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thedeadgirlinthevacantlot
Phoenix investigative reporter Joya Bonner knew nothing about the world of sex trafficking—or the ugly status her city held in this filthy underground. But then her 15 year-old honorary niece went missing in Phoenix. And a 13 year-old from her hometown in North Dakota disappeared. And there was that pitiful dead girl in the vacant lot. As Joya rushed in to help—naive, scared, repulsed, frantic, but determined—her world would never be the same again. This is a work of fiction. The major characters are created from the author’s imagination—with the exception of Mike Lacey and Jim Larkin. They really did create a media empire that began with the New Times of Phoenix; they really were arrested in the dead of night by Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s goons; they really did create Backpage.com that Congress calls an “online brothel," they really are currently awaiting trial on scores of charges they facilitated child sex-trafficking. The story woven around these characters--ripped from today's headlines--will shock you to your core.
- GenresMystery
282 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2018
About the author
Jana Bommersbach
16 books24 followersOne of the Grand Canyon State’s most acclaimed journalists and authors, Jana Bommersbach has been a fixture in Arizona media since the early 1970s, making an indelible mark in both broadcast and print journalism. Raised in a large extended family in North Dakota, she attended graduate school at the University of Michigan before moving to the Southwest in 1972. Named Arizona’s "Journalist of the Year," she has also been honored with two lifetime achievement awards along with multiple local, regional and national accolades. Her first book, The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd, was a national bestseller and was named Arizona’s ONEBOOKAZ selection in 2010.
Always an obedient child, Jana ventured into children’s literature because her mother told her to! Living in a historic neighborhood in the heart of downtown Phoenix, she entertains the children in her life each Christmas with the annual Hoover Street Children’s Party. With the introduction of A Squirrel’s Story—A True Tale, she looks forward to entering the children's book market with gusto!
Always an obedient child, Jana ventured into children’s literature because her mother told her to! Living in a historic neighborhood in the heart of downtown Phoenix, she entertains the children in her life each Christmas with the annual Hoover Street Children’s Party. With the introduction of A Squirrel’s Story—A True Tale, she looks forward to entering the children's book market with gusto!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 27, 2018
A Must-Read Book!
For the past 8 years I have done a lot of research on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, particularly in the Phoenix area. The author, Jana Bommersbach, has done a masterful job of creating a very powerful story based on real-world facts which she substantiates at the end of the book. I could not put this book down! I loved all of the references to Phoenix restaurants, places to visit, and notable people, etc.
For the past 8 years I have done a lot of research on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, particularly in the Phoenix area. The author, Jana Bommersbach, has done a masterful job of creating a very powerful story based on real-world facts which she substantiates at the end of the book. I could not put this book down! I loved all of the references to Phoenix restaurants, places to visit, and notable people, etc.
May 27, 2019
This series of Joya Bonner keeps getting better. In this installment there is great character development and a page turning story regarding the sex trade and the hidden in plain sight enticement of young American girls into the system, as well as the unspoken acceptance of the trade and the publication(s) that promote the "service". Instead of the conventional wisdom of the capture and enslavement of young girls from third world countries, this follows the story of a teen age girl from a small town in ND and of a relatively stable family life, but a bit of a dreamer and loner, who gets wooed by a promise of a relationship by a somehwhat older guy who is in town visiting from "the cities". After a couple of his visits to town she runs away with him to his place in the Minneapolis area. Soon after she is exposed to a very different side of her "man" and his other "girls" and how she is expected to earn money for him. This naive young girl believes she is his chosen one and that the money she earns will be accumlated for a house and atheir new life together. We then learn of the other types of pimps and girls and the loose connection of the Minneapolis "ring". After an event that exposes her to a man from her ND hometown, where her family and the locals have been doing an extensive search to find her. So, they head off to the Phoenix, which we learn may have otherwise happened due to the supply/demand of the upcoming Super Bowl. The story is tight, the characters are brought to life, and the results of the actions and inactions are palpable. Plus there is some very real information and the question of what, if any, restrictions could be placed upon the free press. All in all a great read, and I look forward to Joya's next installment.
August 2, 2018
If you're not already familiar with the real-world issues of sex trafficking in the United States, you will certainly understand it a lot more after reading this book. "thedeadgirlinthevacantlot" takes place in Phoenix, Arizona - where I just so happen to live. In fact, the places referenced in this story are mere streets away from where I work every day. Personally, I am educated on this subject, and therefore, was not surprised by the information. But that doesn't make it any less heart wrenching to read about. Jana writes this story in a delicate way that makes it engaging to read, but also smacks you with reality. She took lots of care to write about these under age girls in a way that any reader can understand the hardship from their perspective, while also not betraying the gruesome nature of child sex trafficking.
A disturbing read for sure, but one that is needed in our world. We need to be reminded that these things are happening around us every day and if we pay a little closer attention, we might notice some of those signs that just don't fit. Young girls, children, dressed in scantily clad clothes while chaperoned by grown men. We need to be watching for these things and asking ourselves if it looks suspicious. If so, call someone to report it and let them look into it. Don't ever try to handle a situation on your own. I have a lot of respect for this book and the courage that Jana had to write about this topic. Please check out her work and read it for yourself.
A disturbing read for sure, but one that is needed in our world. We need to be reminded that these things are happening around us every day and if we pay a little closer attention, we might notice some of those signs that just don't fit. Young girls, children, dressed in scantily clad clothes while chaperoned by grown men. We need to be watching for these things and asking ourselves if it looks suspicious. If so, call someone to report it and let them look into it. Don't ever try to handle a situation on your own. I have a lot of respect for this book and the courage that Jana had to write about this topic. Please check out her work and read it for yourself.
October 4, 2018
Sometimes I get to a point where I feel bogged down in a certain genre and need a change. That is when a Mystery is always my go-to. I feel like they make me think and help get my mind off of things more than any other genre.
There is a great balance between the Suspense and Mystery. I found myself guessing the whole way through, and being wrong quite a bit.
The plot was fast paced and flowed smoothly and the characters were those who I really liked reading about. They were interesting and compelling.
There is a great balance between the Suspense and Mystery. I found myself guessing the whole way through, and being wrong quite a bit.
The plot was fast paced and flowed smoothly and the characters were those who I really liked reading about. They were interesting and compelling.
September 23, 2018
Superb writing from Jana Bommersbach and a action packed story. There were a lot of moving a parts to this one and I really liked the originality that Bommersbach brought.
This novel was very vivid in the descriptions, the writing really jumped off the pages and into my head. Suspense and Mystery laced throughout.
I felt like I got a solid understanding of the characters in the story. There was definitely a lot of action going on that will have readers flipping pages furiously.
This novel was very vivid in the descriptions, the writing really jumped off the pages and into my head. Suspense and Mystery laced throughout.
I felt like I got a solid understanding of the characters in the story. There was definitely a lot of action going on that will have readers flipping pages furiously.
July 19, 2018
This is a real page turner. It's heartbreaking and exposes a side of life that I knew little about. An absolute must read. All the better if you are from Phoenix, AZ as you will recognize the names and places but don't let that stop you from reading it if you are not local. This is happening everywhere.
August 16, 2018
Jana Bommersbach manages to put to use imagery and detail to allow the reader to be swept away in the case. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Action packed with a lot of moving parts to it. Mysterious to the core.
Twists and turns paired with lighter moments leads to a novel that will keep the reader engaged and anticipating each event.
Action packed with a lot of moving parts to it. Mysterious to the core.
Twists and turns paired with lighter moments leads to a novel that will keep the reader engaged and anticipating each event.
May 18, 2018
Getting what you deserve...and want
Jana gets both. You opened my eyes and broke my heart. Phoenicians will know and remember many of the places so aptly described. A must read.
Jana gets both. You opened my eyes and broke my heart. Phoenicians will know and remember many of the places so aptly described. A must read.
April 25, 2021
This started out looking like too much political rhetoric for me but it got better or worse, its a terrible situation
August 12, 2019
Wow!!!!! I sure learned a lot about sex trafficking. Jana’s book sure kept me interested until the very end. Thank you Jana. Keep writing!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews