If I Am Missing or Dead

If I Am Missing or Dead (2007) by Janine Latus. This is an artfully reported account of two parallel stories -- of Latus's own abuse, physical and emotional, by the men in her life, and of her sister's abuse, leading to murder. It all starts with their father, who fares poorly in Latus's description of him, from the time she was a child until she becomes a mature adult. It then progresses to men she is involved with, even the man she marries, who are no more impressive than her father. All are sexually obsessed, all are willing to use force to get what they want. Latus is raped, beaten, and emotionally abused in the course of the book, and it climaxes with the murder of her sister Amy by a man she has gotten involved with. It's pretty powerful stuff, and it makes for fascinating reading. Grade: B+