Escaping My Predator by Mary J. Schalla is the harrowing true story of a woman’s fight for freedom and safety from a man who manipulated, abused, and terrified her for years whilst she was trapped inside a relationship with him. The book is split into milestone chapters, documenting Schalla’s journey from the very beginnings of her courtship, right through to his final sentencing in court. She expresses her inner turmoil in different stages: her denial, her recognition, her battle. It is written in the style of an extended journal entry; it contains little to no written dialogue, and the characters all remained unnamed.

Escaping My Predator is raw, beautifully honest and offers many powerful messages about finding the courage and strength to not only identify a dangerous and abusive partner, but to leave them as well. I found the prose and the character development to be interesting. The author paints a poignant picture of the situation that unfolded between woman and abuser. I would’ve liked to have learned a little more about Schalla but going through her experience I was still able to connect with her. I was taken on an emotional roller coaster and was immersed in the feelings of each character in the book. Schalla’s powerful writing and emotional depth allowed me to live through the author’s experience.

It is not easy to openly share explicit details of an abusive relationship, so for this I highly commend Schalla and her bravery. Schalla’s story insightfully captured the experience of being an abused woman and what it takes to overcome this abuse. Escaping My Predator is a stirring and emotional story that is ultimately inspiring and uplifting. You too can escape and abusive relationship, and Mary Schalla inspires anyone who thinks otherwise.

Pages: 150 | ISBN: 152559818X