This is written from the point of view of a drug addict…wait, if you think this is just another novel about an addict in a rehab you are just plain wrong, for in here, the addict is also the OWNER of the rehab. And what a rehab it is! It is not a rehab: it is a modern-day plush apartment full of every kind of amenities you would want badly: from spas to massage parlors to swimming pools, excellent cuisine, personal trainers just for you…boy, I would like to become an addict just to get into THIS rehab! The owner is first shown as a warm-hearted, nice guy, who had opened this rehab with a dream in his heart, and found success in it. Later on he turns rather violent, which provides for the much-needed thrilling ride of the second half.
Unfortunately for him, Travis has returned to drug use again and therefore, he does not get along with his wife. This forms the second part of the novel which is, of course, more thrilling than the first. On one hand he’s got rich, psychotic, sometimes suicidal addicts (“He does exhibit some of the deeper personality traits: deficient of real emotions, lack of remorse or shame, inability to control outbursts of anger, disassociation with friends and family, threats of suicide that are rarely carried out, and — of course — the superficial charm”) and on the other is his wife Ana who wants nothing to do with him because she is painfully aware of his drug use; she also wants to take her daughter away with her.
It is quite evident that Ana has grown cold on Travis, based on this passage alone, “Nearly a week had already passed since Bella was released from the hospital. The only dialogue Travis had had with either of them came from Ana in the form of a text telling him Bella was okay. That was it — no details and no other threats. But he knew her mind was made and there was no chance in reversing any of her ill-fated plans.” Travis, the owner of the rehab, won’t let it happen – no father would, and he will do anything to stop Bella, the daughter, from being snatched away from him, even if it means venturing into the area of cold-blooded violence. His illusion of having everything under his control, even his drug use, is just that, a typical illusion of a drug addict.
The language is very simple. You can feel the rhythm of the characters all the time; you feel as if you know what’s on their mind and heart; you know all about them – as if you have got your hands on their pulses. Given the life of the characters of the book, the final line of the book makes sense:
“Everyone should live with a scar.”
Highly recommended for fans of mystery thrillers.