Darla Deserves Better

Walter is suspended from boarding school and sent home early. He feels little remorse for what he did and is just looking forward to the summer holidays starting so he can see his friends again. But it turns out they aren't allowed to see him because he's a "bad influence". He tries to occupy himself but that just leads to more trouble.

Worried that he is lonely, his parents bring home a dog, Darla, and tell him that it's his responsibility to look after her. He doesn't even like stupid dogs, but apparently it will benefit him somehow. As boredom leads to frustration he finds himself taking it out on all the wrong people and if he doesn't pull himself together he will find that some victims bite back.

No animals were harmed in the writing of the story, but if you find scenes of cruelty to dogs distress you this probably isn't the story you.

PAYBACK by James Loscombe really pisses me off. Walter is a POS who beats his dog to death, which upset me, but I accepted it as a necessary evil to propel the story. Unfortunately, the little bastard gets away with killing the dog and doesn't learn a damn thing, so now I'm wondering what was the bloody point. Not to mention, readers are never told why he is suspended from school.

Also, the whole thing with Mary seems completely out of place. The confession from his parents doesn't seem to add much substance to the story. Would have been something if Mary had been revealed as his biological mother, but readers are left with a crap ending instead.

I can't help but wonder wtf Loscombe was thinking when he wrote this mess.

As always,
AstraDaemon