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Down The Darkest Road (2011)

by Tami Hoag(Favorite Author)

4 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

052595239X (ISBN13: 9780525952398)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Dutton Adult

series

Oak Knoll

review 1: I loved this book and hated this book. Having lost a child of my own and my husband one year later, I found that Tami Hoag described nothing short of tragedy, fear, sadness, anger, and contempt in her 3rd book in the series Oak Knoll. Not much happiness or healing for that matter in the end, which made me mad. Yet I couldn't put the book down!When she loses her oldest daughter to an abduction and then her husband 2 years later, Lauren Lawton lives with her youngest live daughter who ingests her own grief while her mother stalks the alleged abductor/killer. Moving to Oak Knoll, putting her live 15yr old daughter in harms way, I found myself absorbed in the different stages of grief, once again, in the eyes of the main character, a mom who just can't get it together for her ... moreonly remaining live daughter, Leah. I found myself nodding at the familiarity of survivors guilt in young Leah, as I did with my own living sons, left behind to 'fend for themselves' in the chaos and self absorbed parent trying to find some sort of justice and peace in order to move on. I hated this book because the truth hurts. To have someone distinctly and vividly describe the horrors, emotions and thoughts various people experience in this book can only bring back memories of your own. Okay, so I felt like my own deepest darkest thoughts and emotions were being so exploited that I felt pretty open and raw by the end, hoping no one could see the after affects of me reading this book. It's quite embarrassing really because I thought, felt and acted like this myself at one point. It was so easy to figure out why the book was called "Down the Darkest Road". I loved Detective Mendez and Tanner in this story simply because they seemed to be the only ones who stepped in to help after 4 years had gone by, and not to just pacify the victims, like some others did. There is something to be said for the rare heroes who really try to understand and investigate such crimes further and intelligently, trying to 'work' the law system to their advantage and failing each time, while the perp walks freely among society and Oak Knoll, posing as a photographer. Jesus, it mad my skin crawl!Anne (a former school teacher) and Vince (FBI consultant), oh how I envy them with the strength and perseverance they had to move on from their own tragedy. They had each other and decided to raise Haley (a child of tragic circumstances from the previous book) and have 2 more children. Anne becomes a psychologist working for the Women's Center in Oak Knoll, reaching out to Lauren and Leah, knowing full well how fragile each one is. We need more psychologists in this world who truly understand what it feels like to be victims, how to act and what to say accordingly. Of course having friends like these two with connections is a godsend when dealing with such mental anguish, seeking your own vindication and revenge like Lauren Lawton tried to do. Towards the end, I was horrified to learn that Lauren Lawton had to save her youngest daughter from the same fate as her sister, due to her own selfish actions. However, it can and does happen. Even the most soundest and reasonable of minds can turn unstable and undependable. I would have liked to find out what exactly happened to the husband and read more of him in narrated form. I guess secretly I was hoping for a twist in his death. I would have liked to have been able to see a more happier and healing end but will look for it in the next book. Does Lauren and Leah continue to live in Oak Knolls for a real fresh start? I hope so, I'm in love with the town. This is not a book for those who truly do not comprehend nor have been through a tragedy like this. Don't judge unless you've experienced the heart wrenching, gut knotting feelings of losing a child through a crime. Keep an open mind about what information the author gathered in order to expose it to the world where society often lives in ignorant bliss. Thank god for cell phones now!! Tami Hoag characterized, detailed and communicated every victim's potential acts, thoughts and feelings Down Darkest Road.
review 2: Mystery, thriller.Although it deals with predators, I found it to be a page turner. It sucks you in by the papal grief you feel coming from the mother whose daughter has been missing, and at the same time makes you wonder exactly who is following whom. Okay, which came first, the chicken out the egg? Any who, there is a lot of vitriol being spewed toward an egotistical, very controlled, all knowing, all answer having perv. But, the plot thickens when the mom brings in a private detective. A detective that had her base instincts telling her something just wasn't right....Ta dah dom doooooommm.The book had a few issues, but all in all a good read. On a side note, I loved the Sheriff's detective, Anthony Mendez. Yummm less

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