Review: Well-written, dark, brilliant
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
DJ Bennett's novel, Hamelin's Child, is a well-written, dark, brilliant story about heroin, kidnapping, (forced) child prostitution and the sheer strength of the human spirit. While this might sound like a handful, the story is told gracefully and as gently as possible, in my opinion, to maintain authenticity without unduly jarring or triggering the reader.I found the main character, Michael, likable and sympathetic. I rooted for him the whole way through, and admired his guts and his dogged refusal to surrender his humanity to the inhumane treatments he suffered at the hands of his kidnappers. I also enjoyed the characterization of his unfailing, or should I say unflagging big sister Kate.Bennett is an amazing writer. She manages to write a character-driven page-turner that I found almost impossible to put down during the wee hours of the night. This is more than a cautionary tale. It's a damn good story, and I'll be enthusiastically looking out for more of her work.E.L. Farris