapacitated......"There is no happy ending but there is 'Afterwards.""Afterwards:The Novel" is a very absorbing book that I simply enjoyed and I was very surprised in the guilty person(s) that will leave you speechless. WoW!I found this book to be very intriguing and an extraordinary novel and if you are in for a good thrilling, suspenseful mystery... then "Afterwards: The Novel" is a good read for you.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I zipped through this book! I found it really interesting, the way the author wrote in ?second person? That is, she wrote it from her perspective, but directed it to her husband. "You are walking down the hall," and "you become angry at this..." I would have never thought I could appreciate a novel written this way, but I did1


    I'm anxious to read her other novel, "Sister". I'd like to see more by Ms. Lupton!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm sitting here in my recliner, trying to think where I want to start with this review. Should I start with what I disliked first? Or should I talk about how it emotionally made me feel? Or should I just talk about how close this book came to being extra-special, but ended up missing the mark in a pretty big way?The first thing a reader should know before even opening this book is how awkward the writing style truly is. To me, this is where the book ruined itself before it even began. I actually abhorred the writing style. There were several occasions where I slammed the book down and said out loud that I couldn't do it. I know what the author was trying to do. I even respect what the author was trying to do. But it seemed unnecessarily gimmicky and over the top. Rather than try to explain how messed up the second person POV and writing style were, I'm just going to quote it and let you see for yourself. Sometimes that's better."Who did he get to blame my son?" Your anger hurling the words at her."I've no idea what you're on about," she says. "Tell him I want to speak to him," you say. You turn to go."Wait. I haven't finished! I told you, you need to hear the truth.""I have to get back to my daughter."You start to leave, but she comes after you. "The accident in the playground was Robert Fleming's fault, nothing to do with Silas."You hurry on, not listening. But for a moment I think of eight-year old Robert Fleming, who bullied Adam so horribly.I think that's a pretty decent example of what the writing style was like. Now, imagine that over and over again, constantly, throughout the entire book. And there is the problem. I actually had to train myself to deal with the writing style. But I did. I got used to it. I never ended up learning to like it, but more or less endured it. And then there were the random but abundant italics. They were all over the place, and for no good reason. I mean why? Imagine if I just stuck random words in italics throughout this review. Can you picture how annoying that would be? No more to say about that. I just don't understand the point in doing that. It made no sense.But the truth is, even though there is a lot about this book to complain about, I still loved it. The story itself was brilliant, and even though I didn't care for the writing style, it did create this wonderful feeling of foreboding. I felt like I was spending the entire book in the eye of a storm and you just knew something terrible was going to happen eventually. I loved the author's way with words. I loved Grace's observations of everything that was going on around her. Unraveling the mystery slowly and from her point of view was agonizing, but at the same time, riveting. It was mental torture. But in a good way.And the thing is? I know I am completely contradicting myself all over the place in this review. But I don't know how else to do it. Because I still really disliked the writing style. But at the same time, I don't believe this story could have been told in a different POV. It just wouldn't have had the same effect. So I'm conflicted. Let's put it this way. I would definitely recommend this book to mystery and whodunit fans. But don't expect it to be like a standard mystery. Because it isn't. And even though it's close to 400 pages, it does read really fast. It's also a fun ride trying to solve the mystery and figure out who started the fire. I solved it with 100 pages to go, but I didn't arrive at my solution the same way the author did. So there were still surprises to be had for me even though I knew how it was was going to end. Just try it if you think it sounds like something you might like. You may love it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very interesting and unusual book. What happens after a horrific accident.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this novel and it is definitely on my list of top books of 2012. This novel was haunting, stunning, beautiful, and chilling. The characters are complex and the plot has so many twists and turns that you'll get whiplash. I was sobbing like a little baby at the end. It was just an absolutely wonderful book that I would recommend to everyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow! I really don't know how else to describe this book. An interesting take on two badly injured family members. The story of what happened to cause the injury has so many twists and turns that it was dizzying! Every time I was certain that I knew who did it, something happened to make me doubt my conclusion. This is also the story of family, love and sacrifice. A family is supposed to love unconditionally, and you will find that here. You will also find disappointment and disillusion. A community that is pitted against each other and desperate to find a scapegoat for the woundssuffered by their picture perfect little world. Few pictures are without flaws. Much like humans. Grace and Jenny learning what they don't know about each other as mother and daughter. Rowena and Maisie, another mother and daughter, and their stories are intertwined. Thereis a much wider cast of characters and each and every one of them is worth getting to know. I loved this story, Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    After loving `Sister' and then reading some of the reviews on here declaring this one of the most memorable books people had ever read, I approached this with trepidation. Surely this could *not* live up to the hype? Surely I was going to be let down in some way...?Er, `no' and `no' actually. This book sucked me in from the start and I quite happily ignored the real world whilst I read it (thankfully in one sitting). This book, despite the far-fetched premise, is un-putdownable (if such a word exists!) and I definitely preferred it to `Sister.' The ending of this one was also not as much of a disappointment as the former.I won't summarise the story as that has been done countless times already (infact sometimes too much is divulged for my liking), but I will agree that this was just a wonderfully written novel with a fantastic concept, memorable characters and a really heartbreaking premise. The ending left me with a lump in my throat, though I couldn't cry because I was reading it in a public place! I just felt that by that time I'd invested so much emotion in the book, knew the characters so well and they were so relatable that I just wanted things to turn out for the best for all of them.The writing is beautiful and the story flows so well that as a reader you just find yourself turning the pages and wanting to know what happens next. If I could offer any criticisms it would be that I did feel Lupton was trying to drop a few too many red herrings into the plot that were a bit distracting at times and pulled attention away from the present situation a bit too much. The situation with Jenny's `stalker' whilst relevant also got a little bit tedious on occaision. These are small criticisms though and did not prevent me from enjoying the story. I really appreciate the authors winning combination of crime and literature and I'm eager to see what she comes up with next.Though this personally isn't the best book *I've* ever read (that honour most definitely goes to `The Poisonwood Bible'), it is still a worthy five star read. Other reviewers have compared it to Lovely Bones, Time Travellers Wife and similar stories, but I would suggest just taking this on its own merit and enjoying the ride. It goes without saying that I would recommend this book to anyone, no hesitation. What are you waiting for? *This review also appears on Amazon.co.uk*
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "Afterwards" is excellent, a very different book from "Sister", Lupton's debut novel. The narrator is in a hospital bed virtually brain dead with no cognitive functionality. But her spirit is free to roam and she can see, hear, and move but no one is aware of her presence. She cannot impact at all on the physical world, so she can't text on a cell phone, nor shut a door. Now I am not a great one for this kind of fantasy but I was able with no effort to "suspend disbelief" very easily - the book is that well written. It becomes a mechanism to tell a story in a different way, and it works ! But it probably doesn't work for everyone. For me, this book passed the 50 page test by about page 15 - I knew it was a winner. But throughout the story, the author really keeps you on edge. There are other victims, some victims of false accusations, another in a physically critical state. And it is crime fiction. So there still remains the whodunit question. The book has many excellent characters, and as I read this I mentally switched prime suspects every 30 pages or so. And there was this terrible dread throughout that for this story to work someone was going to have to die...but who? Finally, one strong point that the author makes time and again and does it so well is that we should keep open-minded about people, good points and bad, and avoid leaping to the obvious conclusions - whether we're re-examining a single encounter or a lifetime's relationship. Will be looking forward to Lupton #3
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was so hooked on this book that I managed to burn my dinner as I got so lost in the book, I completely forgot I was cooking!!The narration is so different from any crime book I've read before, it had me gripped from start to finish!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A very moving story about the strength of a Mothers love, had me in floods of tears! :-)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It’s sports day at the private school attended by adolescent Jenny Covey and her 8-year old brother, Adam. Grace is there to support her children. Shortly after the games begin, a fire ignites within the school. Spurred by maternal instincts, Grace rushes into the inferno to rescue her daughter. The novel transitions then to the hospital where Grace and Jenny have been admitted with life-threatening injuries. The fire was not accidental; it has been labelled as an act of arson. The reader follows the investigation of the crime through the mother and daughter who have both escaped their unconscious bodies as ghost-like observers. Although Jenny has amnesia of the events prior to the fire, someone believes that she possesses info that if revealed when she awakes can be used to identify the arsonist. Therefore, attempts are made to ensure that she doesn’t survive her injuries. Grace will do anything to protect her daughter but can do little since no one, besides her spectral daughter, can see or feel her.

    The novel had its’ flaws, such as when Grace describes walking on gravel when departing the hospital or the smell of visitor’s perfume; however, these are easily overlooked by the novel’s depiction of family love and loyalty and strength revealed in the husband who is trying to comfort his son and deal with his own grief, and the sister-in-law in her role as detective who hopes to catch the arsonist before he or she murders Jenny. If you are fans of Jodi Picoult books, you will enjoy this mystery/suspense novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed 'Sister' by Ms. Lupton so was anxious to read 'Afterwards.' I was not disappointed. It's a psychological mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Ms. Lupton certainly knows how to develop her characters and I felt as though I knew most of them. The protagonist is Grace who is critically injured in a fire trying to save her teen-age daughter, Jenny, who is also severely injured. The novel is narrated by Grace's 'spirit' as she speaks (or maybe she's writing) to her husband. Grace's 'spirit' and Jenny's 'spirit' converse throughout the novel as they try to determine who the arsonist is.This talented author helps us to understand the love of a mother for her child and the importance of family love. My only complaint is that, at times, the story moves very slowly and that was mostly due to the thoroughness of the police investigation. Otherwise, great job! I will be thinking about this novel for a long time, I'm sure.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I just added another book to my list of favorites, the second book by Rosamund Lupton included in that list. But I still haven't decided whether the word "afterwards" refers to after the loss of consciousness or after death. When I know, I'll rewrite this paragraph.There is a fire at a private elementary school. Whose fault is it and is it arson? Two of the people hurt in the fire watch the investigation while their bodies are unconscious. One of those people describes it for her husband.That puts simply a most involved story with twists and turns that will keep your attention and have you guessing throughout. As soon as you are pretty sure, Lupton changes your mind and makes you sure of something else.Plus this is the best type of mystery/thriller, literary.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Gracie's a comfortable mother of two children, one of whom, Adam, attends an expensive private school in London, and the other, Jenny, is working at the school as she prepares to retake her A levels. On the morning of field day, as she stands watching the children and her son has been sent to the school building with the daughter of her best friend to retrieve his birthday cake, she sees smoke rising from the building and, running over, finds the school on fire. She sees her son is safely outside, but can't find her daughter, who was working up on the third floor. There's an odd twist to the narration of this story that took a little adjusting to; Gracie tells the story in the first person, from the events of the day of the fire and then forward as she lies in a coma in a hospital bed. She's able to roam around the hospital invisibly, and soon decides that it's vital to discover who set the fire and why. This really, really shouldn't work. I spent the first chapters wondering if Lupton had decided to write sentimental weep-fests instead of crime novels, but soon it became clear that this was a mystery and one full of possible suspects and motives. Lupton made both the unconventional set up work and when the culprit was finally revealed, it was both a surprise, and someone indicated from the beginning.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An interesting spin on a mystery here that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. A school is burning and a mother runs inside to help her teenage daughter. Grace, the mother, "wakes up" in the hospital in a vegetative state but she can somehow separate from her body and move around the hospital and even outside the building. Her daughter, also in the hospital with severe burns, has this ability as well. For a variety of reasons, Grace must now, as a ghost type character, solve the mystery and protect her family. It is definitely different and an interesting take on the omniscient narrator. Like several other reviewers, I found fault with some of the characters and the twists didn't seem to make sense based on the way the characters acted/were portrayed. Still, suspending some disbelief (after all, there are two out-of-body/ghost characters as main focus of the book) allowed me to enjoy this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It’s going to be difficult to review Afterwards without giving too much away, so excuse me if I’m deliberately vague. Afterwards is one of those stories that evolves bit by bit and if you rush it, you run the risk of spoiling the whole thing. There is a fire and a mother, Grace, tries to rescue her daughter. Having saved her daughter from death (for now at least) she wants desperately to uncover who started the fire that nearly deprived her of a child.Thus begins an incredibly compelling mystery with some very strange twists and turns. I’ll won’t go into the reasons Grace is restricted in her investigations – I’ll allow you to discover those for yourself – but they certainly add a very surreal dimension to this tale.Lupton proved with Sister that she’s capable of writing great suspense and developing a good plot. More than that, she has a real knack for writing about family relationships and not just cosy, ‘everybody’s happy’ relationships but instead gritty, fraught and difficult ones. In Sister we saw the relationship between two sisters laid bare. In Afterwards the mother-daughter relationship receives the same thorough examination.Afterwards is a story of jealousy, anger, fear, loss, hope, love and protection all rolled into one. If you can get all the way through this book without a tear in your eye or a lump in your throat at any point, you’re made of sterner stuff than me!**Review originally published on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave. I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all views are my own.**
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I wasn't sure I was going to like this book at first. Grace is mother to Adam and Jenny. She goes to their school for sports day, Jenny is working as the school nurse because another person dropped out. The day is Adam's birthday and he goes into the school to get his cake. Grace then notices smoke coming through the windows and there is an explosion. By the time she gets to the school, she sees that Adam is now outside but there is no sign of Jenny. Grace runs in to save her daughter.Next thing, Grace is waking up above her body in the hospital as the doctors work on her. She is able to walk around unseen and she meets up with Jenny who is also outside her body, which is in the burn unit. It is discovered that the fire was arson. Jenny and Grace are able to hear everything and Grace can even leave the hospital. Grace fears that the arsonist is the same person who was harassing Jenny previously. Jenny and Grace start to put things together but they can not communicate with their family and Grace can not protect Jenny.This was an interesting way to write a mystery and I did enjoy it once I got used to it. I don't think it is as good as the author's previous novel, Sister, which I loved, though this did have some twists. It was also very moving as neither Jenny nor Grace are expected to live and they have to watch their family deal with that. I would definitely read more by this author.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I picked up this book because a review in Maclean’s described it as a “literary crime novel” and I’m glad I did. It is not flawless but is eminently readable.There is a fire at a private elementary school. A parent, Grace Covey, rushes in to check on Jenny, her 17-year-old daughter who is assisting at the school’s sports day. The two are critically injured. Caught between life and death, the two are able to follow family members and investigators who quickly determine that the fire was arson and Jenny a target. There are two major questions in the remainder of the book: Who was trying to kill Jenny? Will Grace and Jenny survive?The narration may present problems to some readers. First of all, some suspension of disbelief is required since Grace, the narrator, exists on some quasi-spiritual plane where she (and Jenny) could best be described as having a protracted out-of-body experience. Unfortunately, the parameters of their state are never clearly delineated. For instance, Grace describes physical pain when she leaves the confines of the hospital; she refers to her skin being scalded by warm air and gravel cutting into her unprotected feet (130, 197) although she quickly (too conveniently?) develops a tolerance for the pain. Spiritual beings have physical sensations? The point of view is second person, the “you” being Grace’s husband. Coupled with the use of present tense, the narration is sometimes awkward.There is sufficient suspense created by the requisite twists and red herrings, although the use of a bungling police officer, Detective Inspector Baker, seems contrived. Fortunately for the investigation, Detective Sergeant Sarah McBride, Grace’s sister-in-law, takes unofficial charge. Unfortunately, she is sometimes just too perfect, making not a single misstep, so that a romantic indiscretion seems thrown in to humanize her. Point of view is used well to create suspense; Grace and Jenny occasionally have information unknown to the others but they have no way of communicating to assist with the investigation. The ending is foreshadowed very early on so it is not a shock. Grace comments that in life, “There is no happy ever after” (383), but the ending is nonetheless satisfying and strangely uplifting.The novel is more than a mystery in that it focuses considerable attention to developing character and theme. Grace, for instance, is a dynamic character. She acknowledges some of her negative traits, particularly a tendency towards envy, and gradually realizes that she has misjudged people, especially her sister-in-law, and that she doesn’t really know her teenaged daughter. If there is a weakness in this element it is that Grace seems to have been very unperceptive and a very poor judge of character.The theme of family love – the love that exists between spouses, between parents and children, and between siblings – is thoroughly developed. Grace summarizes it well: “Other people can write the great book, paint the wonderful painting, because I don’t need a work of art to speak for me . . . my family will do that” (375). In the novel, there is actually more than one family that speaks about love.Despite its weaknesses, this book is an enjoyable read; time will pass quickly as its pages are turned.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was excited to read Afterwards because I so enjoyed Sister, Ms. Lupton's first book. Both were written in unusual styles - Sister is an epistolary novel, Afterwards is written from the point of view of two roving spirits - a mother and daughter - whose bodies are left behind them in a couple of hospital beds. Grace, the mother, spends a fair amount of time communicating various things to her husband (who cannot hear her) and to her daughter (who can). There is a mystery - who caused the fire that nearly killed both women and why?The mystery matters - it's what keeps the plot moving and fuels all the various revelations and introspection, but the heart of the book is one woman's love for her husband and her daughter and her willingness to do whatever it takes to make things whole again. These two loves are illustrated in their differences and in their similarities and while I'm not sure Grace is someone I'd want to spend a lot of time with, I'd definitely want her on my side. She's smart, tough, and tender and virtually unstoppable and I admire that.Ms. Lupton is onto something with her writing. I find her books compelling and thought-provoking, even when I'm not quite sure what's going on or whether what's going on is what I think is going on. She's a good challenging read and these can be few and far between in mystery writing. Worried as I may have been about a sophomore novel after an outstanding debut, I had nothing to worry about. Afterwards is its own unique story, but with many of the stylistic features that I enjoyed about Sister. I'll be interested to see with Ms. Lupton writes next. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Critically injured after being trapped in a school fire, a mother and daughter find themselves in an out-of-body experience where they can see, hear, and even travel with the loved ones hovering around their hospital beds. If you can accept this impossibility, you'll enjoy reading this mildly suspenseful story of love and trust, betrayal and lies. The reader is kept guessing - will mother and daughter survive? who set the fire? who's lying and why? The main character deftly switches from Grace (the mother) to Sarah, Grace's law enforcement sister-in-law, who unexpectedly puts everything on the line to investigate. As in her previous novel (Sister), Lupton writes complex characters and twisty plot lines with plenty of false leads. She uses a good amount of British usage, e.g. A-levels, reception classes, rows, and bits, which may hamper some American readers.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My Thoughts: First, I must say, that I am so glad this was a holiday week, and I actually could spend some quantity and quality time reading. This was one of the most amazing books I have read in awhile.Afterwards has everything that keeps you just turning page after page, and you really don't want to stop. I loved the way Ms Lupton gave a voice to mother and daughter, Grace and Jenny, victims of a horrific fire. Telling their story by means of out of body spirits was a unique way of narrating. At times, Ms. Lupton actually made me forget that they were communicating as spirits. The author gave us twists and turns to the point where you just didn't know if the the fire was accidental or intentional. There were so many suspects and motives that anyone of the secondary characters could have been responsible. Without giving away the ending, I had no clue .......Afterwards is much more than just a mystery (whodunit). This is about family dynamics, not only for the Covey family, but the White family, Hyman family, and the McBridesThe ending just blew me away. I actually closed my book and said, " Oh my God, what a beautiful story".I want to thank Net Galley for providing this book, allowing me the opportunity to read this beautifully written story, being able to experience a band-new author, and being able to give my unbiased review.Yes, this is my first introduction to Rosamund Lupton's novels, but I have already put her and her 1st book "Sister", on the top of my favorites and TBR list.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "I put nine years of experience, the NHS and John Lewis' nursery department between my baby and the dangerous wilds of the Serengeti"In Lupton's latest (I loved Sister but had issues with the resolution), Grace Covey wakes up in hospital disassociated from her body. As she revisits her memories of how she got there, teaming up with her similarly badly injured and disassociated daughter, the criminal behind a terrible deed is slowly revealed.I found the start fairly slow going, because I struggled with the narrative construct of disassociated spirits. Once I got used to that, I was completely engrossed - there was such a long suspect list for the arson but no one really seemed to have enough of a motive. The bad guy, when eventually revealed, was totally unexpected.One of the reasons I loved Sister was because Lupton clearly understood sisterhood; the protectiveness of an older sister, the gentle loyalty of a younger one. Afterwards focuses on motherhood; I can't comment as to Lupton's ability to put her finger on what's special about it, but I liked that as Bee was in Sister, Grace is plain and normal and a little jealous of the Shiny Mummies who turn up with their blow-dried hair. She worries about how much time her daughter spends on Facebook, and she's a bit cagey about her sister-in-law.Every now and again the writing was over-ambitious; there was a grab for the "literary fiction" section of the bookshop incongruous with the simple family setting of the tale. A little inconsistency and the initially off-putting narrative structure are really the only ways I can fault this excellent follow-up novel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Afterwards is a mystery about arson at a private school. It is narrated by Grace, a mother who was caught up in the fire while trying to rescue her teenager, Jenny. Grace and Jenny both remain unconscious in the hospital throughout the novel, but their “spirits” are able to observe what is going on around them in out-of-body experiences. Through their observations, conversations with each other, and their memories, the mystery is gradually unraveled.This was a page-turner for me. I was caught up in the story and needed to see how it ended. I also grew to care for many of the characters. I think that having Grace’s “spirit” tell the story worked quite well. But the narration is a second-person narration, as Grace is meant to be telling the story to her husband. This tripped me up quite frequently. When Grace was talking to/about people other than her husband, the words flowed well. But then I’d hit a sentence like “You came into the room…”, and wham! I’d have to stop and re-remember that “you” is her husband. It would throw me out of the story for a bit.Disclosure: I received a free Kindle review copy from netgalley.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Once again Rosamund Lupton has written an incredibly interesting novel that presents a mystery with a twist. Afterwards is about a mother who runs into a burning building in search of her daughter who she knows is still within. Both mother and daughter suffer critical injuries and are taken to the same hospital where they are able to communicate with each other in an out of body type of experience. Together they learn that the fire was arson and probably was directed toward daughter Jen. In their other worldy journey they try to solve the mystery regarding who set the fire in an attempt to clear the name of 8 year old Addie, Jen's younger brother.The twists and turns regarding the investigation keep you guessing until the very end. The characters are sharp and well written and any number of them could be the arsonist. I love Lupton's approach. She uses the spirits of the victims as the vehicle to unravel the mystery. Certainly this provides a very different angle on mystery solving. As in Sister, she writes a very unique and captivating story. I highly recommend this one and urge everyone to read Afterwards now not later.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    There is a fire and they are in There. They are in there . . . Black smoke stains a summer blue sky. A school is on fire. And one mother, Grace, sees the smoke and runs. She knows her teenage daughter Jenny is inside. She runs into the burning building to rescue her. Afterwards, Grace must find the identity of the arsonist and protect her family from the person who's still intent on destroying them. Afterwards, she must fight the limits of her physical strength and discover the limitlessness of love.My Thoughts:Firstly with this book I had to get used to the fact that Grace and her daughter Jenny are wandering around in the between worlds of life and death. Both have been seriously injured in a fire and are trying to find out who is the true culprit. I don’t think this book is fantasy or even a ghost story but the scenario has just added a different take to the story. It worked for me and would describe this book as a fast paced crime novel.Having both Grace and Jenny not been able to get up and walk around as if nothing has happened but to rely on their souls ( if you like ) to do it for them it adds a certain vulnerability. Thus I felt I was right by their sides holding their hands. There are plenty of twists and turns in this book and I found myself turning the pages quite quickly to see how the story was going to go. I didn’t guess at all although there were plenty of clues along the way.Dare I say that tissues may be needed when reading this book. A worthy five star read.