Review by Anusha_09 -- Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)
Posted: 30 Aug 2020, 02:13
[Following is a volunteer review of "Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)" by Barry Litherland.]
“I suppose it’s like that with Stevie. He’s just another victim, like Chloe, only worse, much worse.
Like I say, accidents cling to Wayne like a bad smell. It could’ve been me. I was there too. But it wasn’t. It was Stevie. And I guess I have to live with that.”
Waves break (on unknown shores) by Barry Litherland is a thriller novel that oscillates between the past and present through the narration of Phil, the protagonist, showcasing how he met his friend Wayne. Unfortunate events take place in their childhood and they share the trauma of losing their friend Stevie. Their friendship becomes stronger as they try to heal from the pain of the past. However, it becomes near impossible for them to do so as their past slowly starts to unravel right in front of them. Wayne, always gravitating towards accidents, gets accused of a burglary which he denies of committing. Things start to get complicated when their childhood bully, Tyrone, is back in town. Incidentally, Phil starts to receive visits and threats from formidable individuals who are all after a mysterious JAYDEE file. Phil and Wayne try to get out of this sticky situation whilst trying to bury their past but it is unearthed in the process as it is part of the disturbance which created these ripples.
The combination of a complicated, fast-paced plot and simple writing style is executed fastidiously by Barry W. Litherland. The book is written from Phil’s perspective which makes it easier for the reader to understand the alternation of the plot between the past and the present. As the story progresses, the reader will be able to connect the dots and the bigger picture will come into view revealing the answers to the multiple, parallel mysteries. Being able to experience the character’s childhood helps the reader pinpoint the moments which impacted his adult life, understand the present situation, and identify with his choices.
I liked the pace of the book. There was not a single dull moment, although there were a few clichés, the writing style, and the characters kept me engrossed and anticipation of what would happen next. The presence of a strong female lead, Tina, in a thriller was very refreshing. The book had a sense of realness as the characters were very mundane. For instance, Tyrone did not possess any extraordinary abilities and he wasn’t necessarily an “out of the box” character but, was equally terrifying as a bully because his traits were ubiquitous which made him even more human. Similarly, Phil’s character is also quite relatable as he has his own set of flaws.
I did not particularly enjoy the predictability of the book. Although there were a few stereotypical plot arcs, I was still drawn to the story and it kept me engaged. I felt like there could have been a slight deviation in Phil’s childhood narrative as it seemed a little mature for a kid. The dialogue exchange between the kids seemed overly articulate considering the authors writing style which comes across as colloquial. There is also excessive use of profanity throughout the book which I, to some extent, found a little unnecessary.
The story and plot are undeterred by these implications and proves to be an exceptional thriller novel. It will keep the readers engaged, captivated, and wanting more till the end. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and crime. However, I would not recommend this book to readers who don’t like the use of profanity and violence. I rate Waves break (on unknown shores) 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“I suppose it’s like that with Stevie. He’s just another victim, like Chloe, only worse, much worse.
Like I say, accidents cling to Wayne like a bad smell. It could’ve been me. I was there too. But it wasn’t. It was Stevie. And I guess I have to live with that.”
Waves break (on unknown shores) by Barry Litherland is a thriller novel that oscillates between the past and present through the narration of Phil, the protagonist, showcasing how he met his friend Wayne. Unfortunate events take place in their childhood and they share the trauma of losing their friend Stevie. Their friendship becomes stronger as they try to heal from the pain of the past. However, it becomes near impossible for them to do so as their past slowly starts to unravel right in front of them. Wayne, always gravitating towards accidents, gets accused of a burglary which he denies of committing. Things start to get complicated when their childhood bully, Tyrone, is back in town. Incidentally, Phil starts to receive visits and threats from formidable individuals who are all after a mysterious JAYDEE file. Phil and Wayne try to get out of this sticky situation whilst trying to bury their past but it is unearthed in the process as it is part of the disturbance which created these ripples.
The combination of a complicated, fast-paced plot and simple writing style is executed fastidiously by Barry W. Litherland. The book is written from Phil’s perspective which makes it easier for the reader to understand the alternation of the plot between the past and the present. As the story progresses, the reader will be able to connect the dots and the bigger picture will come into view revealing the answers to the multiple, parallel mysteries. Being able to experience the character’s childhood helps the reader pinpoint the moments which impacted his adult life, understand the present situation, and identify with his choices.
I liked the pace of the book. There was not a single dull moment, although there were a few clichés, the writing style, and the characters kept me engrossed and anticipation of what would happen next. The presence of a strong female lead, Tina, in a thriller was very refreshing. The book had a sense of realness as the characters were very mundane. For instance, Tyrone did not possess any extraordinary abilities and he wasn’t necessarily an “out of the box” character but, was equally terrifying as a bully because his traits were ubiquitous which made him even more human. Similarly, Phil’s character is also quite relatable as he has his own set of flaws.
I did not particularly enjoy the predictability of the book. Although there were a few stereotypical plot arcs, I was still drawn to the story and it kept me engaged. I felt like there could have been a slight deviation in Phil’s childhood narrative as it seemed a little mature for a kid. The dialogue exchange between the kids seemed overly articulate considering the authors writing style which comes across as colloquial. There is also excessive use of profanity throughout the book which I, to some extent, found a little unnecessary.
The story and plot are undeterred by these implications and proves to be an exceptional thriller novel. It will keep the readers engaged, captivated, and wanting more till the end. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries, thrillers, and crime. However, I would not recommend this book to readers who don’t like the use of profanity and violence. I rate Waves break (on unknown shores) 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon