Boneman’s Daughter by Ted Dekker; 2009; 401 pages; Hachette Book Group, New York, NY; 978-1-59995-195-9; 5/7/09-5/8/09

Something a little different from Ted Dekker, pretty much a straight ahead mystery without so many spiritual overtones.  They are there, but they are a lot more obvious and and less integral to the plot than in previous books.  The Boneman kidnaps young woman and kills them by breaking their bones without breaking the skin. Ryan Evans has put his service to his country ahead of his wife and daughter.  He is a Naval Intelligence officer in Iraq, whose convoy is ambushed and he is captured.  He is forced to confront the collateral damage of war and is confronted with the inhumanity of man.  His captors force him to watch as they murder children in the same manner as the Boneman.  He is rescued and returns to the United States, where he tries to reunite with his family, but he has pushed them away for so long that they want nothing to do with him.  His wife has found something with another man and his daughter has found meaning in modeling.  Shortly after he returns the Boneman kidnaps Ryans’ daughter and challenges him to save her.  You know the typical don’t tell the police, do this and I will let her live, do that and she dies, follow the clues.  Not up to the typical Dekker.  RR