A top-notch psychological thriller that explores one family's journey through alcoholism, child abuse, and mental illness. Lashbrook's lean style is reminiscent of classic noir crime fiction." Rob Errera for IndieReaderFrom the author of Hidden in the Dark comes the prequel about the childhood of a man who will go on to commit unimaginable crimes against the most vulnerable in society.Curious and energetic, Randy Carter is an ordinary enough little boy in the beginning.Born post-WWII in a sleepy Texas town, he is the middle child of an alcoholic father and a mother who suffers from bouts of severe psychosis. Forced to survive in an unpredictable world of violence and poverty, Randy develops into a calculating young man with a growing need for control.Bad things happen when Randy is around. Evil incarnate or just a broken child? Sociopath or victim? What is undeniable is the path of destruction left in his wake.˃˃˃ ˃˃˃ ˃˃˃