In typical Dekker fashion… we enter a book about a serial killer who murders his victims by breaking their bones, but not their skin. A killer who stems from his own feelings of abandonment. After not being heard from for over two years, suddenly he re-emerges and abducts 16-year-old Bethany Evans. Bethany’s father, Ryan has recently returned from Iraq, after having been captured and tortured. As Ryan tried to find Bethany he is still dealing with his own emotional scars he caries with his from the war and this not only hinders his efforts in finding his daughter, but causes the authorities to wonder if Ryan is not The Boneman.
I do enjoy Dekker’s books finding the suspense filled stories to cause my heart to beat a little faster as I try to get behind the author’s pen and guess where he is going this time around. The Boneman’s Daughter was different than some of Dekker’s books that I had read, but similar in ways to his recent book,The Bride Collector.
The theme of this book is centered around abandonment, Bethany’s history with her parents have caused her to build her own protective wall around herself… and in turn reflects on how many people reflect on their faith, at times feeling as though God has abandoned them. Dekker again sends a clear message of God’s love in his own unique style.
Boneman’s Daughter was a good read, yet not my favorite of Dekker’s as I found parts to be increasingly “horror filled” and not as tame as some of his other books. While not gory – I felt Dekker pulled away from the message he started out to portray but going too far into the fear factor.
Book Journeys map has been updated to include Boneman’s Daughter
416 pages
Cover Story: It is a great cover and pulls me in.
I received this book as part of our Spring 2010 Library Sale
It will now be passed on to:Jackie from My Ever Expanding Library
Book Journey 
Ok i have NEVER read a Dekker book and my husband JUST completed listening to the first one He has ever read by Ted Dekker….I think it’s titled “Black” He came in telling me how excellent it was! 🙂 I am going to check this one out for sure!
Took your survey as well! Have a blessed day
Loren, Ted Dekker writes amazing stories – sometimes dark- always with a message.
Black is actually the first book in the circle series by Dekker. They are Black, Red, White – and last year he came out with Green which I am told can be the first book,or the last in the series (thus the circle). These books I have not read, although I own them all. (Series tend to freak me out once I get behind on them…. I think I am afraid of the commitment…LOL)
I have read a lot of Dekker and for the most part have enjoyed his book with only a few exceptions. The first I ever read by him was Blessed Child and I think it is still my favorite Dekker read.
I’ve never read any of his books. I’ll have to check him out, maybe Blessed Child. I am drawn to the cover of Boneman’s Daughter also. The barn reminds me of a barn from my childhood.
Blessed Child is pretty tame compared to his later (more recent) books Jill.
It must be hard to keep a balance between creating Christian fiction and a crowd pleasing thriller, 🙂
Luaghingstar66, I bet it is – he has a following of thrill seekers and in some of the books i found his Christian message to be almost non existent, more like a clean scare.
Wasn’t this the one with the Noxema? yuck!!! I mean, yes, page turner, but yuck, gross serial killer! :–)
Jill I had to laugh here – I could just picture you saying “Bad Serial Killer! BAD!”
LOL
I’ve never read Dekker, either, and there are so many books on my lists (as well as my stacks), that I don’t know when or if I’ll get to them!
They sound intriguing, however….nice review.
Thanks Laurel – I would suggest giving him a try if you can squeeze him into the TBR. One I really want to read of his is Tea with Hezbollah.
I think you would like Burn.
I still haven’t read any Dekker books. I sounds like he is going further into territory I really don’t care for. I do love a good suspense though. When I catch up on some of my other books, I will probably try him.
Good review.
Pat – its hard to say where I am with him. While I do enjoy his writing, sometimes it is a bit much for me. His earlier works were not so dark.
I probably will continue to read him just because the man has talent and when he does hit the book home….. whoa!
I listened to this one on audiobook and although I really liked it, I found it to be major creepy! I think my knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel!
Jo-Jo yeah he can be creepy!
This one’s on my TBR shelf, waiting patiently.
Hannah I will watch for your review! A friend of mine really enjoyed this book and she found a much better message in it than I did. I wonder if I was in the right frame of mind to read it.
Oh, I hate when that happens!
I’ve never tried this author before. I’m not too sure I would like this one.
Ladytink, I think he has better books out there, but thats me. 🙂
Oh, my gosh! I SERIOUSLY SERIOUSLY have to start making it to my library sales! Sounds like a great book!
I just read Ted Dekker’s new book Immanuel’s Veins, and I think you might like to hear what I thought about it! The story was very cool I must say and the new take on vampires was awesome! Check out http://fablefreak.wordpress.com for my review!
Thanks Preston – I have Immanuel’s Veins coming for review!