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Hidden Intentions
When 13-year-old Cailey Marshall’s mission to an abandoned Texas house goes wrong, she must find ways to escape from her ruthless kidnappers and survive, while her parents are forced into making a deadly choice to save their daughter and discover the truth. Cailey sets out on a dare devised by her clique of friends, but the dare goes horribly wrong. When her father, Barry Marshall, discovers that his daughter’s adventurous game got her kidnapped by Anne Murphy and her cohorts, he is faced with a deadly dilemma. Anne’s ultimatum requires him to kill his brother or Cailey dies. She refuses to tell him why his brother must die.
On the other hand, a mother will do anything for her child. It is Erin, who without hesitation, goes out on a limb to save her daughter. Even if it means murder to do it. Meanwhile, Cailey must deal with Anne’s sadistic torment if she hopes to survive.
On the other hand, a mother will do anything for her child. It is Erin, who without hesitation, goes out on a limb to save her daughter. Even if it means murder to do it. Meanwhile, Cailey must deal with Anne’s sadistic torment if she hopes to survive.
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Published March 3, 2021
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About the author
Alan Brenham
40 books110 followersAlan Brenham is the pseudonym of Alan Behr, an American author and attorney.
He served as a law enforcement officer before earning a law degree from Baylor University and worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney for twenty-two years.
Alan began his writing craft by studying novels by Michael McGarrity, James Hayman, and Michael Connelly.
He has authored ten crime fiction novels. Alan and his wife, Lillian, currently live in the Central Texas area.
He served as a law enforcement officer before earning a law degree from Baylor University and worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney for twenty-two years.
Alan began his writing craft by studying novels by Michael McGarrity, James Hayman, and Michael Connelly.
He has authored ten crime fiction novels. Alan and his wife, Lillian, currently live in the Central Texas area.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 3, 2021
One night, in response to a dare as part of the initiation into the popular clique at school, 13 year old Cailey Marshall sneaks out and enters a derelict house reputed to be haunted. She doesn’t return home. Relax, this is not a horror story. Cailey has been kidnapped. Her parents - Barry and Erin Marshall are beside themselves. But instead of a ransom, these kidnappers want Barry to kill his brother, Stuart! They have one week. Of course Barry isn’t going to do that, although as the week passes it seems that Erin is tempted!
As is usual for these sort of books (or you wouldn’t have a story) things don’t go according to plan and the situation gets increasingly desperate for Cailey and her family. Although not unique it sounds promising but this book never reached its potential. I had many issues with this story and I didn’t enjoy it much at all.
My thoughts
* The premise seemed silly. Why would you go to all the trouble and associated risk involved with kidnapping a child in order to force the parents to kill someone? Surely it would be simpler just to order a hit.
* The kidnappers were totally inept and seemed stupid with the way they talked - you was “ya”, I was “ah” and your was “yore”. I didn’t get it and it grated on me. As the story progressed they were running around in circles trying to salvage the “deal” with zero success. Anyone with half a brain would have abandoned the plan and laid low, but not these idiots.
* The dialogue, particularly in the first half of the book, was stilted and cheesy and annoyingly lame.
* The parents didn’t act the way you would expect the parents of a kidnapped child to act. They seemed more intent on fighting amongst themselves. And the grandparents - imagine me constantly rolling my eyes!
Cailey was the only character that was fully fleshed out and she was quite good - feisty and brave and used her initiative. Overall the book was written in a dispassionate way and it was hard to get very invested with the story. The second half was much better but it couldn’t save the book for me. If you can overlook some the points above you might enjoy it more than I did. Thanks to BookSirens for providing a free copy. My opinions are my own.
As is usual for these sort of books (or you wouldn’t have a story) things don’t go according to plan and the situation gets increasingly desperate for Cailey and her family. Although not unique it sounds promising but this book never reached its potential. I had many issues with this story and I didn’t enjoy it much at all.
My thoughts
* The premise seemed silly. Why would you go to all the trouble and associated risk involved with kidnapping a child in order to force the parents to kill someone? Surely it would be simpler just to order a hit.
* The kidnappers were totally inept and seemed stupid with the way they talked - you was “ya”, I was “ah” and your was “yore”. I didn’t get it and it grated on me. As the story progressed they were running around in circles trying to salvage the “deal” with zero success. Anyone with half a brain would have abandoned the plan and laid low, but not these idiots.
* The dialogue, particularly in the first half of the book, was stilted and cheesy and annoyingly lame.
* The parents didn’t act the way you would expect the parents of a kidnapped child to act. They seemed more intent on fighting amongst themselves. And the grandparents - imagine me constantly rolling my eyes!
Cailey was the only character that was fully fleshed out and she was quite good - feisty and brave and used her initiative. Overall the book was written in a dispassionate way and it was hard to get very invested with the story. The second half was much better but it couldn’t save the book for me. If you can overlook some the points above you might enjoy it more than I did. Thanks to BookSirens for providing a free copy. My opinions are my own.
January 6, 2021
First mistake --- 13-year-old Cailey Marshall takes on a dare from some school friends. She is to enter an abandoned house where something has been hidden that she has to find. Second mistake -- she didn't tell anyone except her best friend where she was going ...and she made her swear she'd never tell.
Now she finds herself kidnapped and then locked in a room ..somewhere. She's attached to chains and the windows are boarded up. So far, there's only three of them .. 2 women and 1 really scary man.
The kidnappers have been contacted ... in order to get their daughter back, her father must kill his own brother. He has 7 days to complete the task.
The plot is tightly woven, with alternating chapters of Cailey and her mindset, and the parents, whose worst nightmare has come true. The family is somewhat dysfunctional, but willing to do almost anything to get Cailey back. The brother they want killed already has issues ... and then he suggests an alternate way to convince the kidnappers he has been killed. Cailey's mother is all for killing her brother-in-law, so she's high on the list of suspects of those who want the brother dead.
The suspense starts almost immediately, and then goes up by several degrees when Cailey learns what's going to happen to her if her parents don't find her ...soon. All the characters are finely drawn ... some with issues, some are just downright scary. The unexpected and surprising ending came fast and furious.
Many thanks to the author / Book Sirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and completely my own.
Now she finds herself kidnapped and then locked in a room ..somewhere. She's attached to chains and the windows are boarded up. So far, there's only three of them .. 2 women and 1 really scary man.
The kidnappers have been contacted ... in order to get their daughter back, her father must kill his own brother. He has 7 days to complete the task.
The plot is tightly woven, with alternating chapters of Cailey and her mindset, and the parents, whose worst nightmare has come true. The family is somewhat dysfunctional, but willing to do almost anything to get Cailey back. The brother they want killed already has issues ... and then he suggests an alternate way to convince the kidnappers he has been killed. Cailey's mother is all for killing her brother-in-law, so she's high on the list of suspects of those who want the brother dead.
The suspense starts almost immediately, and then goes up by several degrees when Cailey learns what's going to happen to her if her parents don't find her ...soon. All the characters are finely drawn ... some with issues, some are just downright scary. The unexpected and surprising ending came fast and furious.
Many thanks to the author / Book Sirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and completely my own.
February 14, 2022
In writing this nail biting thriller, the author Alan Brenham has used expertise gained over a lifetime as a Texas law enforcement officer, criminal prosecutor and criminal defense attorney to give his readers an unforgettable experience. In ‘Finding Cailey,’ we discover the horrific trials and tribulations a captive goes through, live through the agony their family feel, and get a feel for the sheer amount of work which goes into discovering who the guilty party is, and why they have carried out the crime.
Like any 13 year old girl, Cailey Marshall just wants to fit in at school, and if entering a spooky old house and completing a dare is what it takes to be part of her 8th Grade club, then that’s what she is willing to do.
Her father Barry Marshall is now a professor, however, he used to be a police detective. The knowledge and experience he gained in his previous career becomes a double edged sword when he receives a phone call informing him that his daughter has been abducted. The abductors don’t want money however, instead they are asking him to do an impossible task, in exchange for the return of his daughter…
Seemingly being watched at every turn, confused, and warned not to contact the police, Barry and his wife Erin desperately search for clues as to who their daughter’s captives could be, and why they have asked for the terrible reward in exchange for her life.
As the time ticks by to the week deadline the captors have set, all their ideas lead to dead ends, and Barry and Erin are at their wits end. Meanwhile a frightened Cailey has to listen to her captors’ plans for her future, and their lies.
In writing this story the author gives his reader a glimpse into the lives of others, from the high flying lives of the rich, to, through Cailey’s plight, sampling the very real experiences of the street children who roam wild in the towns, gleaning what they can, when they can, whilst dodging the law.
I loved this story and the amount of detail and obvious experience which went into the writing of it. It is exciting, nerve-wracking, fast paced and full of tension – I just could not put it down, and highly recommend it.
Like any 13 year old girl, Cailey Marshall just wants to fit in at school, and if entering a spooky old house and completing a dare is what it takes to be part of her 8th Grade club, then that’s what she is willing to do.
Her father Barry Marshall is now a professor, however, he used to be a police detective. The knowledge and experience he gained in his previous career becomes a double edged sword when he receives a phone call informing him that his daughter has been abducted. The abductors don’t want money however, instead they are asking him to do an impossible task, in exchange for the return of his daughter…
Seemingly being watched at every turn, confused, and warned not to contact the police, Barry and his wife Erin desperately search for clues as to who their daughter’s captives could be, and why they have asked for the terrible reward in exchange for her life.
As the time ticks by to the week deadline the captors have set, all their ideas lead to dead ends, and Barry and Erin are at their wits end. Meanwhile a frightened Cailey has to listen to her captors’ plans for her future, and their lies.
In writing this story the author gives his reader a glimpse into the lives of others, from the high flying lives of the rich, to, through Cailey’s plight, sampling the very real experiences of the street children who roam wild in the towns, gleaning what they can, when they can, whilst dodging the law.
I loved this story and the amount of detail and obvious experience which went into the writing of it. It is exciting, nerve-wracking, fast paced and full of tension – I just could not put it down, and highly recommend it.
April 28, 2021
Quick blurb as Goodreads seems to be missing one:
Thirteen-year-old Cailey gets kidnapped after a dare gone wrong and has to try to survive her captors and escape her prison; at the same time her parents are forced to make a deadly decision to save her.
The kidnappers order her father to kill his brother or they kill Cailey – giving no reasons why. While her father is hesitant, her mother will stop at nothing to see her daughter alive again.
It all sounded so promising and I did enjoy the chapters from Cailey's point of view, she was strong, determined, and fairly quick thinking. However the rest of the characters were weak and at times unbelievable. One kidnapper seemed to have a personality change half way through, the parents spent more time bickering with each other and sulking rather than taking action, and the grandmother kept berating her daughter for swearing and the way she’s acting – I’m sorry but if your daughter being kidnapped isn’t the time for decorum to go out the window then I don’t know when is?
I realised part way in that this was part of a series too, but I won’t be looking up the other books. Overall it was a bit of a let-down as I struggled to immerse myself given how most of the characters were written.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
Thirteen-year-old Cailey gets kidnapped after a dare gone wrong and has to try to survive her captors and escape her prison; at the same time her parents are forced to make a deadly decision to save her.
The kidnappers order her father to kill his brother or they kill Cailey – giving no reasons why. While her father is hesitant, her mother will stop at nothing to see her daughter alive again.
It all sounded so promising and I did enjoy the chapters from Cailey's point of view, she was strong, determined, and fairly quick thinking. However the rest of the characters were weak and at times unbelievable. One kidnapper seemed to have a personality change half way through, the parents spent more time bickering with each other and sulking rather than taking action, and the grandmother kept berating her daughter for swearing and the way she’s acting – I’m sorry but if your daughter being kidnapped isn’t the time for decorum to go out the window then I don’t know when is?
I realised part way in that this was part of a series too, but I won’t be looking up the other books. Overall it was a bit of a let-down as I struggled to immerse myself given how most of the characters were written.
*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review
April 1, 2024
Cailey Marshall is no longer the child we saw in book one, “Game Piece.” Maturing, becoming more independent, and well into middle school, this second book “Hidden Intentions” centers around an older Cailey. Barry has positively adjusted his priorities and the Marshall family seems to be thriving.
Until it is all ripped apart with the kidnapping of Cailey Marshall and the demands to kill Barry’s brother, Stuart, within seven days. Author Alan Brenham leaves readers asking themselves, would you kill your own family to save your daughter?
This tense game of cat and mouse, between the kidnappers and Marshall family pushes everyone’s emotions to the brink. Revolving around Cailey, her captivity, and her captors, while simultaneously putting Barry and wife, Erin, at odds with their decisions, relationships, strength, and emotions are all tested within.
Brenham has a powerful ability to captivate and thrash readers with his plots, supporting cast of characters, and psychological turmoil. From Erin’s parents to Barry’s brother, the runaways, and kidnappers, “Hidden Intentions” was a whirlwind of a ride.
As a parent, I found myself struggling to come to grips with the scenario the Marshall family was facing. Struggling to maintain independence from the police, while trying to do everything to get your daughter back. Every parent’s worst nightmare is on full display in Brenham’s second book in The Barry Marshall Series.
Until it is all ripped apart with the kidnapping of Cailey Marshall and the demands to kill Barry’s brother, Stuart, within seven days. Author Alan Brenham leaves readers asking themselves, would you kill your own family to save your daughter?
This tense game of cat and mouse, between the kidnappers and Marshall family pushes everyone’s emotions to the brink. Revolving around Cailey, her captivity, and her captors, while simultaneously putting Barry and wife, Erin, at odds with their decisions, relationships, strength, and emotions are all tested within.
Brenham has a powerful ability to captivate and thrash readers with his plots, supporting cast of characters, and psychological turmoil. From Erin’s parents to Barry’s brother, the runaways, and kidnappers, “Hidden Intentions” was a whirlwind of a ride.
As a parent, I found myself struggling to come to grips with the scenario the Marshall family was facing. Struggling to maintain independence from the police, while trying to do everything to get your daughter back. Every parent’s worst nightmare is on full display in Brenham’s second book in The Barry Marshall Series.
January 26, 2021
If you enjoy steady action, an intense plot, complex dynamics, and a happy ending, then give Hidden Intentions a try.
After some digging, I found Hidden Intentions is the second novel in a series about the Marshall family. Game Piece is the first book. You don't have to read book one to pick up on the plot emphasized within these pages. Although there are plot points from the first novel that make me curious about what happened. It seems as if the Marshalls have had their fair share of trouble, and it continues in this second installment. We begin with thirteen-year-old Cailey Marshall being kidnapped, while out on a dare, and follow-up with her parents being informed of her abduction. The price needed for their daughter's release? Her father has to kill his brother.
Author Alan Brenham does a good job of setting up his scenes and diving into conflict during the very first chapter. He keeps the flow of the story moving between the main protagonist Cailey and her parents as well as one of the kidnappers. This benefits the reader by getting the inside look at what's happening on both sides of the situation. The pacing is quick and keeps moving throughout each chapter. The overall mystery at work keeps the reader guessing and engages you to get it read.
The intricate reasons why Cailey was kidnapped create suspense and tension. You're reading every chapter hoping to learn more. You will get caught up in the storyline, desire for Cailey to escape or be rescued, and have hope for retribution. The author does an admirable job of pulling all the strings together and tying it into an acceptable bow.
There are a few reasons this book sets itself apart from other books in crime and kidnapping categories. I can appreciate the originality, entangled rationale, and most of all, the ending. Because of the harsh violence and inconsistent attitude toward Cailey by Clint - one of the kidnappers, some of the language, the ambiguity of the parent's relationship at the end, and some improbable situations, I was led to struggle with what to rate this. However, I believe "it's worth a read" (3/5) for anyone who likes action-based mysteries, crime thrillers, and coming of age books.
I do encourage you to please give it a try and see what you think.
Thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for allowing me to read and give an honest review.
Please find more details of my review on: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo...
After some digging, I found Hidden Intentions is the second novel in a series about the Marshall family. Game Piece is the first book. You don't have to read book one to pick up on the plot emphasized within these pages. Although there are plot points from the first novel that make me curious about what happened. It seems as if the Marshalls have had their fair share of trouble, and it continues in this second installment. We begin with thirteen-year-old Cailey Marshall being kidnapped, while out on a dare, and follow-up with her parents being informed of her abduction. The price needed for their daughter's release? Her father has to kill his brother.
Author Alan Brenham does a good job of setting up his scenes and diving into conflict during the very first chapter. He keeps the flow of the story moving between the main protagonist Cailey and her parents as well as one of the kidnappers. This benefits the reader by getting the inside look at what's happening on both sides of the situation. The pacing is quick and keeps moving throughout each chapter. The overall mystery at work keeps the reader guessing and engages you to get it read.
The intricate reasons why Cailey was kidnapped create suspense and tension. You're reading every chapter hoping to learn more. You will get caught up in the storyline, desire for Cailey to escape or be rescued, and have hope for retribution. The author does an admirable job of pulling all the strings together and tying it into an acceptable bow.
There are a few reasons this book sets itself apart from other books in crime and kidnapping categories. I can appreciate the originality, entangled rationale, and most of all, the ending. Because of the harsh violence and inconsistent attitude toward Cailey by Clint - one of the kidnappers, some of the language, the ambiguity of the parent's relationship at the end, and some improbable situations, I was led to struggle with what to rate this. However, I believe "it's worth a read" (3/5) for anyone who likes action-based mysteries, crime thrillers, and coming of age books.
I do encourage you to please give it a try and see what you think.
Thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for allowing me to read and give an honest review.
Please find more details of my review on: https://rebeccaswriteinspirations.blo...
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