The Curse Of Beckett's Wood

by R. E. Witham

Beckett's Wood is sinister and secret, the kind of place where the curse of past events spreads like brambles in the undergrowth. In part one the unsettling tale of a cyclist's arrival in a village bordering an eerie wood sets in motion consequences that have far reaching effects on one person's life and, like an anaesthetic, the village devours his will so that the curse can become all consuming. Seemingly disconnected, the second part depicts the life of David Harper as he dares to confront the abuse he receives as a boy at the hand of his mother, the kind of abuse that develops as he reaches puberty. Terrifying dreams misshape his mental health yet more, dreams that have a strange echo of a village far away. As the reader you are given to know why, you are always one step ahead of him. Layer by layer the truth seeps out into the open. Then it is anybody's guess how he will deal with what terrible things he eventually discovers, as part three unlocks the truth about the curse of Beckett's Wood. The story is a complex mix of dangerous relationships and personal crisis. Beautifully written, this novel keeps pace throughout. The twists and turns of the storyline keep you guessing long after you have finished reading and you soon find that, like the curse of Beckett's Wood, David Harper has etched a little place in your life.

630 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2012

Reviews

[Amie-leigh Claricoats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every so often you read a book that is so well written and insightful it has the ability to transport you into the story and that is exactly what the first novel from author Richard Coppin did for me.

The Beckett as it's affectionately known is a piece of land with stunning views and natural beauty on the outskirts of the village of Empton, so what is it about the place that seems to leave a sinister mark on those that venture there? The Curse of Beckett's Wood is a mysterious and chilling tale following the life of David Harper, a cyclist that arrives in the picturesque village of Empton and is soon taken under by the spell of the place and the people there. No matter how far away he travels, or how much the time passes Beckett's Wood and the curse that started there has etched itself deep into his life. The sinister grip of Beckett's Wood is like a strangle hold on David and he soon finds his life is one where bad events happen and secrets are born; secrets that cast a long, dark shadow across David's life from which there is no escape.

Murder, passion, childhood abuse, bullying, revenge and fragmented and distorted versions of reality all play a part in David's life and with each page that you read you can't help but find that like the curse of Beckett's Wood, David Harper has etched a little place in your life.

The book covers a range of difficult issues such as mental health, bullying and sexual abuse but unlike a lot of books that I have read in the past, the author covers these issues in a way that doesn't leave you feeling open and raw afterwards, instead giving you a glimpse into what it's like to experience these issues firsthand - to build the walls and defences to cope each day and to see the strength that only someone can experience from within.

If you enjoy books that are full of twist and turns, mystery and have a sinister side to them then I highly recommend you give this book a read.

A must-read!

[Helen Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get in to this book but once I had then I didn't want to put it down. A story of fiction; of time travel but also of a the very real subject of child abuse. Richard has some imagination!