Life Detonated is the gripping true story of Kathleen Murray, a young mother whose world is shattered on September 11, 1976, when her husband, a NYPD bomb disposal expert, is blown up by a terrorist bomb.

I absolutely loved this book. It was heartbreaking and so well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

A patchy book, with some chapters and sections shining and others appearing a little dull in comparison. It starts much better than it finishes. That said, Moran has led an extraordinary life, and I commend her for putting it down on paper. It's a good book, although not without its faults.

This is the kind of memoir that of course deals with Murray-Moran's life, loves and hardships - something she warns you about in the prologue before the first chapter. Hence, a lot of whys which you may come to your mind as a reader, never occur to her as a writer. Her first husband's family, his relationship with them and her, before and after the death are not explored; the aftermath of the pension or fraud or secret wedding etc. is not given ; her relationship with Kaitlin, daughter by James Moran, is not given; James Moran's occupation through the years (he didn't stay a plumber forever did he?); Murray-Moran's own questionable endeavor to write and talk to one of the hijackers for decades, and then help her in her freedom; but not doing the same thing for the other - hardly surprising that Busic would expect it from her 'savior;' whether her sons stayed in touch with their father's family till the name-plank ceremony in 2014; etc.

P.S. I also thought the act of her mother getting rid of /burning the husband's photos was inexplicably cruel (to her, the children and also, perhaps husband's family) - the mother only kept a photo of her own with the man! But that's my personal opinion and to each their own.

Also, what Katheen Murray-Moran's son says to her about his dead father and his mother (hero paragraph in the end of the book) is lovely and beautiful.

The ARC has no pictures.

This was an absorbing story. While Kathleen faced unimaginable sorrow she gained strength and a power that changed not only her life and that of her family’s, but other widows who’s spouses died in the line of duty.

“Life Detonated” is Kathleen Murray Moran’s memoir about losing her NYPD husband to a terrorist bomb on September 11, 1976, but also about growing up poor in the Bronx in the 1950s as one of eight children of a emotionally distant mother and an abusive father and her life’s struggle to move beyond this difficult childhood. Beginning on the night Moran finds out her husband Brian has died and moving back and forth in subsequent chapters between the immediate aftermath of Brian’s death and flashbacks to her childhood and early life, the book weaves together past and present in a way that makes Moran’s loss of Brian and the stability and safety he represented even more profound. These sections of the book worked best for me—Moran’s writing is searingly honest and her memories of New York City in the 50s, 60s and 70s bring the city to vivid life for the reader.

What was less successful for me was the second half of the book, which spends a lot of time describing how the NYPD, and the bomb squad in particular, hushed up the details of Brian’s death without ever adequately explaining why. I understand that Moran herself never got an acceptable answer to that question, but the book set me up to expect some sort of smoking gun to emerge from her lawsuit against the city that never materialized. I also never fully understood her reasons for a long and clandestine correspondence with Julie Busic, the woman who, along with her husband, was responsible for the bomb that killed Brian. Still, the book was an interesting look at how one woman overcame poverty and abuse to build a life for herself, and how—after that life was blown apart—she manages to build another one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

"Life detonated" is the incredibly moving story of Kathleen Murray Moran, whose husband, an NYPD bomb disposal expert, was killed by a terrorist bomb. Kathleen takes us through her impoverished childhood in the Bronx with a single mother and seven siblings, one of whom is drug addicted, through to the traumatic loss of her husband and the unexpected aftermath. Her correspondence with one of the hijackers is heartbreaking - you suspect all along that she is being used for the hijacker's own purposes, but want so desperately for Kathleen to find some sort of closure from it. An inspiring and beautifully written memoir that I couldn't put down, and exemplifies the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

NOTE: I was provided with a free ARC copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Incredible read. Heartbreaking but beautifully told. I couldn't put this down. If you enjoy memoirs, don't miss this one.

This was a beautiful tragic tale. This is the story of a wife who lost her husband to a bomb explosion. She seeks to figure out why the bomb exploded and took her husband's life. It was tragic, but beautifully told.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Okay book, not great or memorable for me..........thought the author had a lot of self-pity. Her story was sad, but and she overcame alot, but so have many others.

Title: Life Detonated

Author: Kathleen Murray Moran

Length: 209 pages

Publisher: Amberjack Publication

Publication date: 19 September 2019

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Biography

My rating: 4/5

Summary:

The story is a memoir of Kathleen Murray Moran. Her life journey, losing her husband who was in bomb squad and finding meaning to her life.

My Take:

I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for providing with an ARC in exchange for an Honest review. I’ve always been intriguid by real life events and incidents and this is another such book giving us an insight into the life of the girl Kathy who had a difficult childhood, got a living husband in Brian who lost his life seven years into their marriage while diffusing a Bomb.

The pain of losing a dear one is beautifully portrayed making one empathise with the author. Even the thought of losing someone dear is scary and author went through it. The short and cute love story of Kathy and Brian is adorable. Death of Brian leaves tears in your eyes.

Author was undoubtedly a strong woman whose quest to find out the cause of bomb exploding keeps you glued to the book. It does leave you with a feeling of incomplete as the reason is not known. The transition between her past and present life is seamless and easily distinguishable. Her achievements in life are worthy of praise for sure.

The ending of the book is wonderful and the dialogue of Chris to her Mom just sums up entire thing. She broke down and got up only to climb higher. This is the story of courage and determination of the author who made her life worthy.

A good read.

Life Detonated was a beautiful memoir. I truly enjoyed reading Kathleen's account of her life.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.