Thought provoking and heart pounding.
Many thanks to Rehoboam Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

13:24 - M. Dolon Hickmon

DARK THRILLER! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - The main focus is the belief of certain Christian followers that corporal punishment benefits the child, although many times this punishment can become abusive. We follow several main characters--some victims and some abusers--along with the police detective who is following the trail of related murders.

Writing - 4 stars - Although I found the subject matter abhorrent and some of the writing to be brutal, I was drawn into the story despite myself. Although it was somewhat confusing when the plot went back and forth in time, it was clear that each individual story and episode led inexorably to the ultimate conclusion. The plot was built well and kept my interest throughout.

Characters - 4 stars - Josh, lead singer of a popular group and former child victim, is a strong character. He is likable and has found a lucrative way to cope with his PTSD, although he still suffers from flashbacks. Chris, another victim, is less desirable. His behavior is understandable, but it is also violent and unpredictable. There are several bad guys--the pedophiles as well as the people who support that industry--horrifying. William, the police detective, gives a sense of calm and determination throughout the book, counteracting the chaos that Josh and Chris are dealing with in their own minds.

Title - 4 stars - Once you understand that this is a bible verse, the explanation for the title is obvious.

Cover - 3.5 stars - Although I found the cover to the somewhat creepy and uncomfortable, it makes sense within the context of the story.

Overall - 4 stars - This was a very enjoyable surprise from a new-to-me author. The plot was intriguing enough to capture my attention, but I put off reading it for a long time because I suspected it would be a scary and uncomfortable read. This was actually the case, but I was also very intrigued and caught up in the drama unfolding before my eyes. The characters kept me invested in the story, and the brutality was a reality that needed to be included. Not my usual style of book, but I'm very glad that I read it. Interestingly, I recently read another book that included much biblical history, and that was dry and felt like a filler. In this book, it was pertinent and interesting, and the parallels and reasoning behind Josh's decisions became a fascinating factor.

I tore through this book when I started it. It is fascinating and heartbreaking, a page-turner. However, I never finished it. I got near the end and the author made the claim that the bible says that at the end of Solomon's life, he turned from God and worshipped idols, even with all his wisdom. I put the book down to look it up, and the author is correct. Before I picked up the book again, I had a my first child, and I couldn't bear to read about the sick child abuse described into book. My heart ached for children that are subjected to spanking and worse because of abusive parents and abuse of the bible. The author has done us all a great service in calling out these atrocities, and I applaud him for doing so. This book is important and eye-opening.

If it was Mr. Hickman's intent to get the word out about child abuse and abuse by church leaders and church-going parents, I say mission accomplished. He has created a story with contemporary appeal by using the rock music world and has blown the cover off of PTSD in the the victims of abuse. The words are graphic and brutal. The plot is cleverly conceived and has great potential for a TV or movie screenplay. It is time we all get back to non-violent love, isn't it? My thanks to Net Galley and LibraryThing and the author for a complimentary copy.