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Description
"From the author of the acclaimed bestseller Sister comes a gripping, thrilling story of a mother who will do anything to protect her child. The school was on fire, and Grace's last memory is of trying to reach her daughter, Jenny, trapped inside the inferno. While their burned bodies are frantically cared for by doctors, Grace and Jenny awaken in the hospital in a strange in-between state. When they learn that someone purposefully set the fire, and Jenny may still be in grave danger from someone who wants her dead, Grace realizes she may be the only one who can discover who might be responsible. The police are looking at Adam, Jenny's younger brother, who is struck mute by the horror he witnessed and can't defend himself when he is accused of the arson.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member RidgewayGirl
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member mckait
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 wounds
suffered 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. There
is a much wider cast of characters and each and every one of them is worth getting to know.
I loved this story, Highly recommended.
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
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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 wounds
suffered 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. There
is a much wider cast of characters and each and every one of them is worth getting to know.
I loved this story, Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member justinegriffin
A very moving story about the strength of a Mothers love, had me in floods of tears! :-)
LibraryThing member bookappeal
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
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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. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member Schatje
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
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.
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member GreatImaginations
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member cathyskye
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
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.
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member arlenadean
May 19, 2012
Arlena Dean
Author: Rosamund Lupton
Published By: Crown Publishing Group
Age Recommend: Adult (Language)
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 4
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Afterwards: The Novel " by Rosamund Lupton was a wonderful thriller, suspense mystery read. This novel was
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.
Arlena Dean
Author: Rosamund Lupton
Published By: Crown Publishing Group
Age Recommend: Adult (Language)
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 4
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
"Afterwards: The Novel " by Rosamund Lupton was a wonderful thriller, suspense mystery read. This novel was
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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.
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LibraryThing member Quiltinfun06
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member christinelstanley
I had really high hopes for this book, I absolutely loved Rosamund Lupton's first novel "Sister", but "Afterwards" could not hold my attention. The characterisation was inconsistent and plot took too many about turns to keep you interested to it's climax. 3 stars for writing style and innovation
LibraryThing member readingwithtea
"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
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.
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member CookieDemon
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
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*
Er, `no' and `no' actually. This
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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*
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LibraryThing member dpappas
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
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wonderful book that I would recommend to everyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
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
"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.
I was hooked from the opening paragraph of
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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.
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LibraryThing member NatsplattWaines
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!
LibraryThing member maneekuhi
"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
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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 Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolinejyoung
A very moving ending and plenty of surprises as to the perpetrators of the crime and their motives. I had to keep reminding myself who Grace was speaking to when she mentioned 'you' but that's most likely because a book is not so often written as if directed at another character. I felt Grace
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waffled a little in her thoughts occasionally but, apart from that, I enjoyed this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookmagic
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
This mystery thriller is a real page turner and I found I couldn't put it down. Narrated from an unique perspective, "Afterwards" is a beautifully written story about a family struggling with the devastating aftermath of a deliberately lit, school fire. There are lots of twists and turns throughout
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the book which keeps the reader guessing, but it is also a story about love - between a husband and wife, between siblings and between parents and their children. While this may not appeal to purists of the crime/mystery genre, I found "Afterwards" a fabulous read! Show Less
LibraryThing member super_nicola
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
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
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taking to her husband from a coma. Unsual but interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member bfister
This is an amazingly good book with a premise that i can't do justice because it will sound silly. A woman and her daughter both end up in the hospital after a fire at a school in London. They aslo both end up in a strange state, able to know what is going on even though their bodies are tethered
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to machines and neither appears conscious. Lupton is able to pull off this premise and involves both women in figuring out who set the fire and why. Beyond that, as in her previous novel, Sisters, she breaths life into her characters and makes them matter. It's a moving, involving, beautifully written and well-plotted story about characters who may be not quite part of the real world but utterly convincing. I suspect it will be on my top ten list this year (and it's only January as I write this!) Show Less
LibraryThing member LoriKBoyd
I Iiked this book a lot more than I expected to. Mystery with a twist. Could not put it down.
LibraryThing member trayceetee
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
I'm anxious to read her other novel, "Sister". I'd like to see more by Ms. Lupton!!!
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written this way, but I did1I'm anxious to read her other novel, "Sister". I'd like to see more by Ms. Lupton!!!
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Awards
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Mystery/Thriller — 2012)