What Have We Done

Product Information

Willow mumbles something, opens the refrigerator, sighs at some unstated grocery-store failure on Jenna’s part.

I prefer clean novels, but for some reason the swearing in this book didn’t seem as distracting as it often does.What Have We Done is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and a gut-wrenching coming-of-age story. And it cements Alex Finlay as one of the new leading voices in thrillers today.

Though the trauma of their childhood has never left them, each went on to live accomplished―if troubled―lives. They haven’t seen one another since they were teens but now are reunited for a single haunting reason: someone is trying to kill them. But, despite the fact that they haven’t seen each other for years, they are bonded by the night, when they all committed a crime-sworn to secrecy, to protect themselves and the others. (Sound familiar?) To survive, the group will have to revisit the nightmares of their childhoods and confront their shared past―a past that holds the secret to why someone wants them dead. In fact, if you concealed the cover and author name from me, and had me read it and venture a guess as to who the author was-I would NEVER have guessed Alex Finlay.From Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Wood, a battlefield view of moral injury, the signature wound of America's 21st century wars. This type of moral wound is increasingly considered distinct from conventional PTSD diagnosis, which is more closely associated with the biological, psychological and social after effects of exposure to fear and danger. I feel like even if you don’t like swearing, this book may still be worth your time because of the edge-of-your-seat action. Alex Finlay proves once again he’s a master storyteller. What Have We Done has unrelenting action, inspired characters, and an innovative, pulse pounding plot. Alex Finlay has become one of today’s top thriller writers. This is why. Read this book.”— Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author

I’ll still read more from the author in hopes of finding another golden nugget like Every Last Fear, but considering I wasn’t impressed by his last two books, I think I’ll lower expectations from now on. It means recognizing the moral damage done. Something most central and sacred to one's identity and personality has been violated.

Similar Books

David Wood defines moral injury as a trauma as real as a flesh wound; a jagged disconnect in our understanding of who we are and of what we and others ought to do and ought not to do. Tom gives a fleeting smile with that row of too-white teeth on his too-tan face. He’s like an old house with too many layers of paint. He takes a deep breath. “That’s just it, man. We’re not kids anymore.” Nico has been the producer of a reality show about miners. He was in the mine when an explosion occurred, trapping him. He was near death when rescued. He gambles and is heavily in debt to the mob. I totally understand that this might not work for everyone, but it was so different from other Thrillers I've read lately, it honestly felt like a breath of fresh air.

From Pulitzer Prize-­winning journalist David Wood, a battlefield view of moral injury, the signature wound of America's 21st century wars. And in a broader sense there is: loss of trust, loss of faith, loss of innocence. These can all have enduring, psychological, spiritual, social, and behavioural impact. That’s weird. She’s not meeting anyone at class. She doesn’t really have any friends. The message is from an unfamiliar number. Maybe it’s the next wave of advertising technology. They not only read your mind on your social-media feed; now it’s your texts. Maybe it’s the person she met in class last week who was friendly to her, though Jenna doesn’t recall giving the woman her number. They are all being hunted by some vicious, sociopathic hired killers who don’t kill for the money, but for the sport.Sorry, y’all, I overslept,” Donnie says, opening his guitar case and slinging the strap over his shoulder. Another lightning bolt to the chest. It’s the young woman from the bus stop. The woman steps gracefully onto the floor and shoves a duffel bag into Jenna’s hands. Many of these individuals were teenagers or in their early 20s, and who were as such, developmentally or otherwise unprepared for these types of responsibilities and experiences. I have time. I need to make sure my girls get the most important meal of the day.” He pushes his glasses up on his nose. For most women, the nerdy tax lawyer wouldn’t elicit the rush of whatever chemical or emotion crowding Jenna’s chest. But this boring numbers man, white-bread as they come, fills that part of Jenna that was empty for so long. She knows they’re an odd match. She catches the looks, the whispers, that she must be in it for the money, the gossipers not realizing that Simon isn’t exactly Bill Gates, even if he resembles him. In fact, Jenna’s numbered Swiss account dwarfs their modest savings and Simon’s 401(k).