Blessed Are Those Who Weep by Kristi Belcamino is
an excellent crime novel. From the very first page readers
are grabbed with the story line. The theme is very relevant
to real-life since it concentrates on when to let go. There
are multiple sub-plots that center around obsession: a killer
obsessed with obtaining his form of justice, and the main
character obsessed with her personal life.
The book opens with San Francisco Bay Area reporter Gabriella
Giovanni stumbling onto a horrific crime scene with only one
survivor, a baby girl. After experiencing this butchery she
is determined to find the killer that made this helpless baby
an orphan. Being a crime reporter herself, the author shows
how some reporter's, as with some police, cannot let go of
their cases. Did Gabriella cross the line by allowing herself
to become too emotionally involved with the child?
What makes this book special is the back story of each character
including the antagonist, and some personal issues that the
everyday person can relate with. Gabriella is flawed and has
realistic problems ranging from being passive-aggressive with
her boyfriend, trying to cope with a miscarriage, obsessed
with finding her sister's killer as well as the murderer of
the family she found. This complex character has a past that
not only haunts her, but also defines much of her present
life.
Because of a recent miscarriage Gabriella is in a vulnerable
state and attempts to overcome it by becoming pregnant. What
is most interesting is how Belcamino shows that the father
also is emotionally tied to the fetus. Through Gabriella's
fiancé, Sean Donovan, readers understand that he also
has feelings that should not be discarded.
The author explained how her personal experiences influenced
the story line, attributing this quote from the book, 'The
life inside me may have been too small to see with the naked
eye and yet I'd already seen that child's lifespan from birth
to death in my hopes and dreams for her. And when that vision
was ripped out of my arms, my world dimmed, and those shadows
cling to me.' It came out of my own personal experiences of
having miscarriages. I remember having that feeling and those
thoughts. When it first happened to me I felt I was the only
person in the world it happened to. What helped me is realizing
other women survived and were able to have children. Maybe
some feel better and can overcome the loss once they have
their own child. I hope others understand it should not be
a secret and should be talked about."
Donovan is an Irish police detective who tries to help Gabriella
out of her emotional abyss. He is good looking, kind, caring,
and considerate. In this plot he does not take an active role
in the investigation, but is front and center in the relationship
story line.
The antagonist is also someone who suffers since he saw some
horrific things while serving in Iraq shortly after 9/11.
Through his experiences readers begin to understand that many
in the US military risk their lives while getting little support
after returning home. Within the plot line is a discussion
of military suicides and what is being done about it.
Belcamino commented, "Several of my family members are
active duty. I worry about them and the support they are getting.
I do not think there is enough support for them when they
come home. I hope to show the effects they are experiencing
since I am not sure people are aware of it. I want to encourage
more awareness."
Blessed Are Those Who Weep is a story dealing with
betrayal, manipulation, cover-up, and obsession. It has a
gripping plot and believable characters. Although many social
issues are discussed it is done through a riveting action
packed story. The intensity begins with the very first page
and does not let up.
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