The Survivors

A Novel

By: Alex Schulman

Narrated by: Daniel Philpott

INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER • A gripping tour de force in which three estranged brothers return to the Swedish lakeside cottage where, more than two decades before, an unspeakable accident forever altered their family and changed the course of their lives.

"Takes you deep into an emotional labyrinth [where] you'll cry for these brothers. For the men they became, for the boys they were, for the innocence they lost. Brilliant, haunting and unforgettable." —Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove

There is Nils, the oldest, who couldn't escape his suffocating home soon enough, and Pierre, the youngest, easily bullied and quick to lash out. And then there is Benjamin, always the family's nerve center, perpetually on the lookout for triggers and trap doors in a volatile home where the children were left to fend for themselves, competing for their father's favor and their mother's elusive love.

But as the years have unfolded, Benjamin has grown increasingly untethered from reality, frozen in place while life carries on around him. And among the brothers a dangerous current now vibrates. What really happened that summer day when everything was blown to pieces?

In a thrillingly fast-paced narrative, The Survivors mixes the emotional acuity of Edward St. Aubyn, the literary verve of Ian McEwan, and the heart of Shuggie Bain. By brilliantly dissecting a mind unravelling in the wake of tragedy, Alex Schulman reveals the ways in which our deepest loyalties leave us open to the greatest betrayals.

Critic reviews

"A lyrical novel of psychological suspense...Powerfully rendered."
—Wall Street Journal

"An audacious tour de force, The Survivors takes you deep into an emotional labyrinth. You'll cry for these brothers. For the men they became, for the boys they were, for the innocence they lost. Brilliant, haunting and unforgettable."
—Fredrik Backman, author of A Man Called Ove

"The Survivors is a tight, tense marvel of emotional and psychic pain that is as chilling as it is heartbreaking. With precise, evocative prose it winds and coils towards a remarkable conclusion that left me breathless."
—Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street and These Women

"In this taut thriller, three grown brothers bear their mother’s ashes to a remote lakeside cabin, where they pore over a crime committed twenty years earlier…Their shared history is a Pandora’s box of secrets.”
—Oprah Daily

“A bleak and beautiful tale of a shattered family and one terrible summer.”
—Literary Hub, CrimeReads

"Startling and original."
—Kirkus (starred review)

"Searing...Schulman writes in an understated prose and has an intuitive feel for the subtleties of gesture and memory."
—Publishers Weekly

"Already an international bestseller, Schulman's novel is extraordinary in its structure...An entrancing, gripping read."
—Booklist

"Evokes a landscape seen through a child’s eyes, where beauty and terror are inseparable...An accomplished debut."
—The Guardian

Finally found a good book

I've had the misfortune of listening to some really really awful books lately. Probably because I listen to too many. This was a surprise, had me a little worried where it was going for a minute. Benjamin went into way too much detail about his brothers genitals. Then end when you finally find out what happened actually surprised me. Definitely one of the better books this year. I'm a hard to please reviewer so rarely give 5. I almost did with this one.

Backman Lovers Must Read

A heart warming story of surviving your youth and using your past to heal brokenness. If you are a fan of Fredrik Backman you will thoroughly enjoy Schulman’s story.

It is definitely a character driven book but I was surprised at how well the plot came full circle. It took me a few chapters to actually become invested but it’s truly a MUST read.

Unexpectedly good

Actually, the first chapter did not suck me in…at all. In fact I wondered if I could exchange. But wow, so glad I kept it. After a short little while, I was immersed.
This novel hit a chord. Beautiful read. Loved it.

Interesting presentation

I was put off at first the way this book was done. However, it did lead to a great point for me.
It was not what I thought but better than expected.

Decent Story/ Good Ending

This one took me through all of the emotions. As mentioned in other reviews, the ending is where it all comes together. I appreciated the realistically flawed characters. Clearly they were instrumental in creating a story that reflects the many facets of human life.