Psychological suspense is the genre of choice for glorifying the bond between mother and child: mother rushes into burning building, sacrifices life to save child, earns place in paradise. More than a flip paradigm, that’s the actual plot of AFTERWARDS, a gripping novel about a mother’s nightmare. Grace Covey is among the proud parents on the field for sports day at the Sidley House Preparatory School when a fire breaks out inside the building. Cut to the hospital, where Grace is in a coma with brain injuries and her “appallingly hurt” 17-year-old daughter, Jenny, is in the burn unit. To add to her woes, Grace’s 8-year-old son, Adam, is suspected of having set the fire.