Sheeps Clothing

Sheep's Clothing is a chilling tale by Josi S. Kilpack. For a novel published by Deseret Book in LDS bookstores it is one that someone of any religion, and belief could pick up read and completely be engulfed in the weaving of the mystery and knowledge of what is about to unfold in its pages. I am not sure what I expected when I started the book, but I did not expect to be so completely involved that I finished in a few hours. I started it late yesterday, and finished it this morning before breakfast.
I have a teenage daughter, and a teenage son. I will expect them to read it and I want my husband to read it. Anyone that is concerned with the threats of online predators should read this novel. It is stunning to read this and expect like most mysteries that you know who the predator is, that the family should know, that he should be someone interacting with them often. Instead you are as drawn to the fact that this is a complete stranger, not just to Jess, but her family and to you the reader. They are secure in their own beliefs that this could not happen to them, but the family dynamics are such that it can. It draws on everyone’s belief that normal life is a protection from harm. It does not matter the home life, it can be wonderful, and still a child can be caught in this trap of anonymity online.
Unlike most stories by LDS authors, this novel does not incorporate the church as a main part of the story, but rather these are people that just happen to be LDS. Their faith and belief although part of their everyday life, they also tend to forget as we most do, what power we can turn to. I think that is something that all people of all faiths can relate to. That is not to minimize the power of the gospel in the book because it is there as I would expect, but it is not preachy, not in your face, and any non member should be able to understand what is discussed.
I really enjoyed this book as reading it felt like a good Mary Higgins Clark novel. I love how each chapter starts with either an email or a journal entry. I appreciate her depth of research to make this believable. There is the email lingo that teenagers use, more mature emails in grammar and spelling. She educates and entices in each chapter. As you read you can see where the parents go wrong, how signs are missed and ignored. You see how manipulation increases to the point of complete estrangement between mother and daughter. I can not express what I felt as a completed the book, other than everyone with children should read it.
We need not fear the internet but a good healthy dose of respect and caution are always in order.
I give this a strong 4 stars.
I have to say thank you to Josi Kilpack for asking me to read and review this book. I am honored and touched that she would ask this of me, someone she has never met, only read my blogs.