Dark Chapter - Hardcover

Li, Winnie M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1943818622 ISBN 13: 9781943818624

Publisher: Polis Books, 2017

Synopsis

NOMINATED FOR THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL

Vivian is a cosmopolitan Taiwanese-American tourist who often escapes her busy life in London through adventure and travel. Johnny is a 15-year-old Irish teenager, living a neglected life on the margins of society. He has grown up in a family where crime is customary, violence is a necessity, and everything--and anyone--can be yours for the taking.

As Vivian looks to find her calling professionally, she delights in exploring foreign countries, rolling hillsides, and new cultures. And as a young, single woman, she has grown used to experiencing life on her own. But all of that changes when, on one bright spring afternoon in West Belfast, Vivian's path collides with Johnny and culminates in a horrifying act of violence.

In the aftermath of the incident, both Johnny and Vivian are forced to confront the chain of events that led to the attack. Vivian must struggle to recapture the woman that she was and the woman she aspired to be, while dealing with a culture and judicial system that treats assault victims as less than human. Johnny, meanwhile, flees to the sanctity of his transitory Irish clan. But when he is finally brought to reckon for his crimes, Vivian learns that justice is not always as swift or as fair as she would hope. Inspired by true events, DARK CHAPTER is both a literary masterpiece and a riveting novel of suspense about of the dark chapters and chance encounters that can irrevocably determine the shape of our lives.

About this title

About the Author:

Winnie M Li is a writer and producer, who has worked in the creative industries on three continents. A Harvard graduate, she has written for travel guide books, produced independent feature films, programmed for film festivals, and developed eco-tourism projects. After graduating with Distinction in Creative Writing at Goldsmiths (where she was shortlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize 2015), she now currently writes across a range of media (including a column for The Huffington Post), runs arts festivals, and is a PhD researcher in Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She was Highly Commended for the CWA Debut Dagger 2015 and also shortlisted for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. She lives in London yet is somewhat addicted to travel. Dark Chapter is her first novel.
Follow Winnie M. Li online at WinnieMLi.com or on Twitter at @winniemli.

Review:

Outstanding praise for DARK CHAPTER
Highly Commended for the CWA Debut Dagger

Shortlisted for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize

Shortlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize

Runner-up in the SI Leeds Literary Prize
"Highly recommended... how circumstances and accident come together tragically.” --Joyce Carol Oates

"Crime writers have long insisted that their genre tackles societal issues better than any other, and Winnie M Li proves that claim beyond a doubt. While the story centres around a horrific crime, it's the exploration of the aftermath and the cruelty of the justice system that sets this book apart. A fine debut from an exceptional talent, and an important study of the human cost of violence."
-Stuart Neville, award-winning author of The Ghosts of Belfast and So Say the Fallen

"A gripping debut...Li does a fine job exploring how one incident can change the course of a life in this astute psychological study." -Publishers Weekly

"That Li was able to write this novel, as both personal catharsis and public service, speaks volumes about her inner strength. Li's novel is both a valuable social document and a riveting page-turner." -Kirkus Reviews

"What is striking about this acclaimed first novel is that not only is it based on an incident in the author’s life, but the facility with which Li is able to intertwine the life stories of Vivian and Johnny, giving each substance and depth, sacrificing her own biases to create a clear sight line for the reader. Li skillfully compels the reader to examine life stories that have converged through a nightmarish act of ­violence." -Library Journal(Starred Review)

"A great, difficult, and important read.” -Book Riot

“A riveting, highly empathetic read.” -Seattle Review of Books

"This debut, based on true events, is a thoughtful, empathetic portrayal of the challenges rape victims face when seeking justice." -Booklist

"A heart-wrenching depiction of a dreadful crime and its horrifying aftermath. Brave, raw and strikingly original, it is a story that will resonate for many years." -Daily Mail (UK)

"Deftly written, pacey and unflinching, I could not put it down. Winnie Li is a rare talent with an explosive and timely story. Do not miss it."
-Marti Leimbach, bestselling author of Age of Consent

"I was totally gripped from the start. Dark Chapter is a brave book, and heart wrenching in places but essential in helping to break down the silence that surrounds rape in our society. Not only a beautiful book, but a very important one too."
-Madeleine Black, author of Unbroken

"An important and moving book."
Cathy Rentzenbrink, bestselling author of The Last Act of Love

"A fascinating book, which takes an unflinching look at reality of sexual violence. I found myself asking hard questions about society and relationships, but above all I was gripped by the brilliant and complex narrative. I have never found myself rooting for a heroine with more urgency than in Dark Chapter"
-Kate Rhodes, bestselling author of Blood Symmetry

"Lyrical, haunting and hypnotic. Winnie Li yanks us into the abyss, luring us to confront the complexities of our humanity before expertly pulling us out. An important novel."
-Irenosen Okojie, Betty Trask Award winning author of Butterfly Fish

About this edition

• Publisher: Polis Books
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1943818622
• ISBN 13: 9781943818624
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352