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Life Before
Suspense and family secrets surround a pair of estranged siblings in a compelling debut thriller.
She knew she should talk to him. But what was she to say? Once there had been blame to apportion, rage to hurl. Now she no longer had a sense of that. Who knew what the facts of them being here together like this meant. What was she to make of the situation? Scott lying unconscious here in this bed, unknown to her in almost every way. She now a wife, a mother, but in her mind no longer a sister. Not a sister for a very long time now.
Lori Spyker is taking her kids to school one unremarkable day when a policeman delivers the news that her brother, Scott Green, has been injured and hospitalised following a hit and run.
Lori hasn't seen Scott in decades. She appears to be his only contact. Should she take responsibility for him? Can she? And, if she does, how will she tell her own family about her hidden history, kept secret for so long?
Twenty years before, when she and Scott were teenagers, their lives and futures, and those of their family, had been torn to shreds. Now, as Lori tries to piece together her brother's present, she is forced to confront their shared past-and the terrible and devastating truth buried there that had driven them so far apart.
Compassionate, wise and shocking, Life Before tells the gripping story of an ordinary family caught in a terrible situation. What if the worst thing you can imagine isn't the worst thing to happen? How do you go on? And what steps will you take to protect yourself from further pain?
She knew she should talk to him. But what was she to say? Once there had been blame to apportion, rage to hurl. Now she no longer had a sense of that. Who knew what the facts of them being here together like this meant. What was she to make of the situation? Scott lying unconscious here in this bed, unknown to her in almost every way. She now a wife, a mother, but in her mind no longer a sister. Not a sister for a very long time now.
Lori Spyker is taking her kids to school one unremarkable day when a policeman delivers the news that her brother, Scott Green, has been injured and hospitalised following a hit and run.
Lori hasn't seen Scott in decades. She appears to be his only contact. Should she take responsibility for him? Can she? And, if she does, how will she tell her own family about her hidden history, kept secret for so long?
Twenty years before, when she and Scott were teenagers, their lives and futures, and those of their family, had been torn to shreds. Now, as Lori tries to piece together her brother's present, she is forced to confront their shared past-and the terrible and devastating truth buried there that had driven them so far apart.
Compassionate, wise and shocking, Life Before tells the gripping story of an ordinary family caught in a terrible situation. What if the worst thing you can imagine isn't the worst thing to happen? How do you go on? And what steps will you take to protect yourself from further pain?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2019
17 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Carmel Reilly
49 books11 followersCarmel Reilly writes for children and adults. She has been an educational writer for over two decades, creating fiction and non-fiction for children and young teens. In 2011 she won the Partners in Crime Short Story award and in 2016 she was awarded a Varuna Residental Fellowship to develop her first adult novel, Life Before. Born in New Zealand, she lives in Melbourne, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 8, 2019
A slow burn of a book, this one took me a while to get into, then I realised I was hooked and raced through it to find out what had happened. Lori has an ordinary suburban life with her husband and children in Melbourne, until one day the police turn up to tell her that her estranged brother had been in an accident. We then slowly go through the unveiling of Lori's life, alternating from 1993 (told through Lori's mother Pam's eyes) and 2016 (from Lori's point of view.) It turns out the truth is even more tragic than you'd expect.
I really enjoyed this book, reading it in just two sittings. It explores the areas of grief, blame and cutting yourself off from the world. Yet through all the tragedy, there is always hope, it can just take a while to get to that end. Carmel Reilly has woven a transfixing story here, and I will certainly read more of her work in the future. Recommended.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book, reading it in just two sittings. It explores the areas of grief, blame and cutting yourself off from the world. Yet through all the tragedy, there is always hope, it can just take a while to get to that end. Carmel Reilly has woven a transfixing story here, and I will certainly read more of her work in the future. Recommended.
My thanks to Allen & Unwin for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2019
*https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
4.5 stars
1993 - Pam and Mick are an everyday couple, married with three teenage children. They live in the small country town of Northam, a close knit community where everyone knows everyone else. However a tragic accident involving Pam’s children will have the community divided and some parents feeling alienated.
2016 – Lori and Jason live in suburban Melbourne (Melbournites will find themselves surrounded by familiar scenes here), they lead ordinary lives bringing up their two young children, in a large city where anonymity is the norm, until a visit from the local police sends Lori’s world into a spin and her past comes crashing in.
Life Before is a compelling mystery. Reilly conveys, through this page-turner, the lengths a person will go to forget a tragic past. Lori completely reinvented herself when she met Jason, blocking out her past, avoiding questions a telling a few white lies. Yet, when Lori starts to let the barriers down people begin to tell her how unhappy and closed off she always seemed.
The storyline of Life Before is gripping as it slowly unfolds with what starts as an ordinary family when one wrong decision, one moment in time, changes their lives forever and leads to a lifetime of regret. The mystery lingers as the reader gets the aftermath of this momentous decision but not the details of that particular day. We are left to wonder what actually happened that night.
Many themes are explored throughout the novel; small town life, unacceptance of outsiders, parenting teens, facing your past, blood ties and the question: “How responsible is a parent for their child’s actions?”
Both timelines are told in a female point of view; 1993 through Pam and 2016 through Lori, which gave me the feeling that while not actually being women’s fiction it would appeal more to a female readership.
I like that both Pam & Mick and Lori & Jason had good strong supportive relationships and banded together in times of stress. It’s so easy to add extra drama to a story by having a husband and wife against each other and I’m so pleased that Reilly didn’t go down that road.
I would have liked a little more on Scott’s life as we only get a small peek into his home and that left me wanting more.
Life Before is an engrossing family drama that had me captivated from the beginning right through to the shocking end.
*I received an uncorrected proof copy from the publisher through Better Reading.
4.5 stars
1993 - Pam and Mick are an everyday couple, married with three teenage children. They live in the small country town of Northam, a close knit community where everyone knows everyone else. However a tragic accident involving Pam’s children will have the community divided and some parents feeling alienated.
2016 – Lori and Jason live in suburban Melbourne (Melbournites will find themselves surrounded by familiar scenes here), they lead ordinary lives bringing up their two young children, in a large city where anonymity is the norm, until a visit from the local police sends Lori’s world into a spin and her past comes crashing in.
Life Before is a compelling mystery. Reilly conveys, through this page-turner, the lengths a person will go to forget a tragic past. Lori completely reinvented herself when she met Jason, blocking out her past, avoiding questions a telling a few white lies. Yet, when Lori starts to let the barriers down people begin to tell her how unhappy and closed off she always seemed.
The storyline of Life Before is gripping as it slowly unfolds with what starts as an ordinary family when one wrong decision, one moment in time, changes their lives forever and leads to a lifetime of regret. The mystery lingers as the reader gets the aftermath of this momentous decision but not the details of that particular day. We are left to wonder what actually happened that night.
Many themes are explored throughout the novel; small town life, unacceptance of outsiders, parenting teens, facing your past, blood ties and the question: “How responsible is a parent for their child’s actions?”
Both timelines are told in a female point of view; 1993 through Pam and 2016 through Lori, which gave me the feeling that while not actually being women’s fiction it would appeal more to a female readership.
I like that both Pam & Mick and Lori & Jason had good strong supportive relationships and banded together in times of stress. It’s so easy to add extra drama to a story by having a husband and wife against each other and I’m so pleased that Reilly didn’t go down that road.
I would have liked a little more on Scott’s life as we only get a small peek into his home and that left me wanting more.
Life Before is an engrossing family drama that had me captivated from the beginning right through to the shocking end.
*I received an uncorrected proof copy from the publisher through Better Reading.
June 14, 2019
Lori Spyker hasn’t spoken or seen her brother, Scott in twenty years, so when she is informed that he has been injured and in the hospital she’s unsure why she is being contacted. When being asked some things concerning her brother, Lori is unable to answer because she simply doesn’t know.
Arriving at the hospital, Lori feels like she is visiting a stranger, even though Scott is her brother. Lori is a wife and mother, but she has no idea if Scott is married or has kids. What she does know is that their teenage years was not a great time of their lives and one she preferred to leave in the past. But the past always has a way of returning which meant she would have to tell her own family about her hidden past.
When I began this book I wasn’t sure what to expect and I must admit it was a little slow to begin with, but once I got into the story a bit more it soon became an intriguing page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Life Before by Aussie author Carmel Reilly. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who loves a bit of intrigue and mystery in their novels.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
Arriving at the hospital, Lori feels like she is visiting a stranger, even though Scott is her brother. Lori is a wife and mother, but she has no idea if Scott is married or has kids. What she does know is that their teenage years was not a great time of their lives and one she preferred to leave in the past. But the past always has a way of returning which meant she would have to tell her own family about her hidden past.
When I began this book I wasn’t sure what to expect and I must admit it was a little slow to begin with, but once I got into the story a bit more it soon became an intriguing page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Life Before by Aussie author Carmel Reilly. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who loves a bit of intrigue and mystery in their novels.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
January 22, 2023
An unusual story set over twenty years, showing how a tragedy and narrow minded warped thinking can rip families apart and ruin lives.
Beginning in 1993, which always interests me as that signifies the end of my high school years, best friends Scott and Troy are involved in an accident where one lives and the other does not. Small town Victoria is the location of this part, where the family of the lost boy cannot let go in anyway. Their hatred and spite is palpable.
Pam is the matriarch whose family seemed to have it all back in this time, she knocks on the door of her son’s best friend to offer her sympathy armed with flowers from her garden. Almost turning violent, she is perplexed and bewildered; this escalates over time but she still does not seem to enter the territory of being really afraid, nor is completely honest with her husband about the continuing threats from this grudge holding family that cannot understand the reality of this accident.
Local police Sergeant Des is a great character, through his observation we see there is little he or the constabulary can do, his hands are tied, but we see him try in vain to communicate to this vengeful family that there actions are not helping and serve no purpose. The vilification inflicted on Pam and her family is well done, and builds tension.
We then go to 2016 Melbourne over a span of some days, where Lori is approached by police, questioning her link to brother Scott. She keeps this from her husband initially, and the reader is left to thread together incidents back in 1993 where Lori also has involvement. Slowly burning, all that is revealed is not rushed and the reader slowly gathers momentum and builds the story.
This is a tragic story where survivors feel guilt and distance themselves in the process, running away to push away the truth however painful.
The only thing that could be governed to any degree were your own reactions. Others reactions could go any which way. She took a lesson from that, made a choice. If you could stop feeling. If you could stop feeling you could live.
Lori was not the most likeable woman, but one whose journey and growth was interesting to witness. I enjoyed Detective Daniel Levandi who had empathy and a truly nice way of being and working.
I enjoyed this contemporary novel, 3.5★, which was provided by Allen & Unwin in uncorrected proof physical format with thanks.
Beginning in 1993, which always interests me as that signifies the end of my high school years, best friends Scott and Troy are involved in an accident where one lives and the other does not. Small town Victoria is the location of this part, where the family of the lost boy cannot let go in anyway. Their hatred and spite is palpable.
Pam is the matriarch whose family seemed to have it all back in this time, she knocks on the door of her son’s best friend to offer her sympathy armed with flowers from her garden. Almost turning violent, she is perplexed and bewildered; this escalates over time but she still does not seem to enter the territory of being really afraid, nor is completely honest with her husband about the continuing threats from this grudge holding family that cannot understand the reality of this accident.
Local police Sergeant Des is a great character, through his observation we see there is little he or the constabulary can do, his hands are tied, but we see him try in vain to communicate to this vengeful family that there actions are not helping and serve no purpose. The vilification inflicted on Pam and her family is well done, and builds tension.
We then go to 2016 Melbourne over a span of some days, where Lori is approached by police, questioning her link to brother Scott. She keeps this from her husband initially, and the reader is left to thread together incidents back in 1993 where Lori also has involvement. Slowly burning, all that is revealed is not rushed and the reader slowly gathers momentum and builds the story.
This is a tragic story where survivors feel guilt and distance themselves in the process, running away to push away the truth however painful.
The only thing that could be governed to any degree were your own reactions. Others reactions could go any which way. She took a lesson from that, made a choice. If you could stop feeling. If you could stop feeling you could live.
Lori was not the most likeable woman, but one whose journey and growth was interesting to witness. I enjoyed Detective Daniel Levandi who had empathy and a truly nice way of being and working.
I enjoyed this contemporary novel, 3.5★, which was provided by Allen & Unwin in uncorrected proof physical format with thanks.
May 7, 2019
Four and a half stars.
The story starts in July 1993 when Senior Sergeant Des Robinson is called to a fatal accident long the back roads of Northam. It then moves to April 2016 when police arrive at the home of Lori Spyker, previously Loren Green, with news of the brother she has not seen or spoken to for twenty or so years. Loren learns her brother Scott has been seriously injured in a hit and run. From this point the story swings between the two time periods as it seeks to fill in the gaps and explain what happened years earlier and why the siblings who used to be close have not had contact with each other for so long. Now a wife and a mother, Lori has tried to put the past from her. But now it is back and she is left trying to figure out what to do next, especially when it comes to Scott. Is she prepared to let him back into her life? Or will it cause too much upheaval?
This story from the past got me in as it allowed the reader to experience things from Pam Green’s point of view as it showed the relationship she had with her husband Mick, her three children Simon, Scott and Loren and their friends. The reader also learns more about Lori’s life before she met her husband Jason. The truth of events is dealt with in a way that keeps the reader wanting to know the full story. And what a story! The tempo of the story certainly picks up as the book gets closer to the end. It comes to a climax as the truth is revealed. But then when I read the last chapter I was left a bit disappointed at the way it finished and with a lingering question in my mind.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin I received an uncorrected proof copy to read and review. I trust one of the dates which is incorrect and several incidences of sentences where words are missing from sentences have been corrected in the final text.
This is a book that drags you in and keeps you firmly enthralled as the story unfolds. A very interesting book that leave the reader to contemplate how actions have far reaching consequences on so many lives. Every act has an effect. A recommend Australian read with realistic and well developed characters.
The story starts in July 1993 when Senior Sergeant Des Robinson is called to a fatal accident long the back roads of Northam. It then moves to April 2016 when police arrive at the home of Lori Spyker, previously Loren Green, with news of the brother she has not seen or spoken to for twenty or so years. Loren learns her brother Scott has been seriously injured in a hit and run. From this point the story swings between the two time periods as it seeks to fill in the gaps and explain what happened years earlier and why the siblings who used to be close have not had contact with each other for so long. Now a wife and a mother, Lori has tried to put the past from her. But now it is back and she is left trying to figure out what to do next, especially when it comes to Scott. Is she prepared to let him back into her life? Or will it cause too much upheaval?
This story from the past got me in as it allowed the reader to experience things from Pam Green’s point of view as it showed the relationship she had with her husband Mick, her three children Simon, Scott and Loren and their friends. The reader also learns more about Lori’s life before she met her husband Jason. The truth of events is dealt with in a way that keeps the reader wanting to know the full story. And what a story! The tempo of the story certainly picks up as the book gets closer to the end. It comes to a climax as the truth is revealed. But then when I read the last chapter I was left a bit disappointed at the way it finished and with a lingering question in my mind.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin I received an uncorrected proof copy to read and review. I trust one of the dates which is incorrect and several incidences of sentences where words are missing from sentences have been corrected in the final text.
This is a book that drags you in and keeps you firmly enthralled as the story unfolds. A very interesting book that leave the reader to contemplate how actions have far reaching consequences on so many lives. Every act has an effect. A recommend Australian read with realistic and well developed characters.
September 20, 2019
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Life Before by Carmel Reilly. (2019).
Lori is taking her kids to school when the police find her to deliver the news that her brother Scott has been injured and hospitalised in a hit and run. Lori hasn't seen Scott in decades but seems to be his only contact. But if she reconnects then she'll need to tell her own family about her hidden history. 20 years ago, her family's lives and futures were torn to shreds. In the present, Lori is forced to confront their devastating past while she pieces together Scott's current life.
This is a novel that is a slow burner yet still holds the reader's interest really well. Lori and her brother have a truly tragic history; a history which involves horrific and devastating events that occur to a normal everyday ordinary family. Featuring dual timelines (the present, 2016, narrated by Lori and the past, 1993, primarily narrated by Lori and Scott's mum Pam), I think this story conveys the message that you can't outrun your past and just shut it away. The story also shows the widespread fallout of one tragedy on a number of people and the consequences of that tragedy are far-reaching. There were a few unanswered questions for me at the end and I would have liked a bit more closure around certain things however I still think that this book was really enjoyable and well written; I'm happy to recommend this one.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
Life Before by Carmel Reilly. (2019).
Lori is taking her kids to school when the police find her to deliver the news that her brother Scott has been injured and hospitalised in a hit and run. Lori hasn't seen Scott in decades but seems to be his only contact. But if she reconnects then she'll need to tell her own family about her hidden history. 20 years ago, her family's lives and futures were torn to shreds. In the present, Lori is forced to confront their devastating past while she pieces together Scott's current life.
This is a novel that is a slow burner yet still holds the reader's interest really well. Lori and her brother have a truly tragic history; a history which involves horrific and devastating events that occur to a normal everyday ordinary family. Featuring dual timelines (the present, 2016, narrated by Lori and the past, 1993, primarily narrated by Lori and Scott's mum Pam), I think this story conveys the message that you can't outrun your past and just shut it away. The story also shows the widespread fallout of one tragedy on a number of people and the consequences of that tragedy are far-reaching. There were a few unanswered questions for me at the end and I would have liked a bit more closure around certain things however I still think that this book was really enjoyable and well written; I'm happy to recommend this one.
June 17, 2019
* https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Carmel Reilly may be new on the scene of adult fiction, but she has an impressive resume. A prominent leader in the field of educational writing, Reilly has also penned fiction for both young children and teens. In her first full length novel for an adult audience, Carmel Reilly tackles family secrets, retribution, the past and complex sibling relationships in Life Before.
Lori Spyker is performing an everyday task, taking her children to school, when she receives a shock visit from a policeman. The officer has news for Lori and this news will draw her back into the past, to confront a former life that she has tried to keep buried. Lori must now go to her brother Scott’s bedside, as he sits in hospital after being seriously injured in a hit and run. But Lori can’t remember the last time she saw her brother, years have passed in a blur. Now she must confront her painful past and reveal to her family the truth of family background. There are painful secrets that go along with this and Lori has tried to protect her family against this. Carmel Reilly’s debut tracks from 2016 and back to 1993. We meet Lori and Scott as teenagers. One terrible decision has a remarkable impact on their lives and that of their family. Lori must get to the truth, was her brother’s accident simply an accident, or is it the work of something more sinister – a message from the past? Life Before is a story to take on board with wide eyes and an open mind, knowing that a decision in the past can directly impact on the present. Sometimes the past is inescapable, no matter how hard you try to keep it buried.
Life Before is yet another impressive debut from a relatively new writer. Life Before marks Carmel Reilly’s first foray into the world of adult contemporary fiction. A cross between a family drama, a mystery and suspense novel, Life Before works as a strong domestic fiction title. Life Before sucked me right in and it didn’t loosen its grip until the final page was turned. I think once you make the commitment to read this novel you will find it extremely hard to release, it is a gripping read from start to finish.
I really appreciated the structure of Carmel Reilly’s novel. Flitting between the past in the year 1993, and the present day in 2016, works to draw out the mystery aspect of the novel. The pace is set to a perfect beat and there are plenty of questions, grey areas and twists to keep the reader engaged. Carmel Reilly has clearly directed a lot of her energy into maintaining the suspense level of her novel. The plotting is precise. Reilly’s timeline shifts are not jagged, they are smooth and transport the reader very easily from the past to the present. The shroud of mystery that surrounds the characters and the events of both the past and the present are handled well by Reilly.
When we travel back to the past we get a very good glimpse of small town Australian life back in the 1990s. I did find an immediate connection to these experiences and I particularly appreciated the way in which Reilly presented the dynamics of a small town, where everyone is into each other’s business. Reilly also highlights the difficulties of socialisation when residing in small towns. In addition, Reilly looks at policing in your own tight knit community. It is often difficult to face up to the hard moments when tragedy occurs, which is the case in Life Before.
Reilly’s characterisation is a strong point in this novel. Lori is a protagonist who is really just an ordinary Australian woman going about her life, in a very real sense. But we learn that Lori has a past that will catch up with her. I genuinely felt for Lori. I carried a similar feeling over to Pam, our guide in the 1993 based narrative thread. Pam’s perceptions, worries, anxieties and feelings were conveyed well on the pages of this book, thanks to Reilly’s emotive prose. I developed an attachment to both these lead characters and I found it hard to sit back and watch on as they went through incredibly tough situations. I won’t delve into this any further, as I do not wish to spoil the unfolding story for readers.
The end comes with a sense of clarity and realisation. Questions have answers and it made me realise how families and individuals can really be tested to their very limits. Such is life.
I hope there are more great things to come from Carmel Reilly. I would definitely encourage readers who enjoy a well crafted mystery, family dramas, domestic fiction and suspense to consider adding Life Before to their reading pile.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Life Before is book #83 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Carmel Reilly may be new on the scene of adult fiction, but she has an impressive resume. A prominent leader in the field of educational writing, Reilly has also penned fiction for both young children and teens. In her first full length novel for an adult audience, Carmel Reilly tackles family secrets, retribution, the past and complex sibling relationships in Life Before.
Lori Spyker is performing an everyday task, taking her children to school, when she receives a shock visit from a policeman. The officer has news for Lori and this news will draw her back into the past, to confront a former life that she has tried to keep buried. Lori must now go to her brother Scott’s bedside, as he sits in hospital after being seriously injured in a hit and run. But Lori can’t remember the last time she saw her brother, years have passed in a blur. Now she must confront her painful past and reveal to her family the truth of family background. There are painful secrets that go along with this and Lori has tried to protect her family against this. Carmel Reilly’s debut tracks from 2016 and back to 1993. We meet Lori and Scott as teenagers. One terrible decision has a remarkable impact on their lives and that of their family. Lori must get to the truth, was her brother’s accident simply an accident, or is it the work of something more sinister – a message from the past? Life Before is a story to take on board with wide eyes and an open mind, knowing that a decision in the past can directly impact on the present. Sometimes the past is inescapable, no matter how hard you try to keep it buried.
Life Before is yet another impressive debut from a relatively new writer. Life Before marks Carmel Reilly’s first foray into the world of adult contemporary fiction. A cross between a family drama, a mystery and suspense novel, Life Before works as a strong domestic fiction title. Life Before sucked me right in and it didn’t loosen its grip until the final page was turned. I think once you make the commitment to read this novel you will find it extremely hard to release, it is a gripping read from start to finish.
I really appreciated the structure of Carmel Reilly’s novel. Flitting between the past in the year 1993, and the present day in 2016, works to draw out the mystery aspect of the novel. The pace is set to a perfect beat and there are plenty of questions, grey areas and twists to keep the reader engaged. Carmel Reilly has clearly directed a lot of her energy into maintaining the suspense level of her novel. The plotting is precise. Reilly’s timeline shifts are not jagged, they are smooth and transport the reader very easily from the past to the present. The shroud of mystery that surrounds the characters and the events of both the past and the present are handled well by Reilly.
When we travel back to the past we get a very good glimpse of small town Australian life back in the 1990s. I did find an immediate connection to these experiences and I particularly appreciated the way in which Reilly presented the dynamics of a small town, where everyone is into each other’s business. Reilly also highlights the difficulties of socialisation when residing in small towns. In addition, Reilly looks at policing in your own tight knit community. It is often difficult to face up to the hard moments when tragedy occurs, which is the case in Life Before.
Reilly’s characterisation is a strong point in this novel. Lori is a protagonist who is really just an ordinary Australian woman going about her life, in a very real sense. But we learn that Lori has a past that will catch up with her. I genuinely felt for Lori. I carried a similar feeling over to Pam, our guide in the 1993 based narrative thread. Pam’s perceptions, worries, anxieties and feelings were conveyed well on the pages of this book, thanks to Reilly’s emotive prose. I developed an attachment to both these lead characters and I found it hard to sit back and watch on as they went through incredibly tough situations. I won’t delve into this any further, as I do not wish to spoil the unfolding story for readers.
The end comes with a sense of clarity and realisation. Questions have answers and it made me realise how families and individuals can really be tested to their very limits. Such is life.
I hope there are more great things to come from Carmel Reilly. I would definitely encourage readers who enjoy a well crafted mystery, family dramas, domestic fiction and suspense to consider adding Life Before to their reading pile.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Life Before is book #83 of the 2019 Australian Women Writers Challenge
May 1, 2019
“She’d cultivated the art of forgetting so well that her past was like a piece of Swiss cheese. There were moments though. Many moments, really, if she was being honest (not remembering being quite a different thing from having no memory). Fragments, whole scenes, chunks lifted out of the fabric of what had gone before that felt like enough of a guide to the past. Some of these came to her crystal clear.”
Life Before is the first novel by prize-winning Australian author, Carmel Reilly. When the police come to Lori Stryker’s Melbourne looking for Loren Green, sister of Scott Michael Green, she wishes she could deny the relationship. It’s April 2016, and Lori has had no contact with Scott in over twenty years.
Now that brother, the one whom no one in her present life knows about, not her husband or children, not her closest friend, lies unconscious in the ICU, and visiting him brings back memories she has worked so hard to block. Having been knocked off his bike in a hit-and-run that police suspect could be targeted, Lori is asked to help discover whether this might be associated with his recent activities or concerned with the events of years ago.
Breaking the bad news about a fatal car accident to the family is a duty that Senior Sergeant Des Robinson dreads but he knows it needs his experience and sensitivity. On a rainy July night in 1993, it’s just as hard as it always has been, and Des knows the aftermath will be awful for all the families involved. But this is his town, and he needs to look after them all.
For Pam Green, 1993 is shaping up to be a great year: her eldest son, Simon about to finish Uni with a job all lined up; her golden boy, Scott in his final year of school; and her daughter Loren, now sixteen and growing into a beautiful young woman. And she and Mick are just as in love as ever. Then, one awful night, their lives turn upside down. As they try to learn to live the new normal, Pam can only draw consolation from the conviction that things must surely settle down as time passes.
Reilly splits the narrative into two time periods: nine months of 1993 and several days of April 2016; using three narrators to tell the story. The reason that Lori is estranged from her brother becomes vaguely apparent as the 1993 narrative steadily progresses. This is no action-packed page-turner: Reilly takes the time to demonstrate the devastating effect that a single terrible moment has on the lives of all involved, even remotely, and how they react to it.
All of this is wrapped in a mystery, with red herrings and surprises and mis-directions, and finally a brilliant twist that even the most astute reader is unlikely to predict as, in the final chapters, the vague becomes specific, and all is revealed.
Reilly easily evokes her settings: the Victorian country town of the nineties with the cultural divide and small-town attitudes; and present-day Melbourne, cafes and fast-paced, demanding life. Her characters are easily believable and the Green family raises the question of discipline vs freedom when raising teenagers. It is refreshing to see that in both narratives, the marriages are solid enough to withstand the stresses placed upon them. A brilliant debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
Life Before is the first novel by prize-winning Australian author, Carmel Reilly. When the police come to Lori Stryker’s Melbourne looking for Loren Green, sister of Scott Michael Green, she wishes she could deny the relationship. It’s April 2016, and Lori has had no contact with Scott in over twenty years.
Now that brother, the one whom no one in her present life knows about, not her husband or children, not her closest friend, lies unconscious in the ICU, and visiting him brings back memories she has worked so hard to block. Having been knocked off his bike in a hit-and-run that police suspect could be targeted, Lori is asked to help discover whether this might be associated with his recent activities or concerned with the events of years ago.
Breaking the bad news about a fatal car accident to the family is a duty that Senior Sergeant Des Robinson dreads but he knows it needs his experience and sensitivity. On a rainy July night in 1993, it’s just as hard as it always has been, and Des knows the aftermath will be awful for all the families involved. But this is his town, and he needs to look after them all.
For Pam Green, 1993 is shaping up to be a great year: her eldest son, Simon about to finish Uni with a job all lined up; her golden boy, Scott in his final year of school; and her daughter Loren, now sixteen and growing into a beautiful young woman. And she and Mick are just as in love as ever. Then, one awful night, their lives turn upside down. As they try to learn to live the new normal, Pam can only draw consolation from the conviction that things must surely settle down as time passes.
Reilly splits the narrative into two time periods: nine months of 1993 and several days of April 2016; using three narrators to tell the story. The reason that Lori is estranged from her brother becomes vaguely apparent as the 1993 narrative steadily progresses. This is no action-packed page-turner: Reilly takes the time to demonstrate the devastating effect that a single terrible moment has on the lives of all involved, even remotely, and how they react to it.
All of this is wrapped in a mystery, with red herrings and surprises and mis-directions, and finally a brilliant twist that even the most astute reader is unlikely to predict as, in the final chapters, the vague becomes specific, and all is revealed.
Reilly easily evokes her settings: the Victorian country town of the nineties with the cultural divide and small-town attitudes; and present-day Melbourne, cafes and fast-paced, demanding life. Her characters are easily believable and the Green family raises the question of discipline vs freedom when raising teenagers. It is refreshing to see that in both narratives, the marriages are solid enough to withstand the stresses placed upon them. A brilliant debut novel.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
February 10, 2023
I enjoyed this, though it's not my usual fare. I do prefer things a little faster and more involved, but this still managed to keep me interested.
The story is relatively simple: told in dual timelines, we learn of Lori in 2016, who is informed the brother she hasn't spoken to for 20 years has just been in a bad accident. Back in 1993, we visit their mother Pam, and witness the fallout of the event that tore the siblings apart.
A slower burn, this story takes great pains to immerse us in the lives of our two protagonists, Lori and Pam. I was particularly drawn to mother, Pam, and felt for her as the mother trying to save face and keep peace amongst all while dealing with something so horrible. She is a strong woman dealing with tragedy and I had a lot of compassion for her and was glad she had support.
Lori frustrated me; she is stubborn and self-absorbed and her lies seemed so pointless to me. Still, I could understand her a little from the way things played out and it was interesting to me how my opinion of her developed throughout the novel.
This is very much a character-driven story, but there's an element of mystery that does give it a bit of an addictive feel. I can appreciate the story for what it is and how it was written, but for the most part it's just not the kind of book that gets me raving.
It's also such an Aussie story, and I do cringe a little when the yobbo is so strong. Here's an example of what I consider 'over-Australianising':
Other people will love this level of atmosphere immersion but I myself hate how often Australian stereotypes are reinforced. It suits the country-town setting, but doesn't suit my personal tastes.
That being said, I do very much enjoy stories set in places I personally recognise, so all the mentions of Melbourne and surrounding towns were a lot of fun for me.
Overall, it was a well-written story and a good read. It lost stars for me mostly because it's not my favourite kind of genre, but those who enjoy general Australian fiction with a shadow of mystery should be impressed by this one.
With thanks to A&U for an ARC
The story is relatively simple: told in dual timelines, we learn of Lori in 2016, who is informed the brother she hasn't spoken to for 20 years has just been in a bad accident. Back in 1993, we visit their mother Pam, and witness the fallout of the event that tore the siblings apart.
A slower burn, this story takes great pains to immerse us in the lives of our two protagonists, Lori and Pam. I was particularly drawn to mother, Pam, and felt for her as the mother trying to save face and keep peace amongst all while dealing with something so horrible. She is a strong woman dealing with tragedy and I had a lot of compassion for her and was glad she had support.
Lori frustrated me; she is stubborn and self-absorbed and her lies seemed so pointless to me. Still, I could understand her a little from the way things played out and it was interesting to me how my opinion of her developed throughout the novel.
This is very much a character-driven story, but there's an element of mystery that does give it a bit of an addictive feel. I can appreciate the story for what it is and how it was written, but for the most part it's just not the kind of book that gets me raving.
It's also such an Aussie story, and I do cringe a little when the yobbo is so strong. Here's an example of what I consider 'over-Australianising':
"Des parked the car one street back from the cul-de-sac and got out. He leaned on the bonnet and lit up a cigarette. Standing in the tepid sunshine with the eucalypt-scented breeze wafting down on him, he thought, not for the first time, that he really needed to give up the fags."
Other people will love this level of atmosphere immersion but I myself hate how often Australian stereotypes are reinforced. It suits the country-town setting, but doesn't suit my personal tastes.
That being said, I do very much enjoy stories set in places I personally recognise, so all the mentions of Melbourne and surrounding towns were a lot of fun for me.
Overall, it was a well-written story and a good read. It lost stars for me mostly because it's not my favourite kind of genre, but those who enjoy general Australian fiction with a shadow of mystery should be impressed by this one.
With thanks to A&U for an ARC
September 10, 2019
Life Before is an intriguing story about family, grief and tragic events. This story started off a little slow but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my ARC of Carmel Reilly's novel. Very enjoyable!
June 27, 2019
Life Before
I must admit this book was a very slow build for me but the last tenth of the book was compelling. It's an extremely sad story with an air of mystery and intrigue. The story dealt with the fallout of a tragedy and involved two timelines, 1993 and 2016 which I thought worked well.
Scott are Lori are siblings, Scott has been badly injured after a hit and run. The police turn up at Lori's house to inform her of the accident but she hasn't seen her brother in decades. Should Lori return to the past she has tried to forget all this time?
The author is very descriptive in her writing and the plot was interesting. The story makes you realise how easy it is to make a mistake in your youth that could change your future. It also looked at the way people react and deal with emotional situations.
I must admit this book was a very slow build for me but the last tenth of the book was compelling. It's an extremely sad story with an air of mystery and intrigue. The story dealt with the fallout of a tragedy and involved two timelines, 1993 and 2016 which I thought worked well.
Scott are Lori are siblings, Scott has been badly injured after a hit and run. The police turn up at Lori's house to inform her of the accident but she hasn't seen her brother in decades. Should Lori return to the past she has tried to forget all this time?
The author is very descriptive in her writing and the plot was interesting. The story makes you realise how easy it is to make a mistake in your youth that could change your future. It also looked at the way people react and deal with emotional situations.
May 26, 2019
I didn't immediately love this one, in fact I had to restart a couple of times as I found my mind wandering. It snuck up on me though and it wasn't long before I found I couldn't put it down. It broke my heart reading about the events that took place in the past. We've all been young and done stupid things, though not all of us have to pay so dearly for our mistakes. I loved the way the story slowly unfolded moving between the past and the present. I will be looking out for more work from this author, thanks to Allen & Unwin for my copy to read and review.
May 7, 2019
Life Before is a gripping story about a family in crisis. Without giving too much away, it follows the Green family as they deal with the fallout from a tragic accident, one which changes all of their lives. The alternating points of view and the dual timeline, which switches between 1993 and 2016, were really effective in developing the story, and I loved the prose, it was so authentic.
For some reason, I went into this one expecting it to be contemporary fiction but I’d say it’s actually more of a cross between a domestic drama and crime fiction, albeit a bit of a slow burn. But, while the pace is quite slow, the story definitely isn’t lacking intrigue! I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how it would unfold. Highly recommend this one.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Allen and Unwin in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For some reason, I went into this one expecting it to be contemporary fiction but I’d say it’s actually more of a cross between a domestic drama and crime fiction, albeit a bit of a slow burn. But, while the pace is quite slow, the story definitely isn’t lacking intrigue! I was hooked and couldn’t wait to see how it would unfold. Highly recommend this one.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Allen and Unwin in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 17, 2019
A very touching story about how one incident can ruin a family and the affects that stick around for years to come. Relationships are tested and rediscovered. I really enjoyed it and may have had a tear or two towards the end.
March 29, 2019
An engaging, fast-paced story about how one mistake can affect so many people's lives in so many different ways. This book reminded me a bit of Liane Moriarty's, The Husband's Secret. It's told from the perspective of Lori (present day), Pam (1993) and Des (1993), and I definitely liked Pam's perspective the most.
The story is well-written and well-developed, however, I did find some sentences could have been reworded or structured slightly differently to make them more effective and less clunky. This is the fifth or sixth uncorrected proof book I've read this year and it had the most typos of them all. Hopefully everything is fixed up and ironed out in the final version.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is well-written and well-developed, however, I did find some sentences could have been reworded or structured slightly differently to make them more effective and less clunky. This is the fifth or sixth uncorrected proof book I've read this year and it had the most typos of them all. Hopefully everything is fixed up and ironed out in the final version.
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2021
I enjoyed the book. Not a fan of different narrators and past/present stories but I coped.
June 25, 2019
Thanks to Beauty and Lace and Allen and Unwin for a copy of this book.
‘Life Before’ is a story about families and mistakes. How a simple mistake can have enormous consequences and from thereafter tear the lives of family members apart. The story starts with a policeman delivering tragic news to a local family and from there weaves the tale of various family members and the communities they live in.
The story is written from different perspectives and at different timelines but I found this easy to follow and engaging. I don’t want to give too much away because the story reveals itself through various people’s eyes and experiences and with such emotion that you have to read it to experience it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
‘Life Before’ is a story about families and mistakes. How a simple mistake can have enormous consequences and from thereafter tear the lives of family members apart. The story starts with a policeman delivering tragic news to a local family and from there weaves the tale of various family members and the communities they live in.
The story is written from different perspectives and at different timelines but I found this easy to follow and engaging. I don’t want to give too much away because the story reveals itself through various people’s eyes and experiences and with such emotion that you have to read it to experience it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
November 8, 2019
Set in Victoria and such a mystery ,didn't know everything until the end . Had to read it in one sitting it was that good.
August 20, 2022
Dear Carmel,
I have just finished "Life Before." The book totally got me in and I compulsory read it in several days. I related very well to both Pam and Lori as I have bought up 3 children and all the fears, dreads, joys intermingled with the stress of bringing up 3 children hit my heart strings deeply.
I was quite surprised and shocked with the ending. I hope I can tell you how I would like it to have ended. The last scene which relives the accident and places blame on Lori for undoing the seat belt saddened me. Lori had been through a hell of a ride in her life, so much for one woman to bear that I think I would not have put more trauma in her life. I would have left the accident in the past. It did not need to be revisited although it did show some of Troy's character. Troys character could have been put in when the accident happened but even he was young and a teenager. I am so grateful we got through those worrying years without an accident like that.
I would have ended with some sort of resolution to Scott and Jason's work problems. My husband also worked with thugs and cheats and despite the dreadful situation it resolved with time.
Scott had also suffered so much for his mistake which any of our children could have done at that age. Thank God I never have had to live through their experience. You wrote so well that I felt I was Pam or the detective or his wife.
So I would have ended several years down the track with a family gathering with a reconciled Lori and Scott who now can support each other and all their family. Their before lives would never be discussed but the family would all know and be able to weave compassion around them like a soothing blanket of care. Scott may even have found a partner he loved and who loved him like Jason loved Lori. He may have children and the cousins would all be loving and close.
I don't want to sugar coat but I feel there was enough suffering in the book for the Green family. There now must be hope and love.
I remember reading Tim Winton's Cloud Street and there is a picnic in the end with everyone brought together even the shadows of those who had passed on and it eased the pain of the story.
You wrote so well and your characters were so well formed I thought I knew them. What a skill! I suffered through the horrific murders and to not have some hope in the end for reconciliation and a semi normal life for Scott and Lori. I couldn't bear it.
I have suffered through the death of 2 children so I look for hope and meaning and joy in life and I can now find it.
Congratulations on a fabulous first adult novel. I live in Cairns and have a fabulous book club so if you ever come to our beautiful part of the world I invite you to speak to us. It would be an honor!
Pauline Mills paulinemills@hotmail.com
I have just finished "Life Before." The book totally got me in and I compulsory read it in several days. I related very well to both Pam and Lori as I have bought up 3 children and all the fears, dreads, joys intermingled with the stress of bringing up 3 children hit my heart strings deeply.
I was quite surprised and shocked with the ending. I hope I can tell you how I would like it to have ended. The last scene which relives the accident and places blame on Lori for undoing the seat belt saddened me. Lori had been through a hell of a ride in her life, so much for one woman to bear that I think I would not have put more trauma in her life. I would have left the accident in the past. It did not need to be revisited although it did show some of Troy's character. Troys character could have been put in when the accident happened but even he was young and a teenager. I am so grateful we got through those worrying years without an accident like that.
I would have ended with some sort of resolution to Scott and Jason's work problems. My husband also worked with thugs and cheats and despite the dreadful situation it resolved with time.
Scott had also suffered so much for his mistake which any of our children could have done at that age. Thank God I never have had to live through their experience. You wrote so well that I felt I was Pam or the detective or his wife.
So I would have ended several years down the track with a family gathering with a reconciled Lori and Scott who now can support each other and all their family. Their before lives would never be discussed but the family would all know and be able to weave compassion around them like a soothing blanket of care. Scott may even have found a partner he loved and who loved him like Jason loved Lori. He may have children and the cousins would all be loving and close.
I don't want to sugar coat but I feel there was enough suffering in the book for the Green family. There now must be hope and love.
I remember reading Tim Winton's Cloud Street and there is a picnic in the end with everyone brought together even the shadows of those who had passed on and it eased the pain of the story.
You wrote so well and your characters were so well formed I thought I knew them. What a skill! I suffered through the horrific murders and to not have some hope in the end for reconciliation and a semi normal life for Scott and Lori. I couldn't bear it.
I have suffered through the death of 2 children so I look for hope and meaning and joy in life and I can now find it.
Congratulations on a fabulous first adult novel. I live in Cairns and have a fabulous book club so if you ever come to our beautiful part of the world I invite you to speak to us. It would be an honor!
Pauline Mills paulinemills@hotmail.com
August 20, 2020
In her first full length novel for adults, educational and children's writer Carmel Reilly has delivered a crime fiction book that tackles sibling relationships and family secrets full on.
Set in two main timelines, in 2016 Lori receives a visit from a policeman to tell her that her estranged brother Scott is in hospital, seriously injured in a hit and run accident. Back in 1993 we meet Lori and Scott as teenagers, and discover the secrets that tore the family apart. Is it this that triggered the hit and run, or was it simply an accident?
Given that this is a crime fiction debut for Carmel Reilly, the writing and plotting of LIFE BEFORE is assured and extremely readable. It's also another one of these frequently occurring cross-over's between mystery and suspense set within a big family saga novel - these definitely do seem to have become the flavour of the month at the moment.
Dripping with tension and suspense, the multiple timeline works well, with the pacing of the release of past information nicely balanced against current events. The switching backwards and forwards is elegantly presented, not confusing or jolting the reader from the main storyline at all. There's the added bonus of 1990s small town Australia in the earlier timeline that will undoubtedly ring very true for many readers.
Peopled by really good characters, what made this novel stand out amongst what has become a rather crowded sub-genre was the sense of reality to the plot. It's all to easy to imagine going about your daily, mundane sort of life, after teenager events that rocked your world but seem to be safely tucked in the past, only to have everything explode in your face when you least expect it. How somebody would handle that, how you would make sense of it, and how you face up to the consequences, is really at the core of LIFE BEFORE.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Set in two main timelines, in 2016 Lori receives a visit from a policeman to tell her that her estranged brother Scott is in hospital, seriously injured in a hit and run accident. Back in 1993 we meet Lori and Scott as teenagers, and discover the secrets that tore the family apart. Is it this that triggered the hit and run, or was it simply an accident?
Given that this is a crime fiction debut for Carmel Reilly, the writing and plotting of LIFE BEFORE is assured and extremely readable. It's also another one of these frequently occurring cross-over's between mystery and suspense set within a big family saga novel - these definitely do seem to have become the flavour of the month at the moment.
Dripping with tension and suspense, the multiple timeline works well, with the pacing of the release of past information nicely balanced against current events. The switching backwards and forwards is elegantly presented, not confusing or jolting the reader from the main storyline at all. There's the added bonus of 1990s small town Australia in the earlier timeline that will undoubtedly ring very true for many readers.
Peopled by really good characters, what made this novel stand out amongst what has become a rather crowded sub-genre was the sense of reality to the plot. It's all to easy to imagine going about your daily, mundane sort of life, after teenager events that rocked your world but seem to be safely tucked in the past, only to have everything explode in your face when you least expect it. How somebody would handle that, how you would make sense of it, and how you face up to the consequences, is really at the core of LIFE BEFORE.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
December 29, 2019
4.5 ☆
Finished reading … Life before / Carmel Reilly ... 27 December 2019
ISBN: 9781760529314 … 345 pp.
Drink, drugs, driving, death.... repercussions that ripple outwards across the present and flow forwards into the future. This book follows that path, going back and forth between past and present. Sometimes it seems as though there's a bit too much extraneous information. But that serves to show the ordinariness of those involved, that there is nothing special about them that marks them out. What happens to them can, and does, happen to anyone. One bad choice that people make every day. How lucky most of them are that they get away with it.
Some of the repercussions are not usual but are not unheard of, are in fact not uncommon in other situations. They explain a lot about blocking out trauma and about estrangement. However, additional situations and relationships towards the end are, to me, a step too far although as a literary device this allows for a relatively neat conclusion.
Before we were married my now-ex's brother was killed in a car crash. I saw how his mother in particular changed. While pretty much nothing like the situations in this novel, despite my reservations above, it nevertheless rings true.
I'd like to tell teenagers about to get their licence to read this book, to see how drink/drug driving can cause a family to disintegrate.
But I'd be wasting my breath. Those who behave like that can't be told. So the deaths, injuries and disintegrated families continue to proliferate.
Tragic.
Borrowed from my local library.
Finished reading … Life before / Carmel Reilly ... 27 December 2019
ISBN: 9781760529314 … 345 pp.
Drink, drugs, driving, death.... repercussions that ripple outwards across the present and flow forwards into the future. This book follows that path, going back and forth between past and present. Sometimes it seems as though there's a bit too much extraneous information. But that serves to show the ordinariness of those involved, that there is nothing special about them that marks them out. What happens to them can, and does, happen to anyone. One bad choice that people make every day. How lucky most of them are that they get away with it.
Some of the repercussions are not usual but are not unheard of, are in fact not uncommon in other situations. They explain a lot about blocking out trauma and about estrangement. However, additional situations and relationships towards the end are, to me, a step too far although as a literary device this allows for a relatively neat conclusion.
Before we were married my now-ex's brother was killed in a car crash. I saw how his mother in particular changed. While pretty much nothing like the situations in this novel, despite my reservations above, it nevertheless rings true.
I'd like to tell teenagers about to get their licence to read this book, to see how drink/drug driving can cause a family to disintegrate.
But I'd be wasting my breath. Those who behave like that can't be told. So the deaths, injuries and disintegrated families continue to proliferate.
Tragic.
Borrowed from my local library.
July 12, 2019
It takes a little moment to get going, sure. But Life Before is an emotionally perceptive book, comfortable with its doubt and in no rush to find easy answers. The action is nominally divided between Melbourne in 2016 and the Victorian highlands in 1993, but the best part of the novel takes place in minds of its two narrators. They pore over the textures of their present family lives, and over their memories. Life Before's title seems to refer less to the traumatic event hinted at in the blurb, and more to the way time seems to make things slip out from under you, eroding certainties not only in the past but in the present, too.
Fittingly, Reilly structures the plot like a crime novel in reverse. Slowly she clears away the everyday experiences that coat our minds like cobwebs, and which suppress the worst of our memories, until she arrives, in the third act, to the iron-hard kernel of violence that has permanently shaped the character's minds. As she recounts these events, Reilly's tender and unfussy language suddenly works to make the world drop out from under the characters, and the contrast between the reserved language and the nature of the scene left my stomach hanging from my throat. It is in these moments that her first two, relatively gentle themes – of family and of memory – come into stark contrast against her third: what do we do if we cannot forgive?
Fittingly, Reilly structures the plot like a crime novel in reverse. Slowly she clears away the everyday experiences that coat our minds like cobwebs, and which suppress the worst of our memories, until she arrives, in the third act, to the iron-hard kernel of violence that has permanently shaped the character's minds. As she recounts these events, Reilly's tender and unfussy language suddenly works to make the world drop out from under the characters, and the contrast between the reserved language and the nature of the scene left my stomach hanging from my throat. It is in these moments that her first two, relatively gentle themes – of family and of memory – come into stark contrast against her third: what do we do if we cannot forgive?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2024
LIFE BEFORE by Carmen Reilly
Carmen writes clearly, which would explain why she’s written over 300 works already, both fiction and non-fiction.
The descriptions of everyday things and life are clear and concise, you will have no trouble understanding the prose and, ultimately, where the book is heading.
It deals with an all-too-common occurrence these days, teenagers piling into a car where all concerned are involved with either alcohol or drugs. Needless to say a serious crash occurs, people die or are seriously injured and then, friendships and relationships fall apart with serious consequences that turn out to be misguided ensue.
A town is divided and this novel looks into certain aspects of that and how disparate personalities try to deal with the fallout.
It doesn’t go well and the book delves into the after effects over a 13 year period, continually swapping from 1993 to 2006.
It’s definitely not a feel good book, nothing fuzzy here, more a sad reflection on the extremes of life after tragedy strikes and the different ways people try to cope.
It seems quite clear to me that Carmen has left the door open for a sequel as loose ends are not tied up but let that not detract from the frankness and clarity of this novel. A tick from me.
Carmen writes clearly, which would explain why she’s written over 300 works already, both fiction and non-fiction.
The descriptions of everyday things and life are clear and concise, you will have no trouble understanding the prose and, ultimately, where the book is heading.
It deals with an all-too-common occurrence these days, teenagers piling into a car where all concerned are involved with either alcohol or drugs. Needless to say a serious crash occurs, people die or are seriously injured and then, friendships and relationships fall apart with serious consequences that turn out to be misguided ensue.
A town is divided and this novel looks into certain aspects of that and how disparate personalities try to deal with the fallout.
It doesn’t go well and the book delves into the after effects over a 13 year period, continually swapping from 1993 to 2006.
It’s definitely not a feel good book, nothing fuzzy here, more a sad reflection on the extremes of life after tragedy strikes and the different ways people try to cope.
It seems quite clear to me that Carmen has left the door open for a sequel as loose ends are not tied up but let that not detract from the frankness and clarity of this novel. A tick from me.
March 20, 2019
When the police turn up on Lori's doorstep, the last thing she expects is to hear news in relation to her brother. She hasn't seen Scott in over 20 years, and yet now he has been the victim of a hit and run she is his next of kin.
What begins then is essentially 2 stories - Lori's life now in 2016, dealing with the aftermath of Scott's accidents and the memories it brings forth; and also the story of Pam, Lori's mother, in 1993, that is - the "life before".
Look, it took me a little while to get into this story and whilst I was intrigued, I don't think I was ever really hooked or invested in the story. I had to force myself to sit down and read, rather than being engrossed and wanting to put life on hold.
That said though, I think the beauty of this story lies in the questions it raises in our own lives. How at 18 you are legally classed as an adult, yet you are still far from knowing everything. It's a reminder of how decisions made then, before you have the knowledge to know and do better, can have life long impacts that you cannot foresee. It's an interesting reflection on family and running from the past.
Whilst I wouldn't class it as a must read, it certainly was an interesting read.
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
What begins then is essentially 2 stories - Lori's life now in 2016, dealing with the aftermath of Scott's accidents and the memories it brings forth; and also the story of Pam, Lori's mother, in 1993, that is - the "life before".
Look, it took me a little while to get into this story and whilst I was intrigued, I don't think I was ever really hooked or invested in the story. I had to force myself to sit down and read, rather than being engrossed and wanting to put life on hold.
That said though, I think the beauty of this story lies in the questions it raises in our own lives. How at 18 you are legally classed as an adult, yet you are still far from knowing everything. It's a reminder of how decisions made then, before you have the knowledge to know and do better, can have life long impacts that you cannot foresee. It's an interesting reflection on family and running from the past.
Whilst I wouldn't class it as a must read, it certainly was an interesting read.
**I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
March 27, 2019
Not sure about my feelings about Life Before. I did enjoy reading this but it wasn’t a wow factor. I also could picture my book club having a great discussion about a Life Before.
As soon as I started reading I thought awesome I’m liking this and just needed to know why the policeman was knocking on the car window. From here I did not want to put the book down because the wanting to know the deep family secrets that the main character was hiding kept me reading. I did find that after the first part of the book it started to drag a bit and I’m glad that I kept reading because it hooked me in again.
I liked the way Carmel Reilly went from 1933 to 2016 retelling the story of Lori and depicting life in a small country town in Australia that everyone knows everyone and then moving to Melbourne to hide from a tragic accident and starting all over again. Oh how hard would that be to do ….. and then, a knock on the window brings your past back that you have hidden from your knew life.
If you like a book with real life characters that have secrets and go through family tragedy I would give Life Before a go
Thank you to Better Reading and Allen & Unwin for this review copy
As soon as I started reading I thought awesome I’m liking this and just needed to know why the policeman was knocking on the car window. From here I did not want to put the book down because the wanting to know the deep family secrets that the main character was hiding kept me reading. I did find that after the first part of the book it started to drag a bit and I’m glad that I kept reading because it hooked me in again.
I liked the way Carmel Reilly went from 1933 to 2016 retelling the story of Lori and depicting life in a small country town in Australia that everyone knows everyone and then moving to Melbourne to hide from a tragic accident and starting all over again. Oh how hard would that be to do ….. and then, a knock on the window brings your past back that you have hidden from your knew life.
If you like a book with real life characters that have secrets and go through family tragedy I would give Life Before a go
Thank you to Better Reading and Allen & Unwin for this review copy
February 11, 2021
Life Before takes us back to times so many of us have lived through, when life was supposedly more simple, gentle and uncomplicated. Living in a regional Australian town, Pam and Mick Green are bringing up their three teenagers in changing times, where, in a brief moment, their lives and those of many around them are turned upside down. Instead of simplicity they are challenged with hatred and animosity, and their lives will never be the same. 17 years later we meet up with their daughter Lori, and see how the past has influenced the direction her life took. I LOVED this book! Despite the frequent reminders that life is so fragile and unpredictable, the raw emotion that Carmel Reilly delivers draws you to the book like a magnet. I found myself catching my breath on several occasions as I worried about the Greens and the events that took over their lives. My only negative comment is that I was constantly checking to see where the next chapter sat on the timeline in relation to the last. Definitely put Life Before on your reading list.
March 10, 2019
Thanks to @Better Reading #BRPreview for the opportunity to read and review ‘Life Before’ by Carmel Reilly. It took me a while to get into this book but so glad I didn’t give up on it. What a great story and such wonderful descriptive ‘real’ character development.
The story follows the Green family and just how much one family can endure in a lifetime. A perfect depiction of family life in small town, Australia where everyone knows everyone to that of the life and anonymity of big city living.
Loren Green (now Lori Spyker) runs away to the big city from her small town life of 17 years after family trauma strikes but life and its journey has a strange way of catching up to you. There are so many sad and relatable events in this book that I cried, held my breath and so wanted Lori to forgive herself. A great Australian first novel and I look forward to reading future works of Carmel Reilly. 4/5
The story follows the Green family and just how much one family can endure in a lifetime. A perfect depiction of family life in small town, Australia where everyone knows everyone to that of the life and anonymity of big city living.
Loren Green (now Lori Spyker) runs away to the big city from her small town life of 17 years after family trauma strikes but life and its journey has a strange way of catching up to you. There are so many sad and relatable events in this book that I cried, held my breath and so wanted Lori to forgive herself. A great Australian first novel and I look forward to reading future works of Carmel Reilly. 4/5
March 11, 2019
Richly detailed and beautifully descriptive Life Before is a family drama with a mystery at it’s core. The scenes positively leap from the page as you are drawn into the saga of Green family and the the terrible tragedy that will change all their lives forever.
Told over two timelines, 1993 and 2016, Life Before gently unravels a family’s darkest secrets and hidden past to reveal a fractured future and a pair of siblings living with survivors guilt.
Carmel Reilly makes you care about her characters in a way so few authors do these days and you feel invested in their stories in both timelines. Each character is beautifully developed with a past, present and future you can almost see unfolding within each chapter.
Life before is a book tragedy and consequences and leads to a devastating conclusion in one timeline but it is also a book about life and hope and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview and Allen & Unwin for this review copy.
Told over two timelines, 1993 and 2016, Life Before gently unravels a family’s darkest secrets and hidden past to reveal a fractured future and a pair of siblings living with survivors guilt.
Carmel Reilly makes you care about her characters in a way so few authors do these days and you feel invested in their stories in both timelines. Each character is beautifully developed with a past, present and future you can almost see unfolding within each chapter.
Life before is a book tragedy and consequences and leads to a devastating conclusion in one timeline but it is also a book about life and hope and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview and Allen & Unwin for this review copy.
March 19, 2019
Melbourne 2016, Lori Spyker got an unexpected news about her brother Scott Green who has been injured from a hit and run. Lori doesn't expect to hear about his brother after 20 years of no contact. Now, all of a sudden, she has to see his brother in hospital.
Carmel Reilly managed to tickle our curiosity of what has made Lori & Scott went separate ways and never seen each other for 20 years by bringing us back to 1993, to their family life, their parents (Pamela and Michael Green).
Is Scott's accident related to their past? How big is this secret which even made Lori keep it from her own husband?
This book was brilliantly paced, not a fast paced, but the author opened each question mark within the story in a right time and made this book a real page turner. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and highly recommending this book for your next reading.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview for the advance copy of this book.
Carmel Reilly managed to tickle our curiosity of what has made Lori & Scott went separate ways and never seen each other for 20 years by bringing us back to 1993, to their family life, their parents (Pamela and Michael Green).
Is Scott's accident related to their past? How big is this secret which even made Lori keep it from her own husband?
This book was brilliantly paced, not a fast paced, but the author opened each question mark within the story in a right time and made this book a real page turner. I am thoroughly enjoying this book and highly recommending this book for your next reading.
Thank you to Better Reading Preview for the advance copy of this book.
August 24, 2019
A solid family drama that will have you riveted until the very end!
The story of the Green family is shown through a series of flashbacks from the present day Melbourne, where Lori crosses paths with her brother, Scott, after a twenty-year absence from her life. It is from this seemingly random intersection that the truth about her past finally begins to seep into her present life.
I enjoyed the different perspectives within the flashbacks; however, I wish we had more of Scott and Lori’s perspective in their younger years, instead of just having their present day experiences. I also would have liked to have more of Jason’s point of view – not just the small part tacked onto the end.
The story of the Green family is definitely not for the feint-hearted.
Thank you @allenandunwin for gifting me a copy to review!
The story of the Green family is shown through a series of flashbacks from the present day Melbourne, where Lori crosses paths with her brother, Scott, after a twenty-year absence from her life. It is from this seemingly random intersection that the truth about her past finally begins to seep into her present life.
I enjoyed the different perspectives within the flashbacks; however, I wish we had more of Scott and Lori’s perspective in their younger years, instead of just having their present day experiences. I also would have liked to have more of Jason’s point of view – not just the small part tacked onto the end.
The story of the Green family is definitely not for the feint-hearted.
Thank you @allenandunwin for gifting me a copy to review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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