Beyond the Picture

by Keith Williams

Beyond the Picture is not just about a mystery that needs to be solved. It also reveals how love can hurt us, yet with the power to heal us at the same time.

Keith William’s debut novel invites you to share the journey to uncover what a picture shows the observer. At first glance, it’s an innocent portrayal of a woman in New York having the time of her life but it’s much more than that.

On the surface, Rob has a beautiful, loving wife, a career and a wonderful home. But all of that is a lie. Worse still, the object of the picture is losing her memory, so it’s a fight against time to solve the mystery.

Rob’s wife thinks he has lost the plot when he takes a last-minute flight to New York to get answers. But Rob feels the urgency to resolve the secrets behind the seemingly innocent picture.

The revelations are shocking, but are they enough for him to get his life back on track?

Totally gripping mystery romance.

Genres: Mystery, Ebooks, Fiction

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2023

About the author

Keith grew up in the Channel Islands. Although living on a lovely island, he became fascinated by the idea of travelling the world. Although never entirely achieving that goal, his career gave him the opportunity to visit numerous countries. It was as a result of meeting so many different people and having to spend so much time travelling that spawned the idea of writing.

For a long time, his writing was generally confined to business articles. However, it was the idea of a putting down the opening words of an intriguing piece of fiction that really excited him. With the desire to turn his passion into a profession, Keith has written prolifically, resulting in the recent publication of his debut novel "Beyond the Picture”.

However, he is already exploring new themes, genres and ideas that he hopes will lead to further novels

Reviews

[Mary Lomie George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly beautiful. It explores loss and grief remarkably. I enjoyed reading this very much.

I received this book through a GoodReads giveaway.

[Savannah❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this, dealt with grief and loss and the characters were great.

[Arianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is written like people having a conversation in a chat room. Every time a couple had an argument I could not figure out what exactly anyone was upset about. There was a lot of "yeah ok" and "I don't like this", very simplistic in a way that the conversations simply had no flow to them whatsoever. At no point did anyone seem to be having a genuine conversation with one another.

There was absolutely no depth to any of the characters. There was no research done on colloquialism as well because the people from New York USA used terms and phrases that we simply do not use here. I made it to page 96 and just wasn't interested at all in what was going to happen to any of the characters.

[Jennell Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!

"Beyond The Picture" by Keith Williams is a deeply moving and engaging mystery romance novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions. The story follows Rob, a troubled man grappling with loss, guilt, and the breakdown of his marriage. As he contemplates the darkest corners of his mind, a mysterious puzzle presents itself, leading him on a transformative journey of self-discovery.

The author skillfully weaves together elements of mystery and romance, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. Rob’s journey is both gripping and emotionally charged, as he navigates through his troubled state of mind and embarks on a quest for answers that will ultimately turn his world upside down.


The alternating perspectives between Rob and Claudia, his wife, offer a well-rounded view of their crumbling relationship. The strained dynamics between them and their attempts to communicate effectively portray the complexities of marriage and the toll that grief can take on a couple. The raw and honest portrayal of their emotional turmoil is both heartbreaking and relatable.

The pacing of the novel is well-executed, gradually building suspense and intrigue as the mystery unfolds.  The puzzle that Rob encounters leads him on a journey to New York, where he navigates unfamiliar territories and encounters a cast of intriguing characters. The introduction of Andrea, a woman with her own emotional baggage, adds depth to the story and creates a connection with Rob that is both tender and profound.

The exploration of grief, regret, and the desire for redemption adds layers of depth to the story. The themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the power of love resonate long after turning the final page. Overall,  this is a beautifully crafted mystery romance novel that will keep readers engaged from beginning to end. Keith Williams demonstrates skillful storytelling, creating a poignant and unforgettable tale of love, loss, and the transformative journey towards healing.

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reflective story full of grief and loss dynamics that impact those around us, but can also bring healing and renewal. Thoughtful and well put together.

[Jessica Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live life by the moment

I was not expecting this book to be full of surprises. It started out with me thinking a man was about to take his own life but I learned a lot about him as I read his story. The pain, frustration, feelings of guilt and regret but most of all his love for his wife and how much they both wanted each other. The surprise plot had my jaw on the floor. His mom, in her fragile state, no wonder she was taunting him to search for that photograph. It was a good read. One that takes reflection and patience but good nonetheless.

[Meghan Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very cute until the end. Like it just felt like the author was done writing…..

Oh you went on a whole adventure with some girl while we’ve had marital issues, and she’s completely fine with it? Ain’t no way….. ain’t no way.

The ending just felt like a wrap up and I hated it. Better ending probably would’ve been closer to 3 possibly 4 stars.

[Aletha Pagett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this unusual story, received as an e-book from Goodreads. It is a story about love, about secrets and the impact choices have on subsequent generations.

[Roosterinroad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book. A mystery wrapped around working through grief and love. I liked the book was separated by characters so was easy to follow along to.

[Patricia Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this ebook through Goodreads giveaway and it was such a great story. A man trying to live his life after a tragic accident to find happiness, friendships, love, and family on the other side. Highly recommended

[Karen M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a little bit of mystery wrapped around the disintegration of two relationships. Actually one relationship and the potential disintegration of another. Superficially there is love story from the past but there is not much love in the present.

Rob leaves his wife Claudia in England to travel to the United States in the hopes of finding a photographer who took photos of his Mum fifty years ago but there seems to be a mystery and his Mum’s alzheimers only makes him feel desperate to find answers.. Rob has been deeply depressed for a year since his Father passed away. It has affected his marriage to Claudia who doesn’t seem to understand how he’s feeling and no longer seems to care. His depression and her lack of understanding is slowly shredding their marriage into pieces.

He solves the mystery with the help of a young woman who is going through her own difficult breakup with her boyfriend of two years.

This storyline was okay but nothing special.

The author has never been to the United States and there were mistakes that I found annoying. No one in the United States refer to their Mother as Mum which is short for Mummy. If you have a cup of coffee in a diner you either sit at the counter or a table or booth and you have a waitress get your coffee. You don’t pick it up at the counter and then go and sit at a table to cheat the waitress out of her tip. Also only the largest cities would have cabs roaming the street. In a town you’d be hard pressed to even find a cab company to call for a cab. It’s amazing how easy it would have been for the author to use Google to eliminate these discrepancies.

I won this ebook in a First Reads giveaway.

[Millicent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond the Picture is more than a mystery; it beautifully explores how love can both hurt and heal.

In Keith Williams debut novel, he invites us to uncover the secrets behind an innocent-looking photo of a woman in New York.
Rob seems to have created the perfect life!
A loving wife, a thriving career and a beautiful home. But, none of it is real & Rob has to figure out the mystery before the woman in the picture looses her memory for good.

Rob takes a last-minute flight to New York to find answers. The answers are shocking, although they give Rob the opportunity to get his life back on track.

This gripping mystery romance is a fascinating tale about love, secrets, and the impact choices have on subsequent generations. I really enjoyed this unusual and compelling story, which I received as an e-book from Goodreads.

I highly recommend it for anyone who loves a deep, emotional read with a touch of mystery.

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a goodreads giveaway. After reading all the reviews that were 5 stars and just glowing at how perfect the story was, I knew I had to remain honest in mine.
When the subjects of grief, abuse, and depression are covered, I feel that a certain seriousness should be held. But in the span of just a couple of days, you have much of that and then inner monologues that are silly and make no sense. The dialogue, which is used to portray a lot of the story, is immature. No 50 year old man talks like that. Also, the mood shift gave me whiplash. It's not a long book, so at least there's that. If you're a YA fan, you may enjoy this as a branch out of your norm.

[Nancy Baker · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate it when I am unable to finish a book, and this was a short book with only 218 pages. I made it through 70 and decided I needed to spend my time with something that would challenge me and keep me coming back for more.

I do not mean to be critical of the author or the story, but it was too much dialog for me and not enough “scenery” to create a picture for me around the happenings or locations. I’m sure, perhaps, the stories would have all come together (at least I hope they do), but it will have to reunite them without me. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review a new book, but this was just not the book for me.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had so much going for it: mystery, drama and relationships that are like real life-messy. The basic premise of the story is that of a married couple, slowly being torn apart over the course of the past year due to a death in the family. Husband pulls away while the wife feels alone in the relationship.

Without giving away too much of the plot, I will say that I was somewhat disappointed at the ending. I was torn between the women in the story and not sure if I might’ve preferred a different romantic pairing at the conclusion.

Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and gave it 4/5.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of "Beyond The Picture" by Keith Williams through a Goodreads Giveaway.
The story follows Rob, a man grappling with the loss of his father, and the breakdown of his marriage. Rob is looking for a connection to a picture taken of his mother in New York. When he travels there he encounters a cast of intriguing characters and a shocking secret.

This is a story of grief, regret, and the desire for redemption with themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the power of love. An excellent read.

[Sophie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn’t get past the dialogue where New Yorkers were calling their mother “mum” — completely took me out of a plausible story. The book was in desperate need of editing and there was so much that was just unrealistic.

[Myra Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly good read. Great storyline with engaging characters. Surely this is a best seller?

[Mugren Ohaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rob and Claudia are insufferable assholes.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story.
Thanks to Goodreads and the author for the digital copy.