Five friends. Three days. One heart-stopping discovery. Three years ago, Danny Morris left behind a gun, a tonne of questions and a gaping hole in the lives of those who loved him. What he didn’t leave was a suicide note. 
On the anniversary of his death, his closest friends gather at his parents’ beach house in New Zealand’s idyllic Marlborough Sounds. Danny’s girlfriend, Kate, holds fast to his memory by continuing to live in the house they shared. Struggling to move on with her life, her blossoming feelings for Danny’s best friend, Finn, only complicate matters. Withdrawing from his high-flying lifestyle, Max has carved out a much simpler life. Self-medicating with alcohol, fighting off nightmares he refuses to talk about, the memory of finding Danny’s body has him sailing dangerously close to the edge.
While Finn is finally ready to address his feelings for Kate, trying to save Max from himself dredges up long-buried anger and frustration that threaten to overwhelm him. For Lacey and Gavin, a recent bereavement gives them a heart-wrenching insight of a different kind.
Instead of time easing the pain, the group find themselves stuck in limbo, awaiting the understanding and peace that has so far eluded them. Three years ago a single bullet ricocheted through all their lives, but this year everything will change.
About the Author
Amanda Dick is a night-owl, coffee addict, movie buff and music lover. She loves to do DIY, believes in love at first sight, in women’s intuition and in following your heart. She is rather partial to dark chocolate and believes in the power of a good vanilla latte.
What lights her fire is writing stories about real people in trying situations. She is insanely curious about how we, as human beings, react when pushed to the edge. Most of all, she enjoys writing about human behaviour – love, loss, joy, grief, friendship and the complexity of relationships in general.
After living in Scotland for five years, she has now settled back home in New Zealand, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Review
So..let me start off by saying that I finished the book 3 days ago and am still emotionally affected by this book and trust me, that does not happen often. I have been a fan of the author’s since I read her debut novel, Absolution. This book shows how her writing has improved beyond what I ever imagined. To start off, she is so talented in such a way, that she doesn’t even know it. While reading this book, it was easy for me to picture everything that was happening, just like watching a movie. The story takes place at a cabin by a lake, and if I closed my eyes, I could literally smell the sap from the trees and smell the lake water.
The details were just the right touch..not too much, not too little. Just enough to leave the reader with their own imagination and interpretation.
I will state that the subject matter of this book is dark and tough to read, but honestly, it’s so written so beautifully. It’s a little bittersweet. I felt the anguish, the fear, the heartache. Tears streamed down my face, time and time again. It’s amazing how the author can compel such emotions out of her readers. It takes true skill with words to have that affect on people.
The story revolves around Danny, who commits suicide and how his actions have affected the lives of his closest friends.I don’t want to give too much away but trust me, you will want to read this book and it won’t disappoint you. This is an exceptional book and her best one so far! I loved it! I can’t wait to see what’s next.
