Human Services: Elimination of Evil by John Rislove
Reviewed for Review the Book

This is not an easy book to read, but possibly an important book to read. John Rislove has written this as fiction, but it has a feeling of fact or how a number of people feel should be fact. With the author's background in Human Services, he has created a fictional solution proposed by a judge to a sex offenders therapist that some readers will really like and some readers will really dislike. Taking into consideration how many workers in the violent criminal offenders become either immune, jaded or oppositely burned out and suffering post-traumatic stress syndrome from their requisite involvement with these offenders, the story becomes more believable. The plot is strong and well-written.

There is no doubt that the cost of chronic jail-parole-jail for these repeat offenders is impossibly high, to the detriment of availability of money going toward health, schools, mental health, resources which would definitely create a reduction to the number of individuals who will commit crime in the future, since most crime is committed by individuals who have already suffered in their childhood. This is the basis of the book, the main theme, the fictional method of changing the economic statistics around.

This is not to say the book is dry or fact-filled. It is a suspenseful, controversial, psychological thriller, but the drama I find most terrifying is how easily a person can be persuaded that committing crimes can be for the better good. Our hero does all the wrong things for all the right reasons, so to speak. He is a good man with a loving wife, and thrilled when he becomes a family man. He is no different than any happily married man who wants to help humanity. I found the way the plot shows the passing of time unique and works well. A roller-coaster ride of emotions, the story grabs the reader and takes us on a journey that is surprising, psychologically fascinating, with a final outcome that will shock. Overall, a very good read with interesting resolution.

Reviewed on 09/30/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Betty Gelean

What would you do if you had the chance to permanently get rid of the criminals committing violent crimes? Could you do it? This is the questions that Human Services therapist Ryan Martin is faced with. Martin knows better than most about the chances of a violent offender returning to his old ways. After years of reading about ex-cons being arrested again for the same crime that put them in prison to begin with, he can’t take it anymore. After reading his resignation letter, the judge with whom he works closely presents an opportunity to him: work for the Judge to eliminate violent repeat offenders who manage to beat the system due to one reason or another. In exchange Martin gets a generous “salary” from the judge and the financial backing to open a private practice with multiple locations as a cover story.  Martin must try to come to grips with the morality, or lack thereof, of what he’s doing, while keeping it a secret from his family and friends.  Can Martin reconcile what he’s doing with himself or will it cost him everything he holds dear?

Human Services: Elimination of Evil by John Rislove is a gripping novel about how society deals with crime and violence. I certainly have felt outrage over violent criminals and wished that I could do something. The author has created a character that we all should be able to identify with: a well-educated family man who feels helpless when he sees news of repeat violent offenders being let back out into society. I daresay that there are many Americans who might jump at the chance to eliminate the problem in the same manner as in this novel. Rislove does an excellent job of painting Martin as being torn between the morality of the judge’s proposal and the unquenchable desire to do what the justice system apparently can’t: remove violent offenders from society. I give this novel 5 of 5 stars.

Reviewed on 12/13/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jud Hanson

We all know the terrible toll, financial and otherwise, that repeat offenders take on our lives, financially and emotionally.  Daily, we read and hear about a person with a long criminal record, known for violence, being released from prision only to reoffend, usually in a horrible manner, only to return to jail again.  Over and over, the pattern repeats itself, with heartbreaking results and impact to society and victims and their family members and friends. 

Now, imagine you have worked tirelessly with offenders, trying to ensure that they have learned not to commit crimes again, and to return to society and live as law-abiding citizens.  This is the case with this novel.  A man has given a large portion of his life, emotions and energy to working with offenders, trying to keep them from reoffending.  One night, he gets a call, one of the men he is working with has been picked up, charged with a horrendous and nightmarish rape and murder of a beautiful young teenager.  When he arrives at the police station, he inadvertently meets the parents of this young girl, and is haunted by their grief and anger. 

He decides it's time to change professions; he hasn't the heart to work with these inhuman offenders again.  A wealthy and powerful man offers him another option-large sums of money, everything he needs to carry out the job, if he will kill these offenders before they can wreck havoc on society yet again.  The people that will be killed are the worst of the worst, people who have committed horrendous crimes against innocent people over and over again, playing the "go to jail, get parolled, offend again" game for far too long. 

It's a fascinating proposition.  All that money, our taxes, that could be better spent on education, welfare, services for good and law-abiding citizens in need.  Taking the wealthy man up on his offer, our main character begins their "novel" approach to crime fighting.

Highlighting long time societal issues and problems, this novel takes a unique and fascinating view of an alternative answer, and the ramifications.

Well written, and filled with suspense, this thought provoking novel will have you questioning the current judicial system, and the problems it has.  Wonderful storyline, great characters, and a unique plot make this a great read.

Reviewed on 09/28/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES