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Review
'Diane Chamberlain is the Southern Jodi Picoult.' --New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Alice Monroe
'This was an excellent book, well written and thoroughly gripping. Highly recommended -5 stars.' --New Books
'Diane Chamberlain is a marvellously gifted author! Every book she writes is a real gem.' --Literary Times
'This was an excellent book, well written and thoroughly gripping. Highly recommended -5 stars.' --New Books
'Diane Chamberlain is a marvellously gifted author! Every book she writes is a real gem.' --Literary Times
Product Description
Her little boy has been accused of murder. How far will she go to protect him? When the local church is razed to the ground, dozens of trapped children manage to escape - many helped by fifteen-year-old Andy Lockwood. Born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Andy is more like a little boy than a teenager, but in the eyes of the people he saved, he's a hero. Laurel lost her baby once through neglect and has spent the rest of her life determined to make up for her mistakes. Yet when suspicion of arson is cast upon Andy, Laurel must ask herself how well she really knows her son - and how far she'll go to protect him.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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I loved this book! Diane Chamberlain writes so fluidly that I just found myself going with the flow of the book and reading it at every possible opportunity.
The story is about Laurel, a woman who drank when she was pregnant with her now 15 year old son, Andy. As a result he has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which has affected his growth and development. Laurel has always put all her energy into looking after Andy, giving the majority of her love and attention to him, rather than his older sister Maggie, who has always been able to look after herself. However, when a fire breaks out at the church where Andy is attending a lock-in with friends, after initially being the hero who got the other kids out, the suspicion of arson points to him. Laurel has to try to protect Andy, but realises that she also needs to protect Maggie too.
This book is a fabulous read. Diane Chamberlain is always likened to Jodi Picoult and I can see the similarities, but I find Diane Chamberlain's work a much easier read, although just as hard-hitting. In this book, she tells the story from various different perspectives, and I liked the way I could understand the events from the view of different characters. It worked very well, and was not at all confusing.
This is a real page turner - highly recommended.
The story is about Laurel, a woman who drank when she was pregnant with her now 15 year old son, Andy. As a result he has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which has affected his growth and development. Laurel has always put all her energy into looking after Andy, giving the majority of her love and attention to him, rather than his older sister Maggie, who has always been able to look after herself. However, when a fire breaks out at the church where Andy is attending a lock-in with friends, after initially being the hero who got the other kids out, the suspicion of arson points to him. Laurel has to try to protect Andy, but realises that she also needs to protect Maggie too.
This book is a fabulous read. Diane Chamberlain is always likened to Jodi Picoult and I can see the similarities, but I find Diane Chamberlain's work a much easier read, although just as hard-hitting. In this book, she tells the story from various different perspectives, and I liked the way I could understand the events from the view of different characters. It worked very well, and was not at all confusing.
This is a real page turner - highly recommended.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Diane Chamberlain has been called the Southern Jodi Picoult and certainly there are similarities, for instance each chapter is narrated by a different character, and family relationships are explored in depth. However, while I have read and didn't particular warm to Jodi Picoult's books, I have to say that this story really captivated me.
The first chapter was narrated by Andy which I thought was inspiring as straight away we got a feel for his character and how he thinks and feels about his family and his circumstances. I instantly warmed to him as he joined all his 'friends' in the church for the evening and tried to talk to a girl he was attracted to by telling her that he loved her. The boy she was with talked down to Andy and he was confused as he thought everyone was his friend. Then the fire starts and panic sets in inside the church.
As the story continues we see through Andy and his family's eyes the police investigation into the arson attack and family secrets long buried start to surface. Laurel, Andy's widowed mother thinks that Maggie, Andy's sister, is happy and content but does she really know her as well as she thinks she does and why does Laurel blame her husband's brother, Marcus, for his death? All the while she is trying to protect Andy while her world turns upside down and people start to turn against her.
I thought the characters were well-defined, particularly Andy, and I would recommend this if you're looking for a read that's not too light, but thought-provoking.
The first chapter was narrated by Andy which I thought was inspiring as straight away we got a feel for his character and how he thinks and feels about his family and his circumstances. I instantly warmed to him as he joined all his 'friends' in the church for the evening and tried to talk to a girl he was attracted to by telling her that he loved her. The boy she was with talked down to Andy and he was confused as he thought everyone was his friend. Then the fire starts and panic sets in inside the church.
As the story continues we see through Andy and his family's eyes the police investigation into the arson attack and family secrets long buried start to surface. Laurel, Andy's widowed mother thinks that Maggie, Andy's sister, is happy and content but does she really know her as well as she thinks she does and why does Laurel blame her husband's brother, Marcus, for his death? All the while she is trying to protect Andy while her world turns upside down and people start to turn against her.
I thought the characters were well-defined, particularly Andy, and I would recommend this if you're looking for a read that's not too light, but thought-provoking.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Beginning with the suspected arson of a local church during a teenagers lock-in, "Before the Storm," intertwines events before, during and after the event from multiple perspectives including suspect Andy (the 15 year old boy with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome), his mother Laurel, sister Maggie and uncle Marcus. I found all of the main characters to be well rounded and likeable the strands of the narrative flowed well between all of them. I also enjoyed the setting of Topsail island as Chamberlain's description really came to life. There are many twists and turns alogd the way, as more and more background to each character is revealed and I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what would happen next.
"Before The Storm," is the first novel I have read from Diane Chamberlain but it certainly won't be the last. I highly recommended this to fans of Jodi Picoult.
"Before The Storm," is the first novel I have read from Diane Chamberlain but it certainly won't be the last. I highly recommended this to fans of Jodi Picoult.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Read-
I bought this through my Amazon Kindle which my son bought me for Christmas-read all the reviews before purchase and im so glad i bought this-once u start to read u cant put it... Read more
Published 8 days ago by pippa green
Gripping stuff, a very real real page turner
I haven't read any other books by this author or Jodi Picoult who she is seemingly compared to, but I found the writing style very natural and fluid, chapters seemed to pass in the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by T. SMEDLEY
Twists and turns, brilliant Chamberlain
This book is perfect it keeps you guessing till the end, lots of changes and turns.
The author always writes each chapter from a different persons point of view and its... Read more
The author always writes each chapter from a different persons point of view and its... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Katie Blackburn
BRILLIANT
Absolutely loved this book. Laurel has a fifteen year old son Andy who was born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder due to her excess drinking. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Amanda
Enjoyable
This book was my first of Diane Chamberlain and I really enjoyed it. A very similar style of writing/genre to Jodie Picoult, so if you enjoy her books then give Diane Chamberlain... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sarah
Great
I really enjoyed reading this book, and as soon as I finished it I went on to read the book following on from this story, Secrets she left behind, which was just as good. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Natalie
Fab read
Make sure you read this before 'The Lies we Told' both are truly gripping books (this one if the best of the two though)
Published 12 months ago by V. Franklin
Couldn't put it down! I had it read in 2 evenings!
An excellent read and kept me gripped throughout, poor husband had to put up with my reading light until the early hours for the last two nights! poor thing.... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Michelle M. Balogun
A great read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The descriptions which set the various scenes were expressive without being overwhelming and the suspense was held well throughout the book while... Read more
Published 13 months ago by The Dame
A must read
This is the second Diane Chamberlain book I have read and I have to say I think she is better than Jodi Picoult. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mad Sez
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