I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the premise of murdered children returning in the bodies of adult 'landlords' to exact their revenge on their murderers. Really well written.

At first, I was not sure why I asked for this book. I thought, "I'll just read till it triggers me, then I'll stop." (I'm a mom of 5) But then I kept reading. I was pulled along, pulled along, pulled along, and then, before I knew it, I was halfway through. Yes, it deals with murdered children, and yes, there are graphic parts. But it's also redemptive, and that's hard to pull off.

I like the way the author uses language. She places little Easter Eggs in there, and she uses beautiful and unique words.

Willow's angst was perfectly painted. I know how he felt throughout the whole story. There were a LOT of characters, and I found myself marveling at how well the author kept them separate and kept true to their personalities. So well that, at the end, I knew what had happened to Dixie before Willow did. (gut-punch)

I thought that the plot rambled a bit in places, but I didn't mind. I like an epic novel, especially when it's a little weird and a little supernatural. Though, it felt like it took a long time to get to the main plot, which was solving the mystery of who killed certain kids. And because there was so much going on, there were parts when I wasn't even sure that there was a plot. But I liked the story, so I didn't really care.

The way that the book ended made me think -- and hope -- that there will be another. Otherwise I have to rethink my opinion on the way that Willow soul-crushed at the end.

I tried reading this for a month. Everyday I would force myself to get further in the book. I kept telling myself it would get better, that the narration would settle out. The writing for the first 10% of the book is atrocious. I only got through it because I am stubborn. I started to see a spark of hope that I would find any enjoyment in the book when the character of the Porter was introduced. Around the time the Porter was introduced, the writing stabilized into something that could tell a story. That interest was short lived. I found no reason to continue it. I kept looking forward to the sections from the Porter's point of view, but then even those got dull really quickly. I was falling asleep, I was dreading reading, it was worse than when you are forced to read a book in class that you can't stand because the teacher has ruined it.

The premise of the book is really cool and the cover was explained, which only made me like it more. The actual book was not something I could read. In the last ten years I have only given up on two books. This is one of them. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't make it through another page.

A Guide for Murdered Children by Sarah Sparrow is one of those books that make you think while reading it. It is a soul-searching book about redemption, revenge and the ability to forgive. I actually almost didn’t ask for this book when I saw it on NetGalley. But it kept showing up. I had an email about it and it kept being the first book I saw on my Titles in My Category section on my NetGalley homepage. It was after the 3rd or 4th time seeing it that I gave into my growing curiosity and read the blurb. It was then that I knew I wanted to read it. When I got the confirmation email for the publisher, I got very excited and couldn’t wait to read it. But I held off because I had other books to review there were ahead of it. So when I did read it, I was more than ready for the story.

There are 4 separate plot lines in A Guide for Murdered Children. Each plotline was addressed in the book. I did get a little confused when the author changed times or characters. But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of reading the book. I also enjoyed was how the author introduced each storyline. Then she weaved those storylines into the other ones. When all 4 storylines were brought together, well the magic happened. I couldn’t get over how well the author wove them together. It was flawless.

A Guide for Murdered Children is a mystery/thriller in the truest sense. This book kept me on edge with the mystery plotline. When it was revealed who it was, I was shocked but not surprised. I had thought that person was the killer since the middle of the book. But, what did shock me, was who the other murderer was and who the accomplice was. I was not ready for that reveal at all. The thriller part of the book had me on edge the entire book. I did not sleep well the first night I was reading the book. I kept dreaming about porters, train cars, and awful serial killers.

Willow, oh Willow. I didn’t want to like him. In the beginning of the book, he came across as a self-absorbed idiot who had gone through his 3rd attempt at rehab. I kinda wanted to punch him in the nether regions when it was revealed how awful he was. He made no excuses for being a d-bag and I liked that. What surprised me about him was that he was a medium. He heard voices, saw mysterious blue lights and felt pulled to do things that he wouldn’t do. So when he got involved with Cold Case, I was a tad surprised. I was even more surprised when the first case that he was drawn to was the case of two siblings, Troy and Maya.

Annie was the most serene character that I have read to date. She took everything in stride and was always gracious. Actually, she was known as “The World’s Greatest Volunteer” at the local hospital. I found myself wishing that I could meet her because she was lovely. She cared for the children on the train. When they found their landlords, she was there to guide them towards their moment of balance. So when it was revealed that she had troubles when she was younger, I was surprised. But seeing that it was connected to her ability to connect to the other side, I shouldn’t have been surprised. She was a willing mentor to Willow and dealt with his….problems…..with graciousness. So saying that I liked her was a bit of an understatement.

The saddest part of the book for me was the children and their landlords. I couldn’t understand why the children chose the people they did. But, after reading a few “takeovers“, for lack of a better word, I began to understand. I started to understand Annie‘s role in guiding the children and their landlords. I also saw the need for the guide, the meetings, and the parties when a child reaches his/her moment of balance. The guide explained what the child was going through, gave rules on how to share the body with the landlord and so on. The scenes where the children exacted their revenge were heartbreaking and disturbing.

The book focuses on 3 children and their landlords. The children are Maya, Troy, and Winston. The landlords are Lydia, Daniel, and Honeychile. While Maya and Troy’s landlords were adults, Winston’s was not. Honeychile was a 14-year-old who suffers from a genetic condition called cleidocranial dysplasia. According to Annie, having a teenage landlord is unheard. Meanwhile, Maya and Troy’s landlords are police officers on the same force. They are also in a relationship. I did think it was very interesting how everyone was connected. You need to read the book to find that out!!

While there is sex and romance in the book, it isn’t the main focus. Daniel and Lydia’s romance cooled off once the children took up house and realized who they were. Willow did have a relationship going with a neighbor of his, Dixie. Like I said above, sex wasn’t the main focus of the book. I was fine with that. I do like that the author chose to keep Willow and Dixie in a relationship until almost the end of the book. There is a small twist there that shocked me.

My complaint about A Guide for Murdered Children are not ones that will take stars off of my review. I did have some issues following the different characters around the book. Even when the author labeled the chapters and sub-chapters. That is on my end and like I said, nothing that will affect my review rating.

The end of the book was not what I expected. I was expecting an ending with everything tied up with a bow. For the most part, I got that. The serial killers were found out and the cold case of Maya and Troy were solved. As was Winston’s case. But, the author did something that I wasn’t expecting. She explored the aftermath of what happened during the book. Not everyone got a happy ending and that is what made the book for me. I am hoping that the author chooses to write another Willow Wylde book because I would love to see what happens with Willow and his Eskimo!!!

4 stars

My Summary of A Guide for Murdered Children:

A Guide of Murdered Children was a thrilling read. A very fast paced book, I was engrossed with it and the concept that the author wrote about. The plotlines were great and the characters were 3D. This is a book that I would recommend to any mystery fans.

Will I reread: Yes

Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes

Age range: Adult

Why: Language, sex, violence. There are a few very gruesome scenes of children and men being murdered.

I would like to thank Sarah Sparrow, Penguin Group, Blue Rider Press, Plume and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review A Guide for Murdered Children

All opinions stated in this review of A Guide for Murdered Children are mine and I received no compensation for this review

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

I was so looking forward to this book. The concept sounded original and fascinating but, unfortunately, I couldn't get past 12%. The dialogue was confusing, the storyline stuttered and I just couldn't bring myself to carry on with it. Shame really as the whole concept of murdered children coming back in the bodies of dead adults and exacting their revenge on their killers was something I was looking forward to reading.

Concept was clever and interesting. It was slow and hard for me to get into.

This was a really interesting story.

What had me intrigued was the cover at first, but when I read the description, I knew I wanted to read it. The idea of murdered children coming back to inhabit the bodies of adults and take revenge on their murderers was really interesting. The book has so much more to offer than that, though.

The story follows a few different children as they come back to life and search for their killers. The children all cross paths with one another at one of the weekly meetings created to ease the transition between being a murdered child and a functioning adult. Annie is a porter and her job is to help the children make sense of what is going on along with help from the Guide.

To go alongside the story of the children coming back to kill their murderers, we have Willow "Dubya" Wilde and his battle with alcoholism. He has just returned to the force as a Cold Case Detective, thanks to his ex-wife, after a stint in rehab. But Willow isn't your ordinary recovering addict and there is much more to his story than meets the eye.

It was a fairly quick read and I found myself reading large chunks at a time with ease. I really enjoyed the twists and turns. A lot of which, I didn't see coming. I figured out who killed Troy and Maya, but was a little caught off guard by Winston's murderer. It all seemed to fit perfectly in the end, though, which was nice. All the children's paths cross not only during the meetings but outside of the meetings in their search for their moment of balance.

The story contains its own unique vocabulary too, which I liked. It's sort of like the wizarding world has their own language, so why not the world of the murdered children's souls?

Now warning to the faint of heart with this one, it's about murdered children. I know, surprise, right? Seriously though, there are some pretty graphic scenes when it comes to the children remembering how they died and taking their revenge. I feel like the title is pretty straightforward on that, but I've read book reviews in the past where reviewers were mad when there were graphic scenes. It is a bout murdered children, hence the title. So there, you've been warned.

The only thing I didn't like is that there are some unanswered questions about how it all works. Annie constantly answers questions by referring to the Great Mystery and Willow, in the end, does the same. What happened, though, to Dabba Doo? Did Winston receive his moment of balance after all? Why did Dabba Doo inhabit Roy Eakins? Was it all a result of the haywire?

My list goes on.

Despite that, the overall story was great. I found myself wanting to read it over the other books I'm currently reading, which there usually isn't one that take precedence over another unless it's a required book for a class. I wanted to know if my assumptions were right and, honestly, I wanted to know what happened to all the characters. Willow, Lydia/Maya, Daniel/Troy, and Annie all had me invested in their story.

I'm definitely glad this one grabbed my attention on NetGalley and thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. It is always a pleasure to get my hands on something good to come.

Like I said, the concept was really interesting and I honestly hope there is more to come from Sarah Sparrow. Perhaps, a guide for murdered adults? Or a guide for porters? More from Willow? Just a thought.

This novel was a really confusing slow read which was a struggle to finish. It mixes up a few different genres, from horror, murder mystery and fantasy and in the end is not particularly satisfactory at any of them and falls between the cracks in the sofa. The concept of the novel is interesting enough and has a certain degree of originality, murdered children get the opportunity to inhabit the body of an adult within moments of that adult's natural death. They get a chance to obtain their "moment of balance" by tracking down and killing whomever it was that hurt them. The voices of the kids within the bodies of the adults failed to convince and this clever concept is seriously bogged down in sequences that meandered absolutely nowhere. Some sequences made no sense and to say it was confusing would be an understatement. Large chunks of the novel were written in a loose narrative style with a stream of consciousness which was very difficult to get into and was equally irritating.

The concept is that murdered children get the opportunity to inhabit the body of an adult within moments of that adult's natural death. They get a chance to obtain their "moment of balance" by tracking down and killing whomever it was that hurt them. So, in essence the adult and the child are both still in the body, in a symbiotic mission until the child is avenged. This book seemed gory and gross just for the sake of being gory and gross. I honestly couldn't get past the idea that there is a child inside the adult's mind, while the adult is still, for the most part, carrying on daily business, including being intimate with their spouse or partner. The very idea is repugnant to me and kind of shut me down for the rest of the book. There was a lot going on, very few smooth transitions, and a metric ton of characters. I really wanted to like this book because the idea seemed fascinating at the time, who wouldn't root for a kid getting vengeance on the sick, depraved soul of a child abuser and murderer? Many authors are able to seamlessly blend necessary abuse into their plot to further the storyline or explain a character's actions but the rape and abuse in this story just seemed gleeful and abhorrent. This one is a hard pass for me.

This is a hard one for me to review. I almost quit reading at 7%, and at 20%. The first 20% made no sense. I was just left confused. The rest of the story I felt I had to finish. All I can say was it was and "OKAY" book. Not good, not horrible in my opinion.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for my review. I wanted to love this book SO much. The premise is very promising and attention-grabbing. I also realize that this is an unproofed galley copy and that refinements are on the horizon.

But I couldn't do it. The formatting and ran-dom dash-es throughout the first few chapters - and the caps and italics that had no rhyme or reason - it was like Sparrow was picturing some random methed out valley girl who was downing tequila shots. Emphasis on all the wrong places.

I might try to find this at my library after release and liberal attention from a good editor. But right now, I have way too many other books demanding my attention.

I wanted to like this so badly. The cover and title are superb, but I just couldn't get into this book. I tried for over a month, but found myself only reading sentences at a time. I DNF at 5%, and here's why; The omniscient stream of conscious was too confusing. I found myself backtracking trying to remember who's mind I was in and where I was. It drove me bonkers. I honestly feel this would play out better on tv than in a book. BUT if stream of conscious is your cup of tea, don't let this stop you.

A Guide for Murdered Children by Sarah Sparrow a thought provoking four-star read. I picked this book up as the title grabbed me, making me think I must have read it wrong but then read the info and though what a different read and it really is. It’s not for the faint of heart as the subject matter is a little raw and not something everyone will enjoy, but if you go into it with an open mind, and understand that it will get there in the end as revenge is a major player in this book. (Bare that in mind when you read as it does make it more palatable)
The cover adds some comic relief to the story and at times you will be wondering if you can carry on, but do keep going the whole story makes a captivating, compelling read that although dark will give you some light to contemplate as well. The whole concept and content of this book isn’t something I would normally read, but I couldn’t put it down once I got into the story.
Thank you Netgally and the author for allowing me to read this compelling story.

I have a hard time with non-traditional storytelling styles like this one. My mind is fairly stringently linear, and stream of consciousness and loose narrative styles are tough for me to get into. I understand, intellectually, their purpose and why they an author would consider them to be the best way to relate a story that is looser in structure or to identify a character with a more free-flowing style or perspective, but that doesn't make them any easier for me as a reader. I struggled to get into this book as a result, and when that struggle was coupled with a main character like Willow Wylde (someone who I found inherently unlikeable), the outcome was pretty much a foregone conclusion: this book wasn't for me.

I still really like the concept. Before requesting the book, I was worried that the murdered children would be difficult for me to read. I tend to avoid stories about violence against women and children because they always feel too close to home, but I was so intrigued by the blurb's vengeance aspect, that I overcame my natural disinclination and thought I'd give it a try. There is very little justice that comes after the murder of children - there really is no punishment or outcome that can even the scales - and I was compelled by the concept that promised some form of retribution for these children. But the narrative style and format and the mix of serious and comical/sardonic that was the Guidebook excerpts just didn't resonate for me and I found myself grimacing while reading every few pages... This one was not for me.

I fully admit to being sucked in by the title and then I stayed for the plot.

In a nutshell: Murdered children are reincarnated into the bodies of recently deceased adults. Their mission? To achieve a "moment of balance" aka revenge on their killers for their untimely demise.

A Guide for Murdered Children was a solid 4 stars for me. The premise is super unique and interesting and it definitely kept my interest the entire way through. However, they are so many characters, as you have both the children tenants, their adult landlords, the killers, and a handful of others. I needed to make a character map to keep everyone straight. The plot also moves pretty slow at times—no fault of the author, I think the story requires a lot of exposition and background—but you're going to be tempted to skim and I'd recommend not doing that because you'll need the information later.

Obviously, there are darker topics at play. Murder of children. Rape. Abuse. But if you appreciate a good revenge story, there's that going for you.

Is it worth a read? Yes.
Will it be a slow process? Most likely.
Will the Comic Sans on the cover constantly bug you? The whole time.

I found this book difficult to get into. A few times, ready to not finish it. But I have never given up on a book. So I continued. The storyline just became too convoluted when I felt it did not need to in order to present a good story. The ending was as difficult for me to get into as the beginning was.

For the first time since I can recall, I chose a book based on the title alone. Author, storyline, plot summary, genre, even cover art: I knew nothing about this book beyond its provocative title, A Guide for Murdered Children. As such, I had no expectations and no preconceptions, which is how I greatly prefer to approach new works. When the title became available through NetGalley, the wonderful service that introduces readers to new and upcoming books in exchange for a review, I was curious enough to take a chance.

What followed was a reading experience both rewarding and frustrating, as Sarah Sparrow is without doubt a strong and evocative writer. Because the prose and ideas in the book were so fresh and engaging, it was especially noticeable when the narrative occasionally faltered or the moments felt misdirected. This Guide concerns a burned-out, once corrupt ex-cop named Willow Wylde, who is just trying to keep his life together. After a series of hallucinatory dreams he meets Annie Balladine, a kind-hearted woman who seems to be leading a recovery group for troubled souls in the basement of a Detroit church.

The people at the meeting, however, need a special kind of guidance. Annie is a Porter, a person who first connects with her troubled clients in dreams, where they are child passengers on a metaphysical train. Each child is paired with a newly-dead-yet-living vessel (referred to in the Guide as a "landlord") to share a body, and together they work to find a "moment of balance": avenging the murdered child's death. Willow, understandably, has some reservations about becoming involved, but Annie is dying, the process is starting to go "haywire", and the group will soon need a new Porter.

There's a great deal to like here, and readers who enjoy dark fantasy and literal soul-searching storylines will find A Guide – which revolves principally around the unsolved murders of siblings Maya and Troy Rummer, and allows the victims to mount their own investigation – very satisfying. Author Sarah Sparrow's sentences flow with a grace and ease that is admirable, and she uses details to build the world of the characters and their inner lives that often provide a touch of poetry during both gritty and divine moments in the book.

That nimble, introspective writing, though, sometimes has a way of stalling the story, especially when it turns into telling the reader about characters instead of showing them through actions and dialogue. The first section of the novel was the most patience-testing, for two reasons. First, there are a lot of characters inhabiting the landscape, and a lot of threads to hold on to, and with so much presented in a flurry of events (including police shootings, child abductions, a death on a hiking trail, and other moments occurring in differing eras) I wasn't sure what to track beyond Willow Wylde's downward spiral.

Second, the actual throughline of the plot – the major dramatic question where the reader knows what the characters' goals will be – happens only about 80 pages in, when the purpose of the meetings, the Landlords, and the Porters are revealed. Until then, there's a lot of reflective writing about characters, which, even though well-written, soon wears out its welcome, as with this passage measuring Willow Wylde's resolve:

The imbalance was… himself. He was his own cold case and didn't have clue one. He wondered if the solution to the crime of Mr. Wylde lay in the idea that hope itself hadn't died – yet – and laughed at the brilliant idiocy of that new notion.

It feels like a draft brimming with too many moments, and with the focus misplaced or stretched in a couple of spots that reminds the reader how close to an amazing reading experience this could be with some streamlining and sober-eyed structural editing. One example that comes to mind is a multi-page monologue offered a murderer as he tortures a victim. Yes, the villain is loquacious and egotistical, but the spotlight is an odd choice when who the reader really cares about (and from whose point of view we should experience this heartbreaking moment) is the helpless person dying in front of him. What the killer has to say about his philosophy or methods at this point is moot, yet it goes on for pages.

Sparrow touches on some interesting themes, exploring by story's end the relationship between vengeance and forgiveness. The body- and soul-sharing, and the attendant rules both mystical and corporeal, call on a reader's suspension of belief, and I don't think it is too difficult to go with the karmic flow. (It helps that American pop culture, with entries from Here Comes Mr. Jordan to The Lovely Bones, has paved the way for such premises.) A Guide for Murdered Children reads like a First Novel from an ambitious new author, with all of the strengths and weaknesses that would accompany a story from someone with a lot to say but not always the experiential discipline to effectively say it.

Available March 20, 2018 through Blue Rider Press. I received an advance reading copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. This book was quite a ride! It was a suspenseful read. Recommend!

This book was super confusing and hard to follow. I had a hard time reading, staying with it and finishing it. A lot going on and a lot of characters. The writing style was a little disorganized. That said the idea of the story is interesting but the execution of it just wasn't that great....just not for me I guess. Thanks for the ARC!