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The People of the Broken Neck
From the woods where he hides with his nearly grown son Clarke and his young daughter King, ex-Army Ranger Dominick Sawyer watches Agent Charlie Basin’s flashlight beam bounce on the walls inside his cabin. Dom’s wife is missing. His post-trauma hallucinations rip at him explosively and bring him to his knees. And a local deputy sheriff is dead. When the FBI agents recede into the night, the Sawyers begin to run, across the country in stolen trucks, leaving a trail of blood behind them. Together with a young girl they pick up on the road, they hope to run until they find a peaceable place in the American Northwest.
But Agent Basin sees his own troubled family reflected in Dom’s haunted existence, and his pursuit is relentless.
All any of them want is to spirit King away to someplace safe.
All she wants is not to be afraid of her father and to find out why her mother disappeared.
But Agent Basin sees his own troubled family reflected in Dom’s haunted existence, and his pursuit is relentless.
All any of them want is to spirit King away to someplace safe.
All she wants is not to be afraid of her father and to find out why her mother disappeared.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2016
3 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 26, 2017
My initial reaction when I started this book was of excitement. I was reading it on my way into work, and I could not wait to get back on the train at the end of day to continue on. The beginning was fascinating, intriguing and the writing was very descriptive: a positive 3 star right out of the terminal. However, the book derailed in the middle and in the end. The mystery and plot did not live up to the beginning. I found it very hard to relate to the characters. The ending was very disappointing.
However, I will be looking for the growth of Silas Dent Zobal as an author. I do believe his beginning writing style can be translated to the middle and end of future books.
I want to thank Silas Dent Zonal for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
However, I will be looking for the growth of Silas Dent Zobal as an author. I do believe his beginning writing style can be translated to the middle and end of future books.
I want to thank Silas Dent Zonal for providing a copy of this book for an honest review.
December 28, 2025
First, I want to start with my reason for buying this book. I picked up this book because I wanted to support the author, who was one of my old professors. While I never had a class with him, he still supported me and gave me good advice for my career. Also, during a professor reading of his work, I thought what he read was very good, genuinely.
The amazing part, too, is that he had personally come to tell me during my senior capstone reading that he was touched by my work and it brought him to tears. I had NEVER received a compliment like that before and I was grateful he told me. He thought it was excellent and that I did really fantastic job. I knew I was reading unfinished work so I was like man hopefully people won't notice too much, but it was all I could work on that semester. Mr. Zobal shook my hand and we had a nice talk. I was like wow, I've never had a class with this professor, yet I could feel the support radiating from him.
So, I had a desire to bless him since he blessed me, and I was too, interested in checking out his work.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It's not terrible, but it's not fully gripping me. I might come back to it. I don't want to give a star rating because it's well-written, the plot is amazing and the premise so unique.
The tension between characters was great, and the unsureness of the family dynamic holding together was handled well. I felt that strongly. The mystery kept me reading at first. Is the father indeed terrible and violent? Was he was falsely accused, was he abusive, or just dealt a wrong place, wrong time kind of hand in life was? I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out, that was nice. The environments were so vivid, with strong and appealing imagery. We have a really great flip in perspective here between the personal lives and thoughts of the law enforcement and the opposing view of the suspected criminal father with his kids. That was so good, I wanted to know both sides of the story. It was a great way to show the reader a bird's eye view, instead of being sucked into one perspective the entire time.
For some reason though, I just can't articulate why I'm not fully into it. It's one of those books, you could pick up anytime and enjoy it here and there, but it would take you a while because you don't fully get sucked into it. Some parts are good, others just okay.
The writing though is so thick with metaphors, so it's really hard to understand because the language is so specific and detailed. I had no idea what was happening at times or what the author meant. I felt there was too much time spent on descriptions and details that were irrelevant to the story. For example, the sleeping bag scene at the beginning. The kids were described as being edged into the ground like cuneiform, where they looked like ancient mummies. It felt out of place for the camping outside and on the run aesthetic. I couldn't tell if this was supposed to convey? Perhaps the idea of them being a part of the earth, or maybe a foreshadowing that they would die? It could be putting emphasis on how they looked out of place and it was a contrast of youth and age to show the generational difference. My last thought was that it might just be pretty language to make a striking image in the mind. I could not tell. This led to extremely slow pacing and drawn out moments, even though the scenes were good. While the plot was great, it too, did feel buried under layers of description and slow pacing.
I came to a final conclusion of two stars. Not because the author doesn’t have good ideas but I had to keep forcing myself to read it because it seemed like everything yet nothing was happening at once. I was bored. However, I can still see the strokes of uniqueness that are present here.
Overall, I couldn’t finish it. This is my subjective opinion on the book. Props to Silas who is awesome. It sucks I couldn’t have more time to get to know him, but that’s ok.
The amazing part, too, is that he had personally come to tell me during my senior capstone reading that he was touched by my work and it brought him to tears. I had NEVER received a compliment like that before and I was grateful he told me. He thought it was excellent and that I did really fantastic job. I knew I was reading unfinished work so I was like man hopefully people won't notice too much, but it was all I could work on that semester. Mr. Zobal shook my hand and we had a nice talk. I was like wow, I've never had a class with this professor, yet I could feel the support radiating from him.
So, I had a desire to bless him since he blessed me, and I was too, interested in checking out his work.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about this book. It's not terrible, but it's not fully gripping me. I might come back to it. I don't want to give a star rating because it's well-written, the plot is amazing and the premise so unique.
The tension between characters was great, and the unsureness of the family dynamic holding together was handled well. I felt that strongly. The mystery kept me reading at first. Is the father indeed terrible and violent? Was he was falsely accused, was he abusive, or just dealt a wrong place, wrong time kind of hand in life was? I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure it out, that was nice. The environments were so vivid, with strong and appealing imagery. We have a really great flip in perspective here between the personal lives and thoughts of the law enforcement and the opposing view of the suspected criminal father with his kids. That was so good, I wanted to know both sides of the story. It was a great way to show the reader a bird's eye view, instead of being sucked into one perspective the entire time.
For some reason though, I just can't articulate why I'm not fully into it. It's one of those books, you could pick up anytime and enjoy it here and there, but it would take you a while because you don't fully get sucked into it. Some parts are good, others just okay.
The writing though is so thick with metaphors, so it's really hard to understand because the language is so specific and detailed. I had no idea what was happening at times or what the author meant. I felt there was too much time spent on descriptions and details that were irrelevant to the story. For example, the sleeping bag scene at the beginning. The kids were described as being edged into the ground like cuneiform, where they looked like ancient mummies. It felt out of place for the camping outside and on the run aesthetic. I couldn't tell if this was supposed to convey? Perhaps the idea of them being a part of the earth, or maybe a foreshadowing that they would die? It could be putting emphasis on how they looked out of place and it was a contrast of youth and age to show the generational difference. My last thought was that it might just be pretty language to make a striking image in the mind. I could not tell. This led to extremely slow pacing and drawn out moments, even though the scenes were good. While the plot was great, it too, did feel buried under layers of description and slow pacing.
I came to a final conclusion of two stars. Not because the author doesn’t have good ideas but I had to keep forcing myself to read it because it seemed like everything yet nothing was happening at once. I was bored. However, I can still see the strokes of uniqueness that are present here.
Overall, I couldn’t finish it. This is my subjective opinion on the book. Props to Silas who is awesome. It sucks I couldn’t have more time to get to know him, but that’s ok.
February 6, 2017
Dominick Sawyer is a former US Army Ranger that has seen his share of war. But his experiences haunt him with a severe case of PTSD leading to arguments with his wife eventually leaving. Dom loves his kids and will do anything for them. After a sheriff is found dead FBI agent Charlie Basin is called in to investigate and learns that Dom has taken his kids on the run. What follows is a game of cat and mouse from Pennsylvania to Maine to Washington. Charlie is determined to catch Dom but at the same times finds himself relating to the father protecting his children.
This is a touching story. Dom is a soldier and suffers horribly from his time in duty. He is trying his best but that doesn’t keep his whole family together. It does mean that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his kids safe. Charlie can relates to Dom since he has a daughter of his own. He is having a hard time relating to her but he still would do whatever it takes to protect her too.
It is easy to get drawn into this story with the rich writing and the beautiful imagery throughout the country. Both Dom and Charlie are great characters and the opposite points add depth to the story.
If you are looking for a great thriller, look no further. This is one book that you need to add to your shelves.
I received The People of Broken Neck from Wildbound Literary PR for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
This is a touching story. Dom is a soldier and suffers horribly from his time in duty. He is trying his best but that doesn’t keep his whole family together. It does mean that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his kids safe. Charlie can relates to Dom since he has a daughter of his own. He is having a hard time relating to her but he still would do whatever it takes to protect her too.
It is easy to get drawn into this story with the rich writing and the beautiful imagery throughout the country. Both Dom and Charlie are great characters and the opposite points add depth to the story.
If you are looking for a great thriller, look no further. This is one book that you need to add to your shelves.
I received The People of Broken Neck from Wildbound Literary PR for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
June 27, 2017
Beautifully written.
November 14, 2017
I will need to restrain myself from buying this for every person I know...
March 15, 2017
A bit strange.. I found the writing to be excellent with lush descriptions and some interesting moments. However, I found it hard to relate to the characters, and found the mystery and plot points a bit lacking.
February 12, 2017
Two men, one the hunted and the other the hunter, their paths will inevitably cross and lives end and change. Family relationships explored and characters find themselves in each other. This quote says it all, "Throughout our lives: time wilts and curls like a cut flower.
August 23, 2016
It's a rare novel that combines consistently stunning literary prose with the heart-stopping pace of a thriller, but that's exactly what Silas Dent Zobal has accomplished here. As the action zig-zags from Pennsylvania to Maine to Washington State, the novel evokes an American landscape that amazes with its beauty even as its enormity crushes the singular goal of the novel's protagonist, a Veteran running from his violent past while keeping his two children close. Exquisite sentences demanded that I stop and pay attention even as I was propelled to quickly turn pages as the action of this incredible story raced toward its inevitably tragic conclusion.
September 15, 2017
Needlepoint book club.
New to me author. Thriller. It kept me reading. I wouldn't have known about this book or author if it wasn't picked for the book club.
New to me author. Thriller. It kept me reading. I wouldn't have known about this book or author if it wasn't picked for the book club.
December 13, 2018
for book reading contest. ok
April 29, 2017
When I started this book, I was excited about the story. The initial set-up was intriguing and the author's descriptive writing had me hooked and wanting more.
The strong beginning didn't translate into a strong middle or end, however, and it was disappointing.
In the middle of the book, we have the introduction of a character named Elsie who seems to me like she is just a "prop" rather than a fully-developed, multi-dimensional character. It felt like I could take her out of the book completely and rewrite it slightly and have lost nothing in the overall arc of the story. She's also written in a way that's highly sexualized in a way I found gratuitous.
I took a break from the book and thought I'd see it all the way through because I wanted to see how it ended, and when I got to the end, I thought, "That's it??"
At the end, the mystery that's so expertly set up and so well-crafted in the first few pages isn't solved. The loose ends are not tied up.
The author's descriptive writing brought inanimate objects to life, and I appreciated that. The use of the word "and" to connect a series of three things in the sentences felt really fresh in the beginning, and at the end, I began to feel annoyed because it was used so frequently it felt old by the 200th page.
I gave this a three because of the descriptive writing and the strong beginning. I think Silas Dent Zobal is an author with promise and someone I want to keep on my radar, because I have faith he can produce great middles and ends as well as great beginnings in the future.
The strong beginning didn't translate into a strong middle or end, however, and it was disappointing.
In the middle of the book, we have the introduction of a character named Elsie who seems to me like she is just a "prop" rather than a fully-developed, multi-dimensional character. It felt like I could take her out of the book completely and rewrite it slightly and have lost nothing in the overall arc of the story. She's also written in a way that's highly sexualized in a way I found gratuitous.
I took a break from the book and thought I'd see it all the way through because I wanted to see how it ended, and when I got to the end, I thought, "That's it??"
At the end, the mystery that's so expertly set up and so well-crafted in the first few pages isn't solved. The loose ends are not tied up.
The author's descriptive writing brought inanimate objects to life, and I appreciated that. The use of the word "and" to connect a series of three things in the sentences felt really fresh in the beginning, and at the end, I began to feel annoyed because it was used so frequently it felt old by the 200th page.
I gave this a three because of the descriptive writing and the strong beginning. I think Silas Dent Zobal is an author with promise and someone I want to keep on my radar, because I have faith he can produce great middles and ends as well as great beginnings in the future.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews