Child Finder Resurrection
Topical, intriguing, and suspenseful—all apt descriptions for Michael Angley’s Child Finder. His debut novel in the mystery trilogy about the perennial horror of child abductions could almost be included in the science fiction genre as well, since he deftly draws both the reader and protagonist into the world of the paranormal.
As an Air Force Special Agent, Major Patrick O’Donnell operates in a top-secret environment, while safely ensconced inside the halls of the world famous military icon, the Pentagon. He’s accustomed to venturing into gray areas, something that all government agencies must sometimes do in order to accomplish their mission. But when he begins to “see” things in his dreams, sights that begin to haunt him in his waking hours, he realizes he must share this psychic ability with his superiors.
O’Donnell is a family man, deeply rooted in his faith. His strong moral underpinning serves as his guidepost, one he will need while drawn into an unfamiliar world involving another government entity, the FBI. Placing full trust in his counterparts with the Bureau, O’Donnell embarks on a journey that leads him into a subculture of child predators—cretins who commit crimes against innocent children. Left to conventional investigative means, these unspeakable acts might never be resolved. But his life saving gift—to be able to see abducted children and pinpoint their location before they are murdered—ensures the children’s safety and reinforces the major’s tendency to place more confidence in his handlers with each case that he solves.
The government, however, is disingenuous and has other plans for him. O’Donnell soon discovers some of his friends and associates inexplicably murdered. Soon, even his family is at risk. His female FBI handler begins guiding him down a road that can only lead to certain marital problems and possible criminal violations. Searching for answers, he plunges deeper into a black hole where there appears to be no right or wrong, where his very identity seems to have disappeared, causing him to question his own actions. He fears for his safety, uncertain about whom he can trust.
The story escalates with each chapter, spawning memorable characters, some I wanted to scream at, others who brought a tear to my eye. We find Major O’Donnell and his wife and children forced to encounter violent thugs, who may or may not be government agents.
The child-victims are real; Angley’s descriptions of them right on the money. Angley spins a tale that is not only believable, but causes the reader to wonder if this “paranormal world” really does exist.
Set aside a weekend—Child Finder will not allow you close the cover. And after you’ve digested this fast-paced thriller and allowed your blood pressure to return to normal, go ahead and begin reading the second book in the series, Child Finder: Resurrection. More on that next time.