Review of Domestic Violence Under The Color of Authority

[Rajnee Varma]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Domestic Violence Under The Color of Authority" by Sherry Fenn.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Domestic Violence Under The Color of Authority is the memoir of a domestic violence victim, Sherry Fenn, whose abuser was a cop and a sergeant at the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department in California. Sherry was the youngest of her four siblings and was closest to her brother Randy, who was his friend and protector. Unfortunately, Randy drowned in a canal when she was very young. Their peaceful family life was shattered. Her parents were devastated, and they emotionally detached themselves from Sherry. When she was 14 years old, Sergeant Hank Fenton started stalking her. At 16 years old, she fell victim to rape. She went to report the incident without telling her parents, but Hank convinced her to forget the incident. At 21 years old, she found herself back at her parents’ house with two children and a broken relationship with her boyfriend, Russ, who was now mentally unstable and on drugs. Hank continued to stalk her and manipulated her to marry him against her wishes. They had a son, Justin, but Hank never showed any affection towards him. He continued to torment Sherry in every possible way—he abused her physically and mentally, threatened her, monitored her every move, made her leave her job, and sold everything in her name.

The book begins with excerpts from the US Constitution's 14th Amendment that guarantees that life, liberty, and property will be protected equally for all its citizens, and also that “Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under the color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or law of the United States.” The author recounts the physical abuse by Hank when he broke into their home and assaulted her so badly that her skull was fractured, causing irreversible damage to her health. She then goes into flashbacks and describes her experiences from her early childhood, her parents and grandparents, her teenage years, her relationship with Russ, and her children. She has written about the day when she missed her school and went with a friend for some adventure involving horseback riding and beer when she was raped. If she had a good relationship with her parents, she would have confided in them; she would not have gone to report it alone, and Hank would not have had an opportunity to dominate her using her secret.

Women worldwide suffer domestic violence, forced to suffer for various reasons—financial dependence, fear of separation from their children, difficulty in getting a divorce, or lack of support from society. However, they have the option to seek help from the law enforcement departments. The irony of Sherry’s plight was that her tormentor was a cop who abused his power. Hank threatened her and told her repeatedly that nobody would believe her because he was a cop and his coworkers and his department would support him and cover for him. It is heartbreaking to read about her suffering and how true Hank’s words were. Sherry tried to find justice by reporting him to the sheriff’s department, but the reports and evidence she submitted kept disappearing; no action was taken against Hank; he was getting promotions, and even the sheriff protected him. The author has described in detail her battle for justice: her meetings and requests to the sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office, and her experience in the family court. She has included many of the threatening texts and emails from Hank and her correspondence with the various law enforcement departments. The memoir is an honest and detailed account of her suffering. She has written about her life at the time of writing the book, about her children, and her goal in life, along with some photographs. The book is an eye-opener about the corruption in the justice system and domestic violence by police officers. There is nothing negative to dislike about the book. However, the book is not properly edited, and the numerous typos disqualify the book for a perfect rating. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Throughout the book, the author’s pain and suffering are reflected in her narration, emphasizing that Hank’s crime was more grave because he was part of law enforcement; he was supposed to protect people, not to torment them. The book evokes pain, empathy, and anger in the reader. But it is also the story of a woman’s courage, resilience, motherly love, and strength of character. It is a book worth reading for both men and women. I would recommend it, especially to women who have to endure an abusive partner. The book will inspire them to fight back and help them live a meaningful, independent life.

******
Domestic Violence Under The Color of Authority
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Mary John 10]

Domestic Violence Under The Color of Authority is a powerful and heartbreaking memoir by Sherry Fenn, detailing her harrowing experiences of abuse by a law enforcement officer. It sheds light on the devastating impact of domestic violence, manipulation, and trauma, offering a courageous account of survival and resilience.

[Amarachi Ikechukwu+]

While reading this review, I felt pity for the author, Sherry Fenn, for what she had gone through. This is so emotional.

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Wow! This sounds like a tragic book. I will be on the lookout for it because of your convincing review. You did a good job. Keep it up.