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The Reckoning - Generations of abuse. A daughter determined to get justice
WRITTEN WITH SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ANN CUSACK
Generations of abuse.
A murdered mother.
A daughter determined to get justice.
Growing up as one of eight children with drug abusers for parents, Tara has no choice but to learn to be self-reliant from a young age.
Despite her mother’s negligence, Tara remains fiercely loyal to her, even more so when she discovers the terrible sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her own father.
But when the same predator turns his attention to six-year-old Tara, a horrifying spiral begins and history repeats itself.
Her mother stayed silent and Tara keeps her own abuse and pain a secret too. Until one day an unimaginable tragedy changes everything.
Tara knows she can rely only on herself. Can she finally get justice for both of them?
Generations of abuse.
A murdered mother.
A daughter determined to get justice.
Growing up as one of eight children with drug abusers for parents, Tara has no choice but to learn to be self-reliant from a young age.
Despite her mother’s negligence, Tara remains fiercely loyal to her, even more so when she discovers the terrible sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of her own father.
But when the same predator turns his attention to six-year-old Tara, a horrifying spiral begins and history repeats itself.
Her mother stayed silent and Tara keeps her own abuse and pain a secret too. Until one day an unimaginable tragedy changes everything.
Tara knows she can rely only on herself. Can she finally get justice for both of them?
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 24, 2026
Started this book Friday and finished it Sunday afternoon, one of those stories that’s hard to put down emotionally.
What really stayed with me was how personal and layered this story felt. It’s not just about one experience or one theme.
The book touches on neglect, being a young carer, drug addiction, child sexual assault, murder, multigenerational trauma, survival, resilience, love and loyalty, and what happens when children are forced to grow up far too quickly.
It also explores the silence that can exist around abuse, and the emotional complexity of standing up to an abuser while still carrying fear, love or loyalty alongside that pain.
Some parts really stayed with me afterwards.
Thank you, Tara Proffitt, for sharing not only such a raw, honest and brave story, but one that truly deserved to be heard.
I think books like this sometimes get overlooked because they’re not the “traditional” foster memoir format, but stories like these are just as important.
We also have a group on Facebook, called fostering, memoirs, and fiction book club if you wish to join.
Ps if you read books like this, leave a review wherever you can. It really does help authors and helps these stories reach the people who may need them most. ♥️
What really stayed with me was how personal and layered this story felt. It’s not just about one experience or one theme.
The book touches on neglect, being a young carer, drug addiction, child sexual assault, murder, multigenerational trauma, survival, resilience, love and loyalty, and what happens when children are forced to grow up far too quickly.
It also explores the silence that can exist around abuse, and the emotional complexity of standing up to an abuser while still carrying fear, love or loyalty alongside that pain.
Some parts really stayed with me afterwards.
Thank you, Tara Proffitt, for sharing not only such a raw, honest and brave story, but one that truly deserved to be heard.
I think books like this sometimes get overlooked because they’re not the “traditional” foster memoir format, but stories like these are just as important.
We also have a group on Facebook, called fostering, memoirs, and fiction book club if you wish to join.
Ps if you read books like this, leave a review wherever you can. It really does help authors and helps these stories reach the people who may need them most. ♥️
June 28, 2026
The Reckoning is a stark, affecting account of how trauma threads its way through generations, and how the ties that bind families can also hold them in cycles that feel impossible to break. Tara Proffitt writes with a quiet determination, tracing the legacy she inherited and the strength it took to rise above it. Her story is not just personal; it’s emblematic of the countless children who grow up doing everything right despite the odds stacked against them.
What struck me most is the tension between what is told and what is left unsaid or obfuscated. The gaps, the moments that feel muddled, make sense in the context of a life still intertwined with people she clearly wants to protect. That instinct to shield others as real people despite being connected to painful memories, adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. It’s a reminder that survival isn’t just about endurance; it’s also about navigating loyalty, shame, and the complicated love that persists in fractured families.
The book’s power lies in its honesty. Tara’s resilience is undeniable, and her ability to carve out a different future is both uplifting and quietly heroic. Those who start life at a disadvantage through no fault of their own. If more stories like hers were told, and believed, perhaps society would finally confront the shame it places on those who have already carried far too much.
Though the structure occasionally feels uneven, the emotional truth is clear. The Reckoning is a testament to courage, to breaking cycles, and to the hope that speaking out can shift expectations for the next generation.
What struck me most is the tension between what is told and what is left unsaid or obfuscated. The gaps, the moments that feel muddled, make sense in the context of a life still intertwined with people she clearly wants to protect. That instinct to shield others as real people despite being connected to painful memories, adds a layer of poignancy to the narrative. It’s a reminder that survival isn’t just about endurance; it’s also about navigating loyalty, shame, and the complicated love that persists in fractured families.
The book’s power lies in its honesty. Tara’s resilience is undeniable, and her ability to carve out a different future is both uplifting and quietly heroic. Those who start life at a disadvantage through no fault of their own. If more stories like hers were told, and believed, perhaps society would finally confront the shame it places on those who have already carried far too much.
Though the structure occasionally feels uneven, the emotional truth is clear. The Reckoning is a testament to courage, to breaking cycles, and to the hope that speaking out can shift expectations for the next generation.
June 28, 2026
A powerful and emotional story.
From a young age, Tara had shouldered so much responsibility. She had a hard childhood. Her parents were drug addicts. They had more children than just Tara, so she, being the eldest, was basically in charge of all the kids, even when she was still a child herself.
Another sad, sickening and tragic story. There are so many of them these days. How brave that some can speak out; tell what happened to them, maybe even help others. This was well-told, and made gripping reading, I was just hoping and praying that all would turn out for Tara in the end.
I got this a while ago, and thought it would be a difficult read, so I delayed starting it. But once I went in, I just couldn't stop reading. Such a powerful story.
I've read a few memoirs co-written by Ann Cusack, and they've all been excellent-this one is another great example.
There are hopeful and positive elements to her story as well as the extremes and her eventual quest for justice and healing.
A fast read, I powered through the pages. Such an emotional story. This lady has been to hell and back.
From a young age, Tara had shouldered so much responsibility. She had a hard childhood. Her parents were drug addicts. They had more children than just Tara, so she, being the eldest, was basically in charge of all the kids, even when she was still a child herself.
Another sad, sickening and tragic story. There are so many of them these days. How brave that some can speak out; tell what happened to them, maybe even help others. This was well-told, and made gripping reading, I was just hoping and praying that all would turn out for Tara in the end.
I got this a while ago, and thought it would be a difficult read, so I delayed starting it. But once I went in, I just couldn't stop reading. Such a powerful story.
I've read a few memoirs co-written by Ann Cusack, and they've all been excellent-this one is another great example.
There are hopeful and positive elements to her story as well as the extremes and her eventual quest for justice and healing.
A fast read, I powered through the pages. Such an emotional story. This lady has been to hell and back.
June 14, 2026
Wow, what a truly harrowing read but one that is absolutely worthy of telling. Tara recounts the most awful childhood abuse (of all kinds) throughout this book and how that impacted on her life then, as she grew and her life now. Childhood abuse lasts a lifetime, however Tara's decision in adulthood to face what happened to her head on helped to ensure that the perpetrator of the sexual abuse she experienced got the justice he rightly deserved.
It would have been good to hear a bit more about how her siblings were, as all of the children would have been significantly impacted by the abuse and neglect in the home. On a personal note I was heartened to see that Tara's experiences of midwives and the health visitors she encountered were mostly positive and supportive.
Thank you for sharing your story with the world Tara and I wish you well.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
It would have been good to hear a bit more about how her siblings were, as all of the children would have been significantly impacted by the abuse and neglect in the home. On a personal note I was heartened to see that Tara's experiences of midwives and the health visitors she encountered were mostly positive and supportive.
Thank you for sharing your story with the world Tara and I wish you well.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
July 1, 2026
I don't even know how to compute into words how Tara's book made me feel.. as a friend of mine too living on the same estate it's touched my heart and soul profoundly.. Tara's strength and resilience against the backdrop of despair is astonishing.. pain is definitely power .. I found a lot of parallels with us both and some of the trauma .. but also out innate natures and souls .. I felt connected .. I watched it play out in my head but felt powerless to stop her pain and abandonment.. Tara you are one of the most courageous humans I've ever had the privilege to know and I'm lucky to call you my friend ..
May 31, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, it had me in tears in places and I couldn't put it down. Tara is such a strong woman, with everything she went through, looking after her siblings and her Mum and moving away to try and make a better life for herself.
I'm so pleased that Tara was finally able to get justice done for her and her Mum.
Thank you Tara for sharing your story with us and thank you to Ann Cusack as well. I definitely recommend reading this book.
I'm so pleased that Tara was finally able to get justice done for her and her Mum.
Thank you Tara for sharing your story with us and thank you to Ann Cusack as well. I definitely recommend reading this book.
June 3, 2026
Its an okay read could be way better the ending is rushed there's a lot of repeating . Yes Tara has had a rough start to life but what are her siblings doing how did Tara meet. Her boyfriend
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews