Domestic Detention - by Rodney Pemberton (Paperback)

Domestic Detention is a book that had my complete attention. A missing mother, a son on the search. When he finally finds her, it's worse than he thought. Will he be able to survive and save everyone including himself? or will he give up? This book made me question everything I know. It had me gripping my phone and eager to know the next thing. Th plot was mid-paced but oh so good. The ending had me in shambles. If you want a book that will haunt you forever, then this is the one for you.

This book is one of the eeriest memoirs I have read in a while. This account starts with a little boy who is worried about the whereabouts of his mother and develops into both a painful and incredibly courageous journey from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, to the grimy realities of New York City. The writing is honest, gripping and emotional. Each page draws one in to feel the confusion and fear but also, in the end, gratitude. I found it so touching to read about the author facing not just the emotional pain but the legal and personal consequences too. This isn't just a story of abuse or broken family ties. It's a story about survival, love that doesn't fade with time and an unbreakable bond between a mother and son. If you like true stories, real emotion and the strength people can show in hard times, Domestic Detention is a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Domestic Detention really moved me. I thought it would just be a story about a son looking for his missing mother, but it turned out to be so much more. Rodney’s journey from the Caribbean to the U.S. is full of pain, hope, and strength. The way he slowly discovers the truth about his mother—trapped in an abusive home, paralyzed, and cut off from everyone—was heartbreaking. What hit me the most was how quietly and honestly he tells the story. It’s not dramatic, just real. You can feel his love for his mother on every page. Even when things got really hard, he never gave up on her. This book made me think about the silent struggles many people go through behind closed doors. It’s a powerful, emotional story. I’m really glad I read it. Highly recommended.

Domestic Detention is a powerful story that pulls at your heart. It follows a son’s emotional journey from St. Vincent to the U.S. in search of his missing mother. What he finds is heartbreaking — his mother, paralyzed and stuck in a toxic household, with only her little daughter for help. The book shows the dark side of domestic control, the silent suffering of victims, and the strength it takes to fight for your loved ones. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply moving. This isn’t just a story about finding someone—it’s about uncovering painful truths and reclaiming family in the face of trauma.