My Son, John by Kathi Macias

Murder.

Could there be a more chilling word? Could it be any more horrible than to have a loved one killed, brutally and heartlessly, without obvious reason or motive? When Liz Peterson’s elderly mother is found viciously beaten to death in her home, Liz and her husband, Charles, along with their grown son, John, and teenage daughter, Sarah, are horrified beyond words. Their previously predictable, respectable lives seem to have vanished without a trace, as they struggle to make sense of a senseless act.

And then a second blow—more devastating, if possible, than the first—rocks them to their core. John is arrested for his grandmother’s murder. As what’s left of the Peterson family begins to crumble under the weight of loss and accusation, the Petersons’ longstanding Christian faith is put to the test in a way they could never have imagined, and unconditional love is stretched to its limits. Will family ties and relationships withstand such a crushing blow, or will evil succeed in dividing and conquering this once close and inseparable family?

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My Review:
This is a beautifully written account of the struggle of Liz Peterson and the after-effects of the vicious murder of her mother and subsequent arrest of her son. Liz wrestles with all of the thoughts and impulses that can be imagined.

The author uses first-person narrative as well as third-person narrative for her characters. Sometimes, the thoughts seem to flow into one another, causing a bit of confusion. 

You will reach for a tissue with this one.

Will this mother be able to forgive her son? Can she ever again trust God? And, how could such a thing happen to a loving family?

Discussion questions for individual or group study are included.

If you would like to read the first chapter, click here.

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