Title:	The Will of the Enemy
	Author:	Jody Shee
	Published:	2013, Purple Dreamer
	No. of Pages:	312
	Cover Price:	$14.99 US

---

When Julie and Terry were married, it appeared to be a storybook romance. However, things begin to change shortly after, and when they had their first child, Angie, Terry’s actions grew more and more suspicious. The Will of the Enemy, a Christian suspense novel, tells the story of this family and how Terry sexually abuses his daughter. Because Terry’s father is a policeman with a judge as his best friend, the abuse is covered up. During divorce proceedings, Julie loses custody of Angie. To protect Angie, Julie finally takes her and leaves their home. Since the FBI and other law enforcement agencies are searching for Angie, each time someone becomes suspicious, Julie packs up and moves to a new area and they assume a new identity.

Because the “good guys” are considered criminals as they move around and hide from Angie’s abusers, the suspense is palpable; it doesn’t let up. Julie relies on her faith and God to get her through the ordeals.

During the course of the novel the reader gets the feeling that this may not really be a work of fiction; the story is totally believable, albeit sad, and it seems that it is more of a biography rather than just a story. Nevertheless, it also brings to light the abuse that unfortunately is and has been occurring, both in the past and present, and gets swept under the rug because of the abuser’s connections or because he (or she) has money for high-priced unscrupulous lawyers. Anyone who has experienced abuse either through personal experiences or observation of others will be able to relate, and will be more mindful of the way abuse ruins the lives of victims and their families.

Of course this novel is not perfect for everyone; there is a distinct protestant undertone throughout, and it may not appeal to those who are of different religious persuasions. Nor is it a typical thriller who-done-it with murder, violence, and mayhem. The subject matter is serious and tragic; it does not make for a “happily ever after” scenario and is not light, happy reading.

Shee may not have several novels under her belt, but it is obvious that she is a seasoned writer. The characters seem like real people that readers are most likely acquainted with. The story flows, the writing style is very professional, and there are no obvious grammatical errors or typos in the book. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction will look forward to reading this and subsequent novels from Jody Shee.

The author, Jody Shee, graciously sent me a copy of this book for review.

This book may be purchased at Amazon: The Will of the Enemy