Book Review: Leaving Yesterday by Kathryn Cushman

"My son owed this man money. The man who carried a baseball bat with tally marks. I shuddered when I thought of all the things my son was experiencing that were far too horrible for me to even comprehend. How had that happened?" Leaving Yesterday, pg 16.

When Detective Thompson first showed up at her doorstep, Alisa Stewart feared the worst. The detective, instead of delivering the news of her son, Kurt's death, tells Alisa that he is looking for answers to a murder case. A drug dealer, who Kurt owed money to, was found dead, beaten with his own baseball bat. The bat is missing, and Kurt is wanted for questioning. Alisa knows her son, and is confident that he had nothing to do with the murder. When Kurt calls a while later, he has checked himself into a rehab center. Alisa hopes again, but the detective isn't done asking questions and Alisa is forced to decide how far she will go to protect her child.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first that I had read by Kathryn Cushman, and it won't be the last. Alisa has to face the darkness of reality and still live a life that honors Christ. Her testimony has the opportunity to bring her house back together or drive it further apart. Cushman is not afraid to put her characters in hard situations, and then make the situation even worse. Her characters are believable, and though I didn't agree with all of their actions, the characters responded in a believable way. This is a story about family, faith, second chances and a truth that can set you free.

I recommend this book.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing.)