The Parent Killer

When a book draws me in as strongly and completely as this one, takes me to the heart and feelings of the characters so completely, I am hooked on the author. Blake has that wonderful ability to make you feel just what these innocent children are experiencing to the point where I would have to put the book down for a while. But I couldn't stay away long. The dark and compassionate Mason is a remarkable and very different kind of hero, and though this is a work of fiction, it makes me wish more of us had the heart and guts to take more action to help abused children escape the horror. (Of course, I found myself wishing that Mason had just used his great riches and taken the children and his love, Rachel, and disappeard, all living happily ever after, while the monster parents wondered for the rest of their lives ... but then there wouldn't have been much of a story, now would there.)What an incredible debut ... I will be looking out for his next novel.

With one possible exception this book is basically 'airport fiction', or 'vacation reading'. It grips you from the start holds you in place and concludes in a satisfactory 'everybody good lives, everybody bad dies'manner. If you like early Stephen King or Bentley Little, you will love this book. The exception I refer to is that although this book is a thriller it does not rely on some ghoul of zombi to terrify the reader. Instead it gives the reader chills that only extremely graffic accounts of child abuse can deliver. These scenes gave this reader nightmares and got me to root for the title charactor. Abe Lincoln said once 'those who like that sort of thing will like it those who don't will not.' I will most likely seek out Blake's future works as well.

I was grabbed with the first sentence. Ashley Blake is a wonderful writer with a talent enviable. His writing is captured in the best possible way we can all relate to, but sometimes don't want to - the death of a little girl he never knew began this journey through lives so perfectly natural. Characters we love and hate seem to reach out and grab you in the gut. A great read you will not put down. Read it. It will touch you.

I didn't want to put it down! I was gripped from the first page. This book really opens your eyes to the dark world of child abuse. You hear about it, but you never see it from the kids' point of view. You don't really know what happens behind the closed doors. Ashley takes us to that world and lets us experience a little of what it might be like. I expect this author to go a long way.

Ashley Blake's first novel is great! I couldn't put it down and hated to see it end. I can't wait to see more from this author. I'm also glad to see a part of my money going to Prevent Child Abuse America. This author is one to watch!!