Reunion
By
Jeff Bennington

Reunion begins with a chilling view into the mind of High School student, David Ray, who has suffered malicious and sexually abusive parenting, constant bullying from his classmates; he is a lonely, desperate young man with no hope and no foreseeable future. The author’s remarkable insight is painful for the reader and it comes as no surprise that the young student is planning a Columbine style attack on his High School in Crescent Falls, Idaho. But, with an incredibly delicate and compassionate approach, Author Bennington then shows the aftermath of the shootings and the suffering of the survivors.
Twenty years later, each one has responded in their own way to the crisis and managed to carry on in life like wounded warriors. Nick Tooley, whose brother was killed on that fateful day, and his sweetheart, Kate, eventually marry, but their union is anything but perfect because of his alcoholism. She still pines for Bryan Jacobs, now a Sheriff’s Deputy who is hoping she will leave her husband. Maria Vasquez, who has founded a Crisis Center to combat her demons, decides to put together a twenty year reunion. She extends feelers to the rest of her surviving classmates and is pleased that several of them respond positively.
There is her friend, Lana Jones, now a successful author, who was injured in the shooting and still carries the scars. She is also an unwed mother, who is hiding her own secrets. Tanner Khan has tried literally everything to erase his memories, and is now more than willing to face his fears. He also agrees to appear. And then there is Noah, an English exchange student who left the U.S. and returned to England the day after the tragedy. He will also return for the reunion.
But there is an evil even greater than their horrible memories lurking in the halls of their old High School. Now closed permanently, a presence prowls the school day and night, it permeates even the survivors’ dreams, and it will not go away. It will take someone with great strength, and God Himself, to erase the specter of David Ray -- but not until much more damage is done.
What a great story! I must say that Jeff Bennington has done a fabulous job of creating believable, likeable, and sometimes even scary characters in his novel and I salute him. Reunion is a fantastic read and I cannot wait to read his next book, Twisted Vengeance.
Mary Firmin, author of Deadly Pleasures