Jaclyn’s Review: Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks

Closer Than You Know
written by Brad Parks
published by Dutton, 2018

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Target, Walmart, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book? I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded great–a woman is framed for a crime, the government takes her infant into protective custody, she’s got to battle her way through the court system and get her child back.  The problem was the execution. It really seems like the author had a great idea for a book, but no knowledge of the legal system and decided to just wing it. So many plot points were completely unbelievable. This book was not well researched or reviewed.

 

 

Would I recommend it? No. The idea was great, but there are many other books out there with similar ideas but better execution. I would definitely skip this book.

 

 

About the book – from Goodreads: Disaster, Melanie Barrick was once told, is always closer than you know.

It was a lesson she learned the hard way growing up in the constant upheaval of foster care. But now that she’s survived into adulthood–with a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby boy named Alex–she thought that turmoil was behind her.

Until one Monday evening when she goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to discover he’s been removed by Social Services. And no one will say why. It’s a terrifying scenario for any parent, but doubly so for Melanie, who knows the unintended horrors of what everyone coldly calls “the system.”

Her nightmare mushrooms when she arrives home to learn her house has been raided by sheriff’s deputies, who have found enough cocaine to send Melanie to prison for years. The evidence against her is overwhelming, and if Melanie can’t prove her innocence, she’ll lose Alex forever.

Meanwhile, assistant commonwealth’s attorney Amy Kaye–who has been assigned Melanie’s case–has her own troubles. She’s been dogged by a cold case no one wants her to pursue: a serial rapist who has avoided detection by wearing a mask and whispering his commands. Over the years, he has victimized dozens of women.

Including Melanie. Yet now her attacker might be the key to her salvation . . . or her undoing.

 

 

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** This post first appeared on Every Free Chance Books (everyfreechance.com) on April 10, 2018.