Hidden Intentions by Alan Brenham

Hey, Readers, let's get to know crime fiction and thriller author, Alan Brenham: 

"Alan Brenham is the pen name of Alan Behr. He worked as a Texas law enforcement officer for over twenty years and as a criminal prosecutor and later criminal defense attorney for over twenty-five years. Today he lives in Texas with his wife, Lillian, where he's working on his seventh novel.

His first crime novel, Price of Justice, won several awards including best in police/crime fiction. It also became a top 100 international bestseller. A second novel, Cornered, was released by Black Opal Books on July 13, 2014. Rampage, a sequel to Price of Justice, was released on July 4, 2015. His fourth book, Game Piece, was released in October 2018. A fifth novel, Hidden Intentions, was released on December 3, 2020. A sixth novel, titled No More Lies, is ready for the publisher while a seventh book, set in Paris, is being written." ~Amazon

His book, Hidden Intentions, came out December 2020. 

"A teenage girl sneaks into an old abandoned house on a dare, but her mission quickly goes sideways. Bound and whisked away, a terrified Cailey relies on her own resourcefulness and extraordinary bravery to find ways to survive. She escapes, but her kidnappers are close on her heels. That’s when she has to decide what she must to in order to stay alive.

Her parents experience their own torments. To satisfy the kidnapper’s demands, her father is forced to make an impossible choice. His daughter's life or that of another. He has seven days to do it. Realizing time is running out, Cailey’s mother decides that the only to save her daughter is to risk it all." ~Reedsy Discovery 

"An arresting, intelligently crafted drama... darkly atmospheric and deeply unsettling." —Kirkus

Find out more about Author Alan Brenham on these sites:

Amazon

Goodreads

Website

Numeric Breakdown:

1: didn't like it/skip it
2: it was okay/it wasn't for me
3. liked it/worth a read
4. really liked it/loved it
5. it was amazing/must read!

If you enjoy steady action, an intense plot, complex dynamics, and a happy ending, then give Hidden Intentions a try. 

After some digging, I found Hidden Intentions is the second novel in a series about the Marshall family. Game Piece is the first book. You don't have to read book one to pick up on the plot emphasized within these pages. Although there are plot points from the first novel that make me curious about what happened. It seems as if the Marshalls have had their fair share of trouble, and it continues in this second installment. We begin with thirteen-year-old Cailey Marshall being kidnapped, while out on a dare, and follow-up with her parents being informed of her abduction. The price needed for their daughter's release? Her father has to kill his brother.

Author Alan Brenham does a good job of setting up his scenes and diving into conflict during the very first chapter. He keeps the flow of the story moving between the main protagonist Cailey and her parents as well as one of the kidnappers. This benefits the reader by getting the inside look at what's happening on both sides of the situation. The pacing is quick and keeps moving throughout each chapter. The overall mystery at work keeps the reader guessing and engages you to get it read.

Barry Marshall, Cailey's dad, is an ex-police officer. He's familiar with procedure and what will happen if he doesn't comply with the kidnappers demands. His portrayal feels authentic, and his knowledge adds a nice touch to the situation. With his background in law enforcement, he sets out to look for Cailey's bike or other clues to her whereabouts. Coming up with a plan is his way of coping and dealing with the kidnappers.

Erin Marshall, Cailey's mom, shares her pov and leads us through her process to track down the person responsible for her daughter's kidnapping. Her tenacity leads to valuable clues, and you'll be shocked by what she discovers. Willing to take matters into her own hands, Erin's caught in a tough spot trying to decide if murder will really be the answer to their problems.

Cailey's attempts to escape are admirable. She's looking for ways to get out, and it's good that she's using skills her dad taught her. I wasn't fond of her treatment at the hands of the kidnappers - which I suppose makes it more realistic in a sense, but the male kidnapper, Clint, was a loose cannon that I didn't understand. His behavior threw some uncertainty and illogical reasoning over the circumstances.

The intricate reasons why Cailey was kidnapped create suspense and tension. You're reading every chapter hoping to learn more. You will get caught up in the storyline, desire for Cailey to escape or be rescued, and have hope for retribution. The author does an admirable job of pulling all the strings together and tying it into an acceptable bow. 

There are a few reasons this book sets itself apart from other books in crime and kidnapping categories. I can appreciate the originality, entangled rationale, and most of all, the ending. Because of the harsh violence and inconsistent attitude toward Cailey by Clint - one of the kidnappers, some of the language, the ambiguity of the parent's relationship at the end, and some improbable situations, I was led to struggle with what to rate this. However, I believe "it's worth a read" (3/5) for anyone who likes action-based mysteries, crime thrillers, and coming of age books.

I do encourage you to please give it a try and see what you think.


Thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for allowing me to read and give an honest review.

Thank you for joining me, and as always, Happy Reading!! :)

~Rebecca Reddell, Author