Everything I did I did for you.

Dr.Orville Madison is not only a wealthy, much loved medical doctor in his area, he is also an active church member and respected on the po!itical scene for his public support of the pro Life movement. But he has last experience of how imperfect and cruel the judicial system can be so, when his 16 years old only daughter is brutally raped and left for dead, her boyfriend shot and murdered, he does not trust the system to not add to her horrific ordeal. Instead, he decides to secretly become judge, Jury and executioner of those youths he believes to be guilty.

This is a richly woven story of love in many facets, from long enduring and life affirming, through domineering, selfish and possessive, to redemptive, as well as love's absence. It is also a good thriller and police procedural as the forces of law attempt to trace not only the culprits of the crime against Cassandra Madison and her young partner but also the identity of a body found badly decomposed in the Everglades and numerous other incidents occurring in the same time frame. The two main protagonists, Dr.Madison himself and a decades long serviced, compassionate leader of the police team, Detective Sergeant Raymond Blocker, are well drawn but there are also good thumbnail sketches of several of the other numerous characters met along the way. It is an emotional book, rife with internal conflict and protection of reputation oozing from the pages.

Narration by Scott Sutherland is excellent. As well as individually and appropriately voicing each of the protagonist, in so doing he imparts a further layer of real life humanity to each. His reading of the text is well modulated, conveyed with understanding and emotion - a good performance overall which very much adds to the book's enjoyment.
My thanks to the rights holder of The Upside to Murder, who, at my request, freely gifted me a complimentary copy, via Audiobook Boom. Whilst I found the central character to be unpleasant and overbearing (agreeing with the comment of his much overlooked wife,'This is not about you'), his feelings were certainly understandable and human, and the picture painted of life within the police force itself was a major cause for concern. Thought provoking and engrossing, this book was certainly a good read, and recommended.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!