Sleep Deprived by Therese Heckenkamp

This is an intense novella portraying the deep feelings after the loss of a child. Overcome with anguish and guilt, Mae repeatedly visits the grave of her infant daughter. One night she makes a choice in the graveyard that sets her on a dangerous course.

Heckenkamp has developed the character of grieving Mae very well in this short novella. We get a good sense of her inability to make good choices when confronted with the opportunity to help care for another newborn.

I am impressed with a well developed plot in this short fiction. The set up for Mae's desperation is created quickly so we understand her decisions. The villain is not as well crafted but he is not the center of the personality growth. The action is well paced, as is the suspense.

There are several issues explored in this novella. Judgment by others because of incomplete information is one. Honesty in marriage is another. The main issue, however, is dealing with the death of an infant and the potential guilt feelings that follow. This may be a trigger situation for some potential readers.

I liked this novella. It is well written and kept me reading. It can be finished in an evening and is a satisfying Christian suspense.

You can watch the book trailer here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Therese Heckenkamp has been writing stories since childhood and completed the draft of her first published novel when eighteen. An award-winning author, her books have reached #1 bestseller in various Amazon Kindle categories. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and five energetic children. You can find out more at www.thereseheckenkamp.com.

Ivory Tower Press, 96 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Book Sirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)