“People speak sometimes about the "bestial" cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to beasts, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

“Beware the dark pool at the bottom of our hearts. In its icy, black depths dwell strange and twisted creatures it is best not to disturb.” ― Sue Grafton, I is for Innocent

“There are no heroes...in life, the monsters win.” George R.R. Martin had it right. In life, especially in these days and times, the monsters win. And in Thriller Award nominee for Best eBook Original Novel Huntress Moon, Alexandra Sokoloff draws the monsters in all their disturbing reality. The monsters are out there – living amongst us, drawing upon us, eating their victims, body and soul.

“Put just one of these monsters out of commission – the child sellers, the serial rapists, the mutilators, the torturers – lock just one of the breathing, crawling scum away for the rest of their miserable lives, and the entire balance of the world shifts. Who wouldn’t want a license to do it?"

Well, that is what Matt Roarke thought from the time he was nine years old. From the time he learned of the horrors that really exist in the world. For that is the day he learned of what happened to five-year-old Cara Lindstrom and her family. Miraculously, Cara survived the slaughter of her family – a slaughter carried out by “It”, by a “Monster”, not a man. But of course, who is going to listen to a brutally traumatized five-year-old?

Years later, when one of Roarke’s agents is killed in front of him in what appears to be an accident but Roarke knows is not, his attention is caught by what at first seems to be simply a witness. But in that moment, he knows she is something else, something ‘more’. And as his investigation grows, the story becomes something more than he expects. Something that will change his very soul.

While some found the story ‘slow’, and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, I found the book had an almost dreamlike quality to portions of the story – a development of characters and locations which I found ‘rich’ rather than slow.  The book is very well researched and written, and beautifully paced. I don’t need to be spoon-fed story development – in fact, I am disappointed when my hand is held and I find myself with bib at throat in mystery and thriller stories. This was perfect.

"From the world of darkness I did loose demons and devils in the power of scorpions to torment." -- Charles Manson

In a twisted turn of fate, Cara is back in Matt’s life – and the monsters, ah the monsters – human traffickers, drug lords, the darkness abounds. But hope and possibilities intermingle with the dark. And I can hardly wait to read more. The next is Blood Moon – and I am so excited to start it right away!

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. More than a five star read – if you are interested in FBI based thrillers, I highly recommend the series. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a “Yes” at Amazon.com – it helps me help authors! Thank you.

Audiobook Review

Author: Pamela Samuels Young

Performed by RC Bray

Published: Goldman House Publishing, released On Audible December 2013

Category: Crime, Suspense, Thriller

Based on the real-life horrors faced by thousands of girls, award-winning author Pamela Samuels Young takes readers deep inside the disturbing world of child sex trafficking in a fast-paced thriller that educates as much as it entertains.

Thirteen-year-old Brianna Walker is ecstatic. She’s about to sneak off to meet her first real boyfriend—a boyfriend she met on Facebook. But Brianna is in for a horrifying surprise because her boyfriend doesn’t exist. Instead, Brianna unwittingly becomes the captive of a ring of drug dealers – turned-human traffickers who prey on lonely girls from dysfunctional homes. But they’ve made a big mistake in targeting Brianna because she doesn’t meet either of those criteria. 

 

After finding out that Dre Thomas is an ex drug dealer who spent time in prison in Buying Time, Angela Evans broke off their relationship. Dre’s feeling for Angela are still strong and now he has a second chance he’s determined to make it work. Angela, who was an Assistant US Attorney, now represents children and teens, who have been sexually exploited, in juvenile court.

Dre’s niece, Brianna, is targeted by a sex trafficking ring, masterminded by the Shepherd, and abducted on her way to meet a fictitious boyfriend she met on Facebook. Charting Brianna’s appallingly horrific experiences, this story explores in detail the shocking way the human traffickers abuse and manipulate vulnerable young girls.

It still bothered Brianna – but only a little – that Jaden had refused to hook up with her on Skype or FaceTime, or even talk to her on the phone. Jaden had explained that he wanted to hear her voice and see her face for the first time in person. When she thought about it, that was kind of romantic.

Dre has given Brianna an iPhone for her birthday which enabled her to secretly open the Facebook account her mother had forbidden. Now Dre is suffering agonies for, as he sees it, putting Brianna in harm’s way. We follow his desperate search for Brianna as, unable to rely on the police, Dre calls in any favours he can and recruits people from his own criminal past. He will do whatever it takes to get Brianna back safely and bring those responsible to justice.

This is a very challenging story to listen to, on an emotional level. The horror, brutality and degradation young girls are subjected to is tragic and beyond callous. Compelling and thought-provoking, it’s impossible not to be moved and disturbed by the fact this kind of exploitation can and does happen, more than is realised.

The narration adds an extra punch with the characterisations of the predators, which are chilling in the extreme, and the ‘voices’ of the young, frightened and confused girls, quite distressingly realistic. RC Bray does an excellent job with what must have a been very tough read.

Pamela Samuels Young tackles an intensely difficult subject with a no holds barred and very well written story, showing the whole, true horror of child sex trafficking.