Reunion
Twenty years after surviving a school shooting, Tanner Khan and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion. Although they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray, the troubled teen who killed many of their classmates.
Once inside the old school, they discover that a dark entity has joined them. It has come to collect a debt, long overdue and someone has to pay. Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears and put the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare? Find out in this groundbreaking suspense thriller that is frightening and powerfully moving.
The Story Behind This Book
After wondering how a school shooting will effect a young person over the course of their life, the seeds or Reunion were planted.
Praise and Reviews
"Reunion is labeled as a ‘Supernatural Thriller” and in a way, it is. In another, more important way, it’s a study of the human condition—how we heal, how we cope with trauma, and how we interact with one another in the wake of tragedy.
I found Bennington’s characterization solid, his research on the well-documented world of PTSD accurate and convincing (I have degrees in psychology). I also found his inclusion of the supernatural, charming and inspired. The way the narrative is written, feels like a film script in the sense that the prose blends so well with the action and the internal dialog that you read without focusing on each word, or sentence. It’s the best kind of thriller.
Out of necessity, there is a good bit of telling in this book. Bennington couldn’t ‘show’ you the past of each character and not wind up with a boring doorstop. But, he takes that rule, bends it, and makes it work for his purposes. It’s a perfect example of why that rule, show don’t tell, isn’t appropriate for every novel. To make up for this, when he does ‘show’ he SHOWS. The descriptions were vivid and pulled the narrative forward, added to the characters’ depth, and made Reunion an overall great read."
Reunion by Jeff Bennington is an incredibly hard hitting novel that embraces the lives of not only the victims but of the person committing the crime. Reunion is not what I would consider an “easy” read. Not to say it was bad, it is an extraordinarily exceptional story, just that it emotionally involves the reader. This story is about a horrific event, an event that touches not only those involved but an entire town, and possibly even far more than it did to begin with.
He asks some very interesting questions: What happens to the students who have been traumatized by school shootings, how have they survived – or have they – really?
Bennington leaves us with a powerful and insightful look into the lives of five students that survive the painful tragedy. I found this book a poignant one that pulled me into their lives and their experiences. It opened my eyes to the possibility of what others lives may be like after such heartbreak.
With the combination of intrigue, romance, suspense and even supernatural, Bennington allows the feel of these characters to come forth and lead us through their lives. Reunion has enough mystery and surprise to satisfy anyone looking for an exceptional read.
"Reunion tackles a controversial subject with dramatic insight and grace." - Bestselling author & Bram Stoker nominee, Scott Nicholson, author of The Red Church
"When I started reading Reunion I was shocked by the quality of writing. Natural dialogue, good flow, interesting story, and efficient prose—it's all in there! This book draws you in quickly and doesn't let go." - Neal Hock, Bookhound's Den
"The malevolent entity in REUNION typifies the dark side of the paranormal. Jeff Bennington's new thriller is haunting my dreams." - Michael Clark, Executive Producer of Ghost Guys and Ghost Guys LIVE.