FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.
To Kill or Be Killed by Joni Ankerson was a very interesting book. It broke my heart as I was reading this book. I felt terrible for her because of everything she went through, and I understood her choices. I can’t help but feel proud of her because she survived. After all, I don’t know if I would do the same thing if I was in her shoes. This book isn’t for people who are triggered by domestic violence because of the details she includes. Even though I am not easily triggered or upset by those types of things, I did have to put the book down for a while and come back to it on more than one occasion. It was a shorter book, so I got through it in a day because even though parts of the story disturbed me, I didn’t want to stop reading until I finished the book.
About The Book
Title: TO KILL OR BE KILLED: A TRUE CRIME MEMOIR FROM PRISON
Author: Joni Ankerson
Publisher: WildBlue Press
Pages: 212
Genre: True Crime
Obviously, I knew better than to take a life — but that was before. Before him.
The day we met in October of 1997, I was working at the District Court in Traverse City, Michigan as a Deputy Clerk. It was like most other days with arraignments, sentencings, civil case hearings and the like. People shuffling in and out, everyone taking care of their important business with court appearances, document filings, paying tickets, fines and bonding loved ones out of jail.
I loved my job. It was extremely satisfying and interesting with constant interaction with all walks of life, including people on either end of the judicial spectrum and many in between. Suddenly, there he was. Tall, handsome, and looking so impressive and important in his Michigan State Police uniform with his hat, gun belt and badge. A powerful man who had chosen a profession to serve and protect. He was extremely friendly and upbeat, smiling profusely. Best of all, he, too, was unattached.
What could go wrong? He was like a dream man. We clicked, immediately, and began dating exclusively. But he was not a dream man. He was a nightmare … as I learned over the next twelve years.
Twelve years of enduring domestic violence at its absolute worse. Constant abuse, control, manipulation, and threats. Sadistic sexual deviance and sexual violence. It was only going to end one way: someone would die in our bed and someone would go to prison for murder.
This is my story about domestic violence, resilience, reckoning and survival.
About The Author
Joni Ankerson lives in her hometown of Traverse City, Michigan. After being released from prison in April of 2017, he returned home to the house she grew up in and is moving forward with her new, independent life. She is a strong advocate for victims of domestic violence and has many family members, friends, and community members that support her and stand behind her. She hopes that by sharing her story, other victims will gain the strength to come forward and speak their truth. #endthesilenceofabuse
WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:
Website Address: https://wildbluepress.com/joni-ankerson-author-bio/
Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/Joni-Ankerson-Author-112245493913309/