You think you know what happened that day… But what if you’re wrong?

Everyone remembers where they were when they heard that AJ Silver had died. In summer 1996, there was no avoiding the story that America’s biggest teen pop sensation had plunged to his death on a roller-coaster at a family-run amusement park in rural England.

Now, 27 years have passed, and – even if you’re too young to remember the event – you’ve probably heard AJ Silver’s songs topping the charts again. So what better time to take a forensic look at what happened that summer?

I’ve spent hundreds of hours interviewing everyone who was there that fateful day: workers, friends, family… the people who gained from his death, and the people who lost everything.

But you’re going to want to pay attention. Because I’ve found out a secret. One you’re all going to want to know… Perhaps it wasn’t such an accident after all?

My Review

A few years ago I read a book that was totally written in emails between the characters. I even wrote my review in a similar format. I’m not going to try and do that here.

What Happened That Summer is written in a series of weekly podcasts. Initially I wasn’t sure if it would work, especially as the podcaster (who reminded me a bit of Danny Robins of Uncanny fame) seems to have managed to get hold of and interview so many of the people involved. I’m surprised they all agreed, particularly AJ’s mother who doesn’t come out too well. But then neither does AJ, except he’s not here to defend himself.

Basically the premise of the story is that spoilt brat teenage pop star AJ Silver had decided that he wants to stay at a theme park during his UK tour twenty-seven years ago. But not staying at Alton Towers for instance, and getting VIP treatment on the rides. Oh no. He wants the whole park to himself and his entourage, in other words it needs to be closed to the public for the duration. The big parks aren’t interested, but then his manager Maggie offers £2 million to a small, struggling theme park in the Midlands.

How AJ became a global sensation is quite a revelation – pushy mother and a diva being created on the back of her inability to instigate her own fame when she had children. The rest of the family – dad and brother Zak – pushed to the back. And Zak is lovely. He’s not really jealous of his younger brother. He wouldn’t want any of it, he wants to be a journalist.

When Zak, AJ and Maggie come to the UK to visit the park, Zak is smitten with the park owner’s daughter Pea. But she’s barely sixteen and he is three years older. She also has a brother, and while her mum is OK, her dad is permanently stressed and resorting to alcohol.

All this comes to light during the podcast, as each of the characters tells their story, then and now. But ultimately what really did happen in the weeks preceding AJ’s fatal accident? And was it an accident?

I really enjoyed the book. It’s very inventive and unique in its telling. I’ve read other books by this author, but this was definitely my favourite.

Many thanks to @lovebookstours for inviting me to be part of #WhatHappenedThatSummer blog tour.

Author bio 

Laura Pearson is the author of the #1 bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont. She founded The Bookload on Facebook and has had several pieces published in the Guardian and the Telegraph.

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