Official Review: Innocents Beware by Daniel R Holladay

Erin · Post by **Erin** » 03 Aug 2019, 08:03

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Innocents Beware" by Daniel R Holladay.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Innocents Beware, by Daniel R Holladay, is a crime thriller involving serial killers and kidnappers, but it is also a love story. The book begins by introducing Lester Ernest Shanks, a twelve-year-old boy who pushes his mother down a flight of stairs to stop her from shouting at him. He becomes a serial killer after he decides he must stop young, developing females from maturing and turning into his mother. We then meet the protagonist, Tralee Isbell Krider, who is living with his father in Tennessee. Over time, Tralee discovers he has two unique abilities. He perceives things that are out of place with nature, and he mentally receives snapshot visuals of crimes that have already happened. It is known in the community that Tralee can find lost items and people, but he never plans to use his talents in law enforcement.

In his senior year in high school, Tralee meets Anne Jordan Lowell. There is an immediate connection between them, and Tralee knows that she is the missing piece in his life. Then, the unimaginable occurs. Anne is kidnapped by rapists Pratt and Jacob Betts, and the future for Anne and Tralee is forever altered. While Anne is trying to survive, Tralee agrees to work with Agent Dent at the FBI. If Tralee’s abilities prove useful to the Agency, then Agent Dent will be able to provide continued focus on Anne’s case. In his work with the FBI, Tralee will eventually encounter Lester Shanks.

What I liked most about the book was the characterization of Tralee and his unusual abilities. He is calm and methodical with his crime-solving approach, even when faced with Anne’s disappearance. The contrast between Tralee’s demeanor and the crimes and violence in the book is quite dramatic. I also enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing style and word choice. His vivid descriptions allow the reader to clearly picture scenes and settings in the story. As one example, the author chooses to describe the sounds of a victim’s death as a cacophony of dissonance in the serial killer’s brain. The author also provides a very detailed description of Tralee’s house, which helps the reader visualize the setting for the early sections of the story.

There was nothing that I disliked about the book, although there were a couple of places in the book where the pace seemed to slow down in order to provide some background information on the characters. For example, the book provides background on why Tralee decides not to enter the full-fledged FBI program at age twenty-one. This change in pace is only noticeable because the book is so exciting to read, and it did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. The book was professionally edited, as I found only a few very minor errors.

I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars for the author’s descriptive writing style that allowed me to visualize the story, for the characterization of Tralee, and for the fast-paced story that was difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre, although be aware that the author’s descriptive writing style also applies to the crime scenes in the book. This book would not be appropriate for a younger audience due to the occasional violence and sexual content.

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Innocents Beware
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Wambui-nj · Post by **Wambui-nj** » 11 Aug 2019, 01:35

A combination of love and crime can be thrilling. And this book promises so, according to your review. Awesome review.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 11 Aug 2019, 12:17

I think this would be too heavy for me. The graphic depiction of events would overwhelm me. The premise seems interesting, though. Pushing your mother down the stairs to becoming a serial killer is quite the progression. Thanks.

essyallan7475 · Post by **essyallan7475** » 11 Aug 2019, 20:42

A great review. I love crime thrillers. One incident in Lesters life trigger to become a serial killer. He killed his mother at a early age. Now he wants to stop young females from turning into his mum. I love the plot of the story . Will definitely read

OuKoyoo · Post by **OuKoyoo** » 12 Aug 2019, 06:09

A great review, but I am not attracted to the plot and therefore I do not think it is one of those books that I am planing to read. Thank you for the review.