Thank you to Dave and the gang at The WriteReads for organising this tour and to Jack Byrne for having me along. I am excited to be sharing my review of Before the Storm today.
Synopsis
YOUTHFUL PROMISES SHAPE LETHAL OUTCOMES
Historian Vinny Connolly tries to escape the bitter memories of his childhood in a tough neighbourhood. But a secret from the past, involving a pocket watch, an old man’s death, and childhood friends, threatens to unravel his present.Â
When one of those friends, Sammo, dies in mysterious circumstances, Vinny, his wife Helen, and his ex-partner Anne McCarthy race against time to uncover the truth.
A hit and run incident, text messages, and a murdered pet, all warn Vinny away from the investigation. A series of letters hold the key to Sammo’s life, and the secret to unlock the mystery of his death. Facing unexpected obstacles and police opposition Anne tries to overcome an accidental death verdict.
 Set against the backdrop of a post-Brexit UK, this is a gripping tale of immigration, friendship, the power of secrets to shape our lives, and the value of resistance to authority.
Genre: Historical Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Length: 314 pages
Published: May 2023
My Thoughts
Before the Storm opens with a crime scene and a character called Helen receiving warning texts. I was pulled into the story immediately. Vinny, the main character, is introduced a little later into the book and although there are multiple perspectives, Vinny’s is the main one.
It soon becomes clear that answers to the murder lay in VInny’s past and the plot moves between Liverpool in the 80’s and post Brexit Liverpool. Byrne writes with a stark contrast to show the real differences between these different eras. The struggles faced in the 80s had a huge and lasting impact on communities in the UK – particularly the less affluent areas. This is shown through the present day depiction of the same area. I always enjoy dual timeline stories as I enjoy having small parts of the plot revealed slowly and coming together a piece at a time.
My heart broke for Sammo and his life experiences. He just deserved so much better from everyone around him and was really let down by the system and friends. Sammo’s plight is something that affects many people and it is really emotionally written. I think everyone needs to read this story to highlight how difficult it is for people who have served. I liked the characters of Vinny and Helen who were determined to do Sammo justice. Other characters were very unlikeable and made me angry.
The setting of this book feels very real. It’s not glamourised or exaggerated, but very round in the realistic vibe of the times. I’ve never been to Liverpool but I really enjoy it when an author shows us both the beauty and the ugly side of a place.
Before the Storm is a gritty and realistic emotional rollercoaster and is completely addictive. It’s a dark crime mystery with an edge and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Author Bio – Jack Byrne
I was born and raised in Speke Liverpool, (Paul McCartney lived in the street behind us for a while) although my parents first lived ‘Under The Bridge’ in Garston, and all my family goes back to Wicklow in Ireland.
The Liverpool Mystery Series will be four novels. Under The Bridge is the first. I am writing Fire Next time now, and The Wicklow Boys will follow next year. You can find The One Road prequel a collection of short stories here on Amazon.
Herding Cats 