I really enjoyed reading this book by Catee Ryan. I became very invested in the story and characters. The subject is difficult, extreme sexual abuse, but it is handled with a deep compassion. There is also an elevated thread of light and healing woven throughout. A strong, uncompromising work. Highly recommend.

The Prisoner and the Executioner gripped me from the first page. Catee Ryan masterfully weaves the narrative from the first-person viewpoints of many characters. Engaging and suspenseful I couldn't put it down.

If you want to know about The Basement Club, you better read this book. Shocking. Suspenseful. This book drew me in and held my attention from beginning to end!

Every so often a book comes along that stops you in your tracks, touches your soul. Sometimes it’s the story, sometimes the writing, sometimes, both. This book did both. From the first few pages, I was drawn in to the characters and their story. I found myself wanting to hurry and finish up whatever I needed to do so I could return to this book. So incredibly well written and the characters so alluring. If you only have time to pick one book to read, this is a must read. I can’t wait for Catee Ryan to share her talent again. I hope this is one of many. It is incredible.

How does a caring high school counselor and midwife, Eliza, end up on death row in the first place? And why does the man sent to execute her, the prison warden's son, help her escape the night before her execution? Furthermore, how do the pair manage to erase all traces of their movements and start a new life together in faraway New Zealand? This is only part of the fascinating plot. It's what follows - the subtle, carefully thought-through revelations of events, people, motivations, and truths that precipitated this escape - that keeps readers riveted. This novel isn't just about The Prisoner and the Executioner of the title. It's also about the sexual abuse of 15-year-old Lydia and the reasons for her abuse at the hands of those she trusted. And even that part of the plot and characterization won't summarize just how far-reaching this story is, the depths it probes, and how deeply it touches the reader. Sometimes a book comes along that grabs you so hard you can't let it go till you've reached the end… and even then, it doesn't fully release you. That's what reading The Prisoner and the Executioner by Catee Ryan felt like for me. Catee Ryan is a gifted writer. She delivers her story through the eyes and thoughts of the various characters, allowing us to uncover each speaker's truths and motivations for ourselves. Descriptions are limited to what is necessary. No fluff or padding here. The dialogue is realistic, the plot is plausible, and the characterization is captivating, especially when it comes to the principal characters who are emotionally engaging. The Prisoner and the Executioner is a marvelous story. I will never forget it and cannot recommend it highly enough. Five stars all the way!