At Risk: An innocent boy. A sinister secret. Is there no one to save him from danger?

by Casey Watson

Adam is a fragile and anxious boy whose relationship with his mother starts to unravel. His mother is seen as ‘wonderful’ and ‘devoted’ to Adam who she works hard for, but all isn’t as it seems.

Eleven year old Adam is taken in by Casey, following his mother’s car accident which left her with a broken pelvis. Casey is told that Adam is not in the best of health and he attends regular medical appointments for an unknown ‘sickness', but isn’t fazed. Casey takes Adam in, believing all will be well and back to normal, reassuring him as well as herself.

Every evening Adam visits his mother and Casey gives them ‘private time’ respecting his and his mother’s time to be alone. Soon enough a pattern begins to emerge as Adam’s health continuously deteriorates after every visit. The level of distress worries Casey who ends up stumbling across the real relationship Adam has with his mother, and Casey finds it’s more sinister than she had known.

Genres: Fostering, Memoir, Abuse, Nonfiction, Family

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 20, 2017

Reviews

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey Watson is a wonderful human being. Her compassion caring for a little boy named Adam due to his mother's emergency appendicitis lead to Adam being recognised as the victim of his mother's horrendous Munchausen by Proxy. It really is a dreadful thing to read and realise. And Casey should be applauded highly for her quick thinking and gentle probing that caused Adam to explain what his mother had been doing.

[Jill Robbertze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently discovered Casey Watson and I have really enjoyed her books about the various children with special needs or from disfunctional families, that she has fostered. She is very professional in this wonderful work that she does in caring for troubled children and it's heart-warming to read about the positive outcomes.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What some people do their children! Another good novella by Casey Watson.

[joan zawacki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of at risk

At risk. Boring. Too much interaction with authors family, who appear too unreal to be true under the circumstances. Seems as if her job would affect them more....than "how's the boy?" I would not use sinister to describe the plot. There was no evil intended. Might have made it more interesting if there were. All in all, unremarkable in style and content. British cliche did not add interest to the style Just annoying, like curiouser and curiouser. Others too .

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I demolished this book. I found it fascinating. It was an ebook from Borrow Box and I think it might have been a different version because the Mum was in hospital after having her appendix removed, not after a car accident. I wouldn't mind reading this version too.

My Goodreads star rating... ****

My Goodreads scale:
* waste of time
**filled in time
***good
****excellent
*****absolutely amazing

[Judy Ann Bertoson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Winner!!

This is definitely a great read because, it makes you feel all the emotions and involves the reader on every level. Casey writes in a way that makes you feel like you are right there with her.
My only complaint is that it was not long enough.
I would recommend this book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected Outcome

Although this is a much shorter story than Casey Watson usually writes, it still is excellent. The stories she writes always seem to have a lesson to tell. Munchausen syndrome is a very serious but little known problem. Casey handled the problem extremely well.

[Lucie Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though my mother is English and I grew up hearing many English phrases, even I found some of the words or phrases used in this book hard to understand. I did enjoy it though and look forward to reading more of Casey’s books (and learning more English colloquialisms!)

[Nush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking

This is a fairly short story but wow what a story! It’s about an 11 year old boy who comes to stay with Casey temporarily. But then information comes to light that changes everything!

[Glenice ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

At risk

This book was a good read but too short.I read a lot of books on fostering and abused kids. I learned a lot from books I've read and look forward to read more.. I was a foster parent for 5 yrs... I couldn't take letting them go. I respect all foster parents.

[angela robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This is a very gripping story line. What am amazing lady Casey is for her type of work.
Breath taking.

[Molly Luck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sad but a great storyline. It does give an insight into about children in care

[mandy cobbett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Another good book by author and it maybe a short read but was very detailed, can't wait to read her new book

[Cheri Smallwood-ellerker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book,

[Nicki Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got told to ready Casey Watson cause I loved Cathy Glass. They are both on the same great scale of book. What these ladies have to go thur to help trouble kids are both inspirational.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innocence

A great book a little boy with immaculate manners but something isn't sitting right with his foster carer but casey doesn't give up till she finds the answers 5 stars.

[Elizabeth Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just read another foster care book about this very thing. Crazy!

[Guusje Zuiderent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a good book, but to short and predictable

[william douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this short story , Look forward to the next

[PrettyTink Lollipop · Rating 5 out of 5]

ANOTHER AMAZING READ!

I love reading Casey Watson books!. This one was short but very good! 😍 I've read most of her books

[rosemary bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story

Lovely story. Showing the bond of a foster parent and boy.
she showed such care and love. Charming tale of adversity.

[Brent Seheult · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Another great one. Poor Adam being drugged by his mother. Thank God for an astute foster parent. Glad Adam turned out fine

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus Munchausens is a trip.

[Kelly Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent as always

[NICOLE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, very sad. Predicable with cas's writing tho.

[MagicaCat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeesh. Poor kid.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Tear jerker but really good as with all her books.

[Kerry Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fascinating to read; a book written from the point of view of a foster carer, I couldn't put it down. This book proved to me that not all foster carers are bad and that some really do have hearts after all.

[sandra turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

At risk

A very sad story really but things do look up.the book was very interesting especially about his mothers illness. I'd heard about it but never really knew what it was . This is a must read