ONE OF AMAZON’S BEST BOOKS OF OCTOBER 2020!FINALIST, 2020 GEORGIA AUTHOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS Linwood Barclay meets Michael Farris Smith in this Southern-set domestic thriller about family, vengeance, and atonement from critically acclaimed Southern mystery novelist Christopher Swann.The bonds of family never truly let go.In fact, its grip only tightens the further you try to run: crushing and … grip only tightens the further you try to run: crushing and crippling.
Ethan Faulkner is a precocious child with a brilliant but troublesome sister, a war vet for a father, and a weary mother trying to manage their family. One night a young woman rings their doorbell, desperate to hide from two men who are pursuing her, when one of the two barges in after her. The struggle leaves both of Ethan’s parents dead.
Years later, Ethan has a successful teaching career and a budding relationship with a coworker. But he hasn’t quite followed through on his promise to his dying father–to take care of his sister. Susannah is not an easy person to keep tabs on, is a handful even when the tabs are kept, and quite frankly, Ethan wants her to suffer for preventing him from getting to his dad before he died all those years ago.
It was a long time ago and Ethan tries to put all of it behind him. But that’s easier said than done. When news of a brutal murder breaks with evidence pointing to Ethan as the prime suspect, all the painful memories of his past come rushing to meet him. Lyrically conveyed with emotion and nuance, Never Turn Back is a powerful story about family, vengeance, and how some actions echo through the years with irreparable consequences.
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GENRE: mystery thriller
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The bonds of a family never truly let go.
christopher swann is a critically acclaimed southern mystery novelist & this is his 2nd novel.
This southern set, domestic thriller about family vengeance, atonement comes out as a very intelligent and layered mystery, told in a very simple style of narration.
I liked the use of few Irish words, here and there, for amplifying the basic language and tone of “Ethan’s mother and her brother”.
Also the author quotes robertfrost a lot, which I found, hit a spot, home.
The novel is total of 28 chapters long and is divided into 3 parts.
:
This novel, is the story of ETHAN FAULKER and SUSANNAH, basically with supporting characters such as Wilson, his dog & his uncle, Uncle Gavin.
They lose their parents to a tragedy, that happened at their own home where their parents were killed and they themselves, were badly injured.
Ethan was 13 & Suzie, 10. Both of them hold themselves responsible, somewhere with “what if” things could have been different & the tragedy been averted.
Now Ethan is a school teacher and a very simple man with a few needs, by nature. On the other hand, Suzie has always been a go-getter & a tomboy.
“Susannah is like a rare and edgy bird of prey- say the wrong thing and she will either claw you or take wing and vanish. ”
Uncle Gavin’s character is shown in negative light, as their parents did not talk much of him and even though he was their mother’s brother, they never really saw him arnd.
There are a few murders happening in a chain of events, further down the story & the end reveals the killer. Any further detail would act as a spoiler.
The story changes timelines to accommodate a background story, off and on.
‘ . ‘ ‘ .
Do these words ring a bell? Being an elder sibling is so much work! You are protective & there’s a delicate bond bet. both.
Little things, like how Susannah tells Evan to call her Suzie and not otherwise..
How they still play games, which they used to play as kids..
How Suzie, although crude on the surface, is caring underneath and takes care of small but important things for Evan..
For me, personally, this novel was about siblinglove & I loved it for that.
Fantastic!
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: ℎℎ
: 278
: ℎ ℎ
: 10/6/2020
: (4 stars)
This is the first book I have read from this author. Thank you Crooked Lane books for the #gifted copy. I was absolutely drawn to this cover, which plays a pivotal role in the story.
From the start, I was emotionally invested. The story starts with Ethan Faulkner who is a precocious child with a brilliant but troublesome sister, a war vet for a father, and a weary mother trying to manage their family. One night a ring of the doorbell leads to two people dead. I loved that this book was told in multiple timelines. I would say this was definitely a gripping domestic Thriller coming in under 300 pages. Christopher did a wonderful job of writing a thriller that had me thinking all the way to the last page. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers with a few twists and turns definitely pick up a copy today.
I found “Never Turn Back” especially enjoyable for its Atlanta setting and classroom scenes. Ethan Faulkner, the protagonist teaches English at a private school and resides in the Chastain Park area as the story opens. As a child, he lives in Sandy Springs outside the Perimeter until a home invasion turned deadly forces him and his sister to move to Grant Park. The novel moves back and forth between the present and the tragedy that shaped Ethan’s life.
The Amazon blurb describes it as a “Southern-set domestic thriller about family, vengeance, and atonement.” It is that and more. It’s a story about the decisions we make—good and bad—decisions that seem to be inconsequential until . . . they’re not. How often do you recall actions you’ve taken and cringe? Even years later? Ethan and his sister Susannah have more than their usual share of cringe-worthy memories. The consequences and how they work through them form the foundation of the tale.
Is it intriguing? The answer to that is my husband spent almost an entire day on our screened porch engrossed in the book and subsequently asked me to get him the first one. The good news for Christopher Swann fans is that he’s already turned in the draft of a third book to his editor and has plans to write a sequel to “Never Turn Back.”
The saying goes, “Write what you know,” and Swann’s vivid classroom scenes are surely a product of his experience as an English teacher and department chair at Holy Innocents Episcopal School. If you’ve ever taught or you have children in school or simply enjoy literature, I predict you’ll savor those parts of the book as much as the mystery at its core.
Thoughts
Ethan Faulkner has been trying to move on from his past for years, but the past won’t let go of him. Always readily available to help his younger sister, Susannah who was and still is not easy to handle, Ethan doesn’t know that she has not let go of the past either.
This was such a wild read! I wanted to know what happened the night that Ethan’s parents were killed right off the bat, but you have to wait for the full story. Then you throw in Marisa who was supposed to be Ethan’s one night stand at a conference, but ends up taking a teaching position at the same school he works at. I didn’t understand how she fit into his life, and if she had something to do with the night of the murders. That is also a question that is answered toward the end. The author does a stand up job of making you wait when all you want is more!
A story of how far a family will go to protect one another while seeking revenge on those who have harmed them the most.
Book Rating: 4/5
Wine Pairing: Penfolds Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
What better time to read a thriller than right now? Wait, I take that back, *than this year.* I mean, we’re basically living in one! But if you’re feeling like you need something to set you on the edge of your seat, give you some major suspense, and actually give you a great cast of characters (and a doggy!) then this is the one for you!
Now, this one is set up just like how I like my thrillers because it’s a “slow” start. And what I mean by that is that it sets everything up so carefully and lures you in, then SNAPS and everything gets turned on its head. So you read it waiting for that ball to drop and it just heightens the suspense for me. And I think it just elevates the story because you become so invested in it and a big mind twist at that point isn’t just for the sake of a twist but truly adds something to the story.
And even though I say this one is slow I mean it’s not slow at all. It will hook you right from the first page and you will become invested in all of the characters and what may or may not happen to them. And there is a strong mystery element to this story, which is something I always love to see!
An intense story, with interesting characters and so many twists and turns that kept me on the edge throughout the book.
After a tragic loss and overcoming a hard past, Ethan is an adult now, a successful teacher on the lookout for a future and a girlfriend. But not everything goes as planned and after the breakup with Marisa, his life is turned upside down as his sister makes an appearance in his life, a murder is investigated and he’s the primary suspect.
The first part of the book was at a slower pace for my liking, even if it has many heartbreaking moments and shows how much Ethan changed and made good for himself. Now, the second part becomes more interesting and opens up a lot of secrets and hidden truths that change his life and future in moments.
It’s a story about life and overcoming tragedy as well as how many times the past never gets buried forever and it comes back to bite you when less expecting.
It was my first book by the author, but won’t be my last for sure
A wonderfully unusual, utterly unpredictable twist of a puzzle with an edge, Never Turn Back warns you with its title that you’re in for something, and hints at the problem with a line on page two, when the narrator says, “The twin memories of my parents are like a pair of blades scissoring my heart.”
My full review is online at the New York Journal of Books!
Solidly Paced Mystery. This was a fun romp through Atlanta and North Georgia that starts out seeming like it doesn’t really have a point before pivoting in one direction… and then nearly causing whiplash with an out of the blue pivot in a complete other direction still. Really, really fun book that has somewhat of a surprise/ shocking revelation in the last 10% before ending on a much more contemplative note. This was my first book from this author, and if he continues to write these types of tales it certainly won’t be my last. Very much recommended.
Wow, I had never read this author, but man he got me hooked. He had twist and turns that had you glued to your seat, but you weren’t lost but you did have to pay attention. I liked the characters and you understood why they felt and did what they did since Swann explains their background. I dont want to give to much away..But grab a copy! and put on your seat belt..
rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions