Fiction Review

To Protect the Innocent
by Mark Locke Mills
ISBN-10: 1592864139
Review by Heather Froeschl

What does a parent do when their child disappears? Panic sets in. Doubt, worry, fear, frustration, and despair all wreak havoc. Anger might take over, and depression can set in. How does a parent feel when it is discovered that their missing child was sexually abused and murdered? What would you do?
Dan was a cop who left his job to spend more time with his son. He took an investigations desk job in order to work the 9 - 5 shift. He may have made this change in his life just a little too late. When her son Mike disappears, Jan frantically calls Dan for help. His instincts as an ex-cop tell him it is already too late. Jan dives into a deep depression and the strain of the whole tragedy puts their marriage in danger. But really, this danger is just an inkling of what is to come.

Running parallel to this plot is the career of Ross Huggins, an FBI researcher who wants desperately to be doing real fieldwork. He doesn't realize that fieldwork in the crime world of pedophiles is horrendous. Then there is the ongoing story of TV reporter Susan Jensen, who is trying to make her mark in the world be exposing the vile sadness of child rape and profiling pedophiles.

As in life, the plots all merge in the end, and in this case it is all to protect the children, or is it really about revenge? The author has woven the lives of his characters well and the result is a twisted, unique tale that demonstrates an understanding of various human shortfallings and defects, as well as the nicer side of things like marriage, parenting and love. This is a fast paced book that will find you engrossed and tempted to stay up late into the night reading.

"To Protect the Innocent" is a reminder to parents to be mindful of whom their children have contact with. It is also a reminder to us all that while we think our actions and plans are geared to one purpose, we may be fooling ourselves in justifying our feelings. This is a powerful book and one you will not soon forget.