Beware of revenge-fuelled obsession
I have to admit, when I first started to read ‘Wilderness’ I was not sure whether I was going to enjoy it or not. The opening chapter contained some long and meandering sentences; past and present events were interwoven; and initially, I found it difficult to work out what was going on. However, I am glad I stuck with it as the story gathered pace in the next few chapters and, by then, I was hooked.
The novel begins with Olivia and Will Taylor trying to repair the damage done to their marriage by Will’s affair with a younger woman, Jenna. Now desperate to regain Olivia’s trust, Will has persuaded her to join him on an American road trip. He is hoping that, alone in a completely different environment, it will help to bring them back together. However, Olivia cannot get past his adultery. All she can think about is Will and Jenna together. Therefore, as they travel through the mountains and deserts of Arizona, not only does she reflect on the events leading up to Will’s betrayal, she also starts to consider ways of taking revenge on him and his ‘whore’ of a mistress.
Previously a happily married couple, the trouble begins when the couple leave their home in Wales to live in America. Having been promoted to Events and Client Manager at the Lowbeck Hotel in New York, Will’s new position necessitates the couple moving to the United States. At first, the prospect is exciting for both of them. However, the gloss soon fades for Olivia as, unable to work owing to the terms of Will’s visa, she finds herself stuck alone in their apartment, trying to write articles for the travel book she is working on. She is already feeling discontented with her situation, when she accidentally discovers an intimate text on Will’s phone from one of his female colleagues, and realises they are having an affair. It is then, as Olivia begins to discover the extent of Will’s lies, that the darker side of her nature starts to surface.
Eventually agreeing to accompany her seemingly remorseful husband on his planned road trip, Olivia is horrified when they bump into Jenna and her boyfriend, apparently following the same route as them. Although Will claims it is just coincidence, Olivia is far from convinced. When she subsequently discovers Jenna is actually staying in the same motel, her obsession with revenge gradually spirals into something much more sinister and dangerous.
Finally, seizing an unexpected opportunity to give vent to her anger, jealousy and hatred ignite within her, triggering a series of consequences which eventually result in Olivia becoming the one with secrets to keep.
‘Wilderness’ is a compelling study in jealousy and the need for retribution it can awake in all of us – given the right circumstances. As none of us know what we are truly capable of until faced with such a situation, this novel is not only a gripping thriller but also a salutary warning.
The novel begins with Olivia and Will Taylor trying to repair the damage done to their marriage by Will’s affair with a younger woman, Jenna. Now desperate to regain Olivia’s trust, Will has persuaded her to join him on an American road trip. He is hoping that, alone in a completely different environment, it will help to bring them back together. However, Olivia cannot get past his adultery. All she can think about is Will and Jenna together. Therefore, as they travel through the mountains and deserts of Arizona, not only does she reflect on the events leading up to Will’s betrayal, she also starts to consider ways of taking revenge on him and his ‘whore’ of a mistress.
Previously a happily married couple, the trouble begins when the couple leave their home in Wales to live in America. Having been promoted to Events and Client Manager at the Lowbeck Hotel in New York, Will’s new position necessitates the couple moving to the United States. At first, the prospect is exciting for both of them. However, the gloss soon fades for Olivia as, unable to work owing to the terms of Will’s visa, she finds herself stuck alone in their apartment, trying to write articles for the travel book she is working on. She is already feeling discontented with her situation, when she accidentally discovers an intimate text on Will’s phone from one of his female colleagues, and realises they are having an affair. It is then, as Olivia begins to discover the extent of Will’s lies, that the darker side of her nature starts to surface.
Eventually agreeing to accompany her seemingly remorseful husband on his planned road trip, Olivia is horrified when they bump into Jenna and her boyfriend, apparently following the same route as them. Although Will claims it is just coincidence, Olivia is far from convinced. When she subsequently discovers Jenna is actually staying in the same motel, her obsession with revenge gradually spirals into something much more sinister and dangerous.
Finally, seizing an unexpected opportunity to give vent to her anger, jealousy and hatred ignite within her, triggering a series of consequences which eventually result in Olivia becoming the one with secrets to keep.
‘Wilderness’ is a compelling study in jealousy and the need for retribution it can awake in all of us – given the right circumstances. As none of us know what we are truly capable of until faced with such a situation, this novel is not only a gripping thriller but also a salutary warning.
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