The Old Lady by Kristopher Triana

I have to admit, given that I am the same age as the main character, I was not smitten with the title. But I grew to understand, through Triana’s masterful prose that “The Old Lady” was meant to lead the reader, as well as the villains of the story, to drastically underestimate her convictions. She may be crazy but she is serious about protecting herself and her family and she will violently dispose of anyone who gets in her way.

     She was raised by a father who was an extreme prepper and war survivor who did horrible things to his daughter. He created a survivalist monster who could no longer function in everyday society. The reader is torn between knowing that some of Tracey’s downfall is of her own making and cheering her on as she sets a guy on fire.  Synopsis: Teens find themselves in the woods, lost, and make the mistake of meeting a militia group where a few members decide to have fun with the teens. Luckily, crazy Tracey mistakes one of the teens as her estranged daughter. And that’s where the real fun begins. When the militia group dismisses a crazy old lady as not being a threat and pays the price for that mistake.

     I’ll say this is the first book ever that I’ve been displeased with the ending and still thought it was an amazing book.  You’ll know what I mean when you read it. It was a hell of a book but man, do you wish things had ended differently.