Making Amends

By: Melinda Clayton

Narrated by: Michelle Babb

Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

On a beautiful fall evening, in the middle of a game of hide-and-seek, five-year-old Bobby Clark is kidnapped by his estranged father, a shiftless man with a history of domestic violence and drug abuse. Bobby's twin brother Ricky watches, terrified, from his hiding place behind the bougainvillea, while mother Tabby, who also struggles with addiction, lies inebriated on the living room floor.

Bobby isn't seen by his loved ones again until a fateful morning 25 years later, when video of his arrest dominates the morning news. He has been charged with the murder of his father, but before the trial can begin, he manages to escape.

As Tabby and Ricky absorb the news of Bobby's return and subsequent escape, Tabby is convinced he'll come home to the quiet Florida street from which he was taken so long ago. But when events begin to spiral out of control, she's left to wonder: is a child born to be evil, or shaped to be evil? And in the end, when it's time to make amends, does it really matter?

©2015 Melinda Clayton (P)2016 Melinda Clayton

A stolen child and stolen childhoods.

I was given this audio book in exchange for an honest review.
I waited a couple of days to do this review so that the story could soak in a little better. I was really left with mixed feelings. This is a pretty dark story. The story deals with two different families that are friends. It takes place 25 years after Tabby's family has been torn apart when the abusive father of her twin boys kidnaps one of them (Bobby) and disappears. Tabby, who's life has been riddled with drugs and alcohol eventually gets sober after the event leaves her alone with Ricky, but constantly longing for the child she no longer has. Although Ricky was the only child she had left to raise, he long ago accepted the fact that Bobby was always foremost in his mother's thoughts. The events had a lasting negative impact on his life.
Bobby, now 30 years old is suddenly in the news when he is arrested for murder and then escapes. Will Tabby's heart have her willingly aid her dangerous son or will she suddenly see the light and try to rectify things to show Ricky that he's important and that she values him?
The other family in the book owns the plant nursery where Tabby works. The husband, Ben, suffers from Alzheimer's. Ms. Clayton's portrayal of the disease was very realistic, sensitive and touching. She has a great handle on expressing the emotions of the characters in this book. Each chapter is from the view point of a single character and written in first person It was an interesting and effective writing method for this story.
The performance by Ms. Babb was great. Her voices for the different characters tend to enrich the picture you get in your head for each individual character.

Life doesn't offer a do-over

This book wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was really good. The characters were well written and the narrator did a great job giving them a voice. I was carried away by the story and couldn't wait to finish it. Tabby was so remorseful about her past mistakes, and yet she still had to live with them. Ricky recognized his mother wasn't perfect when he was a child, but didn't care. One character, Ben, had Alzheimers. I appreciated the way he was presented as well. It added another layer of depth to the story. I really enjoyed the book. The narrator immersed me in the lives of this family and made me care deeply about them. I found myself thinking about them lonf after I finished the book.

Heartbreaking!💜

From the moment I started this story, I knew it was going to stir something within me, A sadness, a strength, a hope or all of the above. A moving story that will have you thinking about life, family and the what if’s.
The narration was absolutely amazing. The characters were brought to life in such a way that you feel like you know each one of them.
I highly recommend this book.

Sisters Spotlight 💜

An heartbreaking story

It seems that the world was against Tabby, until she becomes pregnant, and meets her lifelong friend/soul sister, Vaughan during a rehab meeting. I felt Tabby found her second wind through this amazing friendship and pregnancy. She is a drug addict, the babies father is also a drug addict who is...well...a di*k!
But there is a newfound hope for Tabby, her twin boys; Ricky and Bobby, through her friends Vaughan and Ben.
Somehow though, Ricky seems to always come second to his older twin brother Bobby, and after their father kidnaps Bobby, Ricky remains second. Even after 25 years of his absence, Tabby keeps Bobby at the forefront of her life, even though Ricky has always been there.
Vaughan and Ben resent her disregard of Ricky and tell her so, in so much as recounting how Bobby would always monopolize Tabby's time and attention, but she feels responsible for Bobby's abduction.
Thus begins a whirlwind of events that are revealed when Bobby comes back.
This story is a bittersweet story of a mother's love, a son's need for acceptance and best friends intuitions and unheeded warnings...and then the self self-absorbed son Bobby, who only loves himself...I did not expect the ending, I actually needed a few minutes to not hate Tabby, but then I realized what it cost her for Ricky's sake. I loved this book!

Fascinating Story

This is a topic that could have been ripped right from the news headlines. It’s a realistic drama that plays out in an emotional and frightening manner. This is a totally engrossing and captivating story.

I listened to the audio version. The narrator, Michelle Babb, has a great flair for dramatic readings. She brings the listener right into the story giving them the opportunity to feel every tragic event the characters are going through.

This is a fascinating tale of a mother's worst nightmare and how it effects the entire family. Both the author and narrator did a great job with this one.




FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoyable read / listen

Would you listen to Making Amends again? Why?

I enjoyed all the characters and the mention of AA / ALANON.


"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Riveting Psychological Thriller

I found this audiobook captivating. Once it started, I had to listen until the end in order to find out what happened in the story. The plot was haunting and also thought-provoking. The characters were poignant and complex. Michelle Babb's narration was great, and her performance added to the pathos of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.

Twins but not two of a kind

Making Amends, by Melinda Clayton is an intensely stirring and ultimately heartbreaking story. A story of the consequences of one's choices and experiences. A story of a family torn apart and yet somehow the remnant has strength and tenacity. Clayton brings out the importance of strong friendships, forgiveness and family. The ninth step in the Alcohol Anonymous 12 Step program is making amends...is it possible there are times when making amends is not achievable? What if circumstances, both past and present, are not in one's control and atonement is impossible? A mother's love, twins, kidnapping and murder, Clayton has taken them and mixed them into a compelling story with evocative characters.
Michelle Babb does a wonderful job of narrating the audiobook, bringing unique individuality to each of the characters.
I received a copy of this audiobook from the narrator, Michelle Babb, in exchange for an honest review.

Whoa! Didn;t see that coming!

What did you love best about Making Amends?

The reality of it. This book was very believable in that the extraordinary things that happen were so cleverly set up it was not hard to swallow. Never once did I think "Yeah, right." And I love being surprised! Even when it's shocking. Especially when its shocking.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Making Amends?

The ending. Definitely.

Which scene was your favorite?

The end. Definitely.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I liked when Ben came into the room and thought the two women were crying over lost keys. He grumbles but takes over the cooking that is burning. Just a touching scene on many levels.

Any additional comments?

I've listened to a few books with this narrator and this was her best so far, I think. Great southern accent (as a southerner it is horrid when someone overdoes it) and great differentiation between characters.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com."

Nature vs Nurture

This book is a suspenseful family drama. A twin boy shows up 25 years after he was kidnapped by his abusive father. Unfortunately, his mother and twin brother only find him because he is arrested for murdering his father. This book deals with the concepts of addiction, nature vs. nurture, and family bonds.

The story is told from the POV of Tabby, the mother; Von, her best friend; and Ricky, the twin who was not kidnapped. I appreciated the author's compassionate portrayal of the three main characters; especially Tabby who was flawed, but trying to do her best after a tragic past and under heart wrenching circumstances. The suspense of the book kept me on edge until the end. It did have heavy foreshadowing towards the end, which knocked it down 1/2 a star for me.

I listened on Audible and thought the narrator did a good job of differentiating characters and portraying the emotion of the story.

I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.