That which lasts - And can be re-used...

This was a read that really tests your belief in pastors and religion and demonstrates how easily they can twisted to one person's beliefs and self.

Here we see a so-called pastor preying on girls who had lost their self-esteem and thus believed that they were worthless and when they found a 'saviour' behaved according to his rules. Even when those rules were harmful to them. This is how cults work. They take those who are needy and work on their self-esteem until only the cult can fulfil those needs. They become grateful for what is supplied - food, shelter, and if it is abuse, then they believe that it is justified.

And often fathers are just as much to blame in a patriarchal society as they can idolise the sons and use and re-use the daughters with both mental and physical abuse until the girls are lost.

But isn't courage doing what is right and good even when you are afraid? And we see this courage in action in this story.

I found the story disturbing and hard to read at times but somehow the writing didn't quite flow as well as a 5 star book, so 4 it is.

Set in Maine, this book is about private investigators and their search for a missing girl. It is well written and covers prostitution, child trafficking, drugs and physical violence. It is quite graphic at times and not for the squeamish. As I had started to read it, I felt compelled to finish it. The characters were a bit unbelievable but the fast pace at the beginning, kept me interested. One of those books I don't know if I enjoyed it or not! A quick read, make up your own mind. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Facebook and Goodreads.

Private Investigators Griff Cole and Britt Callahan are approached by a family friend who asks that they try to locate his daughter, who has been missing for 3 years. The only lead he has is a place called Oracles of the Kingdom.

Oracles of the Kingdom is touted as a refuge, especially for women. They work the farm in return for a roof over their head, a safety net. But as the PI's investigation deepen, they suspect it is much more than that.

And when Britt goes undercover to look for her friend's daughter, she finds more than gardens that need tending, and more than dirty dishes in the communal kitchen. And there's no safety for Britt ...none at all.

WARNING: The subjects broached in this book include prostitution, human trafficking, sexual assault, drugs, alcohol, brutality, physical violence. So much of it is graphically described. If any of these subjects make you uncomfortable, then you should not choose this one as reading material.

It is well-written, as far as bringing to light the subject of human trafficking and how women are sucked into these places such as the fictional Oracles of the Kingdom. They promise so much, but what they demand in return is much, much worse.

Coming from a law enforcement family, I didn't find the characters entirely credible, but they kept me interested in where the story was going.

Many thanks to the author / Intrigue Publishing LLC / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.