By Rebekah Dolmat
Content warning: murder, rape, sexual assault and violence
Caitlin Wahrer’s debut novel, The Damage, is an emotional and thought-provoking character-driven police procedural that addresses some controversial—and what is unfortunately still taboo—topics and themes while also offering a fresh take on the typical detective trope. In The Damage, Wahrer successfully tells a powerful and compelling story while also delivering all of the slow-burning tension and suspenseful elements that readers have come to expect from such crime novels.
Before continuing, it is important to state that the entire plot of The Damage revolves around the violent rape of one of the main male characters. Therefore, if you are sensitive towards stories that have graphic rape content, this may not be the book for you. However, if you are a reader that can stomach such content, as well as descriptive scenes, then this is a very important read as it brings attention and visibility to the victims of a crime that, unfortunately, too many men can and do relate to.
The Damage begins with Nick—a college student—who plans to meet up with a guy he likes at a bar. He arrives earlier with some friends, but when it is clear that his actual date is not coming, he flirts with an older man. The two of them hit it off; the drinks keep coming, and one thing leads to another until Nick finds himself the victim of an extremely violent sexual assault and, therefore, at the centre of a police investigation. Detective Rice is put on the case, but it’s really his family (brother, sister-in-law) that provides Nick with the most support.
What makes The Damage a unique police procedural is that, instead of the book focusing on the detective who is trying to solve a horrific crime, it focuses almost entirely on the family’s experiences in the aftermath of said crime. In The Damage, the reader is privy to the innermost thoughts of the victim and his family members. Their emotions and reactions to what happened to Nick take centre stage and help guide the story, while the detective’s questions, theories, and thoughts remain in the background. Yes, the detective certainly shapes the story, but his job of solving the case is not the main focus. The focus is really on what happens to Nick and the lengths his family will go to both help and protect him.
The Damage ultimately has it all—it’s a gripping, emotional, and heartbreaking story that is packed full of suspense, tension, and thrilling twists that will take the reader by complete surprise. The ending is incredible and is sure to blow the reader away. The Damage, to put it simply, is a masterfully crafted, well-written debut novel.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Doubleday Canada for the complimentary review copy.