This is an accomplished and extremely well plotted psychological thriller about the aftermath of a brutal sexual assault and the impact it has on the victim and his family. The identity of the aggressor is never in any doubt and the way the story progresses makes you think it’s going to develop into a courtroom drama focusing on the usual themes of consent and capacity. That is not, however, how the story develops and the reader is kept engaged with the characters throughout. With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review it.

What a great debut novel by Caitlin Wahrer, covering a difficult subject.

2019 - Julia Hall goes to visit Detective John Rice who was in charge of a case involving her brother-in-law in 2015.

2015 - Student Nick Hall goes to meet a guy in a bar. He is stood up but ends up chatting to an older man called Josh. After a few drinks they leave together and what happens in motel 4 will change his life forever.

Told over 2 timelines from multiple points of view, the story unravels and we see how Nick and his family deal with what happened on this awful night.

So many books have disappointing, unbelievable twists at the end - but not this one! It left me totally satisfied and my thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a hard read with some sensitive subject matter, but the author handles it amazingly and even though it’s hard to read in parts it’s a great book. It was a gripping read for me personally and the twist at the end is genius. I thought it was a good page Turner and I devoured it whole! Will defo look out for more from this author as this one was a winner....

Compelling read with sympathetic characters whose deepest feelings are carefully revealed. The far-reaching consequences of one horrific and violent attack are sensitively told with a quite unexpected but totally believable twist at the end.

Thought this book was extremely well written on a subject that is not really discussed

You are drawn into this plot so quickly and brought into the life of Nick and the devastation following being sexually abused/raped This is an emotional book that shows the effects on everyone family and friends and how they deal with the after math and the consequences of their own actions.
with really strong characters and set in two time lines - this is a must read

Sadly this book didn’t do it for me. I found it slow and dragged quite a lot. It was just so bleak and I found it quite depressing. There was none of the urgency I expected. Just not for me I’m afraid.

This novel, set in a small town in Maine in 2015, is best described as a psychological thriller, although it is also, in many ways, a family drama and a mystery crime story. Nick, a 20 year old, naïve homosexual is chatted up in a bar by Josh, a handsome stranger. After a few drinks they leave, heading for Josh’s hotel room. The next morning, Nick wakes to discover that he had been knocked unconscious and then brutally raped. Admitted to hospital, he has no memory of the event after the initial blow to his head. Josh is, unsurprisingly, untraceable; the room was booked in a false name and paid in cash. However, Nick’s friend, Elle, had been in the bar and taken a covert picture of them, plus there is forensic evidence in the room, so the perpetrator, Ray Walker, is swiftly arrested.
Nick, then just a baby, had been rescued from his abusive family by his much older step-brother, Tony, and raised by him and his wife, Julia, a defence lawyer working mainly with child offenders. The relationship between the brothers is extremely strong, with Tony being particularly, even overly, protective. For the first half of the book the story focusses on the stress on Nick as the press and the wider public report and speculate about details of the case. He is covered by anonymity laws, but his alleged assailant directly or indirectly keeps drip feeding the media. The length of time that passes while the legal system grinds slowly on intensifies the stress on the family. As Nick sinks into clinical depression, and goes into counselling, Tony becomes increasingly angry and brooding. Julia, who has two young children, tries to keep the whole family stable, but becomes increasingly concerned that Tony will do something to Ray. This part of the tale is very downbeat and the skilful writing conveys something of that feeling to the reader. As the plot takes a turn so the mood changes and again the writing conveys this effectively.
The book actually starts four years later, with Julia going to visit, at his invitation, John Rice, the Detective in charge of the investigation. Now dying of cancer he wants to resolve certain issues about the case and explain his feeling of regret about a decision that he had made. The conversation between these two is intercut with the main story and forms the “mystery” element that I referred to at the start of this review.
This is the first novel by Caitlan Wahrer and it is very skilfully written and cunningly plotted. She is a practicing lawyer in Maine and her experience lends a sense of authority and verisimilitude to the description of the legal process and the reasons why it takes such a long time between arrest and trial. The ending is believable and very satisfactory for the reader.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

This was a compelling story of the difficulties around the difficulties of proving guilt in a rape case and some interesting solutions. Great characters and interesting dilemmas. Fantastic conclusion..

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was dark yet thought provoking, horrific yet enlightening. Thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend!

I did not like the way this book was written is it the authors first book I wonder? It kept jumping around, seemed to over describe stuff I didn't need to know or care about, it did not start well, it did not grab me and I gave up very early on.

excellent debut novel. A difficult subject dealt with sensitively and with realism. Believable characters whose actions are plausible.
Following a night out and a one night stand Nick returns and accuses “Josh” of rape.
His family rally round to support his decision to prosecute, his brother Tony is over protective at times and there is some friction that has to be worked out.
The story jumps back an forth spanning a few years but I liked that.
Highly recommend

This was a great debut novel and I look forward to reading Caitlin Wahrer ‘s next novel.
The story shows how when one family member goes rough trauma it also impacts the rest of the family. Nick a twenty year old student is sexually assaulted and this impacts his extended family. His older brotherTony has always looked out for him and Julia his sister in law tries to lookout for them both.
The story starts with Julia arriving at the Detectives house four years after the events. The book is told from multiple POV and mainly told I the time period of the events.
The story and characters had me gripped and I had no idea how the story was going to unfold. A great read and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nick a college student suffers a horrific sexual attack.an attack that shocks.,sickens A very difficult topic at times hard to read.This story handles it and all the characters so well a book that drew me in & Kept me reading late into the night,#netgalley#damage

What a read, excellently written psychological thriller.

The author writes the story so well and the characters are very compelling. The situation is so sensitive but she handles it beautifully.

This novel revolves around Nick, a student who goes out one evening to meet a friend, and who ends up being the victim of a brutal sexual assault. He can't remember what happened to him, only that he wakes up physically battered and bleeding, as well as with a head injury, after meeting a man called Josh and leaving the bar with him.

The plot revolves around the repercussions to Nick and his family, mainly his brother Tony and Tony's wife Julia. Tony is very protective of his brother and acts more like a father to him, whilst Julia, a lawyer, is worried about what Tony might do to protect Nick.

The novel begins with Julia arriving to meet up with the dying Detective Rice, who was assigned to Nick's case four years previously. There is something that the detective wants to resolve before he dies, and Julia is clearly the person who he thinks might have the answers.

The story slowly reveals itself as the narrative plays out in the present and the past, told by a narrator who observes the characters from an objective point of view. This works well, as the subject matter is highly emotive, and shocking, and helps the reader to remain objective in light of the 'two sides of the story' scenario. Social media is employed to good effect throughout, highlighting how easy it is for people to form opinions and take sides without knowing any of the facts, as well as becoming emotionally involved.

I enjoyed watching the story play out, even though the subject matter was difficult and upsetting. The author builds up the suspense, as each character deals with the fallout of the assault in their own way. I had a suspicion of what would happen at the conclusion, and I was right, but I enjoyed the process of arriving at that point. It was also very emotional, and realistic to assume how anyone would act when having to deal with the horror of assault.

A good read, highly reccommended.
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in return for an honest review.

There is some incredible writing in this book! I was gripped, a very interesting and true feeling story. I feel it was longer than it needed to be, that's my only criticism

Although there is quite an age gap between brothers Nick and Tony, and they have seperate mother's, Tony is extremely protective of his younger brother.

Nick is a student going through university. On an evening out, the guy he was due to meet fails to turn up. However his attention is caught by the friendly man sat next to him at the bar. After a few drinks the pair go back to the strangers motel room.

When Tony next sees Nick, Nick is lying in a hospital bed, badly beaten and been the subject to sexual assault. Tony vows for revenge for his brother at all costs and the hunt begins for his attacker.

Tony makes no secret to his wife Julia, a former lawyer, as to what he will do once he finds the person responsible.

This story is narrated from several viewpoints over the last 4 year's to the present time. At twist at the end shows how family loyalties and values can be pushed to the very edge.

An excellent debut from this author. Highly recommend and look forward to more in the future.

I really enjoyed this book. Though it's about a serious crime it's much more than just a crime novel. I liked the authors style of writing and look forward to seeing what she writes next. Loved the final twist, didn't see that coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Trigger warning: male sexual assault.
A great thought out novel telling the consequences and effects of assault. A lot of novels tell the story of female assault but not many tackle the topic of male assault.
A great read.

Another enjoyable book from Netgalley. Nick Hall who is a student at University goes into a bar to wait for Chris who does not come to meet him on time. While at the bar he is approached by a guy called Josh. They get on very well and Josh invites Nick to his hotel room and that is where the trouble begins. Nick is sexually assaulted very severely and had to be taken to the hospital. His brother, Tony, was informed and he went to the hospital to be with his brother. The police, Detective Rise, visited and took a statement. Nick eventually comes out of hospital and goes to stay with his brother Tony and his family. The story moves backwards and forwards between 2015 when the assault takes place and 2019. Tony finds it very difficult to deal with as he has been Nick’s father having brought him up as the parents were alcoholics. Tony has always felt as Nick as a son rather than a brother and has tried to look after him regardless of the dramas. Tony and Julia try very hard to make things easier for Nick to deal with the assault and Tony himself takes it very badly as he feels he should have saved him the trauma. Eventually the story leaks out about the situation and Nick cannot cope with the stares etc and waiting for the trial. He gets very depressed and Tony gets more and more frustrated that his brother is so bad and the man who caused the damage walks free that he feels he should take matters into his own hands. He changes at home and Julia becomes very worried Detective Rice is on the ball but he cannot help any more than he has. Eventually Raymond Walker (Josh) disappeared before the trial and Detective Rice becomes involved as he wonders if Tony has something to do with the disappearance. As the book evolves with Detective Rice becoming ill, he asks Julia to meet with him to find out how and why Walker disappeared. Very interesting twist. A great read