A Child is Torn “Innocence Lost” by Dawn Kopman Whidden

When dependable Evan Madison fails to show up for work, police are dispatched to his home. His ten-year-old son, Brad, is discovered inside, unharmed and seemingly alone. He is stoic, sitting in front of the television playing his favorite video game, Super Mario—and he’s covered in blood.

Veteran Police Officer Marty Keal is the first on the scene. With his many years of experience, he thinks he’s seen it all. That is, until he discovers Brad’s not really alone after all. Upstairs in their bedroom lies the brutally bludgeoned and deceased bodies of both his mother and his father. When questioned, Brad confesses to the horrific murders.

When Brad is transferred to a local mental health institution for children, Dr. Hope Rubin is brought in to evaluate and treat the child. A preliminary investigation shows no evidence of any kind of mistreatment in his past. She must determine the disturbing truth: Is Brad telling the truth? Or is he covering for someone else?

Detective Jean Whitely rounds out the investigative team; and she suspects there is much more to the case than what meets the eye. The happily married mother of two in unwavering in her determination to uncover the real truth about Brad. Was he abused? Or is he the product of an evil seed born to kill?

As the layers of truth about Brad are systematically peeled away, you will be compelled to ask yourself, Which is the more dominate factor in contributing to who we are—NATURE or NURTURE?

I was offered the book in exchange for a review.

Well, where do I start. When I started this book, I had visions of PD James meets Ruth Rendell with a bit of James Patterson thrown in lol. Well I still thought that way til I was about 90% of the book read and BAM, there it was all to do with DNA. 

When you start reading the book, it looks like any other normal thriller. You think you know what is going to happen and then it changes. I actually thought the Uncle had done it, but as I got further into the book, it became apparent that maybe he didn't. Then you have the strange grandparents (father's side), who I thought was a bit standoffish with the Detective and Doctor. I was correct and loved that 2 of the characters got together. But I would never of guessed about twins and DNA that could separate what they do. It never once entered my head. 

If you never read another thriller, I URGE you to read this. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to look inside the heads of a thriller with a massive twist.

Can't wait to read Dawn Kopman Whidden's next novel FACELESS.