At age 13, she was ransomed from kidnapper by her father who now demands and receives a sexual relationship that lasts 20 years. After he develops Alzheimer's disease. she abandons him at a county fair and Detective Liz Roberts starts a search to find her.
For 20 years, from age 13 until after she married, Laura cared for her father. That's because her psychopathic mother, on several occasions attempted to kill Laura with a butcher knife. Laura decides this could not continue and that she must live her own life. So she abandons her Alzheimer's disease-afflicted father at a county fair, without any ID--just a slip of paper that says "My name is Larry."
Detective Liz Roberts, who also was abandoned by her birth mother, is assigned to the case, and in her investigation into Larry's identity and her attempt to locate Laura, she discovers many long-lost secrets.
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
“Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing?”
Laura froze. The sounds of the fair were drowned out by the roar in her ears. It was already warm and promised to be a
hot day, but she was suddenly chilled…and a little girl again.
“Daddeee…..I’m scared!”One of her earliest memories was sitting in one of the cars on the Ferris wheel as it rocked lazily back and forth. The wheel
had stopped with their car at the very top and all of Fresno and the surrounding areas spread out from the fair grounds, the lights of thousands of homes and businesses twinkling in
the night.
She clung to her father, squealing with equal amounts of horror and glee each time she peeked out over the edge of the
car to look down on all of the people. It only took a few seconds before she buried her face against her father’s shirt, the fabric fisted in both small hands. His arm around her made her feel safe in a way that not even the belt around her waist and the safety bar locked over their laps could.
She couldn’t have been more than three years old, much too short for the ride. How had her father convinced the operator to let her on? It wasn’t too hard to figure out. Laura’s father
was persuasive and used to getting his way; in his business, in stores, in restaurants, in his home. One thing he always wanted was whatever would make her happy. Nothing was too good for his only daughter. He made sure she had the
best clothes, the best toys, and the best education. If she had pointed her chubby hand at the monstrous ride and said, “Ride, p’ease, Daddy?” he would have done whatever it took to get her on.
Professional Reviews
Short and anything but sweet
This is a short but powerful novel well worth reading! In fact, I actually believe it is a parable. The message: Get help!
Life can be exceedingly ugly, inflicting deep wounds. And the untreated wounds are the worst for they never heal. When protagonist A (Laura) abandons her demented father at a fair, we get our first hint of ugly, and when protagonist B (Liz, the detective trying to straighten out the abandonment) rejects an invitation from her sister, the only question left in my mind was how ugly would this get. The answer is: Very!
But, while Laura has gone much too long without treatment for her wounds, there is still hope for Liz.
Laura in particular is too painful to be fully fictional. Author Don Canaan has shaped the tale into a fast-paced, highly readable novel/novella. Go for it!
Pleasantly Surprised
I have to say, I have been jaded about books for a while.. Nothing has caught me in a while. Then I downloaded a sample of this book, not quite knowing what to expect. I tore though it in what seemed like five minutes. I was captivated. Needless to say I bought the book. The story line just seemed to draw me in.. A woman leaves her ailing father at the Fresno fair. He has alzheimer's disease and can't remember his own name, let alone know how to get home. This book shows a portrait of an elderly man, whom at first seems friendly and genial, but a much darker picture develops. I finished the book within a few hours (pesky work got in the way). This new author captivated a jaded avid reader. I hope to see more.
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