Regardless of how many years or decades have passed since the traumatic event(s), your brain and body continue to feel the effects. Trauma rewires the brain to cause people to be hypervigilant to threats and repeat the same mistakes, seemingly compulsively. I have been a fan of Kerry’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘The Score’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of book I have come to associate with Kerry- a fast paced, gritty, scary and unpredictable story. I couldn’t wait to start reading ‘The Score’ and so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what I hoped would be one hell of a read. I must be psychic because ‘The Score’ was one hell of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading but more about that in a bit. As the fields of science and psychology have evolved, so have the understanding and treatment of trauma. There are three general approaches to treatment. There were a lot of things outside of Dean and Allie’s control in The Score. Forces outside of themselves that pushed each of them to look inside and determine what they truly needed in their lives. Allie and Dean’s story goes a long way to showing us all that no matter what life throws at us, we can overcome it. If we only remember to be true to ourselves and loyal to those we love. The Score is the best book of the Off-Campus series yet, and that’s saying something. Elle Kennedy has truly outdone herself this time.

Up a Book’s Measure - Lexile Look Up a Book’s Measure - Lexile

However, its presentation of the science of trauma is unusually compelling, setting it above most works of popularisation. Van der Kolk has substantial legitimacy as a researcher, and his interleaving of the personal and the scientific makes for an engaging read. The effects of trauma are three-pronged: the mind (mental and emotional), the brain (brain wave frequencies and neurological reactions), and the body. First, we’ll explore how trauma impacts the mind. Isolation and Shame I was excited to read The Score by Kerry Kaya after reading the previous novel The Price which was brilliant. I thank you Boldwood books for an ARC. This is a compelling, addictive gangland thriller, that I became totally absorbed by. This was incredibly difficult to put down, and I had finished it within two days! Full of brutal, dark violence, suspense and drama, as well as the perfect high-standard plot, Kerry has once again proven her talents in this class of writing and deserves to be up there with the best of crime writers. What I really enjoyed about this offering was the character development. I didn’t always like Fletch in the previous tale.. his emotions didn’t scream gritty gangster to me.. but added to this offering I understand him so much better now, it’s family.. you’ll do anything for those you love.In 2022, in the New York Times, Jessica Bennett asked “if everything is trauma, is anything?” and denounced “post-traumatic hyperbole”. Lexi Pandell, writing for Vox, argued this “word of the decade” has become close to meaningless. Many trauma survivors suffer major disconnection from their bodies, which makes it impossible for them to feel fully alive, take care of their bodies and minds, and effectively engage with other people. Your mind and body are inextricably connected: Emotions give you physical sensations (e.g. butterflies in your stomach) and are revealed in your facial expressions and body language. By the same token, physical sensations impact your mood and emotions—a soft, warm breeze puts you at ease, while loud, clanging noises put you on edge. First things first, do not read this book at bedtime, you will not get any sleep as you just won’t be able to put it down. A proper gangland, hard hitting, brutal and seriously unpredictable thriller. If you enjoy a good gangland thriller and enjoy authors such as Martina Cole, Casey Kelleher, and Jessie Keane amongst others you are in for a treat. Kerry is definitely a contestant for the worthy title of ‘queen of crime writing'.

The Score - Elle Kennedy - Google Books

On this broadened definition, all but the most cosseted among us have been traumatised and can view our struggles and sufferings through the potentially magnifying lens of trauma.

The effects of trauma live on not only in the emotional mind and the chemical makeup and circuitry of the brain, but also in the body’s physiology. Traumatic experiences rewire the brain to cause people to be hypervigilant to threats: The slightest hint of a threat sends trauma sufferers into a fight-or-flight response, triggering stress hormones to flood their bodies and keep them in a state of hyperarousal long after the perceived threat is gone. Over time, hypervigilance and hyperarousal cause physical ailments and hamper trauma sufferers’ ability to function emotionally and socially. Trauma’s Impact on the Mind

The Score by Kerry Kaya | Goodreads The Score by Kerry Kaya | Goodreads

Additionally, how can anyone possibly understand how you feel, with the exception of other trauma survivors? These two questions cause many trauma survivors to be extremely isolated. The Score’ is superbly written. Kerry has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. The story opened with one of the most gruesome openings to a story that I have ever come across. If that doesn’t grab your attention then nothing will. The story hits the ground running and maintains a fast and brutal pace throughout. Reading ‘The Score’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Just when you thought that you could take a moment to reclaim your stomach, take a breather and gather your thoughts then off the action would go again. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Kerry’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. The Score is a gang crime fiction novel set in London. It is the second book in the series from Kerry Kaya but I have not read the previous book which is called The Price. It is not necessary to catch up on the plot as there is enough detail, however there are spoilers about events in the past. But alongside this increase in cultural attention, there has been a broadening of what we take trauma to be. Fast paced, exciting and very intriguing. Although I don't have many experiences with Thrillers in a gangland genre, I was fascinated by the interactions the tone of the writing and the compelling characters.

Mental problems were not approached as a nebulous issue in the emotional mind, but as a measurable abnormality in brain chemicals that could be corrected with drugs. Like Bennett and Pandell, several writers have queried whether trauma is now being used too promiscuously. Some have distinguished big “T” trauma from less severe little “t” trauma to resist this concept creep. The Body Keeps the Score closes with an extended exploration of alternative forms of treatment. Despite his neuro-biological leanings, van der Kolk does not see medication as the best line of intervention. He contends that effective therapies must target meaning rather than chemistry and allow traumatic memories to be processed rather than blunted. The bottom-up approach to treatment uses physical experiences that connect the body and mind. This empowers patients to inhabit their bodies, be present, and learn how they can affect their emotions—all of which help them to counteract feelings of helplessness, rage, and emotional collapse. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) I love,love love Kerry kaya books she tells it as it is and this book is no exception a brilliant gritty gangland crime read.