A Child Is Torn cover art

A Child Is Torn

Whitley & Keal Mystery, Book 1

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A Child Is Torn

By: Dawn Kopman Whidden
Narrated by: Beth A. McIntosh
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About this listen

When dependable Evan Madison fails to show up for work, police are dispatched to his home. His 10-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 is 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?

©2016 Dawn Kopman Whidden (P)2017 Dawn Kopman Whidden
Detective Mystery Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant
We meet a lot of interesting characters in this book. Dr Hope, Jean Whitley, Keal and Keal's father, The Captain being just a few of them. The only reason this book doesn't get 5 stars is because it's not really a mystery. But, I don't want to say anymore about that issue because I'll give the game away, and this is a spoiler-free zone! It is though, a very sweet love story and, as an introduction to future Whitley and Keal mysteries is absorbing and enticing. Now that I am familiar with the characters, I am looking forward to seeing them work together to solve some difficult crimes. As an introduction to a series, it's very good

An intriguing start

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I'm a bit unsure as to how I felt about this book. It was mysterious and left the reader pondering the question "Did he or didn't he?" But I don't think there was enough in it to entice me to read further on in the series.

Good but

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An excellent book which I finished in a day, I just couldn’t stop listening! I instantly liked Dr Hope and very much enjoyed her story and the blossoming romance with Marty. This is shaping up to be one of my favourite series and I am very much looking forward to the next instalment.

Excellent

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Could a 10 year old boy really kill his parents. Although the basis of the book it was more about the characters involved in his story and their lives. Brad's story brought them together. This was definitely a book which is setting the characters for future novels, however this didn't detract from it. Hard to put this book in a specific genre as it was a bit crime, mystery and relationships all thrown in together. There were some great characters and it will be interesting how their stories develop in the rest of the series. Told from the view of the main characters in turn, the story gradually builds to its outcome. An interesting read, that wasn't quite what I expected when I started, but quicky drew me in. I'm looking forward to listening to more from the series.

Did he really kill his parents?

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Great

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