A gratifying suspense novel.
Many thanks to Red Adept Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Liberty Justice is a thirteen year old girl, parenting her mother JJ who is deep into heroin addiction. When JJ's dealer comes after her, things go bad and they end up on the run, from the police and ultimately from an enforces sent by the drug dealer's brother. McKay's style is simple but he tells a story well. Liberty is an appealing character and has believable internal conflicts about her mother, the one she remembers and the one who puts her next fix above everything, including her daughter. The mother-daughter relationship, shaped by years of living on the edge with low pay jobs that JJ couldn't always keep is central to this story. So is the tension between the fact that addition is an illness requiring treatment and the fact that it is infuriating and destructive. The enforcer is a mega psychopathic torturer/killer so be prepared for some gritty, violent scenes. This was a satisfying read.

I have found my new favorite author. Brett McKay brought Liberty Justice to life. This book kept me turning pages in suspense of what was coming next. I felt like I was right there in the midst of it all. This book is a must read!!!

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Liberty is way too old for her years. She’s experienced too much for only a young teen. Taking care of her drug-addicted mom and dodging her mom’s abusive boyfriends has become normal life for her. Still she manages to get good grades in school. She vows to never become like her mom.

JJ, her mom, has brought home yet another winner of a boyfriend. As a trucker, he’s not there all the time, but when he is, it’s a scary place to be. One night things get out of hand, forcing JJ and Liberty to flee. Now they’re on the run, with JJ experiencing withdrawals and Liberty forced to try to keep them alive and out of the hands of the law.

However there is one man determined to keep them away from jail and in their graves. It’s up to Liberty to try to outrun this very experienced killer. Can she trust the detective who has tried to befriend her?

McKay has written a novel depicting an incredibly tough and determined young teen who just wants to make sure that her mom is safe and clean. It’s not a pretty story, but grit is what Liberty has and she’ll do what she thinks is best for her and her mom. Definitely riveting and worth the read.

Warnings: excessive drug use, physical abuse