DRY THE RAIN

The truth behind a popular true-crime series is revealed by the real-life survivor of a traumatizing abduction in this novel.

True-crime fans get caught up in the dramatizations of sensational cases, but do they ever think about the true-life survivors? This question is at the heart of Leise’s book in which “Mallory” (not her real name) grapples with the popular series based on her own story of abduction, abuse, and escape. “I could tell you all about the different ways He would hurt me, or the four or five ways He had of teaching me things, and you would be fascinated,” she asserts. “Or maybe you would feel bad. Or you might even become horrified…and you would pick up your phone and talk with your friends about what had happened, you would text your texts and you would post your posts because Dry The Rain is based on real and actual events…You watch and you feel terrible until you do not.” Mallory reflects on her abduction, effectively leaving much to readers’ imaginations while conveying the full terror of the ordeal: “Most of you have never had your leg in a bear trap…most of you have never had your hands in a bucket of rats.” This makes explicit descriptions of her suffering all the more powerful. This is a unique and timely take on true crime’s impact on the national consciousness, where survivors are transformed into click-bait. Opinions will vary on a literary conceit that Mallory uses to explain herself: “Or maybe it is better to say, by which I mean it is more precise.” It is employed hundreds of times and it quickly becomes a distraction. This raw novel may be a rough read for physical and mental abuse survivors. But Leise has crafted an immersive psychological portrait of a damaged young woman who ultimately does not portray herself as a victim.

A keenly observed character study and all too relevant story about true crime’s dehumanizing fallout.