By Cher Gatto

17-year-old Billy McQueen is the star high school quarterback, popular with his friends, the crush of all the schoolgirls, and with just enough of a wild streak to keep him in and out of the principal’s office. 

But his bruises and injuries aren’t from football, his friends don’t hang out at his place, the crushes aren’t all innocent, and his poor grades aren’t from careless studying.

Billy’s nights are spent working at his father’s exclusive boxing club. Sometimes his bruises come from being in the ring, other times, they come from his drunk and abusive father. “Foreign exchange students” live upstairs, fights are rigged, and alcohol and illegal substances trade hands. Preyed upon by his father’s girlfriend, school is Billy’s only escape. But when Billy turns 18, his life takes another hellish turn: his father brings home an 8-year-old boy, Billy’s half brother. Trapped into compliance, Billy will do anything to protect his little brother – even if it means giving up the chance for freedom.

Pros: I could not put this book down. While the subject matter was beyond tragic, the characters were so real, you couldn’t help but be invested in their lives. I kept turning the pages, hoping for hope. And hope was there. Through all the darkness, the light of Christ shown through. The ending almost had me in tears. 

Cons: Yes, the subject matter is dark, but the author kept things PG-13. I highly recommend this book, but younger, sensitive readers should probably wait to read it. Human trafficking and abuse are real issues that are often ignored by authors and readers alike. Sweeping it under the rug won’t make it go away. Kudos to the author for shining a light in the darkness and offering hope.

Bottom line: A gritty suspense novel that takes readers through the hell of human trafficking and then back out into the light of hope.