320 Pages
You can buy Wilderness...Here You can find out more about Beverley Jones...Here
Shattered by the discovery of her husband's affair, Liv knows they need to leave the chaos of New York to save their marriage. Maybe the road trip they'd always planned, exploring America's national parks - just the two of them - would help heal the wounds.
But what Liv hasn't told her husband is that she has set him three challenges on their trip - three opportunities to prove he's really sorry.
If he fails? Well, it's dangerous out there in the wilderness; accidents happen all the time.
And if it's easy to die, then it's also easy to kill.
This novel was previously known as "The Perfect Break"
Forgive me for comparing and contrasting this novel to (at the moment) more famous narratives. However, I think the three stories I compare Wilderness to, help to throw a little light on the book and especially on the character of Liv. Anyway as comparisons go Psycho, Dexter and The Talented Mr Ripley are pretty heady company.
A bold and intriguing book. What starts as a domestic thriller gradually morphs into an account of slightly off kilter personality. Is she our hero, anti-hero or just plain villain. Or possibly a subtle blend of all three.
The story follows a similar progression to Hitchcock's Psycho, in that in following a path from an everyday mundane crime, in our case the crime was a love affair, we slowly discover a terrifying personality who dominates the story. In addition in Psycho, it is not the plot that we remember so much but more the character of Norman Bates. For Norman see Olivia. So, in large part this novel is a character study, and what a study it is. Liv is a multi-faceted and deeply flawed character. We see the world through the prism of Liv's morality.
Liv is a an unreilable narrator and is on the road to being a sociopath. The character reminded me of elements of The Talented Mr Ripley and Dexter. However Liv's main driver is not the yearning for financial security and belonging to the upper strata of society as is the case with a Tom Ripley. Or just straight out blood lust as with Dexter. Liv's driver is an overwhelming need to be loved and give love in return. It is her raison d'Etre. She strongly believes in the principles of honesty and integrity but will gladly toss them aside in pursuit of her ultimate goal, and pick them up again when her task is complete. To her the ends absolutely justify the means.
The novel is written in the first person, it's probably the most first person book that I have ever read and it 100% suits the narrative. The other characters do not stand out as much as Liv. How could they when we see them through Liv's eyes and their lives are just not as important as hers. They are bit part character actors in the story of her life and more importantly her love. While reading I was reminded of the inner monologues of Dexter Morgan who could justify his own actions through his warped view of the world. I found myself looking out at the world from the psyche of Liv, reading in a self aware female version of Dexter.
This book has been on my TBR for a long while now but I have held off as a Amazon Prime TV series of the Wilderness is soon to be aired. It will star Jenna Coleman of Doctor Who fame. She will play the part of Liv. And what a part it is. She is vulnerable, tough, loving, fierce and relentless. A part to kill for?
Fascinating read, psychologist's dream. Oh and I'm never going on holiday ever again. ever!
"I’d given up on being romanced and spoiled for so long, in exchange for something more genuine. Except it wasn’t, was it? When it all came crashing down. When I found out about the affair and realised I’d got neither gestures nor loyalty, romance nor fidelity. I’d thought it was an either- or deal. Turned out it was a neither- nor."
"But survival is a funny thing, a base instinct; I didn’t really want to plunge onto the pavement, a posthumous plea for pity, I just wanted to not feel that way any more, broken and beaten, lost and discarded. So, after a cold and frozen minute, I got down. I knew it didn’t have to be me whose life was snuffed out"
"Still, I realise now that people don’t often think of themselves as the villain of their own story. No matter how selfish or deluded they are. Will hadn’t when he’d cheated on me."
"the illusion of desirability is everything. She’d known that and used it, known that men rarely like you for who you are, instead turning a mirror to face them."
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Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris
Beverley Jones is a former journalist and police press officer, now a novelist and general book obsessive.Bev was born in a small village in the South Wales valleys, north of Cardiff. She started her journalism career with Trinity Mirror newspapers, writing stories for The Rhondda Leader and The Western Mail, before becoming a broadcast journalist with BBC Wales Today TV news, based in Cardiff.
She has worked on all aspects of crime reporting (as well as community news and features) producing stories and content for newspapers and live TV.
Most recently Bev worked as a press officer for South Wales Police, dealing with the media and participating in criminal investigations, security operations and emergency planning.
Perhaps unsurprisingly she channels these experiences of 'true crime,' and her insight into the murkier side of human nature, into her dark, psychological thrillers set in and around South Wales.
Her latest novels, Where She Went, Halfway and Wilderness, are published by Little Brown under the name BE Jones. Wilderness has recently been optioned for a six part TV adaptation by Firebird Pictures. Her seventh novel, The Beach House, is due for release in June 2021 under the name Beverley Jones.
Chat with her on Goodreads.co.uk under B E Jones or Beverley Jones and on Twitter and Instagram @bevjoneswriting
Bev is represtented by The Ampersand Agency.
(from amazon.com)
