Ted Dekker never ceases to amaze me. He truly is a master of suspense. But his gift goes far deeper than that, because he is able to reach down inside your heart and mind, to change the way you see and understand things.
He's a Christian, but the stories he tells are not necessarily "religious". Then again, if you think about it, a story about a man finding a treasure in a field and doing everything in his power to get that field in order to possess the treasure, isn't a very religious story, either. At least not at face value. And that's the thing about Ted Dekker. The "story" is not all there is the story.
Here's how it usually goes when I get to the last page of one of his books: I usually feel like I've read a great story. I understand what he's trying to show the reader. I see the illustration of a deep truth. But then, when I think that's all there is, he adds one more line to the book, and an even bigger light bulb goes on in my head. A sort of "A-ha!" moment, where I feel that not only do I get it, but I GET IT deep inside. It's like my heart has wrapped around something that my mind has known for a while. It may sound like I'm being vague, but it may be that you just have to experience it for yourself. I also don't want to be too specific because for me, its the element of surprise that gives his books their power.
Boneman's Daughters is about a serial killer who so far has taken six girls in a quest to find a "perfect daughter", because he believes he is the perfect father. When each girl fails to meet his expectations, he kills them by breaking their bones one by one, without breaking the skin.
Special agent Ryan Evans is the top in his field, and after coming home from a traumatic event in Iraq, he re-evaluates his life. He realizes that he's neglected his wife and daughter. However, they haven't had a life changing experience, and they want nothing to do with him.
Soon Ryan discovers that Boneman has taken his daughter, Bethany, as his 7th victim. Now Ryan has to use his professional skills to play Boneman's game in an attempt to outwit him to get his daughter back. The problem is, the authorities think Ryan might be Boneman himself.
I really wanted to summarize what Dekker says in his blog about the violence in this book. Boneman's Daughters is violent. And it is disturbing. But that's his intention here. You, as a reader, are meant to be disturbed. But it is not gratuitous - there is a purpose for it. Dekker is trying to open your eyes to great truths. His perspective on why he wrote this is explained in one of his blogs, titled "Why We Fear Violence" ( I truly hope you'll follow that link and read the article). He says that some of us "...will read BoneMan’s Daughters and be disturbed, as you should be, and you will be moved...and you will wonder what you should do with all the feelings this book evokes." He talks about how in our society, we have a great fear of violence and death, and that "Anything that threatens a comfortable life is deemed evil; prosperity of flesh is exalted over prosperity of spirit". So much so that we are afraid to get in the trenches and help those that are suffering or are in bondage in some way.
Boneman's Daughter is a great story on its own. Feel free to give it to someone and trust that they will enjoy it just as much as they'd enjoy any "secular" thriller out there. But more importantly, it is a beautiful parable of of a father's love for his child. Of The Father's love for His children.
I'll end this with a video of Ted talking about the book, and a little bit about how he got his inspiration for it from true events in his life.
(if you received this by email and don't see the video below, go to this link to see it: Ted Dekker/Boneman's Daughters)
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