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Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
The Dark Road by Kathleen Rhodes follows the journey of Shelly and John after a motor vehicle accident forces them to confront their pasts. As a child, Shelly experienced a dreadful event caused by her father, and she only remembered bits and pieces of her early years. Insomnia and anxiety plagued Shelly’s life, with her anxiety intensifying after she became a mother. John endured a difficult childhood with an unkind mother and suffered from abuse. John’s past trauma affected his relationships, leaving him with a lingering anger that was always threatening to surface. Both Shelly and John had endured traumatic experiences in their youth, and, as adults, they remained trapped in those painful memories. Following their devastating accident, Shelly and John were forced to face the trauma from their childhoods to move forward.
The Dark Road by Kathleen Rhodes is an exceptionally moving book. From start to finish, I was engaged in this fast-paced story. I became deeply immersed in Shelly's and John's experiences due to the vivid portrayals of their inner thoughts. The characters felt genuine, though they seemed fragile because of the unresolved childhood trauma, ultimately emerging stronger. Initially presented as two separate plots, the story comes together when Shelly and John encounter each other on a dark road and have to choose whether they have the strength to carry on. The plot was intricately crafted and skillfully delivered. I realized that while events may impact you, they do not determine your identity. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and struggled to set it aside. The conclusion exceeded my expectations.
