From the moment that eleven-year-old Alice's mother kisses her and whispers, "Run," the pace of this coming-of-age, powerful novel jettisons into a whirling, unforgettable journey in a small rural Texas town. Alice wants to get rid of Simon Jester, who saved Alice's mother, Meg, following the desertion of their father for another woman. So why does Alice want Simon to disappear at a time when her mother again seems more than happy and content and why is Boone initially so ready to trust God with every aspect of evolving terror? For Simon emanates palpable evil and requires sacrifices for any infraction of his "loyalty" code.

When not focused on what is felt to be impending disaster, Alice and Boone learn about the rest of life through a mentally handicapped dog, so-called friends and a mental asylum escapee who share fearful yet fixated passions with their local community. Everyone and every thing overlap in a roller-coaster ride of wavering shades of black, grey and white. This is a world where passionate love follows on the heels of debilitating hate, the cycle repeatedly resuming before one can catch one's breath in each successive scene. Disturbing elements of life's cruelty arise which cannot be ignored, for there can be no redemption in denial.

How much protection and loyalty must a newly wed wife provide for herself and her children? To what and whom should one promise undying loyalty? How deeply and for how long does a character's love for God remain intact in the face of repetitive trauma? When does loving comfort become a doorway to evil from a parent or sibling? How much force can hopelessness, rage and forgiveness exert at the same time? Be amazed at the journey into these realms of thought you will experience long after the last page is turned.

Kathy Hepinstall is one of the most unique writers this reviewer has ever read. No, this is not just a tale of abuse and survival; The Absence of Nectar is narrated in an unparallelled style that surpasses even her first excellent novel, The House of Gentle Men.

Lest one think this book is just one horrendous tale, there are numerous spots where Alice and Boone's thoughts and verbal responses draw forth the deepest belly laughs. Actions of such deep love will soothe and comfort the heart. Lush descriptions of the various Texas settings are visualized and intoned with startling but beautiful clarity.

Get ready for a story so riveting that the pages can't flip fast enough. No one gains when responding to evil with evil, true? Decide if, "...everyone is fated to be innocent, if you wish this to be true."

Congratulations, Kathy Hepinstall! In The Absence of Nectar we honor the highest potential within humanity and the craft of writing!