A review by readinginmagnolia
The Damage by Caitlin Wahrer

4.0

I recently described another book as a run-of-the-mill SVU episode. This was more like an extremely elaborate and awesome SVU episode. Told primarily in alternating points of view from a sexual assault victim, his brother, sister-in-law and the detective assigned to the case, the timeline switches between 2015 when the assault happened and 2019 when the now-former detective has requested the sister-in-law visit him in his home. Slowly the story of both what happened to Nick and the fate of the perpetrator are revealed. I had all sorts of ideas about what was going on in this story but I was wrong all around. Even one of the issues I had once I finally realized what had happened was taken care of in the last chapter! I did have a question about the MO, but I guess it really doesn’t matter.
SpoilerI expected Ray's fascination with his victim's having "beards", though it was false in Nick's case, to go somewhere. While I don't really feel like that was a red herring, it felt more dropped, since it didn't matter and they never found any other victims
Great debut!

Thank you to Goodreads and Pamela Dorman Books for the free copy provided for an honest review.

TW: violent rape and associated trauma, self-harm