This was an enjoyable crime thriller with major doses of sarcastic humor which kept me laughing out loud for the majority of the story. But at the same time, it was touching, heartbreaking, and infuriating all at the same time. Mr. Litherland managed to engender all of the emotions at once. There are wonderful characters that the reader loves spending time with and then there are those that the reader would love to strangle and mangle to death. Our hero here is not a big, strong, fearless journalist who battles all odds to get his story. He is a man who admits his fears (and they are many) but pushes through them to do what's right and support his friends. I wouldn't mind having a friend like Phil Tyler in real life. This is the first book in the Phil Tyler series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next two.
I received a review copy from the author via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

What a fantastic start to a series, I was absolutely hooked. I could not put this story down. It was brilliant from start to finish. The characters where very well portrayed and the strength of each character was phenomenal. This was such a fast paced book that I finished within one sitting and was very disappointed that I had finished the book as I did not want it to end. This was a 5* read for me.

A suspenseful story of revenge. This is a great start to a new series.
Many thanks to Bleaknorth Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Breaking Waves by Barry Litherland is NOT a primer for surfing! In fact, if you thought it was a seaside mystery, you'd be wrong again. However, if you're looking for a thrilling generational murder mystery, set in Great Britain amongst childhood friends, Breaking Waves is that AND so much more. Phil is our voice, he's great, he's witty, he's clever, he's a best friend! And he's moments from being beaten to a bloody...well, Phil does manage to get himself into very dangerous situations with very dangerous townspeople. "But I keep going because there's nowhere to go but forward". Litherland is a simile genius throughout Breaking Waves like "more wrinkles on that furrowed brow than bull's testicles". Phil Tyler's story weaves from his seven year old days with his pals--Stevie and Wayne with neighborhood bullies, often vicious; with now early 30's. Things that happened then, come back again... likened to oceanic action! This is a series starter...sign me up! This is an extremely well-written, tightly woven thriller!!!
I highly recommend this outstanding mystery!!!

Breaking Waves is a crime thriller set in a fictional seaside town in the North of England. It is Book 1 in the Phil Tyler Thriller series. The narrator, Phil Tyler, is a journalist on a local free sheet newspaper and he tells the story in the first person present tense. Poor Phil is not an heroic tough-guy type of protagonist; he has an antipathy to violence, blood-shed and pain - especially his own. But he has a strong sense of right and wrong and, even when faced with danger and the threat of death, he cannot help but continue his pursuit of justice. He is very loyal, especially where his friend are concerned. The novel moves between traumatic childhood events, which involved him and his friends, and their consequences in adult life. It is a tense, suspense-filled narrative but there is a lot of humour in the book too, which occurs as he reflects upon the gap between his natural antipathy to conflict and the menacing events he is caught up in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback. The first half I found slow, the pace picked up in the 2nd half. It ended stronger. I found it a quick easy read.

Great book! Pulse pounding and very fast paced. I liked the story line and highly recommend it to anyone!

What a fantastic start to the series! I was hooked on to the story and could not put it down until the end. Excellent storytelling and very well-portrayed characters. The mystery behind JAYDEE kept me guessing till the end - quite a shocking turn of events in the second half of the book. Phil Tyler is an excellent sleuth - well, scaredy cat at times but stubborn as a bull. The flashbacks and Tyrone bullying Wayne, Stevie and Phil was a little heart-wrenching to read - especially Wayne's abuse.

Highly recommended!

Such a fast paced book. Good story! Really enjoyed it
Looking forward to other books from the author

Fat paced and tense, full of suspense and mystery. Well written with an unopredictable and engaging storyline and well developed charcaters. An enjoyable read.