“What would you do if your son was accused of murder?” I’m not sure how often y’all hear that question asked, but it’s the central theme in the book “Saving Max.” Written by Antoinette van Heugten, it’s a thrilling tale of suspense and conspiracy, with just a touch of horror thrown in for good measure. So, without further ado, let’s get into this book.
Meet Danielle Parkman, a skilled and dedicated attorney. But despite her success as a lawyer, Danielle’s life is not without hardship. Her son, Max, has become increasingly erratic and violent. Struggling with what to do, she manages to get a diagnosis from one of the top psychiatric facilities in the country, Maitland Psychiatric Asylum. For a little while, it looks like things are going to be all right, until the doctors tell her that Max will devolve into greater fits of violence and will, eventually, lose complete control of himself. Danielle doesn’t want to believe it, but then she finds her son unconscious next to another patient who had been stabbed to death. Now Danielle has to struggle to help her son, but is she losing touch with reality as well?
Antoinette has created a dark and gripping tale of a mother’s struggle with a horrific tragedy. In my opinion, the writing is very well done and the pacing is excellent. This isn’t a genre I normally read, but this really stuck with me. You get a real sense of tension from this book, and I honestly cared about what the characters were going through. There are some things I would have liked to have seen liked to have seen, like more interaction with Max. He’s the crux of the issue, but he gets so little screen time that he almost seems like he’s more of a plot device than a person. I also would have liked to have seen a little more action from the side characters, but that’s just me. I can understand the reasoning, though. In the end, this is Danielle’s story. She’s the star of the show.
This is the book to get if you love mystery, thriller and horror fiction. Don’t go into it with any preconceptions, because I can assure you it will throw you for a loop. So in the end, I have to say “Saving Max” is an excellent read. As Antoinette’s break through novel, I have to say I’m impressed with both the skill put in to it and the success its garnered. Over 200,000 copies have sold in the few months the book has been out, which is amazing for a first time novelist. Give it a try, I’m sure it’ll entertain.
