The Writers of Wales Database

THOMAS, RHYS

Website: www.thesuicideclub.com / www.rhysthomasbooks.co.uk
Blog: http://authorsplace.co.uk/rhys-thomas/blog/
Email: (via the Laura Morris Literary Agency) laura.morris@btconnect

Rhys Thomas was born in Church Village and grew up in Pontyclun. In 2005 his book The Suicide Club (Doubleday, 2009) was long-listed for the How To Get Published competition run by Pan Macmillan in conjunction with the Richard & Judy Show. From 50,000 entrants the book reached the last 26.

At the time he was working in a Japanese screw factory, where he remained until 2007 when his book was signed up by Transworld Publishers to be published under the Doubleday imprint as part of a two-book deal. He has since published a second novel, entitled On The Third Day (Doubleday, 2010). Rhys is a Member of Academi.

Reviews:
With respect to The Suicide Club (Doubleday, 2009)

"…Rhys Thomas shakes concepts of ’normality’ to the core. It is a challenge indeed for an author to capture authentic teenage dialogue, and [this is] compelling subject matter…"
Independent on Sunday

"…Something of a secret history set among 15 year-olds, The Suicide Club (Doubleday, 2009) is a riveting and often moving read centred around a group of disaffected teenagers who, under the guidance of a manipulative leader, decide to embark on a suicide pact. The narrator’s voice compels the narrative – he’s a hugely likeable character – and while it’s yet another debut British novel about a precocious teenager, this is the best of its type that I’ve read in a long while. I’ll be very interested to see what Thomas writes next…"
John Boyne, Author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

“…Quite one of the best books we have read in about 10 years. The author’s ability to get into the voice of a smart middle-class adolescent is astonishing… Thomas has captured absolutely the language and mood of a teenager seeking affirmation of both his uniqueness and community, with startling accuracy… Parents will be rocked with fear that the bonds of teenage friendship can go to such extremes – and emo kids will be like, yeah, that’s so us, I know exactly how you feel. Amazing. Truly. Nigh on perfect. This book has been crafted, not just written…”
Annika Joy, The Pink Paper

“…Rhys Thomas’s outstanding debut novel, The Suicide Club, fits rather neatly into the great pantheon of cool teenage fiction. The sparkling first person narrative recalls Catcher in the Rye… But this is no by-numbers amalgam of previous writings - The Suicide Club stands up as a novel in its own right… The Suicide Club is a smart and funny debut novel…”
Anthony Brockway, Babylon Wales


Selected Publications:
The Suicide Club (Doubleday, 2009)
On The Third Day (Doubleday, 2010)




The Suicide Club (Doubleday, 2009)

Craig Bartlett-Taylor was always trying to kill himself, but when he took an overdose at the back of Mrs Kenna’s classroom, Richie thought he’d finally succeeded: it was a real-life Worst Case Scenario. But then the new kid, Freddy, steps in and saves Craig’s life, and for Richie the lure of this mysterious newcomer is irresistible.

Freddy is like nobody Richie has ever met. Dark, sardonic and dangerous, he gives flight to Richie’s imagination, introducing him to a way of life he’d never thought possible. But when a night-time prank goes gut-wrenchingly wrong, Richie begins to question Freddy’s motives, and all too soon he finds himself committed to a sinister pact, with inescapably tragic consequences. It’s true that Freddy saved a life – but could he take one, too?

With great wit and an unflinching eye for the muddle and drama of adolescence, The Suicide Club is a pitch-perfect portrait of teenage disaffection that sets boy against boy, imagination against reason – and, ultimately, life against death.

To purchase this title from Transworld Publishers, please click on its front cover



On The Third Day (Doubleday, 2010)

Society is on the brink of collapse. The Old World is vanishing, the New World is taking over. There are no rules. Not now that a deadly disease is spreading that causes its victims to turn violent. Previously loving people become murderous. No-one can tell who will turn and who will not.

A work of force and dark brilliance - the perfect expression of the terrors of the 21st Century.

To purchase this title from Transworld Publishers, please click on its front cover