Caitlin Wahrer

When Nick, a young gay man, is sexually assaulted, it has repercussions, not only for him but his family and all those around him including the investigating officer. The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer is a compelling tale of suspense, justice, revenge raising the question how far will a family go to protect their own. There's plenty of twists and turns that kept me reading...and guessing...from first page to last. The story is told from multiple viewpoints and split between two timelines, keeping show more the story moving and the the suspense ramped up right until the very satisfying ending. The story is well-written and well-plotted and deals with an extremely emotional issue in a very sympathetic way. Given the subject matter, I won’t say it was the most comfortable of reads but it is one of the most unputdownable I have read this year. It’s even more impressive knowing this is Wahrer’s debut novel. A definite high recommendation from me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

The Damage is Caitlin Wahrer's debut novel - and I literally could not put it down.

"An edgy, propulsive read about what a family pushed to the brink will do in the name of love and blood."

Tony is more like a father to his younger brother Nick. When Nick is sexually assaulted, Tony sees red. Tony's wife Julia is the voice of reason - she's a lawyer and believes justice will be served in the court system. Detective Rice is the cop on the case and he too believes Nick will have his day in show more court.

Wahrer employs one of my all time favourite methods of storytelling - alternating past and present chapters. She takes us to 2015, the time of the assault and investigation. Each of the main characters - Tony, Julie, Nick and Rice have a voice, allowing the reader to know what everyone is feeling, thinking, planning - and hiding. The time frame then flips to 2019. Rice and Julia are the focus of these newer posts. Rice is not well and wants to know.....what really happened back then? Does Julia know what answers Rice is looking for?

There are so many layers to Wahrer's plot - the assault is tough to read about and will provoke many emotions for readers. We see the impact through the four different perspectives and how this affects each member of the family. Wahrer's depiction of the aftermath rings true. She herself is a lawyer and "has worked on cases involving some of the broad issues she writes about in The Damage". Her portrayal of the assault is respectful and seems to have been well researched. Social commentary is also scattered throughout and speaks to preconceptions.

Those feelings, emotions, actions and reactions drive the second part of the plot, the one that will keep you wondering. What really happened? Wahrer ekes out references, clues and hints along the way to the final pages. And the twist that awaits you at the end of the book is a really good one!

The Damage is a powerful debut, combining suspense, family ties, mental health, trauma and more into one addicting read. I can't wait to see what Wahrer writes next. Put this one high on your summer reading list. show less

SNL’s “Murder Show” skit recently ran across my social media feeds again and I feel a bit targeted! Just kidding, but as someone who falls asleep to Law & Order SVU and/or Cold Case Murders, I’ve been drawn into the ever expanding literary trend of domestic suspense thriller, a kind of procedural crime drama in novel form. With the popularity of Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, A Simple Favour, this genre is expanding every year. The Damage is a truly gripping debut by Caitlin Wahrer. I show more couldn’t put this book down, I was so drawn into the story. I appreciated a new perspective with a storyline that explored the narrative of a gay victim without trivializing or exploiting his sexuality. show less

The Damage is Caitlin Wahrer's very impressive debut novel which examines the consequences of a sexual assault and the effect on the victim and his family. The book is refreshing in the sense that the victim of the assault is male and Wahrer explores this in a sensitive and compassionate manner. I happen to have a male family member who was the victim of sexual assault and I found that Caitlin Wahrer was spot on.
The impact of the assault is devastating for Nick and his family and lead them show more down a path to the unthinkable.
The Damage is a psychological thriller and was a very enthralling read. I did have to put it down from time to time because it is emotional at times. Wahrer conveys the grief, pain, and guilt that go hand in hand with sexual assault. I found the book to be a very solid debut and am interested to see what Caitlin Wahrer comes up with in her next book. show less