Description
Paralyzed
Alana Teryy
Synopsis:
Kennedy Stern has returned to campus after surviving an abduction, but old scars cut deep. Vivid flashbacks and terrifying dreams paralyze her, threatening to ruin her academic career and any chance she has at peace or happiness. This mental anguish, however, constitutes only a small fraction of her post-traumatic nightmare.
A partner in Kennedy’s kidnapping remains at large and will not stop until he has silenced her witness permanently. His violent resolve risks not only her life, but the safety of anyone who tries to help.
Kennedy must engage in a deadly battle of the mind as she struggles to stay alive. While fighting on two fronts — one psychological and one physical — the question isn’t whether she’ll come out of the war stronger in the end.
The question is whether she’ll come out of it at all.
The newest release from inspirational suspense author, Alana Terry, who Christian Fiction has won awards from Women of Faith, Grace Awards, Readers' Favorite, and several others.
Review
Six weeks after her kidnapping in book one, Kennedy is suffering from PTSD, although she will not admit it. Instead, she is paranoid about everyone around her, and with one of her kidnappers still on the loose, she has a right to be scared, since he will stop at nothing to silence her testimony.
Paralyzed by Alana Terry was an interesting suspense novel. It was not as stressful as Alana Terry’s books that were set in North Korea and China, but it was still filled with suspense and danger. I think one element could have been done a little better, but it was enjoyable and raised some deep questions for me.
The trauma over her kidnapping and stabbing in the previous book made Kennedy so paranoid she began imagining danger everywhere. It almost seemed as though Kennedy imagined the danger more often than there actually was danger. However, the enemy was still trying to kill her, so there was legitimate danger.
One thing I could not understand about this novel was why the enemies were still trying to murder Kennedy. Her testimony could put them in prison, except that one of the enemies was an accomplice that she never saw until he tried to hurt her in this book. It would be safer for him to flee the country rather than destroy a witness who was guarded by the police. Is he after her for revenge? But revenge for what? She was more of a bystander that got in the way. Also, why were they not trying to hurt the little girl from the first book, since the crime centered on her from the beginning? I think the author could have developed this better.
Not to give anything away, but one character acted sacrificially for another. The character the person sacrificed to help reacted with guilt—“If it was not for me, he would not have been injured.” He acted to help her out of love, but she felt bad rather than grateful because she did not want him to be injured. I think this is a realistic response, which is why I am wondering about a Christian’s response to Jesus’ sacrifice. Do they feel guilty, even though they should not? Or does it not seem real enough, since Jesus’ death happened so many years before anyone living was born? It raises many questions for me.
Paralyzed was a suspenseful novel with realistic settings. I enjoyed it and recommend it to those who enjoy the Christian suspense genre.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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