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Candy from a Stranger
Child abduction told by the father, but has he gone insane?
What would you do if your child went missing and the police were ineffective? Exactly. You would start investigations yourself.
When eight-year-old Lucas Cain is snatched, his father, Ben, dedicates his life to finding out what happened to his only child. His desperation leads to his life being torn to shreds: his marriage in tatters, his job lost and even his mind is altered. They all believe Ben has gone insane. Has he? Self-fulfilling prophecy kicks in as Ben starts to believe he may well have had a role in the disappearance. The police close in on him just as he is about to uncover the complex mystery.
What would you do if your child went missing and the police were ineffective? Exactly. You would start investigations yourself.
When eight-year-old Lucas Cain is snatched, his father, Ben, dedicates his life to finding out what happened to his only child. His desperation leads to his life being torn to shreds: his marriage in tatters, his job lost and even his mind is altered. They all believe Ben has gone insane. Has he? Self-fulfilling prophecy kicks in as Ben starts to believe he may well have had a role in the disappearance. The police close in on him just as he is about to uncover the complex mystery.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2015
1 person is currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Daryl Buckner
21 books6 followersFor most of his life Daryl Buckner has been a professional guitarist, appearing with a diverse number of artists including, Alice Cooper, Toby Keith, Michael Bolton, and the Jordanairres. His current focus is writing novels in multiple genres: psychological thrillers, detective thrillers, and Sci-Fi. He currently has 17 books published. Born in Mount Vernon, Washington, Daryl Buckner now resides in Round Rock, Texas, a suburb of Austin. You can learn more by visiting his website: www.darylbuckner.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 16, 2015
Ben Cain is living a parent's worst nightmare. His young son has been abducted. There is no ransom note, no rhyme nor reason for anyone to take him .. he's just gone.
A year later, Ben is still trying to find his son.. and the person responsible for taking him. He is drinking heavily, his wife has left him, he's left his teaching position, and he's driving the cops crazy.
A few miles down the road, another child is taken. Ben is there in the aftermath watching that boy's father go through the horrors of not knowing where his son could be.
So begins Ben's travels .. looking for clues that might connect the boys... looking for a reason why they were taken. The only thing he takes with him is his car and "The Judge".
Needless to say, as a parent, as a grandparent, I can't fathom this happening to anyone in my family; yet it happens on a daily basis in this country. The author does a captivating job in describing what this particular father feels and how he handles his anger and grief.
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending... it certainly wasn't what I expected. The question I ask myself is ..... is there ever any closure, no matter what happens?
Thank You to NetGalley and Silvermine Interntional Books LLC and Sparkling Books Limited for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2015
When I first settled down to begin reading this book, I think I was expecting different to what it was, no, definitely I was expecting different, but what I got was a read that had me curious.
This book is told from a Father's point of view.
His child went missing, and you know, after so much time the Police still look but its not as vast and full on as it would be in days/weeks following a missing child.
So this Father starts searching for his child.
Another child goes missing, and THIS Father is watching the proceedings.
I remember sitting and feeling this bit, when the author writes how the investigators and diggers find something of the child....
and THIS Father who is looking on......
he knows
He's been through it.
He says in his mind "they will find a sock, a shoe, a piece of clothing, a toy"
And they did...
Then he sees the OTHER Father of the missing boy approach the police and drop to his knees.
THIS Father relates to him, he knows EXACTLY how he feels.
At first I took a while to start to enjoy the book, the way it was written is not something I am used to, but once I got the hang of the way this author was writing and narrating the story it became clear to me that there was more to this than what meets the eye. So I stuck with it until the end.
I am GLAD I stuck with it as the ending was with a twist in its tail.
I don't think its everyone's kind of read, some might find it a struggle to stay focused at times, but its well worth it if you can.
Let me thank the author for my copy and to Silvermine International Books LLC and Sparkling Books Limited as well
February 25, 2015
When an eight year old boy, Lucas, is kidnapped and the police make no progress in the case, the child’s father takes on the case on his own. He becomes kind of obsessed about finding his child. In the process, he alienates his wife, loses his job and takes to drinking. At one point he feels like he is not making any progress either. People think that he has gone crazy and his nightmares don’t help much. But then another child goes missing and Ben gets to the crime scene to try and discern whether the kidnappings are related or not. With the police deriding him, he thinks he has found a pattern and races against time to connect the dots… But will they lead him anywhere? Will the police be of help or a hindrance to him? Does he have any chance of finding his son alive?
The book is totally and completely gripping right from the beginning. The character of Ben is such that the reader never really gets a complete read on him till the very end. At one point the reader empathizes with him because losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent. But then his attitude and actions cause the reader to sympathize with him thinking that the loss may have been too much for him to handle and that he is going mad. Then there is a point where one wonders whether he might have been actually responsible in some way for his son’s kidnapping and suspicion falls on him. With so many angles going on at the same time, it was really hard to get a complete read on Ben and that was what kept me going. I just had to find out!
I also liked the twists that came along the way of the plot. The author’s narration style is a bit different and it took me some time to get used to it. But once I got into the groove, I totally enjoyed it. The descriptions and the settings are a bonus.
A complete thriller!
The book is totally and completely gripping right from the beginning. The character of Ben is such that the reader never really gets a complete read on him till the very end. At one point the reader empathizes with him because losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to a parent. But then his attitude and actions cause the reader to sympathize with him thinking that the loss may have been too much for him to handle and that he is going mad. Then there is a point where one wonders whether he might have been actually responsible in some way for his son’s kidnapping and suspicion falls on him. With so many angles going on at the same time, it was really hard to get a complete read on Ben and that was what kept me going. I just had to find out!
I also liked the twists that came along the way of the plot. The author’s narration style is a bit different and it took me some time to get used to it. But once I got into the groove, I totally enjoyed it. The descriptions and the settings are a bonus.
A complete thriller!
May 12, 2015
I was given an arc copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review:
I give it a 5star
You know when you start a book and it grips you like a vice around the neck, you can hardly breathe, well this was like that. Ben Cain is sent to the edge with the loss of his son Lucas. Kidnapping of a child is every parents worst nightmare yet it happened to Ben!!! The strain on his marriage causes a split, his wife takes off and leaves him, he hits the bottle hard, loses his job and the lead detective in his son's case hates him. Nightmares plague Ben, he feels like he is losing his mind. Everyone has almost given up the search for Lucas but Ben refuses to give up, tracking down clue after clue
. This is not the first child kidnapping other children have been taken and murdered. Can Ben find his son? will he be alive? In all the madness that ensues is Ben anyway responsible for the disappearance? Be prepared to be taken on a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime, the ups the downs, the pain suffered, this has it all and more!
As a parent, we are prepared to do anything to protect our kids, how far will Ben go? Read the story to find out.
I give it a 5star
You know when you start a book and it grips you like a vice around the neck, you can hardly breathe, well this was like that. Ben Cain is sent to the edge with the loss of his son Lucas. Kidnapping of a child is every parents worst nightmare yet it happened to Ben!!! The strain on his marriage causes a split, his wife takes off and leaves him, he hits the bottle hard, loses his job and the lead detective in his son's case hates him. Nightmares plague Ben, he feels like he is losing his mind. Everyone has almost given up the search for Lucas but Ben refuses to give up, tracking down clue after clue
. This is not the first child kidnapping other children have been taken and murdered. Can Ben find his son? will he be alive? In all the madness that ensues is Ben anyway responsible for the disappearance? Be prepared to be taken on a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime, the ups the downs, the pain suffered, this has it all and more!
As a parent, we are prepared to do anything to protect our kids, how far will Ben go? Read the story to find out.
February 5, 2015
Former Texas psych prof Ben Cain is on a mission – a mission that has sent his wife to life with her parents far away, a mission that has made him quit his job and begin to turn into a drunk.
His mission? To find the man who kidnapped and probably murdered his 8-year old son, Ben, and it isn’t too long that he discovers the killer has killed another and another – and they all look like his son.
Who is this child killer? Ben seeks him in several small, dusty Texas towns, and then he realizes there is a clue – then another – until the final brutal and surprise ending.
Call in sick if you have to, turn off your phone, hit the john and grab your snacks and drinks and be ready for one crazy, wild ride!
His mission? To find the man who kidnapped and probably murdered his 8-year old son, Ben, and it isn’t too long that he discovers the killer has killed another and another – and they all look like his son.
Who is this child killer? Ben seeks him in several small, dusty Texas towns, and then he realizes there is a clue – then another – until the final brutal and surprise ending.
Call in sick if you have to, turn off your phone, hit the john and grab your snacks and drinks and be ready for one crazy, wild ride!
June 26, 2015
I really enjoy this type of book and was drawn to this one as it promised a different type of hero, a father looking for the killer of his abducted son. When he hears via police scanner of another boy gone missing and sweet papers found near by, he thinks that he has found a link.
This is told in a different style that did take me a while to get used to but I was glad I persevered as the twists and turns of this story were well worth it especially the ending. I really felt for Ben Cain as the father searching for answers.
An interesting psychological thriller.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
This is told in a different style that did take me a while to get used to but I was glad I persevered as the twists and turns of this story were well worth it especially the ending. I really felt for Ben Cain as the father searching for answers.
An interesting psychological thriller.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
January 23, 2015
An enthralling read! The characters are vivid and multidimensional. I greatly enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.
Princess Katana M.D., M. Ed.
Princess Katana M.D., M. Ed.
February 21, 2017
I received this book free in return for an honest review.
I liked the idea of the tale of the missing child being told from a father's point of view as that is not something really seen. However, I did not enjoy this book. I felt the character was hard to connect to as they appeared so distraught they had behavior that was really out there. From a character view it was well-done, from being the narrator of the story it made it difficult to read.
I also dislike that the author reveals who the kidnapper is so early on in the book, along with the way they portray police.
I liked the idea of the tale of the missing child being told from a father's point of view as that is not something really seen. However, I did not enjoy this book. I felt the character was hard to connect to as they appeared so distraught they had behavior that was really out there. From a character view it was well-done, from being the narrator of the story it made it difficult to read.
I also dislike that the author reveals who the kidnapper is so early on in the book, along with the way they portray police.
June 25, 2015
This isn't the type of book I read too often, but I really enjoyed it and found myself definitely sucked in. I was sent an invite to read it through netgalley, that I just blindly clicked on without actually reading the blurb, and then when I realised what I'd done I just kept putting off reading it until suddenly the release date snuck up on me and I figured I had to at least start.
And hey, I liked it! I love shows like Law and Order so it isn't really a stretch that I'd enjoy this. Ben Cain's young son was kidnapped and when another young boy of the same age goes missing Ben realises there's a tiny link between the two cases, that of a specific candy wrapper found at the park both boys were last seen in. And then he realises how similar the boys look as well. And so Ben's out to find the killer.
And hey, I liked it! I love shows like Law and Order so it isn't really a stretch that I'd enjoy this. Ben Cain's young son was kidnapped and when another young boy of the same age goes missing Ben realises there's a tiny link between the two cases, that of a specific candy wrapper found at the park both boys were last seen in. And then he realises how similar the boys look as well. And so Ben's out to find the killer.
December 17, 2015
This novel was a great read! It was well-paced and kept me turning the pages as the plot built suspense and twisted. The character of the protagonist, Ben, was exceptionally developed and enhanced by the first-person narrative; I think I know this guy. The reader rattles about inside Ben Cain’s head, and it is scary there. I loved the threading of so many details throughout the story and the complex use of locales!
The repetitive startling line, “Why do I have the dream and Jeannie doesn’t? weighs heavy. And I love the striking delicacy of these lines: “…the kitchen drawer that’s consigned to hold everything-that-has no-place-anywhere-else. Old ink pens, bottle openers…how could we hold onto all this stuff and not hold on to each other?” Wow!
The subtle humor buried throughout Mr. Buckner's tale made the story more real; one of my favorites being his "temporary cigarette" habit. Great macabre Texas tale; thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner. A must-read…on the edge of your seat!
The repetitive startling line, “Why do I have the dream and Jeannie doesn’t? weighs heavy. And I love the striking delicacy of these lines: “…the kitchen drawer that’s consigned to hold everything-that-has no-place-anywhere-else. Old ink pens, bottle openers…how could we hold onto all this stuff and not hold on to each other?” Wow!
The subtle humor buried throughout Mr. Buckner's tale made the story more real; one of my favorites being his "temporary cigarette" habit. Great macabre Texas tale; thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner. A must-read…on the edge of your seat!
June 29, 2015
Candy From A Stranger by Daryl Buckner 1 star
A psychological thriller with an interesting topic but sadly does not deliver all it could.
The theme of child abduction should have made for a gripping book however the book was a slow read at times and a lot of time was taken waiting for something meaningful to happen.
The main character a psychology professor Ben Cain whose child was taken is depicted in brief with little substance, although his personal battle as a father who loses a child is supposed to evoke sympathy I found him unlikeable. The rest of the characters are also rather one dimensional.
The end of the book was more interesting with a little more pace and energy although the final outcome rather unrealistic.
The prose of the book does not whip the reader along or leave you gripped and waiting for what next as it should have which is a shame as the theme and the plot could have delivered so much more.
AnneB
A psychological thriller with an interesting topic but sadly does not deliver all it could.
The theme of child abduction should have made for a gripping book however the book was a slow read at times and a lot of time was taken waiting for something meaningful to happen.
The main character a psychology professor Ben Cain whose child was taken is depicted in brief with little substance, although his personal battle as a father who loses a child is supposed to evoke sympathy I found him unlikeable. The rest of the characters are also rather one dimensional.
The end of the book was more interesting with a little more pace and energy although the final outcome rather unrealistic.
The prose of the book does not whip the reader along or leave you gripped and waiting for what next as it should have which is a shame as the theme and the plot could have delivered so much more.
AnneB
February 21, 2015
This seemed like the typical child kidnap story you read about in the papers. At first I wondered about the main character, Ben Cain, a psychology teacher whose son is kidnapped and then he, of course, turns into a vigilante. I stopped for a bit thinking that this storyline was going to be pretty predictable so should I bother carrying on. Well I am pleased that I did as the twist at the end really threw me and I love it when that happens. I thought the characters were well developed and I enjoyed the descriptive text throughout the book. Will most certainly be recommending this book to others!!
May 23, 2015
Interesting thriller - Ben's son disappears and he becomes obsessed with finding the killer. He gets close enough that the cops start to think that he is the killer. His life falls apart around him and finding the killer and killing him are all Ben is looking for.
The ending is not too surprising, but a bit unrealistic. All in all a good read.
Digital copy from Netgalley
The ending is not too surprising, but a bit unrealistic. All in all a good read.
Digital copy from Netgalley
January 7, 2018
Full review here: https://charmainelimen.wordpress.com/...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews