In recent years the horror genre has seen a rise in the number of books which delve into the extreme end of the spectrum, where sex scenes and over the top gore and action seem to reign supreme. However if you want to try a more toned down horror novel which makes you think then you should really look into trying a book by Kelli Owen - and White Picket Prisons is a great place to start.

The plot of the book is easy to follow, a police detective who is demoralised by the job gets a distressing letter out of the blue from his little sister who he has not seen in ten years. After tracking her down he finds her in a small village up north where if you break a rule they use unconventional punishment - an eye for an eye.

I won't go any more into the plot but as the book goes on it really makes you think about how people are punished in the world; and the well written characters help bring this more to life. Whilst it may not be filled with hundred of murders it is a real page turner and will keep you going until the end to see how the main character reacts to the situation. I enjoyed how it changed my opinion on the towns punishments changed as the story went on and thinking back on the book a few days later made me realise what impact it had. ( )

Before I get to the review, let me comment on the cover art. It just jumped out and grabbed me at first look. Noted artist Alan M. Clark did a wonderful job and after reading the book, I have to say he really captured Kelli's work brilliantly.

Mark Baker is a police detective, he's good at his job, sometimes - too often - defense attorneys are just better at theirs. It can be so frustrating to see good police-work go for naught, just because of some legal technicality. And it's been one of those days.

Once married, now divorced, Mark is currently in a loving relationship with Gina who is carrying his child and at least that part of his life is right.

What turns everything upside down is a letter from his estranged sister, Sarah. They haven't been in touch for 10 years and Mark reads the letter as a cry for help, even though there is no return address.

Mark's PI friend, Reilly, helps to locate Sarah in the very small village of Valley Mill, Wisconsin. This is where things get interesting.

White Picket Prisons is, at times, a very disturbing story. The scene that starts off with "...wet, sucking sound, like a suction cup being pulled from a steamed window..." was one of the most cringe-worthy scenes I've read all year.

I love the little things in a Kelli Owen piece. Simple prose that adds so much to a scene, like, "A loose piece of cellophane from a cigarette pack floated across his path, dancing on the light breeze snaking it's way down the street like it was funneled between the buildings directly at him."

Kelli has the ability to describe those moments many of us have had, so succinctly. "He tried to slam the door as he went through it, but the hydraulic arm prevented his anger from venting through noise and quietly pushed the door to a close." Damn, I hate it when that happens.

Expect the unexpected from the beginning right through to the final page. This one comes highly recommended.

White Picket Prisons is available as a limited edition hardcover from Thunderstorm Books or for your Kindle from Amazon.com. ( )

In recent years the horror genre has seen a rise in the number of books which delve into the extreme end of the spectrum, where sex scenes and over the top gore and action seem to reign supreme. However if you want to try a more toned down horror novel which makes you think then you should really look into trying a book by Kelli Owen - and White Picket Prisons is a great place to start.

The plot of the book is easy to follow, a police detective who is demoralised by the job gets a distressing letter out of the blue from his little sister who he has not seen in ten years. After tracking her down he finds her in a small village up north where if you break a rule they use unconventional punishment - an eye for an eye.

I won't go any more into the plot but as the book goes on it really makes you think about how people are punished in the world; and the well written characters help bring this more to life. Whilst it may not be filled with hundred of murders it is a real page turner and will keep you going until the end to see how the main character reacts to the situation. I enjoyed how it changed my opinion on the towns punishments changed as the story went on and thinking back on the book a few days later made me realise what impact it had. ( )