“Searing, searching, finally scorching. Think Making a Murderer via Patricia Highsmith: an elegant kaleidoscope novel that refines and combines multiple perspectives until its subject is brought into indelible, tragic focus.” –A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window “Pitch-black and superbly written.” –Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman … New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Cabin 10
“Top-notch grip lit…incredibly brilliant.” –Marian Keyes, New York Times bestselling author
Oliver Ryan has the perfect life. Elegant and seductive, he wants for nothing, sharing a lovely home with his steadfast wife, Alice, who illustrates the award-winning children’s books that have brought him wealth and fame. Until one evening, after eating the dinner Alice has carefully prepared, Oliver savagely assaults her and leaves her for dead.
But why?
The people who know Oliver can only speculate about the reasons behind his brutal act: his empty-headed mistress Moya, vain and petulant; Veronique, the French chatelaine who tragically lost everything the summer she employed him in her vineyard; Alice’s friend Barney, who has nursed an unrequited love for her since childhood; Oliver’s college pal Michael, struggling with voiceless longings that have shamed him for years. What none of them understands is the dark secret that lies behind his immaculate facade.
The revelations that come to light as the layers of Oliver’s past are peeled away are as brutal as his singular act of violence. His decades of careful deception have masked a life irrevocably marked by abandonment, envy, and shame–and as the details of that life are laid bare, Oliver discovers that outrunning his demons is harder than it looks.
With its insight into the mind of a psychopath emerging from the wreckage of his own misbegotten past, Unraveling Oliver is a chilling page-turner, brilliantly crafted and unexpectedly moving, by a stunning new voice in fiction. Liz Nugent “presents a fresh look at a man hiding his violent personality in this intense character study” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). As powerful as Patricia Highsmith’s unforgettable noir classic, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Unraveling Oliver will enthrall you from its mesmerizing opening line to its equally shocking last page.more
This novel is narrated by several characters, and starts on a very shocking act committed by Oliver. The book is slow in the way of… each character that narrates builds and adds to the story…OVERTIME. Some things seem un-important altogether, however, every detail has some form of significance/reason. This novel is not a quick read for short quick thrills type of tale. However, if you stick with it and just appreciate it for what it is (which is a deeper simmering tale rather than one built on short quick thrills ).. you’ll find it is a painstakingly beautifully written tragedy. Everything each narrator says somehow connects to another part of the story, Oliver, other characters in the story, and the frighteningly tragic finale that ties every person, detail, and event together. It is hauntingly human and utterly heartbreaking while bringing everything together in a thrilling tragic way. The novel is mainly about the premises of being utterly alone and absolutely broken inside, and just searching for ways to fix it, while succeeding only in making everything dramatically worse. This novel will keep you guessing and has some huge reveals. A tale of misunderstanding, deeper meaning, the deepest most painful form of rejection; and all of it based on the imperfect tragic existence of being human, and suffering from the human condition.
The description of this book defines Oliver Ryan as a psychopath. Oliver is someone you will slowly become to know through other’s impressions. Beginning and ending with Oliver you will move from chapter to chapter taking in the story of Oliver as told to you by him and the people he has contact with throughout his life. You can’t cover your head or run away from his charm and like me you will find yourself drawn into his story. I read this book in one day because like Oliver drawing in those he had contact with I too was fascinated by Oliver. I could not believe one could be fooled so easily. An excellent read and fiction debut by Liz Nugget. Yes, Oliver Ryan will have you wondering if you know someone just like him.
So, you know from the get go that Oliver is not a nice man. The opening line pretty much lays it out.
“I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.”
But what made him snap? What did poor Alice do to deserve her fate? The multiple view points, presented as conversations or interviews with the characters, teases out Oliver’s past. Nothing could condone his actions, but you end up wanting to really understand what drove him. The only person whose point of view you don’t hear is Alice, which disappointed and intrigued me. What did she suspect, why did she stay so long?
I found the discussions about the Catholic Church, and how much power the church had over the every day life in Ireland during the decades between the 50’s and 80’s so fascinating. Whether directly or indirectly, the church influenced the actions of most all the characters.
Oliver knows there is something wrong with him. He’d made a life for himself that he didn’t truly earn, and his secrets, as well as the secrets of his father, came back to haunt him. I read this book over the course of 24 hours, I didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend to everyone!