Summary:
Matt and Irene Moore, anxious to leave horrific tragedies behind them, relocate to a small coastal town with their 14-year-old daughter, Casey. But rather than find peace, their world is once more turned upside-down when their lives become entangled with Billy Thurber, a drifter who arrives in Breakers with a rash of crimes following at his heels. As the town goes after Thurber with murderous intent, eager for someone to blame, the Moores find unexpected grace and healing in the most unlikely way.

My Review: Lakin is a terrific writer who crafts tight scenes with lots of action. Although I wasn’t too fond of the many viewpoints, the story is well-crafted and tugged at my heartstrings because of a plot thread involving the Moore’s son. I know what it’s like to struggle with a troubled boy, and Lakin drew an accurate and heartbreaking picture of family members dealing with the same event in very different ways. Without creating spoilers, the crisis that arises pushes each of these family members to the edge is realistic and gripping. Lakin does not sugar-coat real life, so sensitive readers might be shocked in some places. But for those who can stomach the perils of life as seen from folks who are clinging to sanity and their faith in order to cope, Someone to Blame will not disappoint. Bravo.

Author Bio:
C. S. Lakin is a novelist and professional copyeditor who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, dog, and three cats. Her fantasy series, The Gates of Heaven, released with the first book, The Wolf of Tebron, in August 2010. Soon to follow are The Map across Time and The Land of Darkness, allegorical fairy tales drawing from classic tales we all read in our childhood.