Review by Vishnu Priya B -- Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)

[Vishnu Priya B]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)" by Barry Litherland.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Waves Break (on Unknown Shores) by Barry Litherland is a crime thriller that follows the adventures of Phil, a local paper journalist and his childhood friends Wyane and Tina. Phil is a shy but witty individual who has zero illusions about his brevity, while Wayne is a victim of childhood neglect, bullying and abuse. As the story unfolds, Wayne is suspected of a burglary, and Phil is unwittingly forced to find a mysterious package named JAYDEE. Meanwhile, Wayne’s older brother, Tyrone resurfaces. Cops are behind Wayne, trying to frame him. Time is running out for Phil. Will he find the package and save his friends before it’s too late?

The engrossing and page-turning thriller is balanced with the right mix of humour and sarcasm. Litherland portrays a cast of well-developed characters ranging from a witty Phil to a dependable Wayne to an intelligent and resourceful Tina. Every character is unique in their own way and absolutely necessary for the development of the plot. I like how they grow and evolve within the story. Besides, the transitions between scenes were smooth and quick.

The language is simple and lucid. Though Litherland employs the present tense for an immediate and dramatic effect, the timeline alternates between the childhood years and the present. Both the timelines have their own share of suspense, gripping the reader until the very last line. Since this is character-driven crime fiction, the use of profanity is understandable. But it gets too much to the extent where you randomly pick a page in the book, and you’ll find at least one profane word.

The story has triggers like childhood abuse, neglect, violence and bullying. Though, in small proportion, readers who are easily affected by these concepts are advised to proceed with caution. As much as the book is filled to the brim with profanity, there are no explicit sexual scenes. Still, underage readers are advised against reading this book due to the excessive profanity and foul language.

I spotted a couple of grammatical errors within the text, however, they didn’t affect the flow of my reading. A few filler sentences were used. But I’m sure, they must be intentional due to the narrative nature of the story. There was nothing I disliked about the book. And the book seems to be professionally edited. For this reason, I award Waves Break (on Unknown Shores), a well deserved 4 out of 4 stars.

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Waves Break (on Unknown Shores)
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[Hiruni Hansika]

I love your use of language. Your review has a great flow. One of the best reviews I ever read, because I absolutely love your vocabulary. I will try this book for sure as you indicated that it is a good one. Keep it up!

[Vishnu Priya B]

I love your use of language. Your review has a great flow. One of the best reviews I ever read, because I absolutely love your vocabulary. I will try this book for sure as you indicated that it is a good one. Keep it up!

Thank you so much for your kind words. I feel encouraged

[Bigwig1973]

I've read this book, and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I really like your opening paragraph; you provide an intriguing but short and informative summary right away. In retrospect, I have to agree that this book is character-driven. The characters really do stand out in this book! Nice review!

[Unsullied]

The book sounds quite nostalgic. I love nostalgia and therefore must add this to my read list. Thanks for the nice review.

[Michelle Menezes]

Great review! I enjoyed this book too. I hadn't expected to like it so much. I wish there were a few chapters from Wayne's point of view as well. Would have liked to have an insight to his state of mind.

[Emily_Jen]

Cops are behind Wayne, trying to frame him. Time is running out for Phil. Will he find the package and save his friends before it’s too late? I can't wait to find out how this book ends. Thanks for the review.

[Asma Aisha Ansari]

The plot and the characters of this book sound fascinating and exciting. However, the excessive use of profane language is something I find jarring and off-putting. So, I guess I'll skip this one. But I loved reading your review.
Thanks for writing this amazing and thorough review

[Vishnu Priya B]

The plot and the characters of this book sound fascinating and exciting. However, the excessive use of profane language is something I find jarring and off-putting. So, I guess I'll skip this one. But I loved reading your review.
Thanks for writing this amazing and thorough review

Thanks for your kind words dear!