It’s not every day you read about someone being sentenced to death, and it is certainly rare to hear about a British citizen facing the death penalty, but in The Trips, that is exactly what happens.
The Synopsis of The Trips
It’s a long way from a childhood in a Liverpool suburb to being a prisoner in Michigan City Indiana. But Carl Kelly made it on his own.
From his Death Row cell he muses over the events and the personalities that helped him get there. It’s a journey of personal pain.
A journey of both uncertainty and of absolute destiny. A journey of betrayal, retribution, family discord, sex and ultimately, death.
And he doesn’t regret a thing!
More about The Trips
The Trips by Pat Murray is a compelling, thought-provoking psychological thriller that delves into the life of Carl Kelly, a British man awaiting execution on Death Row in Indiana.
From Carl’s prison cell, we learn more about his life through a series of flashbacks, including Carl’s own reflections on his childhood in working-class Liverpool, his relocation to America, and his ultimate downfall that has led to his incarceration and death sentence.
We read about his strong relationships with his sister and best friend and how the natural bond with his parents slowly disintegrated over time. From a shy child, he grew up and headed to Birmingham University to gain a degree in Economics before deciding to pursue a career in Finance in the City of London. At this point, we, the reader, see that Carl is becoming a bit unhinged. It is during this time in his life that the delusions begin; he is a narcissistic daydreamer who starts to mentally fall apart. His behaviour becomes more irrational and inappropriate while his actions are criminal.
We read about how, as he continues to break down, his other life, away from work and family, begins to become routine for him, and he sees nothing wrong with sending emails under the guise of someone else, stalking and even attacking people. Therefore, it is no surprise that he ends up in prison.
My thoughts on The Trips
The Trips explores the complexities of Carl’s character. Through a series of revealing episodes, the reader sees his transformation from a shy, quiet boy into a convicted murderer.
However, this is not a simple tale of crime; it’s a narrative that works hard to paint a vivid picture of the socio-economic environment of 1980s and 90s Britain, the dynamics of Carl’s dysfunctional family, and the long-lasting effects that trauma can have on not just Carl but other members of his close circle.
As the plot unfolds, the reader has to question whether a person’s destiny that links them to a life of crime is driven by nature, nurture, or circumstance. It makes you wonder whether a person’s actions can ever be prevented or whether our lives have already been thoroughly planned out for us.
There is no doubt that Carl is a genuinely unlikeable character, but his back story makes him intriguing. His treatment of friends and family makes him someone that you quickly want to hate but at the same time feel slightly sorry for. He is a pathological liar, and as the story progresses, you can easily see how someone of a similar nature could move from self-loathing to a serious crime.
The tone of The Trips is undeniably dark. The story doesn’t shy away from complex topics like abuse, violence, and the impact of personal trauma. The writing is bold and raw and not for the faint-hearted, as it highlights some heavy themes.
From the beginning, I wanted to know what he had done and why he was on Death Row, but Pat Murray holds out until the very end, keeping the reader guessing. The intricate plot and compelling character development make it a novel many will enjoy.
Have you read a book with a similar theme, if so, I would love your recommendations.
I was gifted a copy of this novel as part of a ‘Love Book Tours‘ book blog tour, but as always, all views are my own.
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