Monday, April 20, 2009

Review: Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker


Ryan Evans is an intelligence officer serving in Iraq when his convoy comes under attack. The torture Ryan endures changes his life forever. Determined to make right all that has gone wrong in his life, he heads stateside.

Meanwhile, one of the most horrific serial killers ever is set free. He's called BoneMan because he breaks the bones of his victims without breaking their skin. But did the police have the right man in custody? Who is the BoneMan? And can they stop him before he kills again?

This book marks Ted Dekker's first book for the general market. He's been enormously successful in the Christian market, and his books are usually quite fast paced page turners. I usually enjoy them quite a lot. I sort of enjoyed BoneMan's Daughters as well, but it's a pretty gruesome read. I can't say that it's my favorite of his books. I do enjoy suspense books centered around serial killers, but I got really queasy reading this one! It's a very dark read, but it does end with hope.

It also raises some interesting questions and is not without hope. Christian readers should be aware that their is a wee tiny bit of language they might find offensive. (I did not).

Rating: 4/5
Things You Might Want to Know: A bit gruesome!
Amy

27 comments:

Meghan said...

That does sound gruesome! I've been seeing this book around a lot lately and I was wondering if I should try it, but maybe not. Just your description makes me feel kind of creeped out! Thanks for the review. =)

Literate Housewife said...

I didn't know this was his first general market book. Very interesting. I enjoyed it a lot, with the exception of one twist that Ryan discovered (and apparently the Boneman hadn't known) toward the end. It was gruesome in parts, but I thought the author did a good job of not elaborating on what would have been the worst scenarios. Creepy guy that Boneman!

Great review!

bermudaonion said...

I just finished this last night and thought it was pretty good. I thought it was considered Christian fiction and couldn't figure out why. Now I see that it's not Christian fiction. Great review.

raych said...

I love that you, of all people, enjoy serial killer suspenses.

Jenny Girl said...

From the Christian market to serial killers? That's a nice 180.
Good review Amy.

Suzanne Yester said...

Hi Amy! I love your blog! I've nominated you for a Premio Dardos award!
Here's the link:
http://chickwithbooks.blogspot.com/2009/04/awards-awards.html

Rebachin said...

Ya know, I just finished Skin - which didn't really have a overtly Christian message (compared with The Circle Trilogy which I read last year), so I find it interesting that The Boneman's Daughter is Dekker's first novel marketed for the general market.
Skin was also rather greusome at times. It's hard to read that stuff when you have such a penchant for visualization as I do!

TexasRed said...

Have this on my bedstand.

Also, I left you an award over on my page: http://www.texasredbooks.com/2009/04/new-awards-and-moving-news.html

Nely said...

I've been reading great things about this book. I'm going to have to read it. Thanks for the review.

Nely

Amee said...

Just reading the synopsis scares me! lol

Miriam Parker said...

Ted is chatting on Blog Talk Radio at 2PM ET today. I hope you can participate!!

More info: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/HachetteBookGroup/centerstreet/2009/04/20/Live-Interview-w-Ted-Dekker-author-of-BoneMans-Daughters

Darlene said...

I really enjoyed this book. I do like gruesome thrillers sometimes though. There were a few things I could have done without knowing because they were cringe worthy but the book still kept me on the edge of my seat.

Dawn - She is Too Fond of Books said...

I was going to tell you about the interview/conversation on BTR today, but I see Miriam beat me to it! :)

Melissa O. said...

Great review! I am looking forward to getting around to reading this one :-)

Molly said...

I am just now listening to his interview on blogtalk radio and it is absolutely fascinating!! I definitely need to read more Ted Dekker in my future!

Edgy Inspirational Author said...

Yepper, it's a tad gruesome. I agree and pretty much said so in my review. But it was hard to put down. I was compulsively reading that thing and it had no romance in it at all which is my favorite thing to read. LOL!

Anonymous said...

i just finished a 'bone' book...and am seeing books with 'bones' in their titles everywhere! this one sounds a bit gruesome for me (as was the one i read--bone by bone). i liked the review though!

Simone said...

I love a good thriller. Amy, you make the book sound like a great read.

One more to the Amazon list. Thanks Amy.

Linda said...

I've not found a book by Ted Dekker so far that I haven't liked, except for one. Why cross over to the secular world when he is doing so well in the Christian genre?

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

I loved this one. But yes it was gruesome.

Kailana said...

I have seen a couple people reading this book. Not my normal read, but it does sound interesting. I might have to find a copy at some point and time!

Toni said...

I keep hearing about this one... I go back and forth in my decision to read. If Dar says there are cringe worthy spots.. then they are probably pass out worthy spots for me. Ha. Nice Review.

Sam R. F. said...

While it's true that this is his first secularly published book, not by his usual Tyndale publishers, it is very much Christian themed. Hence the reference to Genesis at the end. It's a picture of what a father, The Father, would do to save his child, us, from delusions put in place by Boneman, who just so happens to call himself Satan. If you can't find Christianity in that, you're not looking very hard.

Also, I'd like to point out to Jenny Girl that almost all of Ted's novels, with the exception of the Circle Trilogy and few others, have some form of serial killer in them or another. Thr3e, House, Skin, Adam, etc. The only difference in Boneman's and his other works is the publisher. The message is still the same.

Anonymous said...

actually if you listen to the interview from Blog Talk Radio (the link is in the comment from miriam) Dekker clearly states that he does NOT aim to write for a Christian audience, his books just happen to be marketed that way. i don't think amy was saying that he had sold out or anything.

oh and btw his publisher was Thomas Nelson, not Tyndale

Anonymous said...

Sorry Ted...can't put this in our church library...do not see any redemptive value...

Anonymous said...

why don't you see any redemptive value? what about the fact that father realizes he's made a mistake in the relationship with his daughter and now wants to rekindle that? or that the daughter has learned that she loves her father? or love and sacrifice? or just the fact that good won out over evil?

i'm just curious....

TexasRed said...

Just posted about this on my page and included a link to yours: http://www.texasredbooks.com/2009/05/bonemans-daughter-by-ted-dekker.html

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