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WORK TITLE: In Her Wake
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1973
WEBSITE: http://amandajennings.co.uk/
CITY: Henley-on-Thames, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6446006.Amanda_Jennings
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1973, in London, England; married; children: three daughters.
EDUCATION:Attended Cambridge University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Regular guest presenter on BBC Berkshire’s Book Club program; judge for the Henley Youth Festival writing competition; worked with the WoMentoring Project. Previously, ran a small business and worked at the BBC.
WRITINGS
Maintains a Web log.
The Judas Scar was optioned for film.
SIDELIGHTS
Amanda Jennings is a British writer. Previously, she ran a small business and worked at the BBC. In addition to writing, she regularly guest-hosts a radio program called Book Club and has judged the writing competition at the Henley Youth Festival.
Sworn Secret
In 2012 Jennings released her first novel, Sworn Secret. In this volume, Lizzie is mourning the death of her sister. As she learns more about how her sister died, she uncovers details that may be dangerous to her and her family.
Cesca Martin offered a favorable review of the book on the Novelicious.com Web site. Martin asserted: “It was pacey, gripping and at times genuinely shocking. The dialogue was realistic and well-written and the novel flowed wonderfully.” Referring to the character in the volume, Jo Heffer, writer on the Bookbag Web site, suggested: “All of their stories are woven together very well.” Heffer added: “This is an extremely emotional but satisfying read that will tug at your heartstrings [and] leave you wanting more. It is the first novel from Amanda Jennings and is an excellent debut. Hopefully, there is a lot more like this to come.” “Highly recommended if you like fiction to keep you guessing, this will keep you gripped until the last,” commented a contributor to the Bookish Reader Web site.
The Judas Scar
In The Judas Scar, Jennings tells the story of Harmony, Will, and Luke. Harmony and Will were expecting a baby, but Harmony had a miscarriage. She is devastated to learn that Will does not want to try to have a child again. Harmony happens to become acquainted with Luke, an old friend of Will’s. A traumatic event caused the two of them to end their friendship, and Will continues to be haunted by it. Slowly, details about that event and about Luke’s current agenda are revealed.
“The Judas Scar is a beautifully crafted tale, which is emotional, dark and so very compelling that you will struggle to put it down,” commented Amanda Keats, reviewer on the Novelicious.com Web site. A critic on the Compelling Reads Web site suggested: “The Judas Scar is a stunning book, with an equally stunning cover.” The critic continued: “It draws you in to a world so few people would experience … and touches on such horrific and sensitive subjects with grace and honesty.” The same critic also described the volume as “a truly thought provoking and mesmerising read.”
In Her Wake
Bella, the protagonist of In Her Wake, learns that her parents, who have both recently died, are not related to her biologically. She travels to St. Ives to find her birth mother. Discussing the theme of the book, Jennings told a contributor to the Book Trail Web site: “I am fascinated by family dynamics. The family forms a protective barrier around us from the start, but it can be such a fragile unit. Honesty and communication are important, yet secrets are commonplace.” Jennings continued: “The trouble with secrets is although often the intentions are good–either somebody wants to avoid upsetting another person or prevent maybe avoid confrontation or trouble–the fallout, the breaking of trust, can have lasting effects. The secrets I introduce to the families I write about are always unusual and ‘big,’ and generally have some sort of criminal edge. I enjoy taking a family and watching what happens as they try and grapple with the fallout.” In an interview with Jane Isaac that appeared on Isaac’s self-titled Web site, Jennings discussed developing the characters in the book, noting that her favorite character was “Phil, the man who works in the coffee shop on the harbour in St. Ives. He is there to bring moments of lightness to the story and so writing the scenes that include him was somewhat easier than writing the more emotional or traumatic ones. He’s also learning the Cornish language so it gave me an opportunity to research that a bit which was fun!”
Reviewing In Her Wake in Publishers Weekly, a critic suggested: “Unfortunately, the pace is rather slow.” In a more favorable assessment of the book on the Crime Pieces Web site, a writer described the book as “quite simply, a sheer tour de force which needs to be experienced. Mesmerising and magnificent. Beautiful prose, breathtaking scenery and a powerful story of a passionate search for meaning. A phenomenal piece of brilliance by Amanda Jennings.” The writer concluded: “In Her Wake has raised the bar for every psychological thriller going forward.” A contributor to the Being Anne Web site remarked: “The story is simply wonderful–every discovery shocking, every new secret so totally unexpected. Should you doubt it, the book is a compelling read–’page turner’ seems a wholly inadequate description.” The same contributor added: “It’s totally effortless to read, perfect in its construction. … The depth the author brings to her characters is really exceptional–real people, people you know, people you feel with and hurt for.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, August 1, 2016, review of In Her Wake, p. 50.
ONLINE
Amanda Jennings Home Page, http://amandajennings.co.uk (May 13, 2017).
Being Anne, http://beinganne.com/ (March 29, 2016), review of In Her Wake.
Book Trail, http://www.thebooktrail.com/ (March 31, 2016), author interview.
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (May 13, 2017), Jo Heffer, review of Sworn Secret.
Bookish Reader, http://www.thebookishreader.co.uk/ (December 28, 2016), review of Sworn Secret.
Compelling Reads, http://compellingreads.co.uk/ (June 10, 2014), review of The Judas Scar.
Crime Pieces, https://crimepieces.com/ (February 20, 2016), Rachel Hall, review of In Her Wake.
Jane Isaac Blog, http://www.janeisaac.co.uk/ (February 10, 2016), Jane Isaac, author interview.
Novelicious.com, http://www.novelicious.com/ (October 11, 2012), Cesca Martin, review of Sworn Secret; (April 24, 2014), Amanda Keats, review of The Judas Scar.*
Amanda Jennings
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Amanda Jennings Goodreads Author
Born London, The United Kingdom
Websitehttp://www.amandajennings.co.uk
Twittermandajjennings
InfluencesBarbara Kingsolver, Susan Cooper, Stephen King, Anne Tyler, Alan Benne ...more
Member SinceApril 2012
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Amanda is mother to three daughters and lives in chaotic contentment just outside Henley-on-Thames with a houseful of pets and a husband. She is the author of three books, Sworn Secret, The Judas Scar and In Her Wake. She is currently working on her fourth, another psychological thriller set in West Cornwall.
Amanda Jennings was born in London in 1973, and her family moved to a village in rural Berkshire when she was young. Unsure what career she wanted to pursue, she decided to follow in her architect mother’s footsteps and accepted a place to read architecture at Cambridge University, but it soon became clear it wasn’t for her and she changed course to History of Art – more writing, less physics! Following a year or so running her own company with a friend writing copy for a variety of small businesses, she left to have her first baby. A few years later Amanda went to work at the BBC, but she missed looking after her daughter, and could no longer ignore her yearning to write. When she became pregnant with her second child, and encouraged by the success of a shortlisted sitcom script in a BBC writing competition, she took the opportunity to be at home with the children, and grabbed every spare moment she could find to write. Sworn Secret, her first novel, was published in the UK in August 2012. It hit the kindle #4 position in the UK, was a Top 100 bestseller in the US and reached the #1 spot in Italy in translation. Her second book, The Judas Scar, was published in May 2014, and shortly after was optioned by a film and television production company. In Her Wake, her third, will be published in April 2016, with a limited edition hardback being sold by Goldsboro Books, and the ebook available in February 2016.
Amanda is a regular guest presenter on BBC Berkshire’s weekly Book Club, is a judge for the Henley Youth Festival writing competition, and is involved in the WoMentoring Project, which offers mentoring support for talented female writers with women who work in the literary world.
Amanda lives just outside Henley-on-Thames with her husband, three daughters and a varied menagerie. She is currently writing her fourth book.
Amanda Jennings writes psychological suspense and is the author of Sworn Secret, which was published in the UK, US and Italy. It was an Amazon kindle Top 5 bestseller in the UK, a Top 100 bestseller in the US, and reached the number 1 spot in Italy. Her second book, The Judas Scar, was published in 2014 and optioned shortly after by a UK film and television production company. In Her Wake, is her most recently published book. It's set in Cornwall, where her mother's side of the family is from, and where she spent long and very happy childhood summers. Amanda is a regular guest on BBC Berkshire's weekly Book Club and enjoys meeting readers at libraries, book clubs and literary festivals. She writes a blog and is active on Twitter. She lives just outside Henley-on-Thames with her husband, three daughters and an unruly menagerie of pets.
QUOTED: "Phil the man who works in the coffee shop on the harbour in St Ives. He is there to bring moments of lightness to the story and so writing the scenes that include him was somewhat easier than writing the more emotional or traumatic ones. He’s also learning the Cornish language so it gave me an opportunity to research that a bit which was fun!"
Publication Day Interview: In Her Wake by Amanda Jennings
February 10, 2016 by Jane Isaac
I’m delighted to welcome Amanda Jennings to the blog today as her third novel, In Her Wake, is released by Orenda Books. I have just finished this novel and have to say that it is one of my favourite reads of the past twelve months. If you like beautifully written, literary fiction with a psychological edge then you are in for a treat. This novel stays with you long after you leave the last page and is available here. Here’s Amanda to tell us a little more about it.
In Her Wake Cover
Can you describe your new novel in one succinct but sensual sentence?
Focusing on themes of identity, control, grief, loss and responsibility, In Her Wake tells the story of one woman’s journey to uncover the truth behind the tragic events that shaped her life.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Phil the man who works in the coffee shop on the harbour in St Ives. He is there to bring moments of lightness to the story and so writing the scenes that include him was somewhat easier than writing the more emotional or traumatic ones. He’s also learning the Cornish language so it gave me an opportunity to research that a bit which was fun!
Which authors have been your main inspirations?
So many! But if I had to choose a few, I would say Stephen King and James Herbert were early influences. As a young teen I was gripped by their books, relished the tension and shocks they created within cracking stories wrought with rich imagination. And then Anne Tyler who is one of my favourite authors. I admire the warmth and appreciation she shows her characters, no matter what, and how she can find beauty in the quirkiest of people and intrigue in the most mundane scenarios. Sue Monk Kidd and Khaled Hosseini both write books that immerse their readers in place. You read their words and can smell the smells, feel the dust on your skin and the heat on your back, and taste the air, and it’s an enviable skill.
How does your writing process work; confusion and paper flying everywhere or calm and ordered?
I suppose to the outside world it might seem chaotic. I’m not a rigorous planner. I don’t have walls of neatly positioned post-its or white boards with scene markers and tension points, and there are no spreadsheets in sight. But I am calm in my apparent disorganisation. I keep notebooks – messily written, perhaps – that hold everything from plot ideas, to vignettes observed from real life, to character motivations, to location suggestions. There is lots of scrawling and underlining and asterisks and capitalised notes to myself. I’ll write in these notebooks until I feel ready to begin the first draft and then I just write, without stopping, using some key scenes as signposts to get me moving in roughly a straight line. I write multiple rewrites, so I know this first draft isn’t going to be much to shout about. It’s my lump of clay with which I’ll shape my story. Themes, subplots, character arcs, the emotional punches, all go in later. There’s almost method in the madness, so I guess I’d call myself a calm ‘pantser’.
What is your guilty pleasure when writing? (Chocolate, wine, coffee…)
Tea! So much tea! About six or seven cups in a writing day. And chocolate if I’ve worked well. The school bus which brings my children back stops outside a post office. I often leave myself an extra five minutes and buy some chocolate there as a reward for a productive day. I sit in the car at the bus stop and enjoy the chocolatey peace before family mayhem descends.
Please share your blurb with us.
A tragic family event reveals devastating news that rips apart Bella’s comfortable existence. Embarking on a personal journey to uncover the truth, she faces a series of traumatic discoveries that take her to the ruggedly beautiful Cornish coast, where hidden truths, past betrayals and a 25-year-old mystery threaten not just her identity, but also her life.
Chilling, complex and profoundly moving, In Her Wake is a gripping psychological thriller that questions the nature of family – and reminds us that sometimes the most shocking crimes are committed closest to home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda
Amanda Jennings writes psychological fiction. Her first book, Sworn Secret, was a bestseller in the UK, US and Italy, and her second, The Judas Scar, was optioned by a production company shortly after release. She used to work at the BBC, but now writes full-time and looks after her three daughters and menagerie of pets. She writes a blog and is a regular guest presenter on BBC Berkshire’s weekly Book Club. She is a judge for the Henley Youth Festival creative writing competition and is involved with the Womentoring Project, which offers free mentoring by professional literary women to talented up and coming female writers. When not writing or walking the dog, she can usually be found loitering on Twitter or making another cup of tea…
QUOTED: "I am fascinated by family dynamics. The family forms a protective barrier around us from the start, but it can be such a fragile unit. Honesty and communication are important, yet secrets are commonplace."
"The trouble with secrets is although often the intentions are good – either somebody wants to avoid upsetting another person or prevent maybe avoid confrontation or trouble – the fallout, the breaking of trust, can have lasting effects. The secrets I introduce to the families I write about are always unusual and ‘big’, and generally have some sort of criminal edge. I enjoy taking a family and watching what happens as they try and grapple with the fallout."
In Her Wake – Amanda Jennings
Submitted: 31st March 2016
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Tonight was going to be a quiet night, until a few people (mentioning no names Amanda Jennings and Victoria Goldman started tweeting about gin as Amanda’s book is out in paperback early! So, we got some cakes, some more gin and some nibbles and decided to have a bit of a do as they say in the book world. Things got a little bit rowdy at one point so I took Amanda off to a quiet corner where we’ve had a little chat!
Booktrail In Her Wake here
AMANDA-Jennings
You take a popular theme – unearthing family secrets – and put a whole new spin on things. What is it about family secrets and the search for the truth that compelled you to write this novel?
I am fascinated by family dynamics. The family forms a protective barrier around us from the start, but it can be such a fragile unit. Honesty and communication are important, yet secrets are commonplace. The trouble with secrets is although often the intentions are good – either somebody wants to avoid upsetting another person or prevent maybe avoid confrontation or trouble – the fallout, the breaking of trust, can have lasting effects. The secrets I introduce to the families I write about are always unusual and ‘big’, and generally have some sort of criminal edge. I enjoy taking a family and watching what happens as they try and grapple with the fallout.
You illustrate very cleverly how complex emotional needs are and the sense of belonging. What kind of research did you do for this novel?
I read around the subject of families who had lost children. I also did some research into the effects of loss and individual stories of bereavement. I also rely on empathy. I think all writers have a strong sense of empathy. We have to put ourselves in the shoes of other people in order to write believable stories. Writers have to feel the emotions their characters are feeling. I don’t think you can be a writer of fiction without having empathy and I’d go so far as to say that people who have high levels of empathy are probably drawn to writing through a desire to explore feelings and investigate how different people might react in different situations. Identity is a key theme in my book. I am interested in what defines a person. Is it the place they feel at home in? The people they live with? The way they dress? There are all sorts of things that go into making a person who they are, including their past memories and experiences. In this book Bella has to reassess everything she thought she knew and is forced to embark on a journey of self-discovery, not just externally, but internally also.
The tragic family event you describe is heartbreaking. What this difficult to portray in your thriller?
Again I think much of being a writer is slotting yourself into different situations. When I was thinking about this book my first question to myself was ‘How would I cope if I had lost a child?’ And from there I was able to keep asking questions to help me form the narrative. For example ‘Would I want my child to be alive or dead?’ Alive. ‘Would I want her to be unharmed?’ Of course. ‘Would I want her to have had a loving family?’ Yes. But with this answer the story begins to put out tendrils. Complications that accompany the child having a happy home with those who took her. So then come more questions. ‘How would the child view that family when she finds out the truth?’ ‘What were the family’s reasons for taking her?’ ‘Why didn’t they see the error of their ways and hand themselves in?’ ‘How would the bereft family cope?’ Or not cope. Developing a story is all about asking constant questions. ‘What if..?’ is a very useful device. Just keep asking ‘What if..?’ and gradually the story begins to unfurl. That’s the mechanics of portraying this type of subject matter. Emotionally it can be difficult, of course. Sometimes writing can be all about facing your personal fears. As a mother, losing one of my children is undoubtedly one of my greatest fears.
in her wake
Bella has some very difficult relationships with the men in her life. She is a very strong yet confused woman. Can you tell us more about her as I found her a fascinating character!
Bella, I have no doubt, would have grown up to be a strong, feisty, independent woman had she been allowed to stay with her mother and sister. I wanted the reader to be torn, to see that on one hand she was ‘lucky’ to end up in a beautiful house with people who cared for her, but on the other, to see the detrimental effects of living with damaged people who controlled her every movement. She wasn’t physically abused, but she was controlled at every point, so much so that she when she finally left her mother and went to university she was immediately drawn to an older man who took over the controlling role in her life. It is only through discovering the truth about herself and embarking on this journey to uncover the secrets in her life, that Bella has any hope of truly breaking free.
You write with such emotion and heart tugging words. Where you do write and how do you get inside the heads of your characters?
Thank you! When I write I try and draw on the emotions I have experienced myself. So though I haven’t been through some of the traumatic experiences that my characters are living through, I am able to channel the emotion they are dealing with by using my own memory bank of emotions. So if I’m writing about sadness I’ll recall how it felt to lose my friend in a car accident at 19, for example, or when my beloved dog died. I watch people, too. All the time. (I probably look like a weird stalker on occasion. In fact, if you see someone with a notebook gazing at you oddly in a cafe, they are more than likely a writer!) You can see so much if you keep your eyes open. If you want to see raw emotion in the flesh, airports and train stations are great for observing people. Or school plays are good places to capture parental pride on show! I am a sponge when it comes to soaking up other people’s emotions and I’ve been like that since I can remember. It harks back to that issue of empathy again. Empathy is the writer’s most valuable tool.
What is your favourite place in Cornwall where you would escape to?
The beach I describe in the book – the one that Bella and Greg and friends go to for their party – is one of my favourite spots. It’s about twenty minutes away from my parents’ house in Zennor and is quite simply stunning. It’s not the easiest walk down and because of this there are rarely any people there and more often or not you will see seals playing in the shallows. Just gorgeous!
Authors and or fictional characters you’d like to invite to a dinner party
If I had a dream dinner party with authors I’d ask Oscar Wilde, Anne Tyler, David Nicholls, Caitlin Moran and Stephen King. And if I had one with characters, I’d invite Bridget Jones, Jo March, Atticus Finch, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes and Lassie (who I would just stroke and feed tidbits to beneath the table.)
You describe St Ives so well. What is your link to the town?
My mother and her family – all the way back through countless generations – are from the area. My sister and I have been spending summers, half-terms and some Christmases down there since I can remember. I adore Cornwall and one day, when the children have grown up and left home, my husband and I will end up there, I know.
With many thanks to Amanda for giving such great answers despite there being some banging music going on next door. These book people are quite the bunch! A whole lot of fun – they know how to let their hair down.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information:
Twitter: @MandaJJennings
Web: amandajennings.co.uk
QUOTED: "Unfortunately, the pace is rather slow."
In Her Wake
Publishers Weekly. 263.31 (Aug. 1, 2016): p50.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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In Her Wake
Amanda Jennings. Orenda (IPG, dist.), $14.95 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-910633-29-8
Bella Campbell, the narrator of this unsettling psychological thriller from British author Jennings (The Judas Scar), discovers after her mother's death and her father's subsequent suicide that they weren't her real parents, that she was kidnapped as a child from another family to replace the dead daughter so beloved by her crazed "mother." For Bella, perhaps this explains all the troubling dreams that might, in fact, have been memories. Bella sets out from London for St. Ives in Cornwall, the home of her birth mother, according to her father's suicide note, in search of answers. Shocked and fearful, Bella slowly explores her past, which turns out to be much more troubled than her early fantasies. In this story of rebirth, Bella moves slowly beyond victimhood. Unfortunately, the pace is rather slow, as she needs time to agonize over and analyze each decision, to put each puzzle piece in its correct place. Agent: Broo Doherty, DHH Literary Agency (U.K.). (Sept.)
QUOTED: "Quite simply, a sheer tour de force which needs to be experienced. Mesmerising and magnificent. Beautiful prose, breathtaking scenery and a powerful story of a passionate search for meaning. A phenomenal piece of brilliance by Amanda Jennings."
"In Her Wake has raised the bar for every psychological thriller going forward."
Review: Amanda Jennings – In Her Wake
FEBRUARY 20, 2016 / SARAH
A book that everyone is talking about at the moment. In Her Wake reviewed by guest reviewer, Rachel Hall.
From the haunting prologue which poses numerous questions to the arrival of Bella ahead of the funeral of her mother Elaine, this is a story which effortlessly draws the reader in and never loosens its grip. As Bella returns to her childhood home and distant father in the wake of Elaine’s death her angst is palpable. With the passing of her mother, she has lost the anchor which rooted her to her life before a marriage to a domineering husband, David. Controlled by David and disconnected to her father, Henry, it is difficult not to be drawn into Bella’s plight.
Usually I find it difficult to connect with characters that allow themselves to be controlled and dictated to by other people in their lives. I feel my frustration growing and I want to shout, “can’t you see what is happening?”, but Bella has a vulnerability which is believable. As a child stifled by the love of a mother and driven into the arms of an older man in the form of university tutor, David, she has needed some form of rock to define her. It is easy to see how Bella has been bulldozed by the personalities around her and allowed decisions to be made for her, and yet the reader does not see Bella as a helpless woman, rather someone who has opted for the simplicity of an easy life in the shadow of an overprotective mother and suffocating husband.
As Elaine is buried and Henry struggles with a life bereft of meaning it is clear that Bella will not leave her childhood home untouched. The passing of her mother and unburdening of her father sets in motion a series of events. Like a car crash waiting to happen, Amanda Jennings allows her readers to experience every harrowing moment, shining an unflinching spotlight upon one woman’s journey as the Pandora’s box she dares to open plays out. Despite the shackles which have wound Bella so tightly to her old life, she has questions which need to be answered in order to gain a sense of contentment which she has longed for.
Questions adopt an urgency as Bella’s plight becomes the readers own and the secrets which are exposed wreak havoc on her emotions. Intoxicating and vivid, this will leave you battered and bruised, feeling punch-drunk but you will come out the other side and love every minute of it. In Her Wake raises questions about the memories and reflections on an old life as a woman seeks to make sense of the world she has long felt cast adrift from and with it bringing an understanding of Elaine, Henry and a childhood. Jennings cleverly contrasts the stability and routine which Bella has never questioned with all the associated upheaval that a search for the truth brings.
Quite simply, a sheer tour de force which needs to be experienced. Mesmerising and magnificent. Beautiful prose, breathtaking scenery and a powerful story of a passionate search for meaning. A phenomenal piece of brilliance by Amanda Jennings. Read, recommend and spread the word. In Her Wake has raised the bar for every psychological thriller going forward.
QUOTED: "The story is simply wonderful – every discovery shocking, every new secret so totally unexpected. Should you doubt it, the book is a compelling read – “page turner” seems a wholly inadequate description."
"It’s totally effortless to read, perfect in its construction. ... The depth the author brings to her characters is really exceptional – real people, people you know, people you feel with and hurt for.
Review – In Her Wake by Amanda Jennings
By Anne | February 7, 2016
A perfect life… until she discovered it wasn’t her own.
A tragic family event reveals devastating news that rips apart Bella’s comfortable existence. Embarking on a personal journey to uncover the truth, she faces a series of traumatic discoveries that take her to the ruggedly beautiful Cornish coast, where hidden truths, past betrayals and a 25-year-old mystery threaten not just her identity, but her life.
Chilling, complex and profoundly moving, In Her Wake is a gripping psychological thriller that questions the nature of family – and reminds us that sometimes the most shocking crimes are committed closest to home.
Every now and then, I come across a book that is so perfect, and that moved me so deeply, that I doubt I’ll ever be able to find the right words to write about it. In Her Wake by Amanda Jennings is published by Orenda Books – the ebook is out on 10th February, the paperback on 1st April. I’ve ordered a signed and numbered exclusive limited edition hardback from Goldsboro Books, and it was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. I have no doubt I’ll be buying more paperback copies – so that I can put them in people’s hands and simply say “read it”.
I loved the author’s earlier book, The Judas Scar: when I reviewed it (here), I said it was “a book you won’t want to put down until you’ve read to the end, but one that you really have to put down just to catch your breath, and when you’re not reading it you’ll still be thinking about it.” With In Her Wake, Amanda Jennings has – quite unbelievably – outdone that.
I was absolutely enthralled by this book from its opening pages, a depiction of extreme sadness unlike any I’ve read before as Bella travels to her childhood home on the death of her mother. Her father is grieving – there are wonderful touches like a poorly buttoned cardigan and the impossibility of making a cup of tea – but there is a distance between him and his daughter that has always been there. When another tragedy strikes, layers of long hidden secrets begin to unfurl – dark secrets that change people’s lives for ever.
The story is simply wonderful – every discovery shocking, every new secret so totally unexpected. Should you doubt it, the book is a compelling read – “page turner” seems a wholly inadequate description, but I can’t find another that so sums it up. The quality of the writing is – if anything – even better. Some of it was totally stunning – a description of St Ives so vivid it affected all my senses, sunrise on a beach seen with the eyes of an artist. I began by highlighting passages I loved so that I could revisit them – I later gave up, because there were just too many. It’s totally effortless to read, perfect in its construction – but at the same time it can be difficult, seeing people and their relationships laid out and dissected so minutely. The depth the author brings to her characters is really exceptional – real people, people you know, people you feel with and hurt for.
This was a very special book – one that will stay with me for a long time to come. It’s not often I’m lost for words, but this book was absolute perfection…
My deepest thanks to author Amanda Jennings and Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for allowing me the honour of reading this book in advance of publication.
Amanda Jennings lives just outside Henley-on-Thames with her husband and three daughters. In Her Wake is her third novel. She is a regular guest on BBC Berkshire’s weekly Book Club, and enjoys speaking at literary festivals, libraries and book clubs. When she isn’t writing she can mostly be found walking her dog and dreaming of being up a mountain or beside the sea. She writes a blog and is an active user of social media.
QUOTED: "It was pacey, gripping and at times genuinely shocking. The dialogue was realistic and well-written and the novel flowed wonderfully."
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Review - Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings
Reviewed by Cesca Martin
Sworn-Secret
It’s a great opening chapter - anonymous girl talking to anonymous person on top of building and she then… falls. Anna, the charismatic older sister of Lizzie, is dead and her family are living out their grief under one roof. Her mother, Kate, spends hours locked away capturing Anna’s face on canvas, Lizzie plunges deeper into school life and Jon, her father, just tries to keep the show on the road. As Lizzie tries to grow up and move on, a devastating revelation shocks them all to the core and more questions about how and why Anna died resurface. Will they finally be able to let Anna rest in peace, or will there just be more questions?
I was thoroughly absorbed in this book from the debut novelist, Amanda Jennings. I loved the chapters written from the different characters' perspectives and for me there was no “weak link” – a character you just wanted to skirt over. It was pacey, gripping and at times genuinely shocking. The dialogue was realistic and well-written and the novel flowed wonderfully.
This book was so nearly a perfect read but I’m afraid the end somewhat put a dampener on it for me. I don’t want to ruin any surprises but I have to say I was a little underwhelmed when I closed the final page. I was frantically racing to get there however, and this is an enormously enjoyable read with so much to recommend it. Any fans of Jodi Picoult (see our review here), Hannah Richell (Secret of the Tides – see my review here) and other writers of family sagas will definitely enjoy this debut from Amanda Jennings.
8/10
QUOTED: "All of their stories are woven together very well."
"This is an extremely emotional but satisfying read that will tug at your heartstrings leave you wanting more. It is the first novel from Amanda Jennings and is an excellent debut. Hopefully, there is a lot more like this to come."
Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings
Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings
Category: General Fiction
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Jo Heffer
Reviewed by Jo Heffer
Summary: How do you carry on living when your daughter or your sister is dead? Even worse, how do you cope when you find out things about her that you wish with all your heart were not true? That is the future that faces Kate and Jon Thorne and their daughter Lizzie after elder daughter Anna is found dead after falling from the roof of her school. This is the story of a family that is torn apart by grief and is desperately trying to put itself back together.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 320 Date: August 2012
Publisher: Canvas
ISBN: 978-1849019699
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A year ago Anna Thorne was found dead after presumably falling from the roof of her school after drinking vodka. Twelve months later, her parents, Kate and Jon, and her sister, Lizzie, are still trying to make sense of and come to terms with what has happened. They each have their own way of dealing with their grief which, rather than uniting, serves to isolate each of them. Ultimately, they are becoming three sad strangers living under the same roof.
A memorial service for Anna is held at the school but instead of being the cathartic celebratory event that was intended, it sets off a whole series of events that find the family stumbling across some revelations about Anna that are shocking and disturbing and raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the fall and her death. As the story progresses, things become more tense and dramatic and it certainly becomes compulsive reading. It makes one wonder just how much trauma can one family bear.
So, as you can probably tell, this is not a happy story, but it is compelling. It is very well crafted in order to keep the reader's interest as it the different events slowly unfold. I found myself not wanting to put the book down at all. It's also the sort of book that is best read with a box of tissues close by.
Kate, Jon and Lizzie are all fascinating characters and each have their own stories to tell. Particularly poignant is the fact that Jon's elderly father is suffering from dementia and no longer recognises his own son. At the same time, Lizzie is falling in love for the first time but unfortunately her parents have their very strong reasons for not wanting to encourage her relationship with Haydn to continue. Lizzie is the most grief-stricken of them all and only seems to find solace by locking herself away and painting portraits of her beloved daughter. She is so obsessed by doing so that she is in danger of forgetting that she has another daughter who is still very much alive. All of their stories are woven together very well.
This is an extremely emotional but satisfying read that will tug at your heartstrings leave you wanting more. It is the first novel from Amanda Jennings and is an excellent debut. Hopefully, there is a lot more like this to come.
QUOTED: "Highly recommended if you like fiction to keep you guessing, this will keep you gripped until the last."
Review: Sworn Secret by Amanda Jennings
Lizzie is living with the aftermath of her 16 year-old sister's sudden death. It was a year ago but her family is still struggling. When Lizzie finds out more about the circumstances, she starts on a terrible path of discovery which will either bring her family back together or break them forever.
This is such a great read with twists and turns on every page (well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but you get my drift). Amanda Jennings is the queen of thrillers. I recently read In Her Wake (see my review here) which was a 5-star read for me (and possibly the best book I've read this year) and had high hopes for this one. It didn't disappoint.
Anna (the dead sister) starts off as an angel, popular at school, pretty, clever and generally perfect. As her sister grows older and nears the age when Anna herself died, Lizzie wants to know more about her death. She talks to friends and Anna's boyfriend and gradually uncovers her sisters real life, including bits she didn't want to know. A shocking twist in the middle of the story turns the story on it's head and kept me guessing to the last page.
Highly recommended if you like fiction to keep you guessing, this will keep you gripped until the last.
Posted 28th December 2016 by The Bookish Reader
QUOTED: "The Judas Scar is a beautifully crafted tale, which is emotional, dark and so very compelling that you will struggle to put it down."
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Review – The Judas Scar by Amanda Jennings
Reviewed by Amanda Keats
The Judas Scar by Amanda JenningsHarmony and Will have been together happily for many years, but her recent miscarriage has driven something of a wedge between them as Harmony wants to try for another baby, but Will is quite happy not being a parent.
So when Luke, an old school friend of Will's, reappears, it looks like Harmony may finally be about to discover just what happened during his childhood that made him so closed off – though she may not like what she discovers.
The Judas Scar is a story rooted in emotion and the imperfections of human nature, taking a close look at the damage secrets can do when allowed to fester. Being confronted with a childhood Will has spent years ignoring means that he can no longer keep his shocking past to himself.
The pace builds quite slowly at the start, but about halfway through it really picks up and the emotion of the first half takes on a darker and far more intense twist in the second. It becomes a race to the end to discover what is really going on with Luke and what really took place when he and Will were at school together.
The Judas Scar is a beautifully crafted tale, which is emotional, dark and so very compelling that you will struggle to put it down until you, like Harmony, have learned the truth.
9/10
QUOTED: "The Judas Scar is a stunning book, with an equally stunning cover."
"It draws you in to a world so few people would experience ... and touches on such horrific and sensitive subjects with grace and honesty."
"a truly thought provoking and mesmerising read."
The Judas Scar – Amanda Jennings
by Kelly | Jun 10, 2014 | 2014 Books, Adult Books, Book reviews
First of all I would like to thank Hatty at CEP and Amanda, for ensuring I received a copy of this fabulous book for review.
The Judas Scar is about Harmony and Will, a couple devastated by miscarriage. Their relationship is rocked by the revelation that Will doesn’t want to have children, EVER! A chance lunch brings into the mix Luke, a guy who Harmony is intrigued by. Will and Luke were best friends at private school, but Luke was expelled and neither spoke to each other again. Will has spent his life dealing with the demons of that day, vowing to keep those events and the bullying he suffered secret. But as things start to unravel, will everything Will has tried so hard to keep hidden, finally be revealed?
The Judas Scar is first and foremost a breath taking and incredible read. I am truly gutted I have finished The Judas Scar and appalled at myself for taking so long to read it. Amanda is an incredible writer, something which is obvious from the first page. She has a real way with words and a true talent for writing. Amanda’s writing style while in-depth, is easy to read and had me mesmerised from the beginning.
The Judas Scar has a brilliant plot, with numerous twists and turns, which certainly kept me guessing. I for one, had definitely not seen the ending coming, but what a brilliant way to end such a highly charged and emotive read. The Judas Scar is a book which really does take you on an emotional roller coaster. Amanda manages to touch on such horrific events with sensitivity, highlighting the impact such events have on a person for the rest of their lives.
The Judas Scar is well paced and flows seamlessly from character to character. I loved how we were able to read certain events from the different perspectives of Harmony, Will and Luke; truly enabling me as a reader to get to each of the characters that little bit better and understand why things happened. Will, Harmony and Luke were each fantastically portrayed, their personalities really shone through and I could really imagine what they would be like in real life. Luke was a truly chilling character and alarm bells were ringing from his first appearance, but I found my heart going out to him by the end.
The Judas Scar is a stunning book, with an equally stunning cover. I am so pleased I had the opportunity to read and review this book. It is one I am sure will stay with me for a long time and is one I am sure to read again. This has fast become one of my favourite books, not just for 2014, but EVER! I have recommended this book to so many people already, as I feel this is a book people really need to read. It draws you in to a world so few people would experience (although more than I would care to think have) and touches on such horrific and sensitive subjects with grace and honesty. I found The Judas Scar a truly thought provoking and mesmerising read.