E. Leo Foster’s The Exiles is an intriguing story about Johnny, an ex-convict who finds it hard to have a normal life after his release from prison. Unable to find a job and desperate for money, Johnny seeks out Chad, a steroid junkie athlete, to ask for some help. And this is when the story really starts to unfold. Convicted for the crime of rape that he did not commit, Johnny shares a dark secret with Chad. Adam Hayden saves him from Chad’s wrath and later introduces him to a life of theft, game fixing, and eventually murder. He then meets Anny in a whore house that masquerades as a massage parlor, and finds out that she is Adam’s sister. Anny lives in an invisible prison that makes her an exile as much or even worse than in Johnny’s case. The two fall in love and, as Johnny tries to make sense of his circumstances, he meets the rest of the Hayden family and discovers a family secret that is worse than the prison he came from.

The Exiles by E. Leo Foster deals with the sad fact that it is very difficult for a former prison convict to get a second chance in a society that is both unforgiving and judgmental. And in this story, Johnny goes to prison for a crime he does not commit too. He could have proven his innocence if Chad and the two girls they were together with that night told the truth. Released from prison and unable to fend for himself, Johnny realizes that his past will always haunt him. As both he and Anny try to escape their prisons, we witness the makings of a rotten society that could be our own. Fast paced and easy to read, The Exiles can send shivers down the reader’s spine without really trying. Highly recommended!

The Exiles by E. Leo Foster is a deeply compelling tale of life and revenge. Johnny has just been released from prison, sent there for something that wasn’t entirely his fault. He thinks he has another chance at life, but he soon discovers that not only is there no such thing as a second chance, his past won’t release the chains that bind him. Instead of trying to break free from the past, he decides that the only way out is to destroy the past. He hooks up with Adam and Anny, only to find that he isn’t the only person still locked in a prison. Although their prison is made of family, their prison sentence is no easier to bear.

The Exiles by E. Leo Foster is something very different from every other book I have read. I found it a compelling read, a deep story with plenty going on. At first glance, the story appears to be just the story of a man trying to make something of his life after prison, but the deeper you get in, the more there is to the story. This seemed to me to be a tale of real life; we all have demons to face and it’s up to us whether we let them bury us or whether we face them head on and take matters into our own hands. There is more than one story here as well; each of the main characters has their own tale to tell and they all come together to form one very well written story. Each character is written in a way that allows the reader to connect with them and to understand their role. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it was written with a great deal of depth and feeling. I hope that there will be more like this from E. Leo Foster in the future.

In The Exiles by E. Leo Foster, Johnny had tried his best to set his life on a good path after leaving prison but with no success. Everywhere he went, his ugly past followed him. Everyone he met held that past against him, never believing his version of events, and never giving him a second chance. Then he unknowingly crossed paths with the Haydens and things got even worse. Not only were they willing to hold his past against him, they would use it for their own selfish needs. The Haydens were no ordinary family. With a sheriff for a father and a private investigator for a mother, they could find any information they needed, or even just manufacture evidence against someone if the situation called for it. Their latest target was Johnny and his past made him the perfect mark. But the situation got sticky when Mrs. Hayden discovered Johnny's disturbing connection to both her children. However, behind their perfectly painted family image, the Haydens were as messed up as they come with secrets so dark and sickening. When the heated up situation forces the family to confront its past, blood will turn against blood as one of them chooses love over family.

The Exiles by E. Leo Foster is a captivating narrative about second chances and the prejudice that stands in the way of those chances. Johnny's story will have you thinking twice before you deny someone a second chance because of their past. Everybody deserves a second chance, but hardly ever do we give it to them. By denying these people a real second chance, we deny them that much needed hope for a fresh start and leave them no choice but to turn to the dark side of society where no one will ask questions or hold their past against them. And at times the people we think are the worst of society are mere victims and the people society holds in high esteem are the very worst of the lot. E. Leo Foster brought out these sentiments perfectly through Johnny's story.

It's now my favorite book!!!

Finally, E. Leo Foster gets it. A novel for the 21st Century- freaking great read.