Summary and Reviews of Puppet Child by Talia Carner

Media Reviews

Book Loons Book Reviews Talia Carner writes knowingly and believably.... Her action-packed novel (hard to believe it's her first) kept me turning the pages long after I should have turned off my bedside light...This is a fast-paced, breath-holding novel told mostly through crisp dialogue and Rachel's dark thoughts.... The reader (meaning me) wanted to rant at the system and rave at the torture of the child. Puppet Child is written without wails of pity for the mother and child. It tells its story as it might have happened. The emotion comes from the reader. This is a book that will not be finished, put down and forgotten. It lives with you.... It's a dynamic book that should be read and then handed around to friends....

Book Review Cafe This was a fantastic book. It made me cry, throw the book down in frustration, and feel for these characters. In a well-researched story, Talia Carner has presented a case that is very true in the real world. Her writing style is phenomenal, and I look forward to reading her next best-sellers!

Books n' Bytes (www.booksnbytes.com) Puppet Child is a story fraught with tension....the story grips you and dares you to read further. The book is painful, raw and revealing... tension grows with each turning of the page.

California NOW Arts & Culture Puppet Child is a work of fiction, but will ring with truth for many protective parents who have experienced unfair treatment....Readers will see several sides of Rachel's struggle - scenes in court, consultations with lawyers, her home life with Ellie, the fluctuations of her romantic life, and struggles at work. We also see behind the scenes into the judge's chambers for a look at how well-meaning people can make harmful judgements. Rachel's story shows many of the extremes of Family Law struggles ....The book ends in many ways unresolved, but with a positive note that may bring hope to others going through similar cases.

Midwest Book Review The debut novel of Talia Carner, Puppet Child is a socially issues narrative revealing the weaknesses and blind ineptitude of the American family court system. Rachel Belmore is a 34-year-old advertising executive and mother who must struggle to defend her young daughter against the sexual depredations of her husband, and subsequently finds herself losing a legal battle in this emotionally compelling drama that could be found in any contemporary family court, anywhere in this country.

Rebecca Reads Book Reviews This one's a keeper! A rich, topnotch read. Feeds the mind, warms the heart, tickles the soul. Sets all the bells ringing! The kind of book you want to give to your friends. This one could become an Old Friend. Puppet Child is a good legal story that is not a legal thriller, but one that provides enthralling, thinking reading for courtroom buffs & legal thriller lovers. It is a solid, well–researched commentary on the state of the contemporary legal system...Talia Carner takes us through the case as seen from the point of the mother, the media, the lawyers, the judge &, most importantly, the girl herself.... Puppet Child provides poignant & topnotch suspense reading.... The protagonist, Rachel Belmore, commands admiration. She is a strong character who will remain in our minds for a long time...A topnotch novel about the fine line between law & justice.

The Independent (East Hampton & South Hampton) ...engrossing, carefully researched novel... compelling popular tale of intrigue, suspense, and romance... a narrative that is harrowing in detail and psychologically astute... Given the timeliness of the subject, the question may hover, why fiction? The answer may lie in a shrewd observation made years ago by Norman Mailer, that in nonfiction you get at the facts, in fiction, the truth. In Puppet Child, Talia Carner can lay claim to having both.

The Times-Beacon-Record A passionate book that is hard to put down…. The book lends itself to provoking discussion... [Carner's] style of writing is the stuff of TV dramas.

Timeless Tales (www.timeless-tales.net) ...The final chapters mount the suspense, bringing the work to a dramatic conclusion. Rachel learns more about herself and her friends and family along the way, teaching her hard lessons in who is able to help her. The ending leaves the reader satisfied with the overall story....the story ties together nicely, despite the uncomfortable nature of the subject.

United for Justice Essential Reading A new must-read novel.

IndoLink Book Review In a wrenching race against time, the safety of one child becomes entangled in the theatrics of New York Family Court, bottled-up family dynamics, and the pressure of the political machine. This is a sensitively crafted, solidly researched novel that carries the cold ring of truth about the judicial system and impels the reader to hang on to find out who will win in the struggle over Ellie.

Blether, The Book review Site [UK] (www.blether.com) Talia Carner wastes no words....This book is a powerhouse that opens ones eyes to the evil around them.

Huntress Book Reviews I cannot express how great this is. Author Talia Carner has woven an intricate story from a sensitive subject that all parents fear! It showed the horrors, in detail, that many women have had to deal with, as well as, our judicial system that forces the mothers into failure and the children into the arms of their abusers....From the amazing opening until the very last page, I was hooked! I often found myself holding my breath.... I cannot say anything more without ruining the startling ending. I hope many workers in our legal system reads this book! The author researched so well, that I had to remind myself that this was a work of fiction...I strongly recommend this book to everyone.