Anonymous Tip

by Michael Farris

Anonymous Tip is a novel that reveals a Child Protective Services system driven by jealousy, ambition, and drift toward ever-greater intrusion in the lives of families. Gwen and Casey rely on faith in the face of false accusations by a faceless accuser.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction

470 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I have ever read in every way. It is so boring, so hateful, and I would say so ignorant? But actually that's not true. I know Michael Farris is a lawyer who knows better than a lot of this. He's not misinformed, he's lying. Repulsive trash by a repulsive man.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject matter was compelling -- what happens when child protective services oversteps the rule of law and accuses a parent of abuse falsely? Unfortunately, I found the writing pretty hamfisted. Gwen is the stunningly beautiful single mom of Casey, with an alcoholic ex who falsely calls in the anonymous tip that Casey is being abused. The villainous, selfish CPR workers take such offense at Gwen's dismay at their warrantless search that decide they'll show her who's boss, and invent bruises that don't exist. At first, Gwen has an awful, ineffective lawyer who can't prevent her daughter being taken away from her but then (cue the romantic music) Peter the brilliant born-again Christian lawyer shows up and takes her case pro bono, all the time praying about what to do that he's falling in love with a divorced woman, whom he can't marry by the rules of his faith, as long as there is any chance of her reuniting with her ex.

Luckily for them, there is no shades of grey between the heroes and the villains; they're either good Christians or bad selfish people, with no in-between. The heroes -- Gwen and her parents -- join Peter's church and accept Jesus as their savior. Gordon, the alcoholic ex-husband repeatedly refuses the opportunity to go to church, is jealous, bitter, and lazy, and conveniently (spoiler) boozes up and drives off a cliff to his death. The CPR worker sleeps with her philandering boyfriend before marriage and changes the computer records to exonerate herself. Luckily, Peter the lawyer, psychically knows that that may have happened, and just happens to know a computer genius who can uncover that. The legal processes are explained tediously and factually by one character to another, so we can all understand, say, how the Supreme Court process works. Gwen and Peter have the happy ending marriage, and the bad girl social worker does not.

In a better writer's hands, this could have been a great story, focusing on a parent working against the system, as it is an intriguing critique of the child welfare system, circa 1994. Maybe the author has improved and put more nuance into his characters. Christian themes could also be written more subtly than in his book.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't finish it. I tried.

[Lynn]

This novel kept me on the edge of my seat in which i could feel all the emotions the characters were feeling. The author completely captivated me and kept me interested from beginning to end.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would've thunk that a legal thriller wasn't an oxymoron?!?! Well it's not!! It an exciting book with great sequence of events that always leaves you on your toes.

[Jennifer Fluegge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these books--which surprised me, because they are not necessarily my type. I did feel like the writing itself could use improvement, but the plot, etc. held my interest.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of his books. While a fiction book, it rings strong with a powerful message that all should read, teens and up, to be challenged to stand up for what is right.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good, not great, but I LOVE Michael Farris - he's a hero.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I have his 3 books, but I would like to read more contemporary fiction from this author.

[Nick Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good novel by a good lawyer. Farris knows his legal world well and adapts his knowledge to this book. Pretty scary though!

[Richelle Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

found some of the legal information fascinating, and the story was interesting as well.

[Tgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from our local library, I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading. It's storyline is believable.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad story but not a great story either.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a pretty good book1