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3 out of 4 stars
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Son of a Killer by K. D. Lewis is a true story about the author's life. Kordale, his brother, and his sister were raised by their single mother, Plum. Plum was a crackhead who spent all of their money on drugs. Their father, Rodney, was serving two life sentences in prison for two murders. Kordale and his siblings never had a secure home or enough food. Kordale often overheard people say he was as crazy as his father. Although Plum took them to the prison to see their father when Kordale was five years old, he did not know anything about him. None of his father's family ever talked about Rodney, and Plum was secretive. Kordale survives his childhood and has three children. His children become curious about their grandfather, so he decides to take his children to meet their grandfather in prison. What does he find out about his father? Is he just like his father? What do the children think of their grandfather? Did Kordale do the right thing when he took his children to meet their grandfather? Why did Plum choose drugs over her children? You will need to read this fascinating book to get these and many more questions answered.
K. D. Lewis has done a fantastic job describing the characteristics of his family members, friends, and others who played a role in his life. He starts his story by describing his great-grandmother, who had her first child at 12 years of age, and her determination to provide for her family. K. D. Lewis leaves nothing out of this book to show how his and his siblings' lives were controlled by secrets, confusion, drugs, insecurity, and poverty. I found it particularly heartbreaking when the children were removed and separated from each other. I could understand his heartbreak at losing his family, even though he knew his mother could not provide for them. Furthermore, I found the connection between animal abuse and a killer gripping. The family pictures, Rodney's criminal profile, and the newspaper article made the story more realistic.
This book is a very emotional read, but there was nothing I disliked about it. The only thing I would recommend to the author would be to have the book edited by a professional editor because they would have found the many mistakes it contains.
I gladly give this book 3 out of 4 stars. I would have given it the maximum rating if it were not for the mistakes in the book. The admiration I have for the author for telling his story does not allow me to give it a lower rating.
I recommend this book to mature adults who enjoy reading memoirs or crime thrillers because this book fits in both categories. Sensitive readers need to be aware that this book contains bestiality, homosexuality, murder, drug abuse, child abuse and molestation, racism, and non-borderline profanity.
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Son of a killer
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