DOUBLE ABDUCTION - Hardcover

BEAKEY, CHRIS

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1596873795 ISBN 13: 9781596873797

Publisher: IBOOKS, INC., 2007

Synopsis

Mary Bennett and her brother Michael share a close bond, which has grown tighter as they've raised her five-year-old son Justin. But when Justin is abducted, Michael is a prime suspect. Michael was with Mary's older son Benjamin when he was abducted and murdered five years before. He became a suspect in that case as did Scott Brown, Mary's then boyfriend and Justin's father. Michael and Scott are suspects again. But what are their motives? Is Michael trying to hurt Mary? Is Scott seeking revenge for being unable to see his son? What connection does the lead investigator Louis D'Amecourt play, and what secrets do he and Michael share? Policewoman Gloria Towson suspects that D'Amecourt is up to no good and that Michael knows more than he is telling.

About this title

From the Back Cover

For Michael Bennett, spending time with his beloved five-year-old nephew Justin goes hand in hand with his ongoing recovery from terrors of the past.

But now Justin has vanished while under Michael's care.

As the prime suspect in the boy's disappearance, Michael is forced into an uneasy alliance with enigmatic Washington, D.C. policewoman Gloria Towson, who believes Justin's fate is connected to a serial killer who targets gay men. In a desperate bid to rescue Justin and save Michael from becoming the killer's next victim, Gloria is tracking the abductor online - a task made more difficult by her supervisor, Louis D'Amecourt, who may be conspiring with FBI officials to keep her from learning the truth.

Yet Michael may not be as innocent as he claims. He and D'Amecourt share a devastating secret . . . and five years ago Michael's first nephew disappeared in a remarkably similar crime.

Review

"Double Abduction is a creepy, unnerving living nightmare that will be hard for readers to shake off." -- Edgar Award winning author Peter Blauner

"Double Abduction is a suspenseful, emotionally complex story, with shocking twists that will keep thriller fans turning pages at a brisk pace." -- Emmy Award winning journalist Kelly Lange

"If you're looking for a fast, smart, thriller, you can't go wrong with Double Abduction. It's a tense, emotionally charged book." -- Alex Award winning author Bart Yates

"Riveting and frightening, this powerful gem of a book has depth you rarely find in a thriller." -- Thom Racina

"With a child in jeopardy, a suspect with secrets, and a killer watching every move, Double Abduction has it all in a fast-paced thriller." -- New York Times bestselling author Robert K. Tanenbaum

As the name implies, Double Abduction is about the second child kidnapping to befall a family. It also means there's about twice as much going on. Michael Bennett has one primary goal in life -- nurture his nephew, Justin, and give him as much love and attention as he can. However, when Justin disappears while in Michael's care, suspicions return in spades.

Adding to the judgments against Michael is the fact that he's gay. All of the usual stereotypes are raised because of Michael's sexuality: he likes to work with children and teach, so concerns of pedophilia are raised, Michael works in a bar, so maybe he attracted the wrong kind of attention there, and so on. Fortunately, a married pair of D.C. police officers believe Michael and are some of his only allies on the inside, working to clear his name.

On the bad guy side, the characters abound. Chapter one features the abductor, plotting the kidnapping of Justin. Chapter two features a homicidal maniac, complete with a gay trick that turns into a gory bloodbath. Eventually a hired killer, former felon and potentially crooked cop are in the mix . . . but the final twist is just enough of a twist that it's hard to see coming. Once revealed, it's evident that the hints were there and Beakey does a good job at creating an ending that doesn't defy the clues he methodically laid out. -- Tim Plant, Washington Metro Weekly, Nov. 8, 2007

Novelist Chris Beakey's first published book, Double Abduction, is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever cared for children. -- Amy Cavanaugh, Washington Blade, November 9, 2007

About this edition

• Publisher: IBOOKS, INC.
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1596873795
• ISBN 13: 9781596873797
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320