Review – Boneman’s Daughters

The BoneMan. A serial killer who abducts young woman after young woman, hoping one of them will become his daughter. When they disappoint him, he breaks their bones until they die. So far six have been sacrificed. The murderer, now behind bars, is being released because of compromised evidence. Is he innocent or guilty?

Ryan Evans, intelligence officer par excellence, is being forced to think like God. In a war-torn world that relies on violence in order to acquire and maintain freedom, Evans has been playing God unawares with the rest of America. But when he is captured by Muslims in dust-ravaged Iraq, his mind and emotions will be shaken to the core. His family is threatened, which makes him realize how much he loves them, perhaps for the first time.

Now the BoneMan holds Ryan’s own daughter-the unthinkable for a father. He himself is a wanted man-some think he and the BoneMan are one and the same. How will he find her before he is caught himself? Before BoneMan tortures and kills his only child? Is there anything he won’t do to save her?

Dekker continues to up the ante in his writing, amplifying the suspense almost to the breaking point, until the reader is left breathless for resolution. Using the classic “FBI hunts bad guy” plot mixed with “father of victim makes it his personal mission to stop the bad guy,” Dekker goes a step further and stirs both emotion and spirit. He shows us the Enemy’s deceitful lure, his longing to be beautiful and to have us follow in his steps, his desire to steal us from our true Father. However, the true Father’s love trumps any promise the Enemy can make and in his infinite love pursues us, does whatever it takes to rescue us. What could be a greater message?

I found this novel to be partially a throwback to Dekker’s classic When Heaven Weeps with elements of Adam and lots of new material to sink my teeth into. Everyone can get something out of this book, but it’s not for those who like everything neat and rosy. It is, however, in a way, a great love story.

Prepare for evil to be unveiled, love to be revealed, and sacrifice to be made. Your heart will join Ryan’s and be driven by love to protect that which is precious to you. You will be reminded of God’s heart for you. Watch light dispel darkness and truth triumph over evil as it should. This is Dekker’s best yet, both thrilling and touching-highly recommended.