Terri Blackstock's Intervention ~ Reviewed

Intervention: A Novel
Terri Blackstock
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (September 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031025065X








Barbara Covington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when eighteen-year-old Emily disappears on the way to drug treatment—and her interventionist is found dead at the airport—Barbara enters her darkest nightmare of all.

Barbara and her son set out to find Emily before Detective Kent Harlan arrests her for a crime he is sure she committed. Fearing for Emily’s life, Barbara maintains her daughter’s innocence. But does she really know her anymore? Meanwhile, Kent has questions of his own. His gut tells him that this is a case of an addict killing for drugs, but as he gets to know Barbara, he begins to hope he’s wrong about Emily.

The panic level rises as the mysteries intensify: Did Emily’s obsession with drugs lead her to commit murder—or is she another victim of a cold-blooded killer?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Intervention, go here.

Review:


Intervention is a raw, painful look inside teen drug addiction and the resulting trauma unleashed on all those involved with the addict.

I recommend this book to anyone who might be suffering through a similar situation if that reader is looking for a flicker of hope, or a sense of connectedness, even if it's connectedness to fictional characters. The characters are at their breaking points and the drama feels real and isn't at all pretty though the story ends with hope. Those struggling with faith issues might benefit, too, as a few characters wrestle out their feelings toward God and what He has allowed to happen in their lives.

I didn't connect with the characters. Reading about a highly intense situation containing two very broken women lashing and battling and hurting was a struggle.

As far as casual, escapist reading -- there is the mystery involved in solving the murder, and suspense as the pieces of the puzzle fall together. I did have a few questions regarding the details involved with police procedures and Barbara's hands-on help in several scenes.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

AND A BONUS REVIEW:

“She had once dreamed of college and careers for her children, godly spouses and bouncing grandchildren. Though she still held that dream or Lance, she had only two goals for Emily – to keep her daughter from prison or death.” (p. 23)

Terri Blackstock’s latest novel, Intervention, is about a mother’s worst nightmare – rescuing a child from drug addiction. Barbara Covington prepares her heart and mind to do an intervention for her daughter Emily, and once she introduces her to the rehab facility’s representative all hell breaks loose – literally. Emily doesn’t want to admit there is a problem. Yet she finally agrees to go into rehab, convinced she can survive the ninety days away from family.

But Emily never makes it to the rehab facility. Neither does the rehab facility’s representative – Trish. Things go terribly wrong once the plane lands in Atlanta, and Emily is swept up into the darkest storm of her drug-addicted life. Barbara’s mother-heart is shredded in two when she learns what has happened to her daughter, and she is once again placed in the position of risking everything to save her daughter – even when it seems her efforts up to this point have been in vain. Will she be able to save Emily? Or will illegal drugs claim another victim?

As soon as I saw the cover of this book and its title I knew this was going to be an emotionally difficult read. By the grace of God, substance abuse has never touched my personal life, but after more than two years of volunteer work in a drug rehab facility I know only too well about the hellish destruction that addiction can wreck upon its victims. I immediately began to wonder how this amazing author could write of a mother’s anguish over their child’s addictions – then I read her testimony at the back of the book. Terri Blackstock has been that mother going to battle for the life of her child. Talk about a powerful story! Talk about a story written realistically from a heart that knows God’s power to perform the ultimate intervention!

Folks, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s real. It’s solid. It’s a beautiful picture of God’s unfailing love for His children and the power to redeem even the darkest of choices. Intervention – go buy your copy today and share it with a friend! Terri Blackstock has written her best novel yet!

Reviewed by: Kim Ford