This was an absolutely fantastic first novel by the Author, Wednesday Lee Friday. “A Stabbing for Sadie”, is mesmerizingly disturbing as it weaves you through the life of a mentally disturbed little girl who grows up, but grows up broken. I flew through the novel, anticipating each page faster than my eyes could keep up with the words. It has been a long time since a book blew me away with such an in depth, almost personal connection, as Sadie’s story painfully unfolds. If Duncan Moron, my character from “Duncan’s Diary: Birth of a Serial Killer “, had a sister, my guess is it would be Sadie. Not that I would define Sadie as a serial killer, but they both are emotionally wrecked lost souls.
She grew up as did most children in a home with two parents, a sister and a brother. Any hope of typical died there as she suffered at an early age from emotional, physical and sexual abuse that was highlighted by torture and isolation. Being the overweight child of the three she didn’t get the special attention that her two “pretty” siblings received. She was forced to clean the house and wait on the rest of the family in a sadistic “Cinderella” story that failed at the happy ending.
Being recognized in her youth as gifted her teachers began encouraging her to apply to college and focus on her easily noticed academic skills. Breaking out of the tyrannical grasp of her mother proved difficult but somehow Sadie did manage to get past her youthful experience and grasp at academia as the key to her escape. Sadly it all came a little too late as she continually faltered with depression and emotional baggage that clung to her for the rest of her life. Isn’t that the way we are all built? The continuing damage might be stopped but once our psyche has been riddled with gaping holes, it is hard to piece it back together again.
With nothing left to lose Sadie does the only thing she can think of to rid her decaying mind of the torture by killing the one person she fears the most, her mother. In the opening chapter we find Sadie lying on the kitchen floor, bloody and passed out from her fatal attempt at desperately trying to free herself from the satanic life she once was imprisoned. I can’t begin to tell you the twists and turns the book takes as you filter through this sad child’s mind but you will be glued to the pages as you feel the life this poor sad little girl was forced to endure.
Taking on such a strong topic for your first novel and doing such an amazing job at grabbing the reader without going too far was impressive. I loved this book which I found to be more dramatic and sad than a horror novel. While I believe Wednesday Lee Friday is billing herself as such, I found this to be much more mainstream and would target anyone that can handle such an emotional roller coaster.
The only reason I gave this novel four stars instead of five is strictly from a structural perspective. There are a few holes (minor let me emphasize) in the story and the book is in need of editing. Setting that aside, it is still a very easy read and flows smoothly, doing nothing to sway your mind from the disturbing events being described. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the next one from this incredibly gifted author.
If you want to enjoy your weekend, buy this book today, sit back in your house for a few hours and read.
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