Simon Connolly is a stay-at-home dad, raising two children, while his wife who is an attorney, works. Not the ideal situation for everyone. but this has been the norm for the Connolly family for 17 years ... when Jake first came home from the hospital.
Simon is starting to feel the empty nest syndrome ... both kids are in high school. He's a dedicated father, and fears for his children. He listens to the news, reads the newspapers, knows that danger is out there.
And then comes the phone call that every parent fears ... shots have been fired at the high school. He rushes to the rendezvous building and waits. Why did this happen? Are his kids okay? Are all the kids okay? Who was shooting? Why, Why, Why.
One by one the detectives take the parents out .. until Simon is the very last parent. Jake is the only child missing. Was he a shooter? Has anyone seen him?
This begins a nightmare journey for Simon. Has he missed a sign? Could his son possibly have done this? If not, where is he?
This was such an emotional read for me. I absolutely could not put this book down. It's scary if you're a parent. It's guilt if you're the parent. It's love because no matter what you are going to love your child.
The book is told in back and forth fashion. The chapters alternate beginning with Jake as an infant. It's told from Simon's viewpoint. And then it changes to present time .... why isn't anyone searching for his son? It's bad enough the media has swarmed, but the victims' parents and the neighbors and even law enforcement are so sure that Jake has had a hand in this shooting.
This was a mystery, full of love, hope, faith, conviction. It begs to ask the question ... how well does any parent know their children?
A solid 5 star rating. I was riveted to the story ... my heart hurt for everyone ... and the tears flowed. Any book so well written that I get lost in its pages deserves the highest marks.
Simon is starting to feel the empty nest syndrome ... both kids are in high school. He's a dedicated father, and fears for his children. He listens to the news, reads the newspapers, knows that danger is out there.
And then comes the phone call that every parent fears ... shots have been fired at the high school. He rushes to the rendezvous building and waits. Why did this happen? Are his kids okay? Are all the kids okay? Who was shooting? Why, Why, Why.
One by one the detectives take the parents out .. until Simon is the very last parent. Jake is the only child missing. Was he a shooter? Has anyone seen him?
This begins a nightmare journey for Simon. Has he missed a sign? Could his son possibly have done this? If not, where is he?
This was such an emotional read for me. I absolutely could not put this book down. It's scary if you're a parent. It's guilt if you're the parent. It's love because no matter what you are going to love your child.
The book is told in back and forth fashion. The chapters alternate beginning with Jake as an infant. It's told from Simon's viewpoint. And then it changes to present time .... why isn't anyone searching for his son? It's bad enough the media has swarmed, but the victims' parents and the neighbors and even law enforcement are so sure that Jake has had a hand in this shooting.
This was a mystery, full of love, hope, faith, conviction. It begs to ask the question ... how well does any parent know their children?
A solid 5 star rating. I was riveted to the story ... my heart hurt for everyone ... and the tears flowed. Any book so well written that I get lost in its pages deserves the highest marks.
This was an excellent psychological thriller and it was hard to get any work done since I didn't want to put this book down for one second.
The knowledge that their teenage son Jake may be one of the shooters of 13 children killed in his high school, was too agonizing for his "stay at home dad" and his successful defense attorney wife to consider. In the meanwhile, Jake cannot be found anywhere.
As the story progresses, it tells the tale in alternating chapters of frantically looking for Jake and his growing up years. It seems he was a loner, had only two friends and was not interested in "play dates" and activities other boys indulged in.
This is a heart breaking story and you can't help but hope Jake is not guilty and is found alive and well. All I can say is keep tissues nearby, you'll need them.
Highly recommended.
The knowledge that their teenage son Jake may be one of the shooters of 13 children killed in his high school, was too agonizing for his "stay at home dad" and his successful defense attorney wife to consider. In the meanwhile, Jake cannot be found anywhere.
As the story progresses, it tells the tale in alternating chapters of frantically looking for Jake and his growing up years. It seems he was a loner, had only two friends and was not interested in "play dates" and activities other boys indulged in.
This is a heart breaking story and you can't help but hope Jake is not guilty and is found alive and well. All I can say is keep tissues nearby, you'll need them.
Highly recommended.
