A Breath After Drowning

by Alice Blanchard

Overview

The stunning psychological thriller from the award-winning author of the acclaimed Trace of Evil, Darkness Peering and The Breathtaker.

She'll need all her wits about her, and then some, to eventually do battle with one of the most memorable genre villains since Hannibal Lecter. - Wall Street Journal

Sixteen years ago, Kate Wolfe's young sister Savannah was brutally murdered. Forced to live with the guilt of how her own selfishness put Savannah in harm's way, Kate was at least comforted by the knowledge that the man responsible was on death row. But when she meets a retired detective who is certain that Kate's sister was only one of many victims of a serial killer, Kate must face the possibility that Savannah's murderer walks free.

Unearthing disturbing family secrets in her search for the truth, Kate becomes sure that she has discovered the depraved mind responsible for so much death. But as she hunts for a killer, a killer is hunting her...

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781785656408
Publisher:	Titan
Publication date:	04/10/2018
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	232,004
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Alice Blanchard won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction for her book of stories, The Stuntman's Daughter. Her first novel, Darkness Peering was named one of the New York Times Book Review's Notable Books. Her second novel, The Breathtaker was an official selection of the NBC Today Book Club, and her third, Trace of Evil, was published in 2019.  Alice has received a PEN Syndicated Fiction Award, a New Letters Literary Award and a Centrum Artists in Residence Fellowship.

Editorial Reviews

03/05/2018
Psychiatrist Kate Wolfe, the heroine of this riveting thriller from Blanchard (The Breathtaker), has a great job in Boston, a fantastic boyfriend, a new condo, and a troubled past. When Kate was 16 years old, Henry Blackwood was convicted of abducting and killing her younger sister, Savannah; Blackwood’s execution date is now approaching. Kate and her longtime boyfriend are supposed to leave on a much-needed vacation, but their plans are cancelled when one of Kate’s troubled patients suddenly commits suicide. The loss sends workaholic Kate into a tailspin, and she focuses her attention on new patient Maddie Ward. Maddie’s mother, Nellie, who unceremoniously dumped her daughter off at the hospital where Kate works, has ulterior motives for doing so. Nellie’s testimony is what put Blackwood behind bars years ago—and now Nellie is changing her story. Investigating the past leads Kate to make painful discoveries about her own family. Blanchard offers three-dimensional, empathetic characters caught up in twisting events, as well as sympathetic views of Kate’s patients. The killer’s identity may strain credibility, but strong pacing and characterization more than compensate. Agent: Jill Marr, Sandra Dijkstra Agency. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Terrifying... one of the most memorable genre villains since Hannibal Lecter." - Wall Street Journal

"Blanchard excels at portraying a multilayered main character who’s damaged but strong, and at sending readers chasing after red herrings. The closing twist, a complete surprise, caps a tale that is as absorbing as it is emotional and thought provoking. This is one for readers of Patricia Cornwell’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta novels...each starring a woman in the field of medicine who cares deeply about her job and about getting justice for those who’ve been wronged." - Booklist

"Riveting thriller" - Publishers Weekly

"A BREATH AFTER DROWNING had me hooked from page one. A spectacular, gripping, psychological thriller not to be missed.” —Lisa Lutz, New York Times bestselling author of The Passenger

“Dark, chilling and complex. Blanchard is a skilled writer who spins a tangled-web thriller that will keep you up at night.” — Sherri Smith, bestselling author of Follow Me Down

“In her newest, A BREATH AFTER DROWNING, Alice Blanchard has you by the throat before you know it. This story of a child psychiatrist stalked by violence past and present kept me up all night, long after I stopped reading. Blanchard is a powerhouse, and keeps getting better.” —Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean

"A smart read with a complex heroine and an ending you can't foresee with a crystal ball." Nancy Allen, bestselling author of the Ozarks Mystery Series

"Readers who enjoy Ruth Ware and Megan Miranda will enjoy this book." - San Francisco Book Review

“goes from strength to strength and is well worth a read if you are a fan of well-constructed, beautifully paced psychological thrillers” - The Crime Review

“A very satisfying thriller from a writer who knows how to work the reader’s emotions” - The Frumious Consortium

 “a slow burn read that will hold your attention until the end” Bookreferees.org

“I felt enough empathy for Kate that it was as though a personal friend were going through what she was going through, and I just couldn’t put the book down” Books The Thing

“A Breath After Drowning is a great compelling, sinister and shocking story” With Love for Books

 “I kept thinking I had things all figured out ahead of time only to be proven wrong over and over again, I just love when a book keeps the surprises coming!” Novel Gossip

“Controlled, Fresh, and Intriguing.” Novel Gossip

“a fast-paced enjoyable read with a thought-provoking plot, and I'm glad I read it. Give it a try!”  Kittling Books

“a fine choice for your psychological thrillers list” Chick Lit Central

“This mystery is cleverly put together, everything fits, and I found this to be an addictive read”  Krimsuun Pages 

“a page turner with more-than-ordinary reversals and undercuts awaiting the unwary reader. Unfortunately, Dear Reader, I cannot tell you about many of these because my doing so might spoil your fun”  Reviewing The Evidence

“one of those deceptive books, where I thought I knew what it would be about, and then got wonderfully surprised at the complex characterisation and a plot that spans time and characters I did not expect”  Editing Everything

“a well written, addictive serial killer thriller featuring a strong, likeable female protagonist and a satisfying conclusion” Isabella’s Reading Corner


“a finely wrought psychological thriller... the ultimate resolution of her tale proves believably grim” Blog Critics

"As close to perfect as it can get in this genre.... Definitely an author to follow, Blanchard chisels characters that darken with each layer. Reminiscent of Gillian Flynn, Paula Hawkins, with the rawness of Stephen King’s suspense novels, this one’s highly recommended for anyone craving a thriller that will leave a scar." - Cemetery Dance

"Blanchard’s rapid-fire prose makes for easy reading, but her ambition is to strike deeper with her words than your average page-turner. " - Connecticut Magazine

“refreshingly easy to slip into and I couldn’t put it down” - The Scary Reviews

From the Publisher

Read More