Book Description:
What you don’t know can hurt you.
Thirty years ago Anthony Mailer was a seven-year-old boy trapped in Dr Galbraith’s basement. Now he’s a journalist, a husband and a father. But no matter how far he’s come, at times he’s still that scared little boy.
In order to save his marriage, he has to stop hiding from what happened and deal with it once and for all.
But digging into the past holds dangers Anthony never imagined . . .
A note from the author: While fictional, this book was inspired by true events. It draws on the author’s experiences as a police officer and child protection social worker. The story contains content that some readers may find upsetting. It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.
My Thoughts:
I read the first two books in this series a good few years ago now of which the first book has to be one of the most harrowing and chilling I have ever read. Anthony, the little boy from that first book, has always stayed with me so I jumped at the chance of reading this one where we meet up with the character again but as an adult.
How do you overcome something traumatic from your past? Anthony has decided to face it full on by investigating events leading up to and during his grooming by Dr Galbraith and writing a book about his ordeal. Digging into the past opens not only deep wounds for himself but his family and all that were involved. Reading of people’s accounts was heart-breaking. It was hard not to be angry at certain people although there actions followed protocol but it also left some children at risk. It was quite upsetting to see how it all effects Anthony and how he chooses to battle his demons which causes strain within his relationship with his wife.
This actually does read okay as a standalone due to Anthony leaving no stone unturned with the events from that horrific time in his life and the way it has been written, it lays everything out for the reader. You will however want to go back and read the other two books after reading this one.
The Father is a spine chilling read that is quite upsetting yet extremely compelling. The author’s own experience in the child protection services comes more into force in this novel and it shows just how hard it must be for people that work in this sector and how frustrating their job can be at times. Anthony’s story is one that really grabs hold of it’s reader and will be one that never fully leaves you. A harrowing and unsettling story that readers won’t be able to put down!
My thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for an invite to be on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Author Bio –
John Nicholl is the bestselling author of numerous psychological thrillers and detective series, previously published by Bloodhound, and inspired by his real-life experience as an ex-police officer and child protection social worker. Boldwood will be publishing the next title in his Galbraith series and a new psychological thriller in autumn 2022, and will be reissuing his bestselling backlist from May 2022.
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