Whew! I wanted to like Bad Man (especially after PenPal); instead, like a trail of crumbs stringing me along from one hopeful lead to another only to grab a fistful of air, I felt gut punched by this heartbreaking culmination of events. It's not horror in the traditional sense, if you don't count the way Ben begins to doubt himself and how an unknown person taunts him with weird drawings and strange acts. When I thought the plot would turn left, it streaked right, which kept me guessing alright, but after a while, it was just too much emotionally. I came away with unanswered questions and loose ends and more than a little frustration after having spent days following this overlong tale that simply blew up in my face. Where was the satisfaction for Ben? For his parents? For his friend Marty? Arrgh. After that kind of upheaval, I wanted some kind of happy, but all I got was agonizing injustice for the characters I grew to care for.

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I so wanted to give this book 5 stars. Once I started it, I knew it was going to be a hit for me. For most part it was. My biggest attraction to the book was the main character. He reminded me very much of someone dear to me and by the first chapter I had tears coming out of my eyes. Wasn't long into the book and I was tearing up again! This kid really pulled at my heartstrings.
The story surrounds Ben, a big brother who lost his little brother in the grocery store. Fast forward to 5 years later and his little brother still hasn't been found. Ben has spent that whole time looking for him and has never given up. Then he ends up working at this same grocery store that holds bad memories for him. Once he is there, he is determined to find more information. Someone starts messing with him and sending strange messages and signs. Everyone became a suspect for me, even Ben.
This book had me guessing all the way to the end. It had me shouting for redemption. Unfortunately, I was very sad and upset with how it ended. I don't want to give it away but it was too much of an emotional wreck for me. I also felt there were some things that needed to be covered more.... the accident, the school/orphanage. All in all I was very happy with the story. It kept me entranced the whole time.

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