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Reviewer: Peggy
Phifer
©2004 editor Wordsmith Shoppe.com
What would make an otherwise devoted Christian wife and
mother suddenly go berserk and ram her car into an innocent
citizen waiting for a bus, crushing him against a brick wall?
In this day of increasing stress, responsibilities and
pressure -- both from outside and what we do to ourselves --
we all know of or have heard of the appalling incidents of
"road rage" occurring almost every day all across the country.
Why?
Debra Wiebe, in a fit of anger, charges out of her house,
gets behind the wheel of her car and tears out onto the
streets -- a lethal weapon on the loose. As her anger surges,
something snaps, and a young man -- a total stranger -- loses
his life. Witnesses at the scene, who saw it happen, insist it
was deliberate. Of course, Debra is arrested, charged with
first-degree murder, and jailed -- without bail. Debra doesn't
remember anything. She can't believe she could have killed
anyone -- let alone in the cold-blooded way they tell her it
happened.
Debra's husband, Jerry, hires defense attorney Marcia
Dixon. As Marcia begins her investigation into what happened,
and spending time with Debra, she sees the explosive nature of
Debra's anger--unpredictable and violent. What could possibly
cause that kind of rage? It is Marcia's job to find out. In
order to defend her client, Marcia knows she has to do some
serious digging.
We journey with Debra, Jerry and Marcia through the
judicial system. Debra, after her initial hearing, is ordered
to spend thirty days of evaluation at a psychiatric facility.
Marcia's hope is to be able to plead temporary insanity. But
Debra proves a difficult client, her anger erupting, wildly
uncontrolled and dangerous, despite her terror at the prospect
of spending the rest of her life behind bars -- or worse.
I was captivated by this story. MIND TRAP is a gripping
picture of what anger can do. So many of us have hidden pasts,
buried trauma, unbearable hurt, dormant until something
triggers an emotional upheaval that is beyond our control.
Still, underlying and under-girding the Wiebe family is their
faith in God, and the knowledge that, however difficult things
become at times, He is with us, holding us up, loving us.
Debra just has to be whacked upside the head to make her see
it, too.
Debra's story grabbed me and I kept reading, and -- though
I'm no authority -- I feel the author has done a lot of
research into the subject.
Ms. Derksen has written a powerful story -- one I think has
a great potential, with a traditional publisher. I would love
to see this happen. |
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Reviewer: Martha G
Pearson
writer, teacher, and former president of
NW Indiana Writer's Association
Crisis situations are a part of real life. These situations
can and do occur, without warning, and without regard to race,
gender, or religion. Here's a family whose outer image could
make many folks envious. However, this story begins with an
impact, which demolishes the fantasy of their harmonious home
life.
There is a noteworthy element to this book, which becomes
evident in the telling of the story. It is the gifted
accomplishment of the MIND TRAP, which walks the reader
through the main character's hellish crisis, all the while
holding onto a faith in a loving God who promised all of
mankind, "...never will I leave you, nor forsake you." Time
and again Debra asks for and receives sufficient strength and
encouragement, which carries her all the way to the
fascinating and enlightened ending. |
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