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Blame: Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell
Dramatic nonfiction that reads like a legal thriller, the story of the life and death of a man with developmental disabilities in a care home unfolds in flashbacks to reveal a complex web of culpability.
On April 29, 2012, a private world of deceit and neglect came crashing down when Guy Mitchell, a 38-year-old man with developmental disabilities, died confused and alone, thrashing in a dark underground tank on the rural property where he lived.
When police arrived, they found a far larger crime scene: a house of horror where Guy had been living with two other vulnerable individuals under the care of a young woman with serious psychological issues. The home had no running water and no heat. Human waste filled the toilets and covered bathtubs, walls, and floors. There was no food in the kitchen, and mounds of dirty laundry and garbage cluttered most rooms. Yet the agency overseeing the home gave it a pass just two days before Guy’s death.
Blame: Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell attempts to find meaning and justice in the tragic death of a vulnerable individual whose circle of care failed him. Moving between the coroner’s inquest and flashing back to real-time events, author Dustin Galer explores what happened to Guy Mitchell in meticulous detail. As each layer of Guy’s support system is peeled back and examined, new facts emerge that reveal yet another missed opportunity to intervene in a rapidly deteriorating situation. Dramatic nonfiction that reads like a legal thriller, Blame resists easy answers, exposing a tangled web of negligence, indifference, and systemic failure and probing the deeper structural forces behind Guy’s death. What emerges is a powerful indictment of a broken system and a strong argument that the duty to care for society’s most vulnerable ultimately lies with us all.
On April 29, 2012, a private world of deceit and neglect came crashing down when Guy Mitchell, a 38-year-old man with developmental disabilities, died confused and alone, thrashing in a dark underground tank on the rural property where he lived.
When police arrived, they found a far larger crime scene: a house of horror where Guy had been living with two other vulnerable individuals under the care of a young woman with serious psychological issues. The home had no running water and no heat. Human waste filled the toilets and covered bathtubs, walls, and floors. There was no food in the kitchen, and mounds of dirty laundry and garbage cluttered most rooms. Yet the agency overseeing the home gave it a pass just two days before Guy’s death.
Blame: Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell attempts to find meaning and justice in the tragic death of a vulnerable individual whose circle of care failed him. Moving between the coroner’s inquest and flashing back to real-time events, author Dustin Galer explores what happened to Guy Mitchell in meticulous detail. As each layer of Guy’s support system is peeled back and examined, new facts emerge that reveal yet another missed opportunity to intervene in a rapidly deteriorating situation. Dramatic nonfiction that reads like a legal thriller, Blame resists easy answers, exposing a tangled web of negligence, indifference, and systemic failure and probing the deeper structural forces behind Guy’s death. What emerges is a powerful indictment of a broken system and a strong argument that the duty to care for society’s most vulnerable ultimately lies with us all.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 28, 2026
"It is often said that societies are judged on how they treat the most vulnerable of their members,” wrote the Ontario Ombudsman in a 2016 report.
I haven't heard of this case before and was not familiar with the history of Canada's policies to protect the intellectually disabled. Fascinating deep dive into Guy's heartwrenching story, his family, his living conditions, and the cracks in the system that allowed this beautiful, loved human to perish at the bottom of a well.
This book is well-researched (almost exhaustively so, since the same information is covered from multiple perspectives), and the photo inserts provide grounding for the story. Looking at Guy's childhood photos, it is clear that he was a happy, cherished child whose mother sought out help and resources to give him the best opportunities and experiences possible.
Faced with the challenge of being a single mother to a medically complex child, she carefully considered (and eventually chose) a foster home and day camp nearby to take care of him throughout the week. She chose the home of Karen Santor, a well-qualified and experienced caretaker. Guy's mother still took him on weekend trips every week, and Guy seemed to thrive in his day camp setting, even taking on a part-time job. After spending time with him weekly and staying in contact with both Karen Santor and his day camp counselors, his mother felt assured that this was the best setting for her son.
But when Karen Santor passed away and her young daughter, Keri, took over the daunting task of being a caretaker to three disabled individuals, things started to go south very quickly. The day camp counselors noticed a shift, but did not intervene. Not when Guy showed up with feces on his glasses and soiled clothes. Not when Guy and his roommates showed up with inadequate lunches, which were sometimes rotten. Not when Keri dodged multiple intervention meetings and house checks. Instead, they cleaned up Guy as best they could, and his mother didn't even have the opportunity to notice the signs of neglect during her weekend visits with him.
A neighbor noticed that the farm animals on the Santor property were not being let out to pasture and, when she started snooping around, found them without food or water and grossly neglected. It took multiple calls and complaints, and a few horses even died, but eventually the rest were removed. The living conditions of the farm animals caused more community protest than the fact that these three intellectually disabled individuals were living in similar neglected conditions.
Guy unfortunately met his untimely end when he fell into an unsecured well on the property. The true context of that terrifying event was never fully uncovered because Keri disappeared. The beautiful childhood photos of Guy at the beginning of the book were a sharp contrast to the horrific photos of the squalid living conditions found on the Santor property following his death. Truly mind-numbing and painful to see and read about; feces was caked into the hardwood floors, the mattresses had diarrhea stains, and there was barely any running water on the property.
At the core of this chilling nonfiction, there lies the fact that many families of children with special needs rely on doctors, caretakers, day camp programs, and the community at large for support and guidance. Many children, particularly with autism, undergo early-life "compliance training" to make them more agreeable and sociable, but this also inadvertently makes them the least likely to complain or to make their unsuitable living conditions known to others.
The harrowing tale of Guy Mitchell is not just about one inadequate caretaker or one overworked day camp program, but instead highlights the system issues involved in protecting our disabled. When everyone turns a blind eye to the most vulnerable members of society, the blame falls on us all.
“We speak for the dead to protect the living,” goes the motto of the coroner.
Thank you, NetGalley and ECW Press, for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
I haven't heard of this case before and was not familiar with the history of Canada's policies to protect the intellectually disabled. Fascinating deep dive into Guy's heartwrenching story, his family, his living conditions, and the cracks in the system that allowed this beautiful, loved human to perish at the bottom of a well.
This book is well-researched (almost exhaustively so, since the same information is covered from multiple perspectives), and the photo inserts provide grounding for the story. Looking at Guy's childhood photos, it is clear that he was a happy, cherished child whose mother sought out help and resources to give him the best opportunities and experiences possible.
Faced with the challenge of being a single mother to a medically complex child, she carefully considered (and eventually chose) a foster home and day camp nearby to take care of him throughout the week. She chose the home of Karen Santor, a well-qualified and experienced caretaker. Guy's mother still took him on weekend trips every week, and Guy seemed to thrive in his day camp setting, even taking on a part-time job. After spending time with him weekly and staying in contact with both Karen Santor and his day camp counselors, his mother felt assured that this was the best setting for her son.
But when Karen Santor passed away and her young daughter, Keri, took over the daunting task of being a caretaker to three disabled individuals, things started to go south very quickly. The day camp counselors noticed a shift, but did not intervene. Not when Guy showed up with feces on his glasses and soiled clothes. Not when Guy and his roommates showed up with inadequate lunches, which were sometimes rotten. Not when Keri dodged multiple intervention meetings and house checks. Instead, they cleaned up Guy as best they could, and his mother didn't even have the opportunity to notice the signs of neglect during her weekend visits with him.
A neighbor noticed that the farm animals on the Santor property were not being let out to pasture and, when she started snooping around, found them without food or water and grossly neglected. It took multiple calls and complaints, and a few horses even died, but eventually the rest were removed. The living conditions of the farm animals caused more community protest than the fact that these three intellectually disabled individuals were living in similar neglected conditions.
Guy unfortunately met his untimely end when he fell into an unsecured well on the property. The true context of that terrifying event was never fully uncovered because Keri disappeared. The beautiful childhood photos of Guy at the beginning of the book were a sharp contrast to the horrific photos of the squalid living conditions found on the Santor property following his death. Truly mind-numbing and painful to see and read about; feces was caked into the hardwood floors, the mattresses had diarrhea stains, and there was barely any running water on the property.
At the core of this chilling nonfiction, there lies the fact that many families of children with special needs rely on doctors, caretakers, day camp programs, and the community at large for support and guidance. Many children, particularly with autism, undergo early-life "compliance training" to make them more agreeable and sociable, but this also inadvertently makes them the least likely to complain or to make their unsuitable living conditions known to others.
The harrowing tale of Guy Mitchell is not just about one inadequate caretaker or one overworked day camp program, but instead highlights the system issues involved in protecting our disabled. When everyone turns a blind eye to the most vulnerable members of society, the blame falls on us all.
“We speak for the dead to protect the living,” goes the motto of the coroner.
Thank you, NetGalley and ECW Press, for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Blame by Dustin Galer recounts the heartbreaking true story of the all-too preventable death of Guy Mitchell, a man with developmental disabilities who sadly passed away while living in the care of a woman who had refused outside help at every turn. Blame lays out the facts of the case as presented in the coroner’s inquest, as well as provides a timeline following Guy from his birth all the way to his untimely death. It points the finger of culpability at every person and organization tasked with Guy’s care, before ultimately deciding that the true blame lies with us all, society at large.
I had never heard of this case before picking up Dustin Galer’s book, and I was shocked and horrified that such a monumental story had completely flown under my radar. Photographs are provided throughout, starting with family photos of Guy as he grows up, and ending with crime scene photos of the horrific state in which he was forced to live. The inclusion of these photos help the reader to really immerse themself in the story. By the end, I felt as if I had known Guy, as if I’d watched him grow up. To contrast his early days with those of his final months is absolutely infuriating and heartbreaking.
The writing style feels casual and approachable, despite the often in-depth legal talk as we make our way through the coroner’s inquest. I really appreciated how the author laid out the ways in witch society has failed Guy, and offered potential solutions to the system to prevent these sorts of incidents from happening in the future. This is an excellent book for fans of legal cases and true crime, as well as disability advocates or anyone who cares about the people who live in their community (which should ideally be everyone).
Thank you ECW Press for providing this advance copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I had never heard of this case before picking up Dustin Galer’s book, and I was shocked and horrified that such a monumental story had completely flown under my radar. Photographs are provided throughout, starting with family photos of Guy as he grows up, and ending with crime scene photos of the horrific state in which he was forced to live. The inclusion of these photos help the reader to really immerse themself in the story. By the end, I felt as if I had known Guy, as if I’d watched him grow up. To contrast his early days with those of his final months is absolutely infuriating and heartbreaking.
The writing style feels casual and approachable, despite the often in-depth legal talk as we make our way through the coroner’s inquest. I really appreciated how the author laid out the ways in witch society has failed Guy, and offered potential solutions to the system to prevent these sorts of incidents from happening in the future. This is an excellent book for fans of legal cases and true crime, as well as disability advocates or anyone who cares about the people who live in their community (which should ideally be everyone).
Thank you ECW Press for providing this advance copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Blame: Death, Disability, and the Search for Justice for Guy Mitchell by Dustin Galer examines the life of a developmentally disabled man in Canada and the systemic gaps that shaped his care. Structured around testimony from a coroner’s inquest, each chapter opens with courtroom excerpts before expanding into narrative context and investigative reporting. Galer traces Guy Mitchell’s experiences in foster care, nonprofit oversight, and adult services, while exploring broader themes such as deinstitutionalization, nonprofit governance, and gaps in provincial supervision. The book blends legal inquiry, social policy history, and personal testimony to reconstruct the circumstances that affected his life and care.
I think what makes this book compelling is that it refuses to reduce Guy to a case study. Through testimony from those who knew him, he emerges as a capable, engaged, and deeply human individual. I noticed that the story highlights the complexity of caring for disabled adults and the ways systems can fail despite good intentions. The book also emphasizes how structural and procedural gaps in care, combined with human oversight limitations, can create vulnerabilities for those most in need. While certain themes, such as policy changes and oversight challenges, are revisited throughout, I found this repetition helped underline the broader structural issues rather than focusing on a single event or person. Overall, Blame provides a thoughtful examination of responsibility and accountability in caregiving, offering both a human and systemic perspective.
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing an advance copy.
I think what makes this book compelling is that it refuses to reduce Guy to a case study. Through testimony from those who knew him, he emerges as a capable, engaged, and deeply human individual. I noticed that the story highlights the complexity of caring for disabled adults and the ways systems can fail despite good intentions. The book also emphasizes how structural and procedural gaps in care, combined with human oversight limitations, can create vulnerabilities for those most in need. While certain themes, such as policy changes and oversight challenges, are revisited throughout, I found this repetition helped underline the broader structural issues rather than focusing on a single event or person. Overall, Blame provides a thoughtful examination of responsibility and accountability in caregiving, offering both a human and systemic perspective.
Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is the true story of Guy Mitchell, a 38-year-old man from Hamilton, Ontario with developmental disabilities who died confused and alone, thrashing in a dark underground tank on the rural property where he lived in Jerseyville, Ontario in April 2012.
This book was very well written and researched. This book details the inquest that was held in July 2015 into the death of Guy Mitchell to try to determine how he was found dead in an abandoned cistern on the property he was living on. Through the court hearings, we learn about the life of Guy Mitchell from his difficult birth to his tragic death. We learn about the difficulties his family encountered with caring for him as his developmental disabilities progressed as he aged. We learn about the difficult decision his Mom made with respect to Guy’s care. We learn about the person Guy was and we also learn about the lack of resources and accountability with respect to care for vulnerable adults. The author’s writing style makes you feel like you are sitting in the courtroom during the inquest.
I am local to the area where this occurred and I remember the reporting of Mr. Mitchell’s death in the newspaper as well as the inquest that was held subsequent to his death, but nothing could prepare me for the heartbreaking details and photos of the living conditions that Guy was experiencing.
I read this book in 10 hours. I could not put it down once I started reading. It was very eye opening and tears were streaming down my cheeks as I read the last page because I was heartbroken at how the system failed Guy.
Thank you ECW Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this incredible novel.
This book was very well written and researched. This book details the inquest that was held in July 2015 into the death of Guy Mitchell to try to determine how he was found dead in an abandoned cistern on the property he was living on. Through the court hearings, we learn about the life of Guy Mitchell from his difficult birth to his tragic death. We learn about the difficulties his family encountered with caring for him as his developmental disabilities progressed as he aged. We learn about the difficult decision his Mom made with respect to Guy’s care. We learn about the person Guy was and we also learn about the lack of resources and accountability with respect to care for vulnerable adults. The author’s writing style makes you feel like you are sitting in the courtroom during the inquest.
I am local to the area where this occurred and I remember the reporting of Mr. Mitchell’s death in the newspaper as well as the inquest that was held subsequent to his death, but nothing could prepare me for the heartbreaking details and photos of the living conditions that Guy was experiencing.
I read this book in 10 hours. I could not put it down once I started reading. It was very eye opening and tears were streaming down my cheeks as I read the last page because I was heartbroken at how the system failed Guy.
Thank you ECW Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this incredible novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 Stars**
This was a difficult and emotional read. I was deeply saddened by Guy’s story and by the heartbreaking system failures that ultimately robbed him of his life. His story is important, and learning about what happened left a lasting impact on me.
The book started out very strong, but I found myself losing interest about 60% of the way through. Much of the same information was repeated through different POVs, which made the pacing feel slow, and there was a significant amount of legal and inquest-focused detail that I wasn’t expecting. Going in, I thought this would be more of a narrative retelling of what happened, rather than such a heavy focus on the inquest and legal proceedings.
That said, I really appreciated that this was a Canadian story, and I do believe more people should know Guy’s story and what happened to him. The included photos and personal stories were especially impactful and did a wonderful job of painting a picture of who Guy was as a person beyond the case itself.
Overall, while I’m glad I read this and learned about Guy, I’m not sure I would recommend this particular telling unless you’re specifically looking for a detailed legal/inquest-style account rather than a more traditional true-story narrative.
This was a difficult and emotional read. I was deeply saddened by Guy’s story and by the heartbreaking system failures that ultimately robbed him of his life. His story is important, and learning about what happened left a lasting impact on me.
The book started out very strong, but I found myself losing interest about 60% of the way through. Much of the same information was repeated through different POVs, which made the pacing feel slow, and there was a significant amount of legal and inquest-focused detail that I wasn’t expecting. Going in, I thought this would be more of a narrative retelling of what happened, rather than such a heavy focus on the inquest and legal proceedings.
That said, I really appreciated that this was a Canadian story, and I do believe more people should know Guy’s story and what happened to him. The included photos and personal stories were especially impactful and did a wonderful job of painting a picture of who Guy was as a person beyond the case itself.
Overall, while I’m glad I read this and learned about Guy, I’m not sure I would recommend this particular telling unless you’re specifically looking for a detailed legal/inquest-style account rather than a more traditional true-story narrative.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Searing true story of how the Canadian disability support system failed a disabled man. Filled with court testimony, pictures and compelling interviews, this book delivers on the importance of advocacy and good oversight for disabled members of any society.
Guy Mitchell was the beloved son of Diane. He was born with disabilities that didn’t become evident until he was older. It was determined that the best way to care for Guy was to put him in a home where his developmental issues could be handled and controlled. The Sartors, Karen and her husband, offered such a home. Karen was beloved for her advocacy. Guy thrived with the Sartors until their untimely death at which point their daughter, Keri, took over. After Guy’s tragic death in an underground tank on the rural property in 2012 where he lived, an investigation ensued that revealed the horrific conditions of the home in which he lived. The pictures in the book are gross and pitiful.
The book is written with journalistic rigor, is factual, probing and honest. The book examines each level of the care system - caregivers, agencies and oversight agencies - there’s plenty of blame to go around. It’s obvious things were missed, ignored or buried.
It’s a sad story but an important one. We must remember to care well for those who are severely disadvantaged- there but for the grace of God go I.
My thanks to NetGalley and ECW for granting me access to this ARC.
Guy Mitchell was the beloved son of Diane. He was born with disabilities that didn’t become evident until he was older. It was determined that the best way to care for Guy was to put him in a home where his developmental issues could be handled and controlled. The Sartors, Karen and her husband, offered such a home. Karen was beloved for her advocacy. Guy thrived with the Sartors until their untimely death at which point their daughter, Keri, took over. After Guy’s tragic death in an underground tank on the rural property in 2012 where he lived, an investigation ensued that revealed the horrific conditions of the home in which he lived. The pictures in the book are gross and pitiful.
The book is written with journalistic rigor, is factual, probing and honest. The book examines each level of the care system - caregivers, agencies and oversight agencies - there’s plenty of blame to go around. It’s obvious things were missed, ignored or buried.
It’s a sad story but an important one. We must remember to care well for those who are severely disadvantaged- there but for the grace of God go I.
My thanks to NetGalley and ECW for granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have never heard of this case, and I think the author did a fantastic job of telling the life of Guy Mitchell without glamourising it, or brushing anything under the rug. The writing style was so smooth, it just sucked me in and I found myself reading chapters for long periods of time. I loved how the book didn't just focus on the death of Guy, it brought him and his character to life by telling the reader incredible details about his upbringing, his life prior to the neglect and how everything came tumbling down. Included in the book was a handful of shocking photos that literally made me cover my mouth in shock. The fact that three developmentally disabled people were living in that home astounds me and it's clear the ball was dropped when it comes to the care they deserved.
I do think the ending went from being slow paced to a quick rush to finish the book, almost as if the ending was edited a little choppily, but overall, a fantastic read that had me gobsmacked. Especially when it came to the police's decision to not press charges for death, nor neglect. Broke my heart. May justice finally be given for Guy.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
I do think the ending went from being slow paced to a quick rush to finish the book, almost as if the ending was edited a little choppily, but overall, a fantastic read that had me gobsmacked. Especially when it came to the police's decision to not press charges for death, nor neglect. Broke my heart. May justice finally be given for Guy.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.
August 18, 2026
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
This one is a 3.5, I am going to round it up because I think it is important people know the story.
I remember this story when the inquest was happening. This is such a difficult part of our world.
We know that when a child has significant needs, we take care of them. Most often we have parents who are constantly advocating for them. But, when those children become adults and still has many needs, what happens then?
This story does a really good job of highlighting the issues with our care system. It was not about the lack of care that exists. It was about the lack of checks and balances for those that are part of the care system. The book indicates that some of the recommendations were not adopted. However, there were a number of changes that did occur as a result of this inquest.
For this book, I personally enjoyed most of it. I do think that it gets really bogged down in legal and processes that can lose some readers. I think if you do not know the story of Guy Mitchell, it is important to read this, as a society we should always look at what we are doing and consider how we can improve.
This one is a 3.5, I am going to round it up because I think it is important people know the story.
I remember this story when the inquest was happening. This is such a difficult part of our world.
We know that when a child has significant needs, we take care of them. Most often we have parents who are constantly advocating for them. But, when those children become adults and still has many needs, what happens then?
This story does a really good job of highlighting the issues with our care system. It was not about the lack of care that exists. It was about the lack of checks and balances for those that are part of the care system. The book indicates that some of the recommendations were not adopted. However, there were a number of changes that did occur as a result of this inquest.
For this book, I personally enjoyed most of it. I do think that it gets really bogged down in legal and processes that can lose some readers. I think if you do not know the story of Guy Mitchell, it is important to read this, as a society we should always look at what we are doing and consider how we can improve.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Blame by Dustin Galer is a heart wretching, sad and devastating true story about the death of 38 year old Guy Mitchell. By all reports Guy was a loving, giving, funny but challenged man living with disabilities. He and his mother trusted not only a host family, but also the various agencies and systems to do the best for Guy and have his best interests in mind. Sadly, that was not the case.
Blame is very much written like an academic article or essay. It collates the facts, while focusing primarily on the coronial inquest into Guy's untimely death.
I think we all could benefit from the knowledge of Guy's story, if for no other reason than the confirmation that we as individuals can and should pay attention to the vulnerable in our communities and not be afraid to speak out if something seems off.
Blame is very much written like an academic article or essay. It collates the facts, while focusing primarily on the coronial inquest into Guy's untimely death.
I think we all could benefit from the knowledge of Guy's story, if for no other reason than the confirmation that we as individuals can and should pay attention to the vulnerable in our communities and not be afraid to speak out if something seems off.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Whose responsibility is it to take care of our most vulnerable community members? This isn't an easy topic, and it isn't your typical true crime read.
Almost perfect. Some things feel missing, such as more information about Guy's years with Karen, what happened with Keri, before and after, and why Diane couldn't take Guy in when he became an adult (seemingly more manageable and easygoing than as an adolescent). There are a few big picture, zoomed out on society chapters near the end that felt misplaced, like they were wedged in later but didn't quite fit.
**I received my copy of Netgalley.
Almost perfect. Some things feel missing, such as more information about Guy's years with Karen, what happened with Keri, before and after, and why Diane couldn't take Guy in when he became an adult (seemingly more manageable and easygoing than as an adolescent). There are a few big picture, zoomed out on society chapters near the end that felt misplaced, like they were wedged in later but didn't quite fit.
**I received my copy of Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Blame recounts the events of the 2012 accidental death of a disabled man named Guy Mitchell in Ontario. I will say that this book does provide insight on the background of Guys early life and the diagnosis of his disabilities. The book will take you on a journey of how finding care for someone can sometimes lead to a system of corruption if procedures are overlooked. I admit I was quite shocked with what I read because while it seemed like Guy was happy in the environment he was in there were some things that were not being done properly to ensure that the environment was a stable one.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had never heard of this case before reading but I have learned so much. This book truly opened my eyes to the broken systems for adults with developmental disabilities and how Guy was failed. The evidence was laid out and explained and I go to walk through the case from start to finish. This book is a very important read in today’s world and I fee it did a great justice for a Guy’s memory. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A startling story about a case in Canada where a young, developmentally disabled man was found dead in an underground cistern. He was just 38 years old, staying with a family who was part of a care system that took in people who needed a place to stay with trained caregivers. The woman who had originally accepted him into this home had recently passed away, and her daughter had been grandfathered in as a replacement. Lots of explaining of agencies and bureaucracy surrounding cases like this.
July 13, 2026
Listened to the audiobook. Narration was ok. This story is so upsetting and maddening …but not surprising. Too often, the people and agencies who are supposed to protect and look after the vulnerable …fail us miserably. Animals and people. This story is a perfect example of excuses, justifications, laziness, lies and blatant neglect resulting in death and suffering. It was not an easy read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free copy of, Blame, by Dustin Galer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was a hard book to read. Some of the pictures were hard to look at. People can be so evil to the vulnerable people among us. Guy dd not deserve what happened to him. This book is not for everyone its a brutal read at times, about a true story.
August 17, 2026
A truly horrific story and highlights so many failings in our social welfare systems.
September 2, 2026
content warnings:
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Death, Excrement, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Death, Excrement, Alcohol
Moderate: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
July 3, 2026
This broke my heart.
There is no HEA in this story. All we can do is try to work out where it all went so wrong.
The book is broken into the perspectives of everyone involved in Guy’s life - his mum, his neighbour, his ‘carers’, the organisation responsible for his welfare.
Each chapter unpacks a little more insight into how he ended up dead at the bottom of a tank.
He was a vulnerable man living with a disability, & was failed by so many around him.
We need to do better.
There is no HEA in this story. All we can do is try to work out where it all went so wrong.
The book is broken into the perspectives of everyone involved in Guy’s life - his mum, his neighbour, his ‘carers’, the organisation responsible for his welfare.
Each chapter unpacks a little more insight into how he ended up dead at the bottom of a tank.
He was a vulnerable man living with a disability, & was failed by so many around him.
We need to do better.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews