I've read many a John Saul book yet I have never run into this particular problem. I was bored beyond the first few chapters, I agree with the other reviewers when they made the point that Mr. Saul tried to hard to make his main character liked. Her daughter is totally forgettable and her son is an utter hellion. It was very predictable, one reason for that were the typical characters. The irate Social worker, and the gastrological challenged Detective.Not only that the actual method the spooky cronies were using to extract whatever juice from the children is never really explained. Vague descriptions gore and of the shadowy shapes that are committing these acts.All in all it was an extremely irritating (dare I say painful) book to actually finish. After closing the book I vowed to write a review so no one would make the same mistake I made in buying this book. I know Mr. Saul can do better than this.